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Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 26649

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Peramaiyan Rajendran

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Guest Editor

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Interests: cancer; chemoprevention; cell signaling; oxidative stress; mycotoxin; Pi3K/AKT signaling; STAT3 signaling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The title of this Special Issue is “Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of action of Anti-Cancer Agents”. Recently, the treatments and outcomes of some cancers have significantly improved; however, other types of cancer showed little change in survival rates. Both synthetic and traditional anti-cancer drugs can cause side effects and develop drug resistance. Nowadays, it is important to find new anti-cancer agents with new mechanisms of action and identify new cellular targets and therapeutic strategies, which are both potent and selective against cancer cells. We welcome submissions of research related to these topics. The scope of this research is mainly focused on (but not limited to) the following topics:

Identifying promising compounds with in vitro and/or in vivo anti-cancer activity, and studies on elucidating their mechanisms of action;
Combinatorial chemotherapy that might increase selectivity or synthetic lethality;
Targeting new cellular targets that may offer cancer selectivity (novel inhibitors).

Dr. Peramaiyan Rajendran
Guest Editor

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Keywords

targeted therapy
conventional therapy
chemoprevention
molecular mechanism
molecular target
combinatorial therapy

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diastereoselective Synthesis of the Borylated d-Galactose Monosaccharide 3-Boronic-3-Deoxy-d-Galactose and Biological Evaluation in Glycosidase Inhibition and in Cancer for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)

by Michela I. Simone

Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4321; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28114321 - 24 May 2023

Viewed by 1655

Abstract

Drug leads with a high Fsp³ index are more likely to possess desirable properties for progression in the drug development pipeline. This paper describes the development of an efficient two-step protocol to completely diastereoselectively access a diethanolamine (DEA) boronate ester derivative of monosaccharide d-galactose from the starting material 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose. This intermediate, in turn, is used to access 3-boronic-3deoxy-d-galactose for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) applications. The hydroboration/borane trapping protocol was robustly optimized with BH₃.THF in 1,4-dioxane, followed by in-situ conversion of the inorganic borane intermediate to the organic boron product by the addition of DEA. This second step occurs instantaneously, with the immediate formation of a white precipitate. This protocol allows expedited and greener access to a new class of BNCT agents with an Fsp³ index = 1 and a desirable toxicity profile. Furthermore, presented is the first detailed NMR analysis of the borylated free monosaccharide target compound during the processes of mutarotation and borarotation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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14 pages, 3213 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Sulfur-Bridging Sulfonate-Modified Zinc(II) Phthalocyanine Nanoliposome Possessing Hybrid Type I and Type II Photoreactions with Efficient Photodynamic Anticancer Effects

by Zixuan Chen, Yuan-Yuan Zhao, Li Li, Ziqing Li, Shuwen Fu, Yihui Xu, Bi-Yuan Zheng, Meirong Ke, Xingshu Li and Jian-Dong Huang

Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2250; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28052250 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1654

Abstract

Phthalocyanines are potentially promising photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT), but the inherent defects such as aggregation-caused quenching effects and non-specific toxicity severely hinder their further application in PDT. Herein, we synthesized two zinc(II) phthalocyanines (PcSA and PcOA) monosubstituted with a sulphonate group in the alpha position with “O bridge” and “S bridge” as bonds and prepared a liposomal nanophotosensitizer (PcSA@Lip) by thin-film hydration method to regulate the aggregation of PcSA in the aqueous solution and enhance its tumor targeting ability. PcSA@Lip exhibited highly efficient production of superoxide radical (O₂^∙−) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in water under light irradiation, which were 2.6-fold and 15.4-fold higher than those of free PcSA, respectively. Furthermore, PcSA@Lip was able to accumulate selectively in tumors after intravenous injection with the fluorescence intensity ratio of tumors to livers was 4.1:1. The significant tumor inhibition effects resulted in a 98% tumor inhibition rate after PcSA@Lip was injected intravenously at an ultra-low PcSA@Lip dose (0.8 nmol g⁻¹ PcSA) and light dose (30 J cm⁻²). Therefore, the liposomal PcSA@Lip is a prospective nanophotosensitizer possessing hybrid type I and type II photoreactions with efficient photodynamic anticancer effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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15 pages, 2529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Asiaticoside Increases Caspase-9 Activity in MCF-7 Cells and Inhibits TNF-α and IL-6 Expression in Nude Mouse Xenografts via the NF-κB Pathway

by Fatma J. Al-Saeedi

Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2101; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28052101 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1443

Abstract

Background: We hypothesized that the antitumor effects of asiaticoside on breast cancer are driven by its ability to decrease the expression of tumor inflammation-promoting genes and increase apoptotic signaling. In this study, we aimed to better understand the mechanisms of action of asiaticoside as a chemical modulator or as a chemopreventive agent in breast cancer. Methods: MCF-7 cells were cultured and treated with 0, 20, 40, and 80 μM asiaticoside for 48 h. Fluorometric caspase-9, apoptosis, and gene expression analyses were conducted. For the xenograft experiments, we divided nude mice into the following 5 groups (10 animals per group): group I, control mice; group II, untreated tumor-bearing nude mice; group III, tumor-bearing nude mice treated with asiaticoside at weeks 1–2 and 4–7 and injected with MCF-7 cells at week 3; group IV, tumor-bearing nude mice injected with MCF-7 cells at week 3 and treated with asiaticoside beginning at week 6; and group V, nude mice treated with asiaticoside, as a drug control. After treatment, weight measurements were performed weekly. Tumor growth was determined and analyzed using histology and DNA and RNA isolation. Results: In MCF-7 cells, we found that asiaticoside increased caspase-9 activity. In the xenograft experiment, we found that TNF-α and IL-6 expression decreased (p < 0.001) via the NF-κB pathway. Conclusion: Overall, our data suggest that asiaticoside produces promising effects on tumor growth, progression, and tumor-associated inflammation in MCF-7 cells as well as a nude mouse MCF-7 tumor xenograft model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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19 pages, 3284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Novel Ciprofloxacin Mannich Base in Lung Adenocarcinoma and High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines via Attenuating MAPK Signaling Pathway

by Michael A. Fawzy, Rania H. Abu-baih, Gamal El-Din A. Abuo-Rahma, Islam M. Abdel-Rahman, Azza A. K. El-Sheikh and Maiiada H. Nazmy

Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1137; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28031137 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2001

Abstract

Novel drugs are desperately needed in order to combat a significant challenge due to chemo-therapeutic resistance and bad prognosis. This research aimed to assess the anticancer activity of a newly synthesized ciprofloxacin Mannich base (CMB) on ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3) and lung cancer (A-549) cell lines and to investigate probable involved molecular mechanisms. The cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic impact of CMB on both cell lines was investigated using MTT assay, Annexin V assay, and cell cycle analysis, as well as caspase-3 activation. Western blotting was carried out to evaluate downstream targets of the MAPK pathway, while qRT PCR was used to evaluate the gene expression pattern of the p53/Bax/Bcl2 pathway. CMB treatment showed significantly reduced cell proliferation in both OVCAR-3 and A-549 cells with half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) = 11.60 and 16.22 µg/mL, respectively. CMB also induced apoptosis, S phase cell cycle arrest, and up-regulated expression of p53, p21, and Bax while down-regulated Bcl2 expression. CMB also halted cell proliferation by deactivating the MAPK pathway. In conclusion, CMB may be regarded as a potential antiproliferative agent for lung and ovarian cancers due to anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic actions via inhibition of the MAPK pathway and p53/Bax/Bcl2. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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12 pages, 1337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improvement of the Chemical Reactivity of Michael Acceptor of Ethacrynic Acid Correlates with Antiproliferative Activities

by Abdelmoula El Abbouchi, Nabil El Brahmi, Marie-Aude Hiebel, Hamza Ghammaz, Elmostafa El Fahime, Jérôme Bignon, Gérald Guillaumet, Franck Suzenet and Saïd El Kazzouli

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 910; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28020910 - 16 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1887

Abstract

The present study aims to report the design, synthesis, and biological activity of new ethacrynic acid (EA) analogs (6–10) obtained by the double modulation of the carboxylic acid moiety and the aromatic ring with the aim to increase the chemical reactivity of Michael acceptor of EA. All obtained compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated in vitro using MMT test, in a first step, against HL60 cell line and in a second step, on a panel of human cancer cell lines such as HCT116, A549, MCF7, PC3, U87-MG, and SKOV3, and normal cell line MRC5 in comparison with positive control doxorubicin. Among all the tested compounds, the product 8 containing a propargyl and a hydroxyl groups, allowing an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the keto group of EA, exhibited a pronounced and selective activity in a nanomolar range against HL60, A549, PC3, and MCF7 with IC₅₀ values of 15, 41.2, 68.7, and 61.5 nM, respectively. Compound 8 also showed a good selectivity index (SI) against HL60 and moderate SI against the other three human cancer cells (A549, PC3, and MCF7). The study of the structure-activity relationship showed that both modifications of the carboxylic group and the introduction of an intramolecular hydrogen bond are highly required to improve the antiproliferative activities. The molecular modeling studies of compound 8 revealed that it favorably binds to the glutathione S-transferase active site, which may explain its interesting anticancer activity. These new compounds have potential to be developed as novel therapeutic agents against various cancer types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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11 pages, 1656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Beta-Caryophyllene Enhances the Anti-Tumor Activity of Cisplatin in Lung Cancer Cell Lines through Regulating Cell Cycle and Apoptosis Signaling Molecules

by Emad A. Ahmed, Hamad Abu Zahra, Rebai Ben Ammar, Maged Elsayed Mohamed and Hairul-Islam M. Ibrahim

Molecules 2022, 27(23), 8354; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27238354 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2068

Abstract

Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP), a natural bicyclic sesquiterpenes, is an abundant biomolecule in red pepper and other plants. Recently, it was reported to reduce the growth and the proliferation as well as enhance the apoptosis in numerous cancer cells, including colorectal, ovarian, bladder cancer and lung cancer. On the other hand, the combination therapy of cisplatin (CDDP) with other phytochemical compounds has synergistically enhanced the killing effect of CDDP on several types of cancer. In the current model, we have tested the role of BCP in enhancing the anti-tumor activity of CDDP on lung cancer cell lines. The results showed that BCP is not toxic at moderate doses and it can prevent lung cancer progression in doses above 75 µM. However, when being combined with CDDP, BCP improved the former chemotherapeutic function through regulating cell cycle, apoptosis and EMT signaling molecules. Gene and protein expression analysis showed that the combined treatment of CDDP and BCP significantly upregulated the level of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, CDKN1A, and the inhibitor of the apoptosis, BCL-xl2. In addition, the combination treatment reduced the protein level of the apoptosis regulator, BCL-2. Moreover, BCP appears to prohibit the EMT process that is associated with CDDP chemotherapy since the combination treatment induced a significant increase in the level of the epithelial cell marker E-cad that was reduced in CDDP-treated cells. In agreement with that, the combined treatment managed to modulate the effect of CDDP on the mesenchymal transcription factor ZEB-2. Additionally, molecular docking has been conducted to check the virtual interaction of BCP with these and other signaling molecules, but only cyclin-dependent kinase CDK6 was found to virtually bind with BCP, and at four sites with higher and stable biding energy (−7.8). Together, these data indicate that BCP enhances CDDP chemotherapeutic function through regulating the cell cycle, the apoptosis and EMT signaling molecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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21 pages, 2214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial Activities, Molecular Docking, and DFT Studies of Sultams Derived from Saccharin

by Nourah Al-Fayez, Hany Elsawy, Mohammed A. Mansour, Mohamad Akbar Ali and Ibrahim Elghamry

Molecules 2022, 27(20), 7104; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27207104 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1977

Abstract

A series of N-substituted saccharins namely 2-(1,1-dioxido-3-oxobenzo[d]isothiazol-2(3H)-yl) acetonitrile (2) and (alkyl 1,1-dioxido-3-oxobenzo[d]isothiazol-2(3H)-yl) acetate (3a–g) were synthesized, in moderate to excellent yields, from commercially available starting materials by two different approaches and their chemical structures were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR, and MS). All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory toward IL-6 and TNF-α, antioxidant, as well as their anticancer activities against hepatic cancer cells. In addition, their anti-fungal and antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were tested. All the tested compounds have exhibited excellent (3a, d, e) to moderate anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, esters (3b, f) and nitrile (2) showed excellent antioxidant activity. Furthermore, ester 3f, with isopropyl ester, exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity compared to the other esters. Moreover, all compounds were evaluated as selective inhibitors of the human COX-1 enzyme using molecular docking by calculating the free energy of binding, inhibition constant, and other parameters to find out the binding affinity. The molecular study showed that esters (3d, f) and nitrile (2) revealed the highest binding affinities, hence enhancing the inhibition activity with the active site of the COX-1 enzyme. All the tested compounds have more negative Gibbs free, electrostatic, and total intermolecular energies than the standard inhibitor ASA. These results indicate that, all the tested sultams are potent anti-inflammatory drugs as compared to standard inhibitors. Finally, the chemical properties and the quantum factors of synthesized sultams were calculated based on density functional theory (DFT) to predict reactivity, and then correlated with the experimental data. Ester 3f showed the lowest ionization potential and lowest energy gap (E_gap = 7.5691 eV), which was correlated with its cytotoxic activity. Furthermore, the spatial electron distribution of HOMO, LUMO were computed and it clearly indicates the electron donation ability of all the tested compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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14 pages, 3329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Capric Acid Behaves Agonistic Effect on Calcitriol to Control Inflammatory Mediators in Colon Cancer Cells

by Amr Negm, Azza Sedky and Hany Elsawy

Molecules 2022, 27(19), 6624; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27196624 - 6 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1559

Abstract

Inflammation prompts cancer development and promotes all stages of tumorigenesis. Calcitriol is a nutraceutical essential regulator for host health benefits. However, the influence of calcitriol on inflammatory mediators involved in cancer cells is not clear. This study aimed to assess the sensitivity of calcitriol alone and combined with capric acid, and identify the possible influence of calcitriol on inflammatory mediators. The colorectal cancer cell line (HCT116) was induced by LPS/TNF-α and the inflammation and metastatic mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17) were quantified in calcitriol and capric acid supplemented colon cancer cells. The mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2, NF-κB and COX-2 were quantified. The significant reduction in MMP-2 expression was confirmed at combination treatment by zymogram analysis. Our findings demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic potentials of capric acid and calcitriol in individual exposure in a combination of human colon cancer cell lines (HCT116). These abilities may be due to the inhibition of COX-2 mediators and NF-κB transcription factor and reciprocally regulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 signaling pathways. These findings elucidate the activation of COX-2 and NF-κB via disruption of the cellular outer matrix could be considered a novel molecular target suitable for colorectal cancer therapy. This study confirmed that capric acid activates calcitriol sensitization in colon cancer cells and could be used as a successful supplement for intestinal diseases and colon aberrations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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14 pages, 4495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acacetin Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines

by Manal Alfwuaires, Hany Elsawy and Azza Sedky

Molecules 2022, 27(17), 5361; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27175361 - 23 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1576

Abstract

Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death across the world. Recent evidence suggests that STAT3 regulates proliferative, survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis genes in HCC. Novel agents that suppress STAT3 activation can be used to prevent or treat HCC. We used a functional proteomics tumor pathway technology platform and multiple HCC cell lines to investigate the effects of acacetin (ACN) on STAT3 activation, protein kinases, phosphatases, products of STAT3-regulated genes, and apoptosis. ACN was found to inhibit STAT3 activation in a dose- and time-dependent manner in HCC cells. Upstream kinases c-Src, Janus-activated kinase 1, and Janus-activated kinase 2 were also inhibited. The ACN inhibition of STAT3 was abolished by vanadate treatment, suggesting the involvement of tyrosine phosphatase activity. ACN was found to suppress the protein expression of genes involved in proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis via STAT3 inhibition. ACN appears to be a novel STAT3 inhibitor and may be a promising therapeutic compound for application in the treatment of HCC and other cancers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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19 pages, 4239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Cancer Effects of Auranofin in Human Lung Cancer Cells by Increasing Intracellular ROS Levels and Depleting GSH Levels

by Xia Ying Cui, Sun Hyang Park and Woo Hyun Park

Molecules 2022, 27(16), 5207; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27165207 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2372

Abstract

Auranofin, as a thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor, has promising anti-cancer activity in several cancer types. However, little is known about the inhibitory effect of auranofin on lung cancer cell growth. We, therefore, investigated the antigrowth effects of auranofin in various lung cancer cells with respect to cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glutathione (GSH) levels. Treatment with 0~5 µM auranofin decreased cell proliferation and induced cell death in Calu-6, A549, SK-LU-1, NCI-H460, and NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells at 24 h. In addition, 0~5 µM auranofin increased ROS levels, including O₂^•−, and depleted GSH levels in these cells. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) prevented growth inhibition and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ∆Ψm) loss in 3 and 5 µM auranofin-treated Calu-6 and A549 cells at 24 h, respectively, and decreased ROS levels and GSH depletion in these cells. In contrast, L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) enhanced cell death, MMP (∆Ψm) loss, ROS levels, and GSH depletion in auranofin-treated Calu-6 and A549 cells. Treatment with 3 and 5 µM auranofin induced caspase-3 activation and poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in Calu-6 and A549 cells, respectively. Both were prevented by NAC, but enhanced by BSO. Moreover, TrxR activity was reduced in auranofin-treated Calu-6 and A549 cells. That activity was decreased by BSO, but increased by NAC. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that auranofin-induced cell death is closely related to oxidative stress resulted from increased ROS levels and GSH depletion in lung cancer cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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22 pages, 2194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel ERK2 Degrader Z734 Induces Apoptosis of MCF–7 Cells via the HERC3/p53 Signaling Pathway

by Shiyao Xu, Yan Xiong, Rui Yao, Rong Tian, Zhuqing Meng, Mohamed Y. Zaky, Beibei Fu, Dong Guo, Lulu Wang, Feng Lin, Xiaoyuan Lin and Haibo Wu

Molecules 2022, 27(14), 4337; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27144337 - 6 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1843

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and synthetic chemicals targeting specific proteins or various molecular pathways for tumor suppression, such as ERK inhibitors and degraders, have been intensively investigated. The targets of ERK participate in the regulation of critical cellular mechanisms and underpin the progression of anticancer therapy. In this study, we identified a novel small molecule, which we named Z734, as a new mitogen–activated protein kinase 1 (ERK2) degrader and demonstrated that Z734 inhibits cell growth by inducing p53–mediated apoptotic pathways in human breast cancer cells. Treatment with Z734 resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, colony formation and migration invasion, as well as cancer cell death via apoptosis. In addition, the Co–IP and GST pulldown assays indicated that the HECT and RLD domains containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 3 (HERC3) could directly interact with ERK2 through the HECT domain, promoting ERK2 ubiquitination. We also observed a strong link between HERC3 and p53 for the modulation of apoptosis. HERC3 can increase the protein and phosphorylation levels of p53, which further promotes apoptotic activity. In a xenograft mouse model, the effect was obtained in a treatment group that combined Z734 with lapatinib compared with that of the single–treatment groups. In summary, our results indicated that Z734 actively controls the development of breast cancer through apoptosis, and HERC3 may mediate ERK2 and p53 signaling, which offers new potential targets for clinical therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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Review

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19 pages, 792 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of the PTEN Tumor Suppressor Gene and Its Anti-Angiogenic Activity in Melanoma and Other Cancers

by Jacqueline Maphutha, Danielle Twilley and Namrita Lall

Molecules 2024, 29(3), 721; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules29030721 - 4 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1172

Abstract

Human malignant melanoma and other solid cancers are largely driven by the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and angiogenesis. Conventional treatments for cancer (surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy) are employed as first-line treatments for solid cancers but are often ineffective as monotherapies due to resistance and toxicity. Thus, targeted therapies, such as bevacizumab, which targets vascular endothelial growth factor, have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as angiogenesis inhibitors. The downregulation of the tumor suppressor, phosphatase tensin homolog (PTEN), occurs in 30–40% of human malignant melanomas, thereby elucidating the importance of the upregulation of PTEN activity. Phosphatase tensin homolog (PTEN) is modulated at the transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels and regulates key signaling pathways such as the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, which also drive angiogenesis. This review discusses the inhibition of angiogenesis through the upregulation of PTEN and the inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1-α) in human malignant melanoma, as no targeted therapies have been approved by the FDA for the inhibition of angiogenesis in human malignant melanoma. The emergence of nanocarrier formulations to enhance the pharmacokinetic profile of phytochemicals that upregulate PTEN activity and improve the upregulation of PTEN has also been discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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22 pages, 1340 KiB

Open AccessReview

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor as an Anticancer Target: An Overview of Ten Years Odyssey

by Hamza Hanieh, Mohammad Bani Ismail, Manal A. Alfwuaires, Hairul-Islam M. Ibrahim and Mahdi Farhan

Molecules 2023, 28(10), 3978; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28103978 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH)/per-Arnt-sim (PAS) superfamily, is traditionally known to mediate xenobiotic metabolism. It is activated by structurally diverse agonistic ligands and regulates complicated transcriptional processes through its canonical and non-canonical pathways in normal and malignant cells. Different classes of AhR ligands have been evaluated as anticancer agents in different cancer cells and exhibit efficiency, which has thrust AhR into the limelight as a promising molecular target. There is strong evidence demonstrating the anticancer potential of exogenous AhR agonists including synthetic, pharmaceutical, and natural compounds. In contrast, several reports have indicated inhibition of AhR activity by antagonistic ligands as a potential therapeutic strategy. Interestingly, similar AhR ligands exert variable anticancer or cancer-promoting potential in a cell- and tissue-specific mode of action. Recently, ligand-mediated modulation of AhR signaling pathways and the associated tumor microenvironment is emerging as a potential approach for developing cancer immunotherapeutic drugs. This article reviews advances of AhR in cancer research covering publication from 2012 to early 2023. It summarizes the therapeutic potential of various AhR ligands with an emphasis on exogenous ligands. It also sheds light on recent immunotherapeutic strategies involving AhR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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23 pages, 1573 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sericultural By-Products: The Potential for Alternative Therapy in Cancer Drug Design

by Gabriela-Maria Baci, Ecaterina-Daniela Baciu, Alexandra-Antonia Cucu, Adriana-Sebastiana Muscă, Alexandru Ioan Giurgiu, Adela Ramona Moise, Marius Zăhan and Daniel Severus Dezmirean

Molecules 2023, 28(2), 850; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28020850 - 14 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2253

Abstract

Major progress has been made in cancer research; however, cancer remains one of the most important health-related burdens. Sericulture importance is no longer limited to the textile industry, but its by-products, such as silk fibroin or mulberry, exhibit great impact in the cancer research area. Fibroin, the pivotal compound that is found in silk, owns superior biocompatibility and biodegradability, representing one of the most important biomaterials. Numerous studies have reported its successful use as a drug delivery system, and it is currently used to develop three-dimensional tumor models that lead to a better understanding of cancer biology and play a great role in the development of novel antitumoral strategies. Moreover, sericin’s cytotoxic effect on various tumoral cell lines has been reported, but also, it has been used as a nanocarrier for target therapeutic agents. On the other hand, mulberry compounds include various bioactive elements that are well known for their antitumoral activities, such as polyphenols or anthocyanins. In this review, the latest progress of using sericultural by-products in cancer therapy is discussed by highlighting their notable impact in developing novel effective drug strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Action of Anti-cancer Agents)

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