-
Cancer Research Feb 2017In the January 1, 2017, issue of , Nagel and colleagues demonstrate the value of assays that determine the DNA repair capacity of cancers in predicting response to... (Review)
Review
In the January 1, 2017, issue of , Nagel and colleagues demonstrate the value of assays that determine the DNA repair capacity of cancers in predicting response to temozolomide. Using a fluorescence-based multiplex flow cytometric host cell reactivation assay that provides simultaneous readout of DNA repair capacity across multiple pathways, they show that the multivariate drug response models derived from cell line data were applicable to patient-derived xenograft models of glioblastoma. In this commentary, we first outline the mechanism of activity and current clinical application of temozolomide, which, until now, has been largely limited to glioblastoma. Given the challenges of clinical application of functional assays, we argue that functional readouts be approximated by genomic signatures. In this context, a combination of MGMT activity and mismatch repair (MMR) status of the tumor are important parameters that determine sensitivity to temozolomide. More reliable methods are needed to determine MGMT activity as DNA methylation, the current standard, does not accurately reflect the expression of MGMT. Also, genomics for MMR are warranted. Furthermore, based on patterns of MGMT expression across different solid tumors, we make a case for revisiting temozolomide use in a broader spectrum of cancers based on our current understanding of its molecular basis of activity. .
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; DNA Methylation; DNA Mismatch Repair; DNA Modification Methylases; DNA Repair Enzymes; Dacarbazine; Humans; Neoplasms; Precision Medicine; Temozolomide; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
PubMed: 28159862
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-2983 -
Mutation Research. Reviews in Mutation... 2016From a risk assessment perspective, DNA-reactive agents are conventionally assumed to have genotoxic risks at all exposure levels, thus applying a linear extrapolation... (Review)
Review
From a risk assessment perspective, DNA-reactive agents are conventionally assumed to have genotoxic risks at all exposure levels, thus applying a linear extrapolation for low-dose responses. New approaches discussed here, including more diverse and sensitive methods for assessing DNA damage and DNA repair, strongly support the existence of measurable regions where genotoxic responses with increasing doses are insignificant relative to control. Model monofunctional alkylating agents have in vitro and in vivo datasets amenable to determination of points of departure (PoDs) for genotoxic effects. A session at the 2013 Society of Toxicology meeting provided an opportunity to survey the progress in understanding the biological basis of empirically-observed PoDs for DNA alkylating agents. Together with the literature published since, this review discusses cellular pathways activated by endogenous and exogenous alkylation DNA damage. Cells have evolved conserved processes that monitor and counteract a spontaneous steady-state level of DNA damage. The ubiquitous network of DNA repair pathways serves as the first line of defense for clearing of the DNA damage and preventing mutation. Other biological pathways discussed here that are activated by genotoxic stress include post-translational activation of cell cycle networks and transcriptional networks for apoptosis/cell death. The interactions of various DNA repair and DNA damage response pathways provide biological bases for the observed PoD behaviors seen with genotoxic compounds. Thus, after formation of DNA adducts, the activation of cellular pathways can lead to the avoidance of a mutagenic outcome. The understanding of the cellular mechanisms acting within the low-dose region will serve to better characterize risks from exposures to DNA-reactive agents at environmentally-relevant concentrations.
Topics: Alkylating Agents; Alkylation; Apoptosis; DNA Adducts; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Mutagenicity Tests
PubMed: 27036068
DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2015.11.001 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024A glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive, infiltrative, and treatment-resistant malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS). The current standard of care... (Review)
Review
A glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive, infiltrative, and treatment-resistant malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS). The current standard of care for GBMs include maximally safe tumor resection, followed by concurrent adjuvant radiation treatment and chemotherapy with the DNA alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ), which was approved by the FDA in 2005 based on a marginal increase (~2 months) in overall survival (OS) levels. This treatment approach, while initially successful in containing and treating GBM, almost invariably fails to prevent tumor recurrence. In addition to the limited therapeutic benefit, TMZ also causes debilitating adverse events (AEs) that significantly impact the quality of life of GBM patients. Some of the most common AEs include hematologic (e.g., thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anemia) and non-hematologic (e.g., nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness) toxicities. Recurrent GBMs are often resistant to TMZ and other DNA-damaging agents. Thus, there is an urgent need to devise strategies to potentiate TMZ activity, to overcome drug resistance, and to reduce dose-dependent AEs. Here, we analyze major mechanisms of the TMZ resistance-mediated intracellular signaling activation of DNA repair pathways and the overexpression of drug transporters. We review some of the approaches investigated to counteract these mechanisms of resistance to TMZ, including the use of chemosensitizers and drug delivery strategies to enhance tumoral drug exposure.
Topics: Humans; Temozolomide; Glioblastoma; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Quality of Life; Brain Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; DNA; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 38542190
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063217 -
Chemistry (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Feb 2021Hairpin pyrrole-imidazole polyamides (hPIPs) and their chlorambucil (Chb) conjugates (hPIP-Chbs) can alkylate DNA in a sequence-specific manner, and have been studied as...
Hairpin pyrrole-imidazole polyamides (hPIPs) and their chlorambucil (Chb) conjugates (hPIP-Chbs) can alkylate DNA in a sequence-specific manner, and have been studied as anticancer drugs. Here, we conjugated Chb to a cyclic PIP (cPIP), which is known to have a higher binding affinity than the corresponding hPIP, and investigated the DNA alkylation properties of the resulting cPIP-Chb using the optimized capillary electrophoresis method and conventional HPLC product analysis. cPIP-Chb conjugate 3 showed higher alkylation activity at its binding sites than did hPIP-Chb conjugates 1 and 2. Subsequent HPLC analysis revealed that the alkylation site of conjugate 3, which was identified by capillary electrophoresis, was reliable and that conjugate 3 alkylates the N3 position of adenine as do hPIP-Chbs. Moreover, conjugate 3 showed higher cytotoxicity against LNCaP prostate cancer cells than did conjugate 1 and cytotoxicity comparable to that of conjugate 2. These results suggest that cPIP-Chbs could be novel DNA alkylating anticancer drugs.
Topics: Alkylation; Chlorambucil; DNA; Imidazoles; Nylons; Pyrroles
PubMed: 33145851
DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004421 -
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology Oct 2019Modification of DNA with reactive groups and their post-synthetic transformations are useful for labelling, imaging, bioconjugations and cross-linking with other... (Review)
Review
Modification of DNA with reactive groups and their post-synthetic transformations are useful for labelling, imaging, bioconjugations and cross-linking with other (bio)molecules. This review summarizes the recent progress in this field and covers transformations of oxo groups, cycloadditions, conjugate additions, alkylations, cross-couplings and other reactions. Examples of applications are given and the practicability and scope of the reactions are discussed.
Topics: Alkylation; Cross-Linking Reagents; Cycloaddition Reaction; DNA
PubMed: 31415984
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.07.007 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Landmark... Sep 2023O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair enzyme, which reverses the alkylation of guanine O6 through directtransfer of the methyl group, maintains... (Review)
Review
O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair enzyme, which reverses the alkylation of guanine O6 through directtransfer of the methyl group, maintains the gene stability and avoids tumor occurrence. Studies have shown that gene methylation, polymorphism and protein expression are involved in the process of various tumor development, such as colon cancer, gastric carcinoma, etc. gene promotes methylation, protein expression and enzyme activity from various tissues, which resultsin different effects on the prognosis of patients. MGMT promoter methylation is a positive factor for the prognosis of Glioblastoma (GBM), which can prolong overall survival and progression-free survival, reduce the resistance of tumor cells to temozolomide treatment, and improve the prognosis. The treatment of tumors based on MGMT focuses on three aspects: targeting MGMT to increase the sensitivity of alkylated drug therapy in tumors, immunotherapy combined with alkylated agents on tumor treatment, and treatment for patients with MGMT promoter non-methylation. Similarly, a number of studies have targeted MGMT to reduce alkylated agent resistance in other systems. Although numerous studies on MGMT in tumors have been reported, there are problems that need to be solved, such as selection and consensus of MGMT promoter methylation detection methods (CpG detection sites, cut-off value) and the treatment of MGMT non-methylated GBM patients, especially elderly patients. In this review, we describe the regulation of MGMT expression and its role inchemotherapy, especially in gliomas. Further studies exploring new methods targeting MGMT with better curative effect and less toxicity are advocated. We anticipate that these developments will be progressive and sufficiently used for clinical application.
Topics: Humans; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Brain Neoplasms; Dacarbazine; DNA; DNA Methylation; DNA Repair Enzymes; Glioblastoma; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
PubMed: 37796680
DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2809197 -
Biochemical Pharmacology Sep 2023Guanine O-alkylating agents are widely used as first-line chemotherapeutic drugs due to their ability to induce cytotoxic DNA damage. However, a major hurdle in their... (Review)
Review
Guanine O-alkylating agents are widely used as first-line chemotherapeutic drugs due to their ability to induce cytotoxic DNA damage. However, a major hurdle in their effectiveness is the emergence of chemoresistance, largely attributed to the DNA repair pathway mediated by O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). MGMT plays an important role in removing the alkyl groups from lethal O-alkylguanine (O-AlkylG) adducts formed by chemotherapeutic alkylating agents. By doing so, MGMT enables tumor cells to evade apoptosis and develop drug resistance toward DNA alkylating agents. Although covalent inhibitors of MGMT, such as O-benzylguanine (O-BG) and O-(4-bromothenyl)guanine (O-4-BTG or lomeguatrib), have been explored in clinical settings, their utility is limited due to severe delayed hematological toxicity observed in most patients when combined with alkylating agents. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new targets and unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms and to develop alternative therapeutic strategies that can overcome MGMT-mediated tumor resistance. In this context, the regulation of MGMT expression via interfering the specific cell signaling pathways (e.g., Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB, Hedgehog, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT) emerges as a promising strategy for overcoming tumor resistance, and ultimately enhancing the efficacy of DNA alkylating agents in chemotherapy.
Topics: Humans; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Neoplasms; Alkylating Agents; Signal Transduction; DNA; DNA Modification Methylases; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; DNA Repair Enzymes
PubMed: 37524206
DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115726 -
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Apr 2016Trabectedin (Yondelis®, ET-743) is a marine-derived natural product that was initially isolated from the marine ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata and is currently... (Review)
Review
Trabectedin (Yondelis®, ET-743) is a marine-derived natural product that was initially isolated from the marine ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata and is currently prepared synthetically. Trabectedin is used as a single agent for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma after failure of doxorubicin or ifosfamide or who are unsuited to receive these agents, and in patients with relapsed, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Trabectedin presents a complex mechanism of action affecting key cell biology processes in tumor cells as well as in the tumor microenvironment. The inhibition of trans-activated transcription and the interaction with DNA repair proteins appear as a hallmark of the antiproliferative activity of trabectedin. Inhibition of active transcription is achieved by an initial direct mechanism that involves interaction with RNA polymerase II, thereby inducing its ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. This subsequently modulates the production of cytokines and chemokines by tumor and tumor-associated macrophages. Another interesting effect on activated transcription is mediated by the displacement of oncogenic transcription factors from their target promoters, thereby affecting oncogenic signaling addiction. In addition, it is well established that DNA repair systems including transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination play a role in the antitumor activity of trabectedin. Ongoing studies are currently addressing how to exploit these unique mechanistic features of trabectedin to combine this agent either with immunological or microenvironmental modulators or with classical chemotherapeutic agents in a more rational manner.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; DNA Repair; Dioxoles; Homologous Recombination; Humans; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; Trabectedin; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 26666647
DOI: 10.1007/s00280-015-2918-1 -
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Apr 2021The selective alkylation of nucleic acids is important for a medicinal approach and biological study. We now report a novel selective alkylation of the parallel...
The selective alkylation of nucleic acids is important for a medicinal approach and biological study. We now report a novel selective alkylation of the parallel G-quadruplex structure using the conjugate of the macrocyclic hexaoxazole L2G2-6OTD-1M1PA and vinyl-quinazolinone-S(O)Me (6OTD-VQ-S(O)Me).
Topics: Alkylation; DNA; G-Quadruplexes; Macrocyclic Compounds; Molecular Structure; Oxazoles; Quinazolinones; Vinyl Compounds
PubMed: 33570069
DOI: 10.1039/d0ob02365e -
Chemistry (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Sep 2018Mitomycin C (MC), an antitumor drug, and decarbamoylmitomycin C (DMC), a derivative of MC, alkylate DNA and form deoxyguanosine monoadducts and interstrand crosslinks...
Mitomycin C (MC), an antitumor drug, and decarbamoylmitomycin C (DMC), a derivative of MC, alkylate DNA and form deoxyguanosine monoadducts and interstrand crosslinks (ICLs). Interestingly, in mammalian culture cells, MC forms primarily deoxyguanosine adducts with a 1"-R stereochemistry at the guanine-mitosene bond (1"-α) whereas DMC forms mainly adducts with a 1"-S stereochemistry (1"-β). The molecular basis for the stereochemical configuration exhibited by DMC has been investigated using biomimetic synthesis. Here, we present the results of our studies on the monoalkylation of DNA by DMC. We show that the formation of 1"-β-deoxyguanosine adducts requires bifunctional reductive activation of DMC, and that monofunctional activation only produces 1"-α-adducts. The stereochemistry of the deoxyguanosine adducts formed is also dependent on the regioselectivity of DNA alkylation and on the overall DNA CG content. Additionally, we found that temperature plays a determinant role in the regioselectivity of duplex DNA alkylation by mitomycins: At 0 °C, both deoxyadenosine (dA) and deoxyguanosine (dG) alkylation occur whereas at 37 °C, mitomycins alkylate dG preferentially. The new reaction protocols developed in our laboratory to investigate DMC-DNA alkylation raise the possibility that oligonucleotides containing DMC 1"-β-deoxyguanosine adducts at a specific site may be synthesized by a biomimetic approach.
Topics: Alkylation; Animals; Base Sequence; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; DNA; DNA Adducts; DNA, Bacterial; Deoxyadenosines; Deoxyguanosine; Mice; Micrococcus luteus; Mitomycin; Mitomycins; Stereoisomerism; Temperature
PubMed: 29958326
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201802038