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Pharmaceutics Dec 2023Podophyllotoxin is a naturally occurring cyclolignan isolated from rhizomes of sp. In the clinic, it is used mainly as an antiviral; however, its antitumor activity is... (Review)
Review
Podophyllotoxin is a naturally occurring cyclolignan isolated from rhizomes of sp. In the clinic, it is used mainly as an antiviral; however, its antitumor activity is even more interesting. While podophyllotoxin possesses severe side effects that limit its development as an anticancer agent, nevertheless, it has become a good lead compound for the synthesis of derivatives with fewer side effects and better selectivity. Several examples, such as etoposide, highlight the potential of this natural product for chemomodulation in the search for new antitumor agents. This review focuses on the recent chemical modifications (2017-mid-2023) of the podophyllotoxin skeleton performed mainly at the C-ring (but also at the lactone D-ring and at the trimethoxyphenyl E-ring) together with their biological properties. Special emphasis is placed on hybrids or conjugates with other natural products (either primary or secondary metabolites) and other molecules (heterocycles, benzoheterocycles, synthetic drugs, and other moieties) that contribute to improved podophyllotoxin bioactivity. In fact, hybridization has been a good strategy to design podophyllotoxin derivatives with enhanced bioactivity. The way in which the two components are joined (directly or through spacers) was also considered for the organization of this review. This comprehensive perspective is presented with the aim of guiding the medicinal chemistry community in the design of new podophyllotoxin-based drugs with improved anticancer properties.
PubMed: 38140069
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15122728 -
Cancers Nov 2023: Drug repurposing is a strategy that complements the conventional approach of developing new drugs. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent type of liver...
: Drug repurposing is a strategy that complements the conventional approach of developing new drugs. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent type of liver cancer, necessitating an in-depth understanding of the underlying molecular alterations for improved treatment. : We searched for a vast array of microarray experiments in addition to RNA-seq data. Through rigorous filtering processes, we have identified highly representative differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and non-tumor liver tissues and identified a distinct class of possible new candidate drugs. : Functional enrichment analysis revealed distinct biological processes associated with metal ions, including zinc, cadmium, and copper, potentially implicating chronic metal ion exposure in tumorigenesis. Conversely, up-regulated genes are associated with mitotic events and kinase activities, aligning with the relevance of kinases in HCC. To unravel the regulatory networks governing these DEGs, we employed topological analysis methods, identifying 25 hub genes and their regulatory transcription factors. In the pursuit of potential therapeutic options, we explored drug repurposing strategies based on computational approaches, analyzing their potential to reverse the expression patterns of key genes, including AURKA, CCNB1, CDK1, RRM2, and TOP2A. Potential therapeutic chemicals are alvocidib, AT-7519, kenpaullone, PHA-793887, JNJ-7706621, danusertibe, doxorubicin and analogues, mitoxantrone, podofilox, teniposide, and amonafide. : This multi-omic study offers a comprehensive view of DEGs in HCC, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets and drug repurposing opportunities.
PubMed: 38067357
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15235653 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2023The rising need for repeated booster vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 infections raises the question of whether chronic immunosuppressive chemotherapies influence the...
The rising need for repeated booster vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 infections raises the question of whether chronic immunosuppressive chemotherapies influence the efficacy of vaccination. Here, we present the case of a 70-year-old post-thymoma surgery patient who received Vepesid (etoposide, Xediton Pharmaceuticals Inc) chemotherapy for six months before vaccination with Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine). The first two vaccinations elicited only minimal increases of IgG antibodies specific against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the spike protein (S1), while the third vaccination was effective in providing high, slowly subsiding antibody titers over a 7-month period. The patient also developed a cellular immune response after the third vaccination. Also, measuring of anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) IgM titers before and after vaccinations showed no immunogenicity for PEG. Later, a single dose of Sinopharm (China National Pharmaceutical Group) inactivated virus-type vaccine was administered, which also modestly increased the level of IgG. A symptomless COVID-19 infection, however, greatly increased the serum level of anti-RBD IgG, which later subsided. This case confirms that an effective immune response can be achieved with a series of COVID-19 vaccinations despite cytostatic treatment in an old thymus cancer surviving patient in the absence of adverse reactions.
Topics: Aged; Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Thymus Neoplasms; BNT162 Vaccine; Etoposide; Immunoglobulin G; Polyethylene Glycols; Antibodies, Viral; Vaccination
PubMed: 37062957
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2188035 -
Journal of Biomolecular Structure &... 2023COVID-19 has infected millions and significantly affected the global economy and healthcare systems. Despite continuous lockdowns, symptomatic management with currently...
COVID-19 has infected millions and significantly affected the global economy and healthcare systems. Despite continuous lockdowns, symptomatic management with currently available medications, and numerous vaccination drives, it is still far more difficult to control. Against COVID-19 infection, the pressure to develop vaccines and drugs has led to using some currently available medications like remdesivir, azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine and ritonavir. Understanding the importance and potential of harmless molecules to tackle SARS-COV-2, we designed the present study to identify potential natural phytocompounds. In the present study, we docked natural compounds and standard drugs against SARS-COV-2 proteins: papain-like protease, main protease and helicase. ADME/T and ProTox-II analyses were used to determine the toxicity of phytocompounds and drugs. The docking analysis revealed that podophyllotoxin gave the highest binding affinity scores of -8.1, -7.1 and -7.4 kcal/mol against PLpro, Mpro and helicase, respectively. Among the control drugs, doxycycline hydrochloride showed the highest binding affinity of -10.5, -8.4 and -8.8 kcal/mol against PLpro, Mpro and helicase. The results of this study revealed that podophyllotoxin and doxycycline hydrochloride could be promising inhibitors against SARS-Cov-2. Molecular dynamic simulations were executed for the best docked (PLpro-podophyllotoxin) complex, and the results displayed stable conformation and convergence. Energy plot results predicted a global minima average energy of -95 kcal/mol and indicated podophyllotoxin's role in stabilizing protein and making it compact and complex. FarPPI server used MM/GBSA approach to determine free binding affinity, and helicase-gallic acid complex showed the highest affinity, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is still a need for and studies to support further and validate these findings and validate these findings.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
PubMed: 36326281
DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2139766 -
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters Oct 2023The conjugation of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) with podophyllotoxin, -desacetylthiocolchicine, and cabazitaxel through a sebacic acid linker led to the formation of...
The conjugation of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) with podophyllotoxin, -desacetylthiocolchicine, and cabazitaxel through a sebacic acid linker led to the formation of fluorescent nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used for the identification and characterization of the fluorescent nanoparticles. The biological evaluation was determined in three human ovarian (KURAMOCHI, OVCAR3, OVSAHO) and three human breast (MCF7, SKBR 3, and MDA-MB231) cancer cell lines. In the case of cabazitaxel, the nanoparticles maintained the activity of the parent drug, at the low nanomolar range, while exhibiting high blue fluorescence. The internalization of the fluorescent NPs into cells was detected using immunofluorescence assay.
PubMed: 37849561
DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00396 -
Clinical Cancer Research : An Official... Feb 2024Chemo-immunotherapy is the current standard of care for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, but predictive biomarkers are lacking. In a recent article, the authors...
Chemo-immunotherapy is the current standard of care for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, but predictive biomarkers are lacking. In a recent article, the authors report the predictive role of programmed death ligand-1 expression and tissue tumor mutational burden on durvalumab ± tremelimumab + platinum-etoposide efficacy. See related article by Paz-Ares et al., p. 824.
Topics: Humans; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma; Lung Neoplasms; Etoposide; Biomarkers, Tumor; Immunotherapy; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
PubMed: 38085269
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-3087 -
Life Science Alliance Aug 2024RNA-binding proteins are frequently deregulated in cancer and emerge as effectors of the DNA damage response (DDR). The non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein...
RNA-binding proteins are frequently deregulated in cancer and emerge as effectors of the DNA damage response (DDR). The non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein NONO/p54 is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that not only modulates the production and processing of mRNA, but also promotes the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here, we investigate the impact of deletion in the murine KP ( , ) cell-based lung cancer model. We show that the deletion of Nono impairs the response to DNA damage induced by the topoisomerase II inhibitor etoposide or the radiomimetic drug bleomycin. Nono-deficient KP (KPN) cells display hyperactivation of DSB signalling and high levels of DSBs. The defects in the DDR are accompanied by reduced RNA polymerase II promoter occupancy, impaired nascent RNA synthesis, and attenuated induction of the DDR factor growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible beta (Gadd45b). Our data characterise Gadd45b as a putative Nono-dependent effector of the DDR and suggest that Nono mediates a genome-protective crosstalk of the DDR with the RNA metabolism via induction of Gadd45b.
Topics: Animals; DNA Repair; Mice; RNA-Binding Proteins; DNA Damage; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; Antigens, Differentiation; Bleomycin; DNA-Binding Proteins; Etoposide; Signal Transduction; Lung Neoplasms; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; Cell Line, Tumor; RNA Polymerase II; Humans; GADD45 Proteins
PubMed: 38843934
DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302555 -
Advanced Healthcare Materials Sep 2023By conjugating a chemotherapeutic candidate drug 4β-NH-(5-aminoindazole)-podophyllotoxin (βIZP) and an immunosuppressive protein galectin-1 targeted aptamer AP74, a...
By conjugating a chemotherapeutic candidate drug 4β-NH-(5-aminoindazole)-podophyllotoxin (βIZP) and an immunosuppressive protein galectin-1 targeted aptamer AP74, a chemo-immunotherapy molecule (AP74-βIZP) is developed against liver cancer. AP74-βIZP can target galectin-1 and enrich the tumor microenvironment to improve the tumor inhibition ratio by 6.3%, higher than that of βIZP in a HepG2 xenograft model. In safety evaluation, βIZP cannot be released from AP74-βIZP in normal tissues with low glutathione level. Therefore, the degrees of organs injury and myelosuppression after the treatment with AP74-βIZP are lower than those with βIZP. After 21 d treatment at a drug dose of 5 mg kg , AP74-βIZP does not cause weight loss in mice, while the weight is significantly reduced by 24% and 14% from oxaliplatin and βIZP, respectively. In immune synergy, AP74-IZP enhances CD4/CD8 cell infiltration to promote the expression of cell factor (i.e., IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), which further improves the antitumor activity. The tumor inhibition ratio of AP74-βIZP is 70.2%, which is higher than that of AP74 (35.2%) and βIZP (48.8%). Because of the dual effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, AP74-βIZP exhibits superior activity and lower toxicity. The approach developed in this work could be applicable to other chemotherapy drugs.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Podophyllotoxin; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Galectin 1; Liver Neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 37141264
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202203144 -
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Jun 2024Survival rates of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma are unacceptable. A time-intensified treatment strategy with delayed local treatment to control systemic diseases...
PURPOSE
Survival rates of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma are unacceptable. A time-intensified treatment strategy with delayed local treatment to control systemic diseases has been developed in Japan. We conducted a nationwide, prospective, single-arm clinical trial with delayed local treatment. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of delayed surgery to increase treatment intensity.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Seventy-five patients with high-risk neuroblastoma were enrolled in this study between May 2011 and September 2015. Delayed local treatment consisted of five courses of induction chemotherapy (cisplatin, pirarubicin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide) and myeloablative high-dose chemotherapy (melphalan, etoposide, and carboplatin), followed by local tumor extirpation with surgery and irradiation. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), response rate, adverse events, and surgical complications.
RESULTS
Seventy-five patients were enrolled, and 64 were evaluable (stage 3, n = 8; stage 4, n = 56). The estimated 3-year PFS and OS rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 44.4% [31.8%-56.3%] and 80.7% [68.5%-88.5%], resspectively. The response rate of INRC after completion of the treatment protocol was 66% (42/64; 95% CI: 53%-77%; 23 CR [complete response], 10 VGPR [very good partial response], and nine PR [partial response]). None of the patients died during the protocol treatment or within 30 days of completion. Grade 4 adverse effects, excluding hematological adverse effects, occurred in 48% of patients [31/64; 95% CI: 36%-61%]. Major Surgical complications were observed in 25% of patients [13/51; 95% CI: 14%-40%].
CONCLUSION
This study indicates that delayed local treatment is feasible and shows promising efficacy, suggesting that this treatment should be considered further in a comparative study of high-risk neuroblastoma.
Topics: Humans; Neuroblastoma; Female; Male; Child, Preschool; Infant; Child; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Japan; Prospective Studies; Survival Rate; Adolescent; Induction Chemotherapy; Etoposide; Follow-Up Studies; Vincristine; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Prognosis; Doxorubicin; Melphalan; Cisplatin
PubMed: 38577760
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30976 -
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo... May 2024Sinopodophylli Fructus is a traditional medicine used by the Tibetan people. It is known for its ability to regulate menstruation and promote blood circulation.... (Review)
Review
Sinopodophylli Fructus is a traditional medicine used by the Tibetan people. It is known for its ability to regulate menstruation and promote blood circulation. Presently, bioactive constituents that have been isolated and identified from Sinopodophylli Fructus mainly include 15 lignans(e.g., podophyllotoxin, deoxypodophyllotoxin, and 4'-demethylpodophyllotoxin) and 20 flavonoids(e.g., quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin). These components exhibit pharmacological effects such as anticancer, antibacterial, and lipid-lowering activities. Additionally, Sinopodophylli Fructus contains other components such as proteins, fatty acids, polysaccharides, vitamins, amino acids, and trace elements. According to the relevant literature reports in China and abroad, this article reviewed the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Sinopodophylli Fructus, aiming to provide references for the development and rational clinical application of this medicinal resource.
Topics: Medicine, Tibetan Traditional; Humans; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Animals; Flavonoids; Fruit
PubMed: 38812164
DOI: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20230602.201