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Cancers Jan 2022Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is due to the pathologic accumulation of neoplastic mast cells in one or more extracutaneous organ(s). Although midostaurin, a multikinase...
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is due to the pathologic accumulation of neoplastic mast cells in one or more extracutaneous organ(s). Although midostaurin, a multikinase inhibitor active against both wild-type and D816V-mutated KIT, improves organ damage and symptoms, a proportion of patients relapse or have resistant disease. It is well known that Aurora kinase A (AKA) over-expression promotes tumorigenesis, but its role in the pathogenesis of systemic mastocytosis (SM) has not yet been investigated. Evidence from the literature suggests that AKA may confer cancer cell chemo-resistance, inhibit p53, and enhance Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), CDK1, and cyclin B1 to promote cell cycle progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the pathogenetic role of AKA and Plk1 in the advanced forms of SM. We demonstrate here, for the first time, that SM cell lines display hyper-phosphorylated AKA and Plk1. Danusertib (Aurora kinase inhibitor) and volasertib (Plk1 inhibitor) inhibited growth and induced apoptotic cell death in HMC-1.1 and -1.2 cells. Their growth-inhibitory effects were associated with cell cycle arrest and the activation of apoptosis. Cell cycle arrest was associated with increased levels of phospho-Wee1. Wee1 inhibition by MK1775 after 24 h treatment with danusertib or volasertib, when cells were arrested in G2 phase and Wee1, was overexpressed and hyper-activated, resulting in a significantly higher rate of apoptosis than that obtained from concomitant treatment with danusertib or volasertib + MK1775 for 48 h. In conclusion, Plk1 and AKA, alone or together with Wee1, are attractive therapeutic targets in neoplastic MCs. Repurposing Plk1 or AKA ± Wee1 inhibitors in advanced clinical development for other indications is a therapeutic strategy worthy of being explored, in order to improve the outcome of patients with advanced SM.
PubMed: 35159005
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030738 -
The Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology... Feb 2024Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an extremely deadly type of cancer with a high metastatic potential. Genetic factors in cellular events play an important role in the...
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an extremely deadly type of cancer with a high metastatic potential. Genetic factors in cellular events play an important role in the emergence of this situation. One of these factors is Aurora kinase family members, which play a role in migration, invasion, and cell cycle. In this study, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor gene, which plays a role in migration, metastasis, and angiogenesis, on cystic fibrosis human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 1 cells of danusertib, a pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor, was examined.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value (400 nM) of danusertib in cystic fibrosis human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 1 cells was determined by the wound-healing test depending on the dose and time and migration with CIM-Plate 16 in the xCELLingence system. In addition, the effect of danusertib on migration was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) method and vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression.
RESULTS
When the dose- and time-dependent danusertib-applied cystic fibrosis human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma 1 cells were compared with the control group, it was observed that the wound formed did not close. In the xCELLigence system CIM-Plate 16 migration analysis, it was observed that migration was inhibited in the group administered danusertib in parallel with the wound dehiscence experiment. The gene expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor decreased 0.5-fold at the 24th hour and 0.3-fold at the 48th hour in the Danusertib-administered groups.
CONCLUSION
Danusertib, a pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor, is predicted to be used as a potential agent in pancreatic cancers due to its antitumor and anti-metastatic effect.
Topics: Humans; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Cystic Fibrosis; Aurora Kinases; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Cell Proliferation; Benzamides; Pyrazoles
PubMed: 38454247
DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2024.22319 -
PeerJ 2019The kinase of Aurora A has been regarded as a promising therapeutic target due to its altered expression in various human cancers. However, given the high similarity of...
BACKGROUND
The kinase of Aurora A has been regarded as a promising therapeutic target due to its altered expression in various human cancers. However, given the high similarity of the active binding site of Aurora A to other kinases, designing highly selective inhibitors towards Aurora A remains a challenge. Recently, two potential small-molecule inhibitors named AT9283 and Danusertib were reported to exhibit significant selectivity to Aurora A, but not to Gleevec. It was argued that protein dynamics is crucial for drug selectivity to Aurora A. However, little computational research has been conducted to shed light on the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS
In this study, MM/GBSA calculations based on conventional molecular dynamics (cMD) simulations and enhanced sampling simulations including Gaussian accelerated MD (GaMD) simulations and umbrella sampling were carried out to illustrate the selectivity of inhibitors to Aurora A.
RESULTS
The calculation results from cMD simulation showed that the binding specificity is primarily controlled by conformational change of the kinase hinge. The protein dynamics and energetic differences were further supported by the GaMD simulations. Umbrella sampling further proved that AT9283 and Danusertib have similar potential of mean force (PMF) profiles toward Aurora A in terms of PMF depth. Compared with AT9283 and Danusertib, Gleevec has much lower PMF depth, indicating that Gleevec is more easily dissociated from Aurora A than AT9283 and Danusertib. These results not only show the selective determinants of Aurora A, but also provide valuable clues for the further development of novel potent Aurora A selective inhibitors.
PubMed: 31660263
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7832 -
Biochemical Pharmacology May 2024Aurora kinase (AURK) and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) are commonly overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), correlating with poor prognosis. This study aims to...
Aurora kinase (AURK) and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) are commonly overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), correlating with poor prognosis. This study aims to assess the therapeutic potential of combining the Danusertib (Danu, AURK inhibitor) and KRIBB11 (HSF1 inhibitor) for NSCLC treatment. The effects of this combination were investigated in A549 cells and a tumor xenograft mouse model. The findings demonstrate that concurrent administration of Danu and KRIBB11 effectively impedes cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, and triggers G2/M cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the combination treatment upregulates pro-apoptotic proteins (Cleaved-caspase3, Cleaved-PARP, and Bax) while downregulating anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2), as well as G2/M-related proteins (CDC2 and cyclin B1). Additionally, the combination treatment elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreases mitochondrial membrane potential, and activates the DNA damage pathway. Interestingly, we discovered that the PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in mediating the effects of both Danu and KRIBB11. Furthermore, the combination treatment inhibits tumor growth and AKT signaling in the xenograft mouse model, increases levels of the tumor tissue oxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), and induces DNA damage. To summarize, a potential therapeutic approach for NSCLC may involve dual inhibition of AURK and HSF1, resulting in the downregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and the activation of ROS-mediated mitochondrial and DNA damage pathways.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Reactive Oxygen Species; Lung Neoplasms; Cell Proliferation; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Aminopyridines; Benzamides; Indazoles; Pyrazoles
PubMed: 38521474
DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116155 -
Cellular Oncology (Dordrecht) Oct 2021In this study we aimed to assess the anti-tumor effect of co-inhibition of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) on hepatocellular...
PURPOSE
In this study we aimed to assess the anti-tumor effect of co-inhibition of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as to explore the mechanism involved.
METHODS
Expression of AURKA and HSF1 in primary HCC tissues and cell lines was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), qRT-PCR and Western blotting. AURKA was knocked down in HepG2 and BEL-7402 HCC cells using lentivirus-mediated RNA interference. Next, CCK-8, clone formation, transwell and flow cytometry assays were used to assess their viability, migration, invasion and apoptosis, respectively. The expression of proteins related to cell cycle progression, apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) was analyzed using Western blotting. In addition, in vivo tumor growth of HCC cells was assessed using a nude mouse xenograft model, and the resulting tumors were evaluated using HE staining and IHC.
RESULTS
Both AURKA and HSF1 were highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, while being negatively related to HCC prognosis. Knockdown of AURKA significantly inhibited the colony forming and migrating capacities of HCC cells. In addition, we found that treatment with an AURKA inhibitor (Danusertib) led to marked reductions in the proliferation and migration capacities of the HCC cells, and promoted their apoptosis. Notably, combined inhibition of AURKA and HSF1 induced HCC cell apoptosis, while increasing the expression of ERS-associated proteins, including p-eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP. Finally, we found that co-inhibition of AURKA and HSF1 elicited an excellent in vivo antitumor effect in a HCC mouse model with a relatively low cytotoxicity.
CONCLUSIONS
Combined inhibition of AURKA and HSF1 shows an excellent anti-tumor effect on HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, which may be mediated by ERS. These findings suggest that both AURKA and HSF1 may serve as targets for HCC treatment.
Topics: Aminopyridines; Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Aurora Kinase A; Benzamides; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Heat Shock Transcription Factors; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Indazoles; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Liver Neoplasms; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Pyrazoles; RNA Interference; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; Mice
PubMed: 34176092
DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00617-w -
ACS Chemical Biology Mar 2020While recognized as a therapeutic target, the spliceosome may offer a robust vector to improve established therapeutics against other protein targets. Here, we describe...
While recognized as a therapeutic target, the spliceosome may offer a robust vector to improve established therapeutics against other protein targets. Here, we describe how modulating the spliceosome using small molecule splice modulators (SPLMs) can prime a cell for sensitivity to a target-specific drug. Using the cell cycle regulators aurora kinase and polo-like kinase as models, this study demonstrates how the combination of SPLM treatment in conjunction with kinase inhibition offers synergy for antitumor activity using reduced, sublethal levels of SPLM and kinase inhibitors. This concept of splice-modulated drug attenuation suggests a possible approach to enhance therapeutic agents that have shown limited applicability due to high toxicity or low efficacy.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Aurora Kinases; Benzamides; Cell Cycle; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; Humans; Macrolides; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Pteridines; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Structure-Activity Relationship; Substrate Specificity; Polo-Like Kinase 1
PubMed: 32004428
DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00833 -
Theranostics 2021Doxorubicin is a widely used anticancer drug. However, its major side effect, cardiotoxicity, results from cardiomyocyte loss that causes left ventricle (LV) wall...
Thyroid hormone plus dual-specificity phosphatase-5 siRNA increases the number of cardiac muscle cells and improves left ventricular contractile function in chronic doxorubicin-injured hearts.
Doxorubicin is a widely used anticancer drug. However, its major side effect, cardiotoxicity, results from cardiomyocyte loss that causes left ventricle (LV) wall thinning, chronic LV dysfunction and heart failure. Cardiomyocyte number expansion by thyroid hormone (T3) during preadolescence is suppressed by the developmental induction of an ERK1/2-specific dual specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5). Here, we sought to determine if a brief course of combined DUSP5 suppression plus T3 therapy replaces cardiomyocytes lost due to preexisting doxorubicin injury and reverses heart failure. We used -jetPEI to deliver DUSP5 or scrambled siRNA to ~5-week-old C57BL6 mice followed by 5 daily injections of T3 (2 ng/µg body weight). Genetic lineage tracing using -MerMer::Rosa26fs-Confetti mice and direct cardiomyocyte number counting, along with cell cycle inhibition (danusertib), was used to test if this treatment leads to cardiomyocyte generation and improves LV contractile function. Three doses of doxorubicin (20 µg/g) given at 2-weekly intervals, starting at 5-weeks of age in C57BL6 mice, caused severe heart failure, as evident by a decrease in LV ejection fraction. Mice with an ~40 percentage point decrease in LVEF post-doxorubicin injury were randomized to receive either DUSP5 siRNA plus T3, or scrambled siRNA plus vehicle for T3. Age-matched mice without doxorubicin injury served as controls. In uninjured adult mice, transient therapy with DUSP5 siRNA and T3 increases cardiomyocyte numbers, which is required for the associated increase in LV contractile function, since both are blocked by danusertib. In mice with chronic doxorubicin injury, DUSP5 siRNA plus T3 therapy rebuilds LV muscle by increasing cardiomyocyte numbers, which reverses LV dysfunction and prevents progressive chamber dilatation. RNA therapies are showing great potential. Importantly, a GMP compliant -jetPEI system for delivery of siRNA is already in use in humans, as is T3. Given these considerations, our findings provide a potentially highly translatable strategy for addressing doxorubicin cardiomyopathy, a currently untreatable condition.
Topics: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Benzamides; Cardiotoxicity; Cell Count; Cell Proliferation; Doxorubicin; Dual-Specificity Phosphatases; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Mice; Myocardial Contraction; Myocytes, Cardiac; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyrazoles; RNA, Small Interfering; Triiodothyronine; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left; Ventricular Function, Left; Ventricular Remodeling
PubMed: 33754028
DOI: 10.7150/thno.57456