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Surgical Neurology International 2016Gliomas display a high degree of intratumor heterogeneity, including changes in physiological parameters and lipid composition of the plasma membrane, which may...
BACKGROUND
Gliomas display a high degree of intratumor heterogeneity, including changes in physiological parameters and lipid composition of the plasma membrane, which may contribute to the development of drug resistance. Biophysical interactions between therapeutic agents and the lipid components at the outer plasma membrane interface are critical for effective drug uptake. Amphipathic molecules such as perillyl alcohol (POH) have a high partition coefficient and generally lead to altered lipid acyl tail dynamics near the lipid-water interface, impacting the lipid bilayer structure and transport dynamics. We therefore hypothesized that glioma cells may display enhanced sensitivity to POH-induced apoptosis due to plasma membrane alterations, while in non-transformed cells, POH may be expelled through thermal agitation.
METHODS
Interactions between POH and the plasma membrane was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. In this phase I/II trial, we set up to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of long-term (up to 5 years) daily intranasal administration of POH in a cohort of 19 patients with low-grade glioma (LGG). Importantly, in a series of clinical studies previously published by our group, we have successfully established that intranasal delivery of POH to patients with malignant gliomas is a viable and effective therapeutic strategy.
RESULTS
POH altered the plasma membrane potential of the lipid bilayer of gliomas and prolonged intranasal administration of POH in a cohort of patients with LGG halted disease progression with virtually no toxicity.
CONCLUSION
Altogether, the results suggest that POH-induced alterations of the plasma membrane might be contributing to its therapeutic efficacy in preventing LGG progression.
PubMed: 26862440
DOI: 10.4103/2152-7806.173301 -
Oncology Reports May 2005Standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme consisting of surgical resection, radiation and/or chemotherapy is rarely curative, emphasizing the need for new...
Standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme consisting of surgical resection, radiation and/or chemotherapy is rarely curative, emphasizing the need for new chemotherapeutic drugs. The monoterpene perillyl alcohol (POH) has preventive and therapeutic effects in a wide variety of pre-clinical tumor models and is currently under phase I and II clinical trials. In the present study, we analyzed its effect on human glioblastoma cell lines (U87 and A172) and a primary cell culture derived from a human glioblastoma tumor specimen (GBM-1). Using MTT, we showed that POH inhibits the viability of glioblastomas in a concentration-dependent way. Glioblastoma cell lines treated with POH showed morphological alterations characteristic of apoptosis. Analysis of cell cycle and quantification of DNA fragmentation, in cells stained with propidium iodide (PI), confirmed the apoptotic effect of POH on glioblastomas. These data support the potential usefulness of perillyl alcohol as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Glioblastoma; Humans; Monoterpenes; Tumor Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 15809762
DOI: No ID Found -
Neuro-oncology Advances 2020NEO212 is a novel small-molecule anticancer agent that was generated by covalent conjugation of the natural monoterpene perillyl alcohol (POH) to the alkylating agent...
BACKGROUND
NEO212 is a novel small-molecule anticancer agent that was generated by covalent conjugation of the natural monoterpene perillyl alcohol (POH) to the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ). It is undergoing preclinical development as a therapeutic for brain-localized malignancies. The aim of this study was to characterize metabolism and pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of NEO212 in preclinical models.
METHODS
We used mass spectrometry (MS) and modified high-performance liquid chromatography to identify and quantitate NEO212 and its metabolites in cultured glioblastoma cells, in mouse plasma, brain, and excreta after oral gavage.
RESULTS
Our methods allowed identification and quantitation of NEO212, POH, TMZ, as well as primary metabolites 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AIC) and perillic acid (PA). Intracellular concentrations of TMZ were greater after treatment of U251TR cells with NEO212 than after treatment with TMZ. The half-life of NEO212 in mouse plasma was 94 min. In mice harboring syngeneic GL261 brain tumors, the amount of NEO212 was greater in the tumor-bearing hemisphere than in the contralateral normal hemisphere. The brain:plasma ratio of NEO212 was greater than that of TMZ. Excretion of unaltered NEO212 was through feces, whereas its AIC metabolite was excreted via urine.
CONCLUSIONS
NEO212 preferentially concentrates in brain tumor tissue over normal brain tissue, and compared to TMZ has a higher brain:plasma ratio, altogether revealing favorable features to encourage its further development as a brain-targeted therapeutic. Its breakdown into well-characterized, long-lived metabolites, in particular AIC and PA, will provide useful equivalents for PK studies during further drug development and clinical trials with NEO212.
PubMed: 33392507
DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa160 -
Human & Experimental Toxicology Nov 2013In the present study, we have evaluated the chemopreventive effects of perillyl alcohol (POH) against diethylnitrosamine-initiated and 2-AAF...
In the present study, we have evaluated the chemopreventive effects of perillyl alcohol (POH) against diethylnitrosamine-initiated and 2-AAF (2-acetylaminofluorine)-promoted hepatocarcinogenesis in Wistar rats. Efficacy of POH against 2-AAF-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated in terms of biochemical estimation of antioxidant enzyme activities, histopathological changes and expression levels of proliferative markers. 2-AAF is a potent hepatotoxicant and a hepatic carcinogen that induces its effect by causing oxidative stress. Pre-treatment of POH prevented oxidative stress and tumour incidences. POH suppressed 2-AAF-induced early tumour markers, namely ornithine decarboxylase activity, thymidine phosphorylase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein and also suppressed the expression of pro-apoptotic protein P53. Histopathological findings revealed that POH-pretreated groups showed marked recovery. From our results, it could be concluded that POH markedly protects against chemically induced liver cancer and acts possibly by virtue of its antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.
Topics: 2-Acetylaminofluorene; Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Biomarkers, Tumor; Catalase; Cell Proliferation; Diethylnitrosamine; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Glutathione Reductase; Glutathione Transferase; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Monoterpenes; Ornithine Decarboxylase; Oxidative Stress; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thymidine Phosphorylase; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
PubMed: 23536516
DOI: 10.1177/0960327112474834 -
The Journal of Surgical Research Apr 1997The development of intimal hyperplasia is recognized as a major impediment to graft patency. D-Limonenes are monoterpenes with a recognized cytostatic effect on cell...
The development of intimal hyperplasia is recognized as a major impediment to graft patency. D-Limonenes are monoterpenes with a recognized cytostatic effect on cell proliferation by inhibiting posttranslational isoprenylation of p21ras and other small G-proteins. This study examines the effect of perillyl alcohol, an oral hydroxylated D-limonene, on the development of intimal hyperplasia and its associated smooth muscle cell physiological responses in an experimental model of vein bypass grafting. Twenty New Zealand white rabbits had a right carotid interposition bypass graft using the ipsilateral external jugular vein. Ten animals received chronic oral therapy with a perillyl alcohol (200 mg/kg/day; begun 5 days before surgery and continued until harvest) and 10 control animals received vehicle only. All animals were sacrificed on the 28th postoperative day. Vein grafts were harvested either for morphology/videomorphometry (n = 6 per group) or for in vitro isometric tension studies (n = 4; four 5-mm rings per graft). The cell proliferation and incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the cellular DNA of serum-stimulated rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells was also assessed in the presence of increasing concentrations of perillyl alcohol (10(-9)-10(-4) M). Perillyl alcohol treated vein grafts showed a 22% reduction in overall mean intimal thickness (54 +/- 4 microns vs 69 +/- 3 microns; P = 0.006) but a 25% increase in overall mean medial thickness (86 +/- 4 microns vs 61 +/- 3 microns). The intimal ratio of the perillyl alcohol treated vein grafts decreased by 27% compared to controls. Perillyl alcohol induced norepinephrine and serotonin hypersensitivity in vein grafts compared to controls. The IC50 for perillyl alcohol was 176 nM with maximal inhibition at 5 microM. Incubation of smooth muscle cell cultures with increasing concentrations of perillyl alcohol showed a dose-dependent decrease in in vitro cellular proliferation, maximal at 1 microM. Therapy with perillyl alcohol alters the early development of intimal hyperplasia reducing the intimal response but increasing the medial response without significant changes in the physiological responses of the smooth muscle cells. Modulating G-proteins will affect the intimal hyperplastic response in vein grafts.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Carotid Artery, Common; Cell Division; Collagen; Hyperplasia; Jugular Veins; Monoterpenes; Rabbits; Terpenes; Thymidine; Tunica Intima; Vasoconstriction
PubMed: 9202658
DOI: 10.1006/jsre.1997.5047 -
Anti-cancer Drugs Jan 2010Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. Several treatment options exist, with different side effects. To alleviate...
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. Several treatment options exist, with different side effects. To alleviate the side effects, several research groups have studied chemotherapeutic effects of plant compounds on cancer cells. These could be used as an alternative treatment option either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of a combination of perillyl alcohol (POH), methyl jasmonate (MJ) with cisplatin to define the most effective schedule and to investigate the mechanism of action in breast cancer cells. POH and MJ treatment (20% decrease in cell viability concentration) enhanced the cytotoxicity for subsequent exposure to cisplatin in MDA-MB-435 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Combination treatment of POH and MJ blocked cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and the addition of cisplatin forced the cells to progress through the cell cycle and induced apoptosis. Apoptotic mechanistic studies indicated that POH and MJ treatment activated tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and this was further increased by the addition of cisplatin. It was also found that mitochondrial membrane potential decreased with POH and MJ treatment; this effect was further enhanced by cisplatin treatment. These findings contributed to a better understanding of molecular mechanism of apoptosis in combination treatment of POH, MJ, and cisplatin. Results also showed that the combination treatment of three drugs is more effective than single drug alone or two drugs together.
Topics: Acetates; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Cisplatin; Cyclopentanes; Drug Synergism; Female; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Monoterpenes; Oxylipins; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tumor Stem Cell Assay
PubMed: 19820395
DOI: 10.1097/CAD.0b013e32832a68ad -
Acta Crystallographica. Section E,... Dec 2010The title compound, C(17)H(25)NO(2), was synthesized by epoxidation of the double bond of (S)-perillyl alcohol [(S)-4-isopropenyl-1-cyclo-hexenyl-methanol], followed by...
The title compound, C(17)H(25)NO(2), was synthesized by epoxidation of the double bond of (S)-perillyl alcohol [(S)-4-isopropenyl-1-cyclo-hexenyl-methanol], followed by the oxirane ring-opening by benzyl-amine using [Ca(CF(3)CO(2))(2)] as catalyst under solvent-free condition at 313 K. The mol-ecular conformation is stabilized by an intra-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bond. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to the a axis, which are further connected by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds into sheets parallel to (010). The absolute configuration of the mol-ecule is known from the synthetic procedure.
PubMed: 21522697
DOI: 10.1107/S1600536810052323 -
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 1994The monoterpene perillyl alcohol has been shown to induce the regression of 81% of small mammary carcinomas and up to 75% of advanced mammary carcinomas initiated by... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The monoterpene perillyl alcohol has been shown to induce the regression of 81% of small mammary carcinomas and up to 75% of advanced mammary carcinomas initiated by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in the Wistar-Furth rat. Dietary perillyl alcohol was greater than 5 times more potent than the monoterpene limonene at inducing tumor regression. Perillyl alcohol is rapidly metabolized in the rat, as is limonene. Rats chronically fed perillyl alcohol had the same circulating plasma metabolites as rats fed limonene; however, the levels of these metabolites found in the plasma were higher for perillyl alcohol-fed rats. For example, rats given a 2% perillyl alcohol diet for 10 weeks had plasma levels of terpene metabolites of 0.82 mM whereas those fed a 10% limonene diet for the same period had blood levels of 0.27 mM. It thus appears that the increased potency of perillyl alcohol over limonene in causing tumor regression may be due at least in part to differences in the pharmacokinetics of these two monoterpenes. We feel that perillyl alcohol is a good candidate for clinical testing of anticancer efficacy in humans.
Topics: 9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Body Weight; Cyclohexenes; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Female; Limonene; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Monoterpenes; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Terpenes; Time Factors
PubMed: 7923558
DOI: 10.1007/BF00685658 -
Cancer Letters Aug 2017The anticancer agent 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) is viewed as a glycolytic inhibitor that preferentially kills glycolytic cancer cells through energy depletion. However, its...
A perillyl alcohol-conjugated analog of 3-bromopyruvate without cellular uptake dependency on monocarboxylate transporter 1 and with activity in 3-BP-resistant tumor cells.
The anticancer agent 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) is viewed as a glycolytic inhibitor that preferentially kills glycolytic cancer cells through energy depletion. However, its cytotoxic activity is dependent on cellular drug import through transmembrane monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT-1), which restricts its anticancer potential to MCT-1-positive tumor cells. We created and characterized an MCT-1-independent analog of 3-BP, called NEO218. NEO218 was synthesized by covalently conjugating 3-BP to perillyl alcohol (POH), a natural monoterpene. The responses of various tumor cell lines to treatment with either compound were characterized in the presence or absence of supplemental pyruvate or antioxidants N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH). Drug effects on glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) enzyme activity were investigated by mass spectrometric analysis. The development of 3-BP resistance was investigated in MCT-1-positive HCT116 colon carcinoma cells in vitro. Our results show that NEO218: (i) pyruvylated GAPDH on all 4 of its cysteine residues and shut down enzymatic activity; (ii) severely lowered cellular ATP content below life-sustaining levels, and (iii) triggered rapid necrosis. Intriguingly, supplemental antioxidants effectively prevented cytotoxic activity of NEO218 as well as 3-BP, but supplemental pyruvate powerfully protected cells only from 3-BP, not from NEO218. Unlike 3-BP, NEO218 exerted its potent cytotoxic activity irrespective of cellular MCT-1 status. Treatment of HCT116 cells with 3-BP resulted in prompt development of resistance, based on the emergence of MCT-1-negative cells. This was not the case with NEO218, and highly 3-BP-resistant cells remained exquisitely sensitive to NEO218. Thus, our study identifies a mechanism by which tumor cells develop rapid resistance to 3-BP, and presents NEO218 as a superior agent not subject to this cellular defense. Furthermore, our results offer alternative interpretations of previously published models on the role of supplemental antioxidants: Rather than quenching reactive oxygen species (ROS), supplemental NAC or GSH directly interact with 3-BP, thereby neutralizing the drug's cytotoxic potential before it can trigger ROS production. Altogether, our study introduces new aspects of the cytotoxic mechanism of 3-BP, and characterizes NEO218 as an analog able to overcome a key cellular defense mechanism towards this drug.
Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Alkylation; Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; Glycolysis; HCT116 Cells; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; Monoterpenes; Necrosis; Neoplasms; Pyruvates; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; Symporters; Transfection
PubMed: 28450161
DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.04.015 -
International Immunopharmacology Oct 2016Perillyl alcohol (POH) is a dietary monoterpene present in a variety of plants with a pure or mixed form, and it is one of the very few natural substances with...
Perillyl alcohol efficiently scavenges activity of cellular ROS and inhibits the translational expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α via mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathways.
Perillyl alcohol (POH) is a dietary monoterpene present in a variety of plants with a pure or mixed form, and it is one of the very few natural substances with anticancer activity. However, the mechanism by which POH unleashes its anticancer activity in tumor cells remains unclear. We here demonstrated the effect of POH on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activation. POH showed the potent inhibitory activity against HIF-1 activation induced by hypoxia in various human cancer cell lines and efficient scavenging activity of cellular Reactive oxygen species (ROS) by hypoxia in tumor cells. Further analysis revealed that POH inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis, without affecting the expression level of HIF-1α mRNA or degradation of HIF-1α protein. Moreover, we found that suppression of HIF-1α accumulation by POH correlated with strong de-phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and eIF4E binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). These results showed that POH inhibited HIF-1α protein synthesis through the inhibition of mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathways. Furthermore, POH increased the expression of p53, p21, induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase as well as decreased cyclin D1, c-Myc, and Skp2 expression. In vivo studies further confirmed the inhibitory effect of POH on the expression of HIF-1α proteins, leading to a decrease growth of HCT116 cells in a xenograft tumor model. There results show that POH is an effective inhibitor of HIF-1 and provide new perspectives in to the mechanism of its anticancer activity.
Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Cycle Proteins; Colorectal Neoplasms; Free Radical Scavengers; HCT116 Cells; HeLa Cells; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Monoterpenes; Phosphoproteins; Protein Biosynthesis; Reactive Oxygen Species; Signal Transduction; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Tumor Burden; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
PubMed: 27394002
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.06.034