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PloS One 2023Cervical cancer poses a substantial worldwide health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income nations, caused by high-risk types of human papillomavirus. It...
Cervical cancer poses a substantial worldwide health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income nations, caused by high-risk types of human papillomavirus. It accounted for a significant percentage of cancer-related deaths among women, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches, and single-targeted studies have produced significant results, with a considerable chance of developing resistance. Therefore, the multitargeted studies can work as a beacon of hope. This study is focused on performing the multitargeted molecular docking of FDA-approved drugs with the three crucial proteins TBK1, DNA polymerase epsilon, and integrin α-V β-8 of cervical cancer. The docking studies using multisampling algorithms HTVS, SP, and XP reveal Pixantrone Maleate (DB06193) as a multitargeted inhibitor with docking scores of -8.147, -8.206 and -7.31 Kcal/mol and pose filtration with MM\GBSA computations with scores -40.55, -33.67, and -37.64 Kcal/mol. We also have performed QM-based DFT and pharmacokinetics studies of the compound and compared it with the standard values, which results in the compound being entirely suitable against cervical cancer proteins. The interaction fingerprints have revealed that PHE, VAL, SER and ALA are the residues among most interactions. We also explore the stability of the multitargeted potential of Pixantrone Maleate through 100ns MD simulations and investigate the RMSD, RMSF and intermolecular interactions between all three proteins-ligand complexes. All computational studies favour Pixantrone Maleate as a multitargeted inhibitor of the TBK1, DNA polymerase epsilon, and integrin α-V β-8 and can be validated experimentally before use.
Topics: Female; Humans; Molecular Docking Simulation; Protein Binding; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; DNA Polymerase II; Integrins; Maleates
PubMed: 38100507
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295714 -
Viruses Dec 2022Although many arenaviruses cause severe diseases with high fatality rates each year, treatment options are limited to off-label use of ribavirin, and a Food and Drug...
Although many arenaviruses cause severe diseases with high fatality rates each year, treatment options are limited to off-label use of ribavirin, and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccine is not available. To identify novel therapeutic candidates against arenaviral diseases, an RNA polymerase I-driven minigenome (MG) expression system for Lassa virus (LASV) was developed and optimized for high-throughput screening (HTS). Using this system, we screened 2595 FDA-approved compounds for inhibitors of LASV genome replication and identified multiple compounds including pixantrone maleate, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, as hits. Other tested topoisomerase II inhibitors also suppressed LASV MG activity. These topoisomerase II inhibitors also inhibited Junin virus (JUNV) MG activity and effectively limited infection by the JUNV Candid #1 strain, and siRNA knockdown of both topoisomerases (IIα and IIβ) restricted JUNV replication. These results suggest that topoisomerases II regulate arenavirus replication and can serve as molecular targets for panarenaviral replication inhibitors.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Arenavirus; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; Junin virus; Lassa virus; Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; Humans
PubMed: 36680145
DOI: 10.3390/v15010105 -
Microbiology Spectrum Dec 2022The emergence of bacterial drug resistance poses a severe threat to global public health. In particular, antimicrobial-resistant pathogens lead to a high rate of...
The emergence of bacterial drug resistance poses a severe threat to global public health. In particular, antimicrobial-resistant pathogens lead to a high rate of treatment failure and significantly increase mortality. Repurposing FDA-approved compounds to sensitize superbugs to conventional antibiotics provides a promising strategy to alleviate such crises. Pixantrone (PIX) has been approved for treating aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. By high-throughput drug screening, we profiled the synergistic activity between PIX and rifampin (RFP) against Gram-negative extensively drug-resistant isolates by checkerboard assay. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that PIX impacted the flagellum assembly, induced irreversible intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation and disrupted proton motive force. In addition, the combination of PIX with RFP possesses effective antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant strains without detected toxicity. Collectively, these results reveal the potential of PIX in combination with RFP as a therapy option for refractory infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens. Bacterial resistance has become increasingly serious because of the widespread use and abuse of antibiotics. In particular, the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has posed a serious threat to human public health. Drug repurposing, the process of finding new uses for existing drugs, provide a promising pathway to solve antimicrobial resistance. Compared to the development of novel antibiotics, this strategy leverages well-characterized pharmacology and toxicology of known drugs and is more cost-effective.
Topics: Humans; Rifampin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Isoquinolines; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Gram-Negative Bacteria
PubMed: 36318018
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02114-22 -
European Review For Medical and... May 2022This study aimed to analyze the current research status and trends of publications on relapsed/refractory Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL) using CiteSpace software and to...
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to analyze the current research status and trends of publications on relapsed/refractory Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r NHL) using CiteSpace software and to know which centers and authors we should follow in the first place while doing research on r/r NHL.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core collection database, and CiteSpace (5.5.R5) software was used to analyze the authors, institutions, countries, and keywords.
RESULTS
A total of 567 publications from 2009 to 2021 were retrieved, and the most fertile authors, institutions, nationalities and keywords in the field of r/r NHL were identified. Pier Luigi Zinzani team, Kensei Tobinai team, Andre Goy team, and Julie M. Vose team are recognized the main research teams in this field. USA makes the greatest contribution having research funds for r/r NHL. Key cluster areas of research include mantle cell lymphoma, pathway, lymphoma, relapse, pixantrone, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, romidepsin, relapsed, T-cell lymphoma, and activated T cells. According to the keywords' timeline, the research trends of r/r NHL changed from bone marrow transplantation, radioimmunotherapy, chemotherapy to novel target drugs (like ibritumomab tiuxetan, inhibitor) and criteria EBM.
CONCLUSIONS
The bibliometric study provides insights into hotspots and trends in the field of r/r NHL in the past 12 years. It serves us to extract useful information from complex data and provide information for clinicians and researchers.
Topics: Bibliometrics; Humans; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Radioimmunotherapy
PubMed: 35647836
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202205_28850 -
The Oncologist Apr 2022Anthracycline use in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is hindered by cumulative exposure limits and risk of cardiotoxicity. Pixantrone, a novel aza-anthracenedione with...
BACKGROUND
Anthracycline use in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is hindered by cumulative exposure limits and risk of cardiotoxicity. Pixantrone, a novel aza-anthracenedione with structural similarities to mitoxantrone and anthracyclines, is theorized to exhibit less cardiotoxicity, mainly due to lack of iron binding. We conducted a randomized phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2 dosing schedules of pixantrone in patients with refractory HER2-negative MBC.
METHODS
Intravenous pixantrone was administered at 180 mg/m2 every 3 weeks (group A) versus 85 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle (group B). Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), median 6-month PFS, overall survival (OS), safety, quality of life, and serial assessment of circulating tumor cells. A 20% ORR was targeted as sufficient for further testing of pixantrone in this patient population.
RESULTS
Forty-five patients were evaluable, with 2 confirmed partial responses in group A and 1 in group B. The trial was terminated due to insufficient activity. Overall median PFS and OS were 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0-4.1) and 16.8 (95% CI: 8.9-21.6) months, respectively. Notable overall grade 3-4 adverse events were the following: neutrophil count decrease (62%), fatigue (16%), and decrease in ejection fraction (EF) (4%).
CONCLUSION
Pixantrone has insufficient activity in the second- and third-line MBC setting. It appears, however, to have limited cardiotoxicity. (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01086605).
PubMed: 35445723
DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyab065 -
Cells Jan 2022Anthraquinone derivatives exhibit various biological activities, e.g., antifungal, antibacterial and in vitro antiviral activities. They are naturally produced in many...
Anthraquinone derivatives exhibit various biological activities, e.g., antifungal, antibacterial and in vitro antiviral activities. They are naturally produced in many fungal and plant families such as Rhamnaceae or Fabaceae. Furthermore, they were found to have anticancer activity, exemplified by mitoxantrone and pixantrone, and many are well known redox-active compounds. In this study, various nature inspired synthetic anthraquinone derivatives were tested against colon, prostate, liver and cervical cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds exhibit anticancer effects against all cell lines, therefore the compounds were further studied to determine their IC-values. Of these compounds, 1,4-bis(benzyloxy)-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)anthracene-9,10-dione () exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against PC3 cells and was chosen for a deeper look into its mechanism of action. Based on flow cytometry, the compound was proven to induce apoptosis through the activation of caspases and to demolish the ROS/RNS and NO equilibrium in the PC3 cell line. It trapped cells in the G2/M phase. Western blotting was performed for several proteins related to the effects observed. Compound enhanced the production of PARP and caspase-3. Moreover, it activated the conversion of LC3A/B-I to LC3A/B-II showing that also autophagy plays a role in its mechanism of action, and it caused the phosphorylation of p70 s6 kinase.
Topics: Adenine; Anthraquinones; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Caspases; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; DNA Topoisomerases; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Emodin; Enzyme Activation; G2 Phase; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Mitosis
PubMed: 35011730
DOI: 10.3390/cells11010168 -
Therapeutics and Clinical Risk... 2021Not many treatment options exist for patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in whom first- and second-line therapies were... (Review)
Review
Not many treatment options exist for patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in whom first- and second-line therapies were unsuccessful. This is especially true for patients with aggressive lymphomas. The innovative agent pixantrone has shown some promising results in terms of disease-free and overall survival, both in monotherapy as well as in combinations. However, recent trials (Phase III and real-world studies) reported unsatisfactory results, thereby raising the question about the role of pixantrone in the current treatment of R/R aggressive lymphomas. Nonetheless, there might still be a potential position for this drug in combinations, for use as first-line treatment of patients with cardiac dysfunction. This article summarizes the definition, structure, mechanism of action and reduced cardiotoxicity of pixantrone as well as efficacy and toxicity both in monotherapy and in combinations, as treatment for aggressive and indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
PubMed: 33688197
DOI: 10.2147/TCRM.S269324 -
European Journal of Pharmaceutical... May 2021Cell surface binding immunoglobin protein (csBiP) is predicted to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 binding. With a substrate-binding domain (SBD) that binds to polypeptides...
AIMS
Cell surface binding immunoglobin protein (csBiP) is predicted to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 binding. With a substrate-binding domain (SBD) that binds to polypeptides and a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) that can initiate extrinsic caspase-dependent apoptosis, csBiP may be a promising therapeutic target for COVID-19. This study aims to identify FDA-approved drugs that can neutralize viral binding and prevent viral replication by targeting the functional domains of csBiP.
METHODS
In silico screening of 1999 FDA-approved drugs against the functional domains of BiP were performed using three molecular docking programs to avoid bias from individual docking programs. Top ligands were selected by averaging the ligand rankings from three programs. Interactions between top ligands and functional domains of BiP were analyzed.
KEY FINDINGS
The top 10 SBD-binding candidates are velpatasvir, irinotecan, netupitant, lapatinib, doramectin, conivaptan, fenoverine, duvelisib, irbesartan, and pazopanib. The top 10 NBD-binding candidates are nilotinib, eltrombopag, grapiprant, topotecan, acetohexamide, vemurafenib, paritaprevir, pixantrone, azosemide, and piperaquine-phosphate. Among them, Velpatasvir and paritaprevir are antiviral agents that target the protease of hepatitis C virus. Netupitant is an anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits neurokinin-1 receptor, which contributes to acute inflammation. Grapiprant is an anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits the prostaglandin E receptor protein subtype 4, which is expressed on immune cells and triggers inflammation. These predicted SBD-binding drugs could disrupt SARS-CoV-2 binding to csBiP, and NBD-binding drugs may falter viral attachment and replication by locking the SBD in closed conformation and triggering apoptosis in infected cells.
SIGNIFICANCE
csBiP appears to be a novel therapeutic target against COVID-19 by preventing viral attachment and replication. These identified drugs could be repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients.
Topics: Antiviral Agents; Drug Repositioning; Immunoglobulins; Membrane Proteins; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Protein Conformation; SARS-CoV-2; Structure-Activity Relationship; Virus Attachment; Virus Internalization
PubMed: 33617948
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105771 -
Acta Haematologica 2021
Topics: Humans; Isoquinolines; Italy; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Registries
PubMed: 33080616
DOI: 10.1159/000510687 -
European Journal of Pharmaceutical... Nov 2020Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) recognizes various endogenous and microbial ligands and is an essential part in the innate immune system. TLR4 signaling initiates...
Mitoxantrone, pixantrone and mitoxantrone (2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine are toll-like receptor 4 antagonists, inhibit NF-κB activation, and decrease TNF-alpha secretion in primary microglia.
Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) recognizes various endogenous and microbial ligands and is an essential part in the innate immune system. TLR4 signaling initiates transcription factor NF-κB and production of proinflammatory cytokines. TLR4 contributes to the development or progression of various diseases including stroke, neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, and better therapeutics are currently sought for these conditions. In this study, a library of 140 000 compounds was virtually screened and a resulting hit-list of 1000 compounds was tested using a cellular reporter system. The topoisomerase II inhibitor mitoxantrone and its analogues pixantrone and mitoxantrone (2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine were identified as inhibitors of TLR4 and NF-κB activation. Mitoxantrone was shown to bind directly to the TLR4, and pixantrone and mitoxantrone (2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine were shown to inhibit the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in primary microglia. The inhibitory effect on NF-κB activation or on TNFα production was not mediated through cytotoxity at ≤ 1 µM concentration for pixantrone and mitoxantrone (2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine treated cells, as assessed by ATP counts. This study thus identifies a new mechanism of action for mitoxantrone, pixantrone, and mitoxantrone (2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine through the TLR4.
Topics: Isoquinolines; Microglia; Mitoxantrone; NF-kappa B; Piperazine; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 32730846
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105493