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Cancer Discovery Dec 2021Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis often involves a mutation in the NPM1 nucleolar chaperone, but the bases for its transforming properties and overall...
UNLABELLED
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis often involves a mutation in the NPM1 nucleolar chaperone, but the bases for its transforming properties and overall association with favorable therapeutic responses remain incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate that an oncogenic mutant form of NPM1 (NPM1c) impairs mitochondrial function. NPM1c also hampers formation of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies (NB), which are regulators of mitochondrial fitness and key senescence effectors. Actinomycin D (ActD), an antibiotic with unambiguous clinical efficacy in relapsed/refractory NPM1c-AMLs, targets these primed mitochondria, releasing mitochondrial DNA, activating cyclic GMP-AMP synthase signaling, and boosting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The latter restore PML NB formation to drive TP53 activation and senescence of NPM1c-AML cells. In several models, dual targeting of mitochondria by venetoclax and ActD synergized to clear AML and prolong survival through targeting of PML. Our studies reveal an unexpected role for mitochondria downstream of NPM1c and implicate a mitochondrial/ROS/PML/TP53 senescence pathway as an effector of ActD-based therapies.
SIGNIFICANCE
ActD induces complete remissions in NPM1-mutant AMLs. We found that NPM1c affects mitochondrial biogenesis and PML NBs. ActD targets mitochondria, yielding ROS which enforce PML NB biogenesis and restore senescence. Dual targeting of mitochondria with ActD and venetoclax sharply potentiates their anti-AML activities in vivo. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2945.
Topics: Dactinomycin; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Mitochondria; Nuclear Proteins; Nucleophosmin
PubMed: 34301789
DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-0177 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2020In this study we explored the efficacy of combining low dose photodynamic therapy using a porphyrin photosensitiser and dactinomycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic...
In this study we explored the efficacy of combining low dose photodynamic therapy using a porphyrin photosensitiser and dactinomycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. The studies were carried out on compressed collagen 3D constructs of two human ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and HEY) versus their monolayer counterparts. An amphiphilc photosensitiser was employed, disulfonated tetraphenylporphine, which is not a substrate for ABC efflux transporters that can mediate drug resistance. The combination treatment was shown to be effective in both monolayer and 3D constructs of both cell lines, causing a significant and synergistic reduction in cell viability. Compared to dactinomycin alone or PDT alone, higher cell kill was found using 2D monolayer culture vs. 3D culture for the same doses. In 3D culture, the combination therapy resulted in 10 and 22 times higher cell kill in SKOV3 and HEY cells at the highest light dose compared to dactinomycin monotherapy, and 2.2 and 5.5 times higher cell kill than PDT alone. The combination of low dose PDT and dactinomycin appears to be a promising way to repurpose dactinomycin and widen its therapeutic applications.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Dactinomycin; Female; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms; Photochemotherapy
PubMed: 32366058
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093203 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2012This is an update of a Cochrane review that was first published in Issue 1, 2009. Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rare but curable disease arising in the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
This is an update of a Cochrane review that was first published in Issue 1, 2009. Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rare but curable disease arising in the fetal chorion during pregnancy. Most women with low-risk GTN will be cured by evacuation of the uterus with or without single-agent chemotherapy. However, chemotherapy regimens vary between treatment centres worldwide and the comparable benefits and risks of these different regimens are unclear.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the efficacy and safety of first-line chemotherapy in the treatment of low-risk GTN.
SEARCH METHODS
In September 2008, we electronically searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL Issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE and EMBASE. In addition, we searched online trial registers, conference proceedings and reference lists of identified studies. We re-ran these searches in February 2012 for this updated review.
SELECTION CRITERIA
For the original review, we included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs and non-RCTs that compared first-line chemotherapy for the treatment of low-risk GTN. For this updated version of the review, we included only RCTs.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and extracted data to a pre-designed data extraction form. Meta-analysis was performed by pooling the risk ratio (RR) of individual trials.
MAIN RESULTS
We included five moderate to high quality RCTs (517 women) in the updated review. These studies all compared methotrexate with dactinomycin. Three studies compared weekly intramuscular (IM) methotrexate with bi-weekly pulsed intravenous (IV) dactinomycin (393 women), one study compared five-day IM methotrexate with bi-weekly pulsed IV dactinomycin (75 women) and one study compared eight-day IM methotrexate-folinic acid (MTX-FA) with five-day IV dactinomycin (49 women).Overall, dactinomycin was associated with significantly higher rates of primary cure than methotrexate (five studies, 513 women; RR 0.64, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.54 to 0.76). Methotrexate was associated with significantly more treatment failure than dactinomycin (five studies, 513 women; RR 3.81, 95% CI 1.64 to 8.86). We consider this evidence to be of a moderate quality.There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to nausea (four studies, 466 women; RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.29 to 1.26) or any of the other individual side-effects reported, although data for all of these outcomes were insufficient and too heterogeneous to be conclusive. No severe adverse effects (SAEs) occurred in either group in three out of the five included studies and there was no significant difference in SAEs between the groups overall (five studies, 515 women; RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.08 to 1.66; I² = 60%), however, there was a trend towards fewer SAEs in the methotrexate group. We considered this evidence to be of a low quality due to substantial heterogeneity and low consistency in the occurrence/reporting of SAEs between trials.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Dactinomycin is more likely to achieve a primary cure in women with low-risk GTN, and less likely to result in treatment failure, compared with methotrexate. There is limited evidence relating to side-effects, however, the pulsed dactinomycin regimen does not appear to be associated with significantly more side-effects than the low-dose methotrexate regimen and therefore should compare favourably to the five- and eight-day methotrexate regimens in this regard.We consider pulsed dactinomycin to have a better cure rate than, and a side-effect profile at least equivalent to, methotrexate when used for first-line treatment of low-risk GTN. Data from a large ongoing trial of pulsed dactinomycin compared with five- and eight-day methotrexate regimens is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in these findings.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; Dactinomycin; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease; Humans; Leucovorin; Methotrexate; Pregnancy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk; Vitamin B Complex
PubMed: 22786502
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007102.pub3 -
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology Aug 2021Actinomycin-D and vincristine are cytotoxic drugs commonly used to treat cancers in children. This prospective study assessed pharmacokinetic variability and toxicity of...
Actinomycin-D and vincristine are cytotoxic drugs commonly used to treat cancers in children. This prospective study assessed pharmacokinetic variability and toxicity of these drugs in children. Blood samples were collected in 158 patients. Actinomycin-D or vincristine concentrations were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-compartmental methods. Target toxicities were collected prospectively. Actinomycin-D pharmacokinetics (n = 52 patients) were highly variable. The median (coefficient of variation, CV%) area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was 332 ng/mL·h. (110%); clearance was 4.6 L/h/m (90%); half-life was 25 h (60%). No patient met the defined criteria for myelosuppression. In multivariate analysis, none of the demographic nor pharmacokinetic parameters was predictors of acute hepatotoxicity. Vincristine pharmacokinetics (n = 132 patients) demonstrated substantial variability. The median (CV%) AUC was 78 ng/mL·h (98%); clearance was 17.2 L/h/m (67%); half-life was 14.6 h (73%). In multivariate analysis, the effect of increasing age for a given BSA was an increase in neuropathy while the effect of increasing BSA for a given age was a decrease in neuropathy. Conclusion: Pharmacokinetics of both drugs were highly variable. For actinomycin-D, there was no correlation between demographic or pharmacokinetic parameters and target toxicities. For vincristine, the correlations of age and BSA and neuropathy are confounded by the correlation between age and BSA in children and the ability to ascertain neuropathy in infants. Variability may be attributed to dose reductions and capped doses for both drugs. Investigation of BSA-based dosing in young children is warranted to decrease variability of exposure.
Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Agents; Area Under Curve; Child; Child, Preschool; Dactinomycin; Female; Half-Life; Humans; Infant; Male; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Vincristine
PubMed: 34023919
DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04295-1 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2022Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is highly concerning as a principal infection pathogen. The investigation of higher effective natural anti-MRSA agents from marine has led...
Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is highly concerning as a principal infection pathogen. The investigation of higher effective natural anti-MRSA agents from marine has led to the isolation of actinomycin D, that showed potential anti-MRSA activity with MIC and MBC values of 1 and 8 μg/mL, respectively. Proteomics-metabolomics analysis further demonstrated a total of 261 differential proteins and 144 differential metabolites induced by actinomycin D in MRSA, and the co-mapped correlation network of omics, indicated that actinomycin D induced the metabolism pathway of producing the antibiotic sensitivity in MRSA. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of the genes , , , , and related to the key differential proteins were down-regulated measured by qRT-PCR. Molecular docking predicted that actinomycin D was bound to the targets of the two key differential proteins AcnA and Icd by hydrogen bonds and interacted with multiple amino acid residues of the proteins. Thus, these findings will provide a basic understanding to further investigation of actinomycin D as a potential anti-MRSA agent.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Dactinomycin; Metabolomics; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Docking Simulation; Proteomics; Streptomyces
PubMed: 35200643
DOI: 10.3390/md20020114 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2020Although many advances have been achieved to treat aggressive tumours, cancer remains a leading cause of death and a public health problem worldwide. Among the main...
Although many advances have been achieved to treat aggressive tumours, cancer remains a leading cause of death and a public health problem worldwide. Among the main approaches for the discovery of new bioactive agents, the prospect of microbial secondary metabolites represents an effective source for the development of drug leads. In this study, we investigated the actinobacterial diversity associated with an endemic Antarctic species, Deschampsia antarctica, by integrated culture-dependent and culture-independent methods and acknowledged this niche as a reservoir of bioactive strains for the production of antitumour compounds. The 16S rRNA-based analysis showed the predominance of the Actinomycetales order, a well-known group of bioactive metabolite producers belonging to the Actinobacteria phylum. Cultivation techniques were applied, and 72 psychrotolerant Actinobacteria strains belonging to the genera Actinoplanes, Arthrobacter, Kribbella, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Pilimelia, Pseudarthrobacter, Rhodococcus, Streptacidiphilus, Streptomyces and Tsukamurella were identified. The secondary metabolites were screened, and 17 isolates were identified as promising antitumour compound producers. However, the bio-guided assay showed a pronounced antiproliferative activity for the crude extracts of Streptomyces sp. CMAA 1527 and Streptomyces sp. CMAA 1653. The TGI and LC values revealed the potential of these natural products to control the proliferation of breast (MCF-7), glioblastoma (U251), lung/non-small (NCI-H460) and kidney (786-0) human cancer cell lines. Cinerubin B and actinomycin V were the predominant compounds identified in Streptomyces sp. CMAA 1527 and Streptomyces sp. CMAA 1653, respectively. Our results suggest that the rhizosphere of D. antarctica represents a prominent reservoir of bioactive actinobacteria strains and reveals it as an important environment for potential antitumour agents.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Actinomycetales; Antarctic Regions; Anthracyclines; Antineoplastic Agents; Biological Factors; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Culture Techniques; Dactinomycin; Drug Discovery; Humans; Neoplasms; Streptomyces
PubMed: 32807803
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69786-2 -
Cytometry. Part a : the Journal of the... Aug 2018The use of formamide for the study in flow cytometry of cell cycle phases, by DNA content measurement in human cancer cell lines, was recently published. In this...
The use of formamide for the study in flow cytometry of cell cycle phases, by DNA content measurement in human cancer cell lines, was recently published. In this manuscript, we verify the possibility of extending the procedure to simultaneous analysis of other parameters. The results obtained, here reported, show that the treatment of samples by formamide is compatible with the simultaneous detection of DNA content and surface phenotypes, with quantification of replicating DNA and with measurement of cells with fractional content of DNA. For each of these three applications, we have adapted the procedure to gain simple, reproducible and above all advantageous protocols. Regarding the simultaneous analysis of DNA content and phenotyping the use of formamide achieves optimal DNA stoichiometric staining (C.V. < 3; G2/G1 ratio = 2 ± 0.05) and sufficient maintenance of physical parameters and membrane fluorescence. In the study of duplicating DNA labeled with click chemistry, our procedure eliminates paraformaldehyde (PFA) fixation improving the DNA stoichiometric staining and allows the use of 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) preserving the Alexa Fluor 488 quantum efficiency. Concerning the detection of cells with fractional content of DNA, permeabilization and fixation by formamide gives the advantage of resolve on linear scale sub-G1 cells from debris and to allow optimal sample recovery (>90%) which is essential in the study of cell necrobiology. Cells treatment by formamide, suitably modified for different applications, can be used to prepare cell samples for flow cytometry analyses that go far beyond stoichiometric staining of DNA.
Topics: Cell Cycle; Cell Line; Cell Tracking; Click Chemistry; DNA; Dactinomycin; Fixatives; Flow Cytometry; Formamides; Humans; Staining and Labeling; Surface Properties
PubMed: 30110133
DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.23491 -
PeerJ 2023Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is one of the world's most devastating contagious diseases and is caused by the MDR- (MDR-Mtb) bacteria. It is therefore...
BACKGROUND
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is one of the world's most devastating contagious diseases and is caused by the MDR- (MDR-Mtb) bacteria. It is therefore essential to identify novel anti-TB drug candidates and target proteins to treat MDR-TB. Here, and studies were used to investigate the anti-TB potential of two newly sourced actinomycins, actinomycin-X (act-X) and actinomycin-D (act-D), from the strain UKAQ_23 (isolated from the Jubail industrial city of Saudi Arabia).
METHODS
The anti-TB activity of the isolated actinomycins was assessed using the Mtb H37Ra, (BCG), and Mtb H37Rv bacterial strains, using the Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA) method. molecular docking studies were conducted using sixteen anti-TB drug target proteins using the AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 tool. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for both actinomycins were then performed with the most suitable target proteins, using the GROningen MAchine For Chemical Simulations (GROMACS) simulation software (GROMACS 2020.4), with the Chemistry at HARvard Macromolecular Mechanics 36m (CHARMM36m) forcefield for proteins and the CHARMM General Force Field (CGenFF) for ligands.
RESULTS
results for the Mtb H37Ra, BCG, and Mtb H37Rv strains showed that act-X had minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 1.56 ± 0.0, 1.56 ± 0.0, and 2.64 ± 0.07 µg/mL and act-D had MIC values of 1.56 ± 0.0, 1.56 ± 0.0, and 1.80 ± 0.24 µg/mL respectively. The molecular docking results showed that protein kinase PknB was the preferred target for both actinomycins, while KasA and pantothenate synthetase were the least preferred targets for act-Xand act-D respectively. The molecular dynamics (MD) results demonstrated that act-X and act-D remained stable inside the binding region of PknB throughout the simulation period. The MM/GBSA (Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area) binding energy calculations showed that act-X was more potent than act-D.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, our results suggest that both actinomycins X and D are highly potent anti-TB drug candidates. We show that act-Xis better able to antagonistically interact with the protein kinase PknB target than act-D, and thus has more potential as a new anti-TB drug candidate.
Topics: Humans; Antitubercular Agents; BCG Vaccine; Dactinomycin; Molecular Docking Simulation; Protein Kinases; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant
PubMed: 36935926
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14502 -
The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 1974Tumor angiogenesis factor (TAF) and its importance in determining a strategy for cancer chemotherapy are discussed. It is suggested that inhibition of RNA synthesis or... (Review)
Review
Tumor angiogenesis factor (TAF) and its importance in determining a strategy for cancer chemotherapy are discussed. It is suggested that inhibition of RNA synthesis or increased RNA catabolism might interfere with the metabolism of solid tumor cells more so than in normal cells, and thus hinder angiogenesis and pursuant tumor growth by preventing the synthesis of the RNA component of TAF. An attempt is made to indicate potential models for anti-angiogenesis agents of this type. The drugs offered as initial prototypes for investigations along these lines are actinomycin D (which likely has antimetabolite and anti-angiogenesis activities), polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (which likely has adjuvant and anti-angiogenesis activities) and ribonuclease (which in theory might be a purely anti-angiogenetic agent). It is noted that these models may turn out to be less than ideal as therapeutic agents due to problems of toxicity, metabolism, potency, or distribution, but nonetheless might serve to yield insights into the design of new cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition, some evidence is cited suggesting that actinomycin D may be more effective against certain tumors when employed in lower, chronic dosages rather than its present use in "loading" dosages.The concept of anti-angiogenesis agents as fundamentally "tumoristatic" therapies is discussed, and the likelihood that such agents might be effectively "tumoricidal" in immunocompetent hosts is mentioned. The main promise of an anti-angiogenetic strategy is efficacy against presently intractable slowly growing human cancers when used in combination with other treatment modalities. In summary, a strategy of cancer chemotherapy predicated upon interference with RNA synthesis or increase in RNA catabolism is offered as a potential mechanism for establishing anti-angiogenesis, and as a promising alternative and adjunct to present methods.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Dactinomycin; Humans; Models, Biological; Neoplasms; Poly I-C; RNA, Neoplasm; Ribonucleases; Time Factors
PubMed: 4139828
DOI: No ID Found -
Nature Communications Apr 2018In naked duplex DNA, G-C and A-T Watson-Crick base pairs exist in dynamic equilibrium with their Hoogsteen counterparts. Here, we used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)...
In naked duplex DNA, G-C and A-T Watson-Crick base pairs exist in dynamic equilibrium with their Hoogsteen counterparts. Here, we used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation dispersion and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to examine how Watson-Crick/Hoogsteen dynamics are modulated upon recognition of duplex DNA by the bisintercalator echinomycin and monointercalator actinomycin D. In both cases, DNA recognition results in the quenching of Hoogsteen dynamics at base pairs involved in intermolecular base-specific hydrogen bonds. In the case of echinomycin, the Hoogsteen population increased 10-fold for base pairs flanking the chromophore most likely due to intermolecular stacking interactions, whereas actinomycin D minimally affected Hoogsteen dynamics at other sites. Modulation of Hoogsteen dynamics at binding interfaces may be a general phenomenon with important implications for DNA-ligand and DNA-protein recognition.
Topics: Base Pairing; DNA; Dactinomycin; Echinomycin; Hydrogen Bonding; Intercalating Agents; Kinetics; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Nucleic Acid Conformation; Oligonucleotides; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 29662229
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03516-1