Identification of Prognostic Biomarker Signatures and Candidate Drugs in Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Systems Biology Analysis.

Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Jan 17;55(1):

Authors: Rahman MR, Islam T, Gov E, Turanli B, Gulfidan G, Shahjaman M, Banu NA, Mollah MNH, Arga KY, Moni MA

Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world, but early diagnosis ameliorates the survival of CRC. This report aimed to identify molecular biomarker signatures in CRC. We analyzed two microarray datasets (GSE35279 and GSE21815) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to identify mutual differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We integrated DEGs with protein⁻protein interaction and transcriptional/post-transcriptional regulatory networks to identify reporter signaling and regulatory molecules; utilized functional overrepresentation and pathway enrichment analyses to elucidate their roles in biological processes and molecular pathways; performed survival analyses to evaluate their prognostic performance; and applied drug repositioning analyses through Connectivity Map (CMap) and geneXpharma tools to hypothesize possible drug candidates targeting reporter molecules. A total of 727 upregulated and 99 downregulated DEGs were detected. The PI3K/Akt signaling, Wnt signaling, extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction, and cell cycle were identified as significantly enriched pathways. Ten hub proteins (ADNP, CCND1, CD44, CDK4, CEBPB, CENPA, CENPH, CENPN, MYC, and RFC2), 10 transcription factors (ETS1, ESR1, GATA1, GATA2, GATA3, AR, YBX1, FOXP3, E2F4, and PRDM14) and two microRNAs (miRNAs) (miR-193b-3p and miR-615-3p) were detected as reporter molecules. The survival analyses through Kaplan⁻Meier curves indicated remarkable performance of reporter molecules in the estimation of survival probability in CRC patients. In addition, several drug candidates including anti-neoplastic and immunomodulating agents were repositioned. This study presents biomarker signatures at protein and RNA levels with prognostic capability in CRC. We think that the molecular signatures and candidate drugs presented in this study might be useful in future studies indenting the development of accurate diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker screens and efficient therapeutic strategies in CRC.

PMID: 30658502 [PubMed - in process]

Anti-Diarrheal Drug Repositioning in Tumour Cell Cytotoxicity.

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2019 Jan 18;:

Authors: Elloumi-Mseddi J, Msalbi D, Fakhfakh R, Aifa S

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Drug repositioning is becoming an ideal strategy to select new anticancer drugs. In particular, drugs treating side effects of chemotherapy are the best candidates.
OBJECTIVE: In this present work, we tried the evaluation of anti-tumour activity of two anti-diarrheal drugs (nifuroxazide and rifaximin).
METHODS: Anti-proliferative effect against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and T47D) was performed by MTT analysis, the Brdu incorporation, mitochondrial permeability and caspase-3 activity.
RESULTS: Both drugs have displayed cytotoxic effects on MCF-7, T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells. The lowest IC50 values were obtained on MCF-7 cells after 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment while T47D and MDA-MB-231 are more resistant. The IC50 values on T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells become significantly low after 72 hours of treatment showing a late cytotoxicity effect especially of nifuroxaside but still less important than that of MCF-7 cells. According to the IC50 values, the non-tumour cell line HEK293 seems to be less sensitive to cytotoxicity especially against rifaximin. Both drugs have shown an accumulation of rhodamine 123 as function of the rise of their concentrations while the Brdu incorporation has decreased. Despite the absence of a significant difference in cell cycle between the treated and non-treated MCF-7 cells, the caspase-3 activity has increased with the drug concentrations rise suggesting an apoptotic effect.
CONCLUSION: Nifuroxazide and rifaximin are used to overcome the diarrheal side effect of anticancer drugs. However, they have shown to be anti-tumour drugs which make them potential dual effective drugs against cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy.

PMID: 30657046 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The RANK-RANKL axis: an opportunity for drug repurposing in cancer?

Clin Transl Oncol. 2019 Jan 17;:

Authors: Peters S, Clézardin P, Márquez-Rodas I, Niepel D, Gedye C

Abstract
Drug repurposing offers advantages over traditional drug development in terms of cost, speed and improved patient outcomes. The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand (RANKL) inhibitor denosumab is approved for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with advanced malignancies involving bone, including solid tumours and multiple myeloma. Following improved understanding of the role of RANK/RANKL in cancer biology, denosumab has already been repurposed as a treatment for giant cell tumour of bone. Here, we review the role of RANK/RANKL in tumourigenesis, including effects on tumour initiation, progression and metastasis and consider the impact of RANK/RANKL on tumour immunology and immune evasion. Finally, we look briefly at ongoing trials and future opportunities for therapeutic synergy when combining denosumab with anti-cancer agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.

PMID: 30656607 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Combined effect of propranolol, vincristine and bevacizumab on HUVECs and BJ cells.

Exp Ther Med. 2019 Jan;17(1):307-315

Authors: Bota M, Fischer-Fodor E, Bochiș OV, Cenariu M, Popa G, Blag CL, Tătaru A

Abstract
Infantile hemangioma is one of the most common benign tumors affecting children, with ~10-15% requiring medical treatment. These tumors consist of endothelial cells and stromal components, including fibroblasts, pericytes and mast cells. Effects of propranolol treatment in combination with bevacizumab or vincristine on cell growth were compared in the current study using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and BJ human normal fibroblasts (BJs) to determine potential synergic effects in vitro. Inhibition of cell growth was investigated using MTT assays and cytotoxicity of the drugs in various combinations was expressed as half inhibitory concentration (IC50). Apoptosis was investigated using flow cytometry, with Alexa Fluor 488 and propidium iodide. Propranolol inhibited BJ and HUVEC growth in a dose-dependent manner, with increased response observed in BJs (IC50, 148,32 µg/ml; standard error logIC50, 0.07). Treatment with vincristine induced the strongest growth inhibition in HUVECs (IC50, 17,89 µg/ml; standard error log IC50, 0.07) and BJs (IC50, 24,81 µg/ml; standard error log IC50, 0.08) compared with propranolol (HUVEC IC50, 81,94 µg/ml; standard error log IC50, 0.06; BJ-IC50, 148,32 µg/ml; standard error logIC50, 0.07) or bevacizumab (HUVEC IC50 96,91 µg/ml; standard error log IC50, 0.06; BJ IC50, 182,70 µg/ml; standard error log IC50, 0.09) alone. Bevacizumab was the weakest cytotoxic agent. Combination treatment of vincristine with bevacizumab induced the highest levels of apoptosis in HUVECs compared with all other treatments and triple-drug therapy induced the levels of apoptosis in BJs. Single treatment with vincristine, propranolol or bevacizumab induced apoptosis in BJs and HUVECs. In BJs, triple treatment exhibited the greatest influence on apoptosis, compared with single and dual treatments and in HUVECs, vincristine and bevacizumab combination treatment induced apoptosis to the highest level. The present study offers novel perspectives in drug repurposing studies for the three drugs, particularly in diseases where the pathogenesis is based on healthy endothelial cell proliferation, including hemangiomas.

PMID: 30651796 [PubMed]

Medications for alcohol use disorders: An overview.

Pharmacol Ther. 2018 05;185:64-85

Authors: Akbar M, Egli M, Cho YE, Song BJ, Noronha A

Abstract
Patients who suffer from alcohol use disorders (AUDs) usually go through various socio-behavioral and pathophysiological changes that take place in the brain and other organs. Recently, consumption of unhealthy food and excess alcohol along with a sedentary lifestyle has become a norm in both developed and developing countries. Despite the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption, chronic and/or excessive alcohol intake is reported to negatively affect the brain, liver and other organs, resulting in cell death, organ damage/failure and death. The most effective therapy for alcoholism and alcohol related comorbidities is alcohol abstinence, however, chronic alcoholic patients cannot stop drinking alcohol. Therefore, targeted therapies are urgently needed to treat such populations. Patients who suffer from alcoholism and/or alcohol abuse experience harmful effects and changes that occur in the brain and other organs. Upon stopping alcohol consumption, alcoholic patients experience acute withdrawal symptoms followed by a protracted abstinence syndrome resulting in the risk of relapse to heavy drinking. For the past few decades, several drugs have been available for the treatment of AUDs. These drugs include medications to reduce or stop severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms during alcohol detoxification as well as recovery medications to reduce alcohol craving and support abstinence. However, there is no drug that completely antagonizes the adverse effects of excessive amounts of alcohol. This review summarizes the drugs which are available and approved by the FDA and their mechanisms of action as well as the medications that are under various phases of preclinical and clinical trials. In addition, the repurposing of the FDA approved drugs, such as anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants and other medications, to prevent alcoholism and treat AUDs and their potential target mechanisms are summarized.

PMID: 29191394 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Drug-induced diabetes type 2: In silico study involving class B GPCRs.

PLoS One. 2019;14(1):e0208892

Authors: Latek D, Rutkowska E, Niewieczerzal S, Cielecka-Piontek J

Abstract
A disturbance of glucose homeostasis leading to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the severe side effects that may occur during a prolonged use of many drugs currently available on the market. In this manuscript we describe the most common cases of drug-induced T2DM, discuss available pharmacotherapies and propose new ones. Among various pharmacotherapies of T2DM, incretin therapies have recently focused attention due to the newly determined crystal structure of incretin hormone receptor GLP1R. Incretin hormone receptors: GLP1R and GIPR together with the glucagon receptor GCGR regulate food intake and insulin and glucose secretion. Our study showed that incretin hormone receptors, named also gut hormone receptors as they are expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, could potentially act as unintended targets (off-targets) for orally administrated drugs. Such off-target interactions, depending on their effect on the receptor (stimulation or inhibition), could be beneficial, like in the case of incretin mimetics, or unwanted if they cause, e.g., decreased insulin secretion. In this in silico study we examined which well-known pharmaceuticals could potentially interact with gut hormone receptors in the off-target way. We observed that drugs with the strongest binding affinity for gut hormone receptors were also reported in the medical information resources as the least disturbing the glucose homeostasis among all drugs in their class. We suggested that those strongly binding molecules could potentially stimulate GIPR and GLP1R and/or inhibit GCGR which could lead to increased insulin secretion and decreased hepatic glucose production. Such positive effect on the glucose homeostasis could compensate for other, adverse effects of pharmacotherapy which lead to drug-induced T2DM. In addition, we also described several top hits as potential substitutes of peptidic incretin mimetics which were discovered in the drug repositioning screen using gut hormone receptors structures against the ZINC15 compounds subset.

PMID: 30650080 [PubMed - in process]

Using human experience to identify drug repurposing opportunities: theory and practice.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jan 16;:

Authors: Cavalla D

Abstract
Retrospective evidence drawn from real-world experience of a medicine's use outside its labelled indication is one of a number of techniques used in drug repurposing (DRP). Relying as it does on large numbers of real incidences of human experience, rather than individual case reports with limited statistical support, preclinical experiments with poor translatability or in silico associations which are early-stage hypotheses, it represents the best validated form of DRP. Cancer is the most frequent of such DRP examples (e.g. aspirin in pancreatic cancer, HR=0.25). This approach can be combined with pathway analysis to provide first-in-class treatments for complex diseases. Alternatively, it can be combined with prospective preclinical studies to uncover a validated mechanism for a new indication, after which a repurposed molecule is chemically optimised.

PMID: 30648285 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Guanabenz Acetate Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

J Pathol Transl Med. 2019 Jan 16;:

Authors: Kang HJ, Seol HS, Lee SE, Suh YA, Kim J, Jang SJ, Yu E

Abstract
Background: Development of chemotherapeutics for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been lagging. Screening of candidate therapeutic agents by using patient-derived preclinical models may facilitate drug discovery for HCC patients.
Materials and Methods: Four primary cultured HCC cells from surgically resected tumor tissues and six HCC cell lines were used for high-throughput screening of 252 drugs from the Prestwick Chemical Library®. The efficacy and mechanisms of action of the candidate anti-cancer drug were analyzed via cell viability, cell cycle assays and western blotting.
Results: Guanabenz acetate, which has been used as an antihypertensive drug, was screened as a candidate anti-cancer agent for HCC through a drug sensitivity assay by using the primary cultured HCC cells and HCC cell lines. Guanabenz acetate reduced HCC cell viability through apoptosis and autophagy. This occurred via inhibition of growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 34 (GADD34), increased phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), increased activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and cell cycle arrest.
Conclusion: Guanabenz acetate induces endoplasmic reticulum stress-related cell death in HCC and may be repositioned as an anti-cancer therapeutic agent for HCC patients.

PMID: 30646673 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Recycling drug screen repurposes hydroxyurea as a sensitizer of glioblastomas to temozolomide targeting de novo DNA synthesis, irrespective of molecular subtype.

Neuro Oncol. 2018 04 09;20(5):642-654

Authors: Teng J, Hejazi S, Hiddingh L, Carvalho L, de Gooijer MC, Wakimoto H, Barazas M, Tannous M, Chi AS, Noske DP, Wesseling P, Wurdinger T, Batchelor TT, Tannous BA

Abstract
Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor. Standard-of-care treatment involves maximal surgical resection of the tumor followed by radiation and chemotherapy (temozolomide [TMZ]). The 5-year survival rate of patients with GBM is <10%, a colossal failure that has been partially attributed to intrinsic and/or acquired resistance to TMZ through O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status in the tumor.
Methods: A drug screening aimed at evaluating the potential recycling and repurposing of known drugs was conducted in TMZ-resistant GBM cell lines and primary cultures of newly diagnosed GBM with different MGMT promoter methylation status, phenotypic/genotypic background and subtype, and validated with sphere formation, cell migration assays, and quantitative invasive orthotopic in vivo models.
Results: We identified hydroxyurea (HU) to synergize with TMZ in GBM cells in culture and in vivo, irrespective of MGMT promoter methylation status, subtype, and/or stemness. HU acts specifically on the S-phase of the cell cycle by inhibiting the M2 unit of enzyme ribonucleotide reductase. Knockdown of this enzyme using RNA interference and other known chemical inhibitors exerted a similar effect to HU in combination with TMZ both in culture and in vivo.
Conclusions: We demonstrate preclinical efficacy of repurposing hydroxyurea in combination with TMZ for adjuvant GBM therapy. This combination benefit is of direct clinical interest given the extensive use of TMZ and the associated problems with TMZ-related resistance and treatment failure.

PMID: 29099956 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Toward fully exploiting the therapeutic potential of marketed pharmaceuticals: the use of octreotide and chloroquine in oncology.

Onco Targets Ther. 2019;12:319-339

Authors: Papanagnou P, Papadopoulos GE, Stivarou T, Pappas A

Abstract
Pleiotropy in biological systems and their targeting allows many pharmaceuticals to be used for multiple therapeutic purposes. Fully exploiting the therapeutic properties of drugs that are already marketed would be highly advantageous. This is especially the case in the field of oncology, where the ineffectiveness of typical anticancer agents is a common issue, while the development of novel anticancer agents is a costly and particularly time-consuming process. Octreotide and chloroquine are two pharmaceuticals that exhibit profound antitumorigenic activities. However, the current therapeutic use of octreotide is restricted primarily to the management of acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors, both of which are rare medical conditions. Similarly, chloroquine is used mainly for the treatment of malaria, which is designated as a rare disease in Western countries. This limited exploitation contradicts the experimental findings of numerous studies outlining the possible expansion of the use of octreotide to include the treatment of common human malignancies and the repositioning of chloroquine in oncology. Herein, we review the current knowledge on the antitumor function of these two agents stemming from preclinical or clinical experimentation. In addition, we present in silico evidence on octreotide potentially binding to multiple Wnt-pathway components. This will hopefully aid in the design of new efficacious anticancer therapeutic regimens with minimal toxicity, which represents an enormous unmet demand in oncology.

PMID: 30643430 [PubMed]

Repurposing matrine for the treatment of hepatosteatosis and associated disorders in glucose homeostasis in mice.

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2018 Nov;39(11):1753-1759

Authors: Mahzari A, Zeng XY, Zhou X, Li S, Xu J, Tan W, Vlahos R, Robinson S, Ye JM

Abstract
The present study investigated the efficacy of the hepatoprotective drug matrine (Mtr) for its new application for hepatosteatosis and associated disorders in glucose homeostasis. The study was performed in two nutritional models of hepatosteatosis in mice with various abnormal glucose homeostasis: (1) high-fructose diet (HFru) induced hepatosteatosis and glucose intolerance from hepatic, and (2) hepatosteatosis and hyperglycemia induced by high-fat (HF) diet in combination with low doses of streptozotocin (STZ). Administration of Mtr (100 mg/kg every day in diet for 4 weeks) abolished HFru-induced hepatosteatosis and glucose intolerance. These effects were associated with the inhibition of HFru-stimulated de novo lipogenesis (DNL) without altering hepatic fatty acid oxidation. Further investigation revealed that HFru-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was inhibited, whereas heat-shock protein 72 (an inducible chaperon protein) was increased by Mtr. In a type 2 diabetic model induced by HF-STZ, Mtr reduced hepatosteatosis and improved attenuated hyperglycemia. The hepatoprotective drug Mtr may be repurposed for the treatment of hepatosteatosis and associated disorders in glucose homeostasis. The inhibition of ER stress associated DNL and fatty acid influx appears to play an important role in these metabolic effects.

PMID: 29980742 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

6 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2019/01/15

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

A comparative computational approach toward pharmacological chaperones (NN-DNJ and ambroxol) on N370S and L444P mutations causing Gaucher's disease.

Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2019;114:315-339

Authors: Thirumal Kumar D, Iyer S, Christy JP, Siva R, Tayubi IA, George Priya Doss C, Zayed H

Abstract
Gaucher's disease (GD) is the most commonly known lysosomal disorder that occurs due to mutations in the β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) protein. Our previous findings (Thirumal Kumar, Eldous, Mahgoub, George Priya Doss, Zayed, 2018) and other reports concluded that the mutations N370S and L444P are the most significant mutations that could cause disruptions in protein stability and structure. These disruptions lead to protein misfolding and result in a diseased condition. Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) and Pharmacological chaperone therapy (PCT) are currently used to treat GD caused by mutations in the GBA protein. The extreme disparity in cost between ERT and chaperone therapy, shifted the attention toward chaperone therapy. The most common chaperones in the market and trial phases to treat GD are Isofagomine, Miglustat, Eliglustat, NN-DNJ, and Ambroxol. In the era of personalized medicine, it is often necessary to understand the drug likeliness of each chaperone. In this context, the present study utilized molecular docking analysis to understand the interaction behavior of the chaperone toward the native and the two mutants N370S and L444P. The molecular dynamics simulation analyses performed on chaperones (NN-DNJ and Ambroxol) interaction showed that the chaperone NN-DNJ possesses better affinity toward the protein with N370S mutation whereas chaperone Ambroxol showed better activity against both the significant mutations (N370S and L444P). This study is expected to serve as a platform for drug repurposing.

PMID: 30635084 [PubMed - in process]

New and repurposed drugs to treat multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.

J Bras Pneumol. 2018 Apr;44(2):153-160

Authors: Silva DR, Dalcolmo M, Tiberi S, Arbex MA, Munoz-Torrico M, Duarte R, D'Ambrosio L, Visca D, Rendon A, Gaga M, Zumla A, Migliori GB

Abstract
Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB and XDR-TB, respectively) continue to represent a challenge for clinicians and public health authorities. Unfortunately, although there have been encouraging reports of higher success rates, the overall rate of favorable outcomes of M/XDR-TB treatment is only 54%, or much lower when the spectrum of drug resistance is beyond that of XDR-TB. Treating M/XDR-TB continues to be a difficult task, because of the high incidence of adverse events, the long duration of treatment, the high cost of the regimens used, and the drain on health care resources. Various trials and studies have recently been undertaken (some already published and others ongoing), all aimed at improving outcomes of M/XDR-TB treatment by changing the overall approach, shortening treatment duration, and developing a universal regimen. The objective of this review was to summarize what has been achieved to date, as far as new and repurposed drugs are concerned, with a special focus on delamanid, bedaquiline, pretomanid, clofazimine, carbapenems, and linezolid. After more than 40 years of neglect, greater attention has recently been paid to the need for new drugs to fight the "white plague", and promising results are being reported.

PMID: 29791557 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

7 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2019/01/10

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

7 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"drug repositioning" OR "drug repurposing"

These pubmed results were generated on 2019/01/10

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Niclosamide alleviates pulmonary fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by attenuation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, matrix proteins & Wnt/β-catenin signaling: A drug repurposing study.

Life Sci. 2019 Jan 03;:

Authors: Boyapally R, Pulivendala G, Bale S, Godugu C

Abstract
Drug repurposing off late has been emerging as an inspiring alternative approach to conventional, exhaustive and arduous process of drug discovery. It is a process of identifying new therapeutic values for a drug already established for the treatment of a certain condition. Our current study is aimed at repurposing the old anti-helimenthic drug Niclosamide as an anti-fibrotic drug against pulmonary fibrosis (PF). PF is most common lethal interstitial lung disease hallmarked by deposition of extracelluar matrix and scarring of lung. Heterogenous nature, untimely diagnosis and lack of appropriate treatment options make PF an inexorable lung disorder. Prevailing void in PF treatment and drug repositioning strategy of drugs kindled our interest to demonstrate the anti-fibrotic activity of Niclosamide. Our study is aimed at investigating the anti-fibrotic potential of Niclosamide in TGF-β1 induced in vitro model of pulmonary fibrosis and 21-day model of Bleomycin induced PF in vivo respectively. Our study results showed that Niclosamide holds the potential to exert anti-fibrotic effect by hampering fibroblast migration, attenuating EMT, inhibiting fibrotic signaling and by regulating WNT/β-catenin signaling as evident from protein expression studies. Our study findings can give new directions to development of Niclosamide as an anti-fibrotic agent for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

PMID: 30611787 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Drug repurposing: mebendazole as effective antitumor agent. Are we seeing the whole story?

J BUON. 2018 Nov-Dec;23(6):1904-1911

Authors: Banovic P, Stankov S, Vranjes N, Zurkovic O, Capo I, Lalosevic D

Abstract
PURPOSE: To examine the antitumor effects of Mebendazole (MZ) in a model of experimental fibrosarcoma induced by inoculation of BHK-21/C13 cells in Syrian golden hamster.
METHODS: Hamsters were inoculated with a suspension of BHK cells by subcutaneous injection and randomly divided into 5 experimental and 2 control groups. Treatment started on the 10th day after inoculation, when the tumor grew to a diameter of 5mm. The experimental design was based on distributing the total amount of drug MZ(z) in different protocols and approaches (oral/intraperitoneal) to the 5 experimental groups. The positive control group received doxorubicin intraperitoneally. Negative control group received olive oil orally. The total amount of MZ(z) was chosen to be the highest for the animal to survive during the experiment. For antitumor effect evaluation, the main parameters were tumor size, number of mitoses, cytochrome-C immunopositivity and tumor tissue morphology incuding cytoarchitecture and percentage of preserved tumor tissue in stereologically reconstructed tumor mass.
RESULTS: The results of this study showed absence of objective MZ antitumor effect on experimental fibrosarcoma. MZ does not exhibit activity similar to DNA-damaging agents on the fibrosarcoma model.
CONCLUSIONS: It might be postulated that soft tissue tumors on animal models could show high level of resistance to MZ effect.

PMID: 30610820 [PubMed - in process]

Repurposing Mebendazole as a Replacement for Vincristine for the Treatment of Brain Tumors.

Mol Med. 2017 04;23:50-56

Authors: De Witt M, Gamble A, Hanson D, Markowitz D, Powell C, Al Dimassi S, Atlas M, Boockvar J, Ruggieri R, Symons M

Abstract
The microtubule inhibitor vincristine is currently used to treat a variety of brain tumors, including low-grade glioma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Vincristine, however, does not penetrate well into brain tumor tissue, and moreover, it displays dose-limiting toxicities, including peripheral neuropathy. Mebendazole, a Food and Drug Administration-approved anthelmintic drug with a favorable safety profile, has recently been shown to display strong therapeutic efficacy in animal models of both glioma and medulloblastoma. Importantly, appropriate formulations of mebendazole yield therapeutically effective concentrations in the brain. Mebendazole has been shown to inhibit microtubule formation, but it is not known whether its potency against tumor cells is mediated by this inhibitory effect. To investigate this, we examined the effects of mebendazole on GL261 glioblastoma cell viability, microtubule polymerization and metaphase arrest, and found that the effective concentrations to inhibit these functions are very similar. In addition, using mebendazole as a seed for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) COMPARE program revealed that the top-scoring drugs were highly enriched in microtubule-targeting drugs. Taken together, these results indicate that the cell toxicity of mebendazole is indeed caused by inhibiting microtubule formation. We also compared the therapeutic efficacy of mebendazole and vincristine against GL261 orthotopic tumors. We found that mebendazole showed a significant increase in animal survival time, whereas vincristine, even at a dose close to its maximum tolerated dose, failed to show any efficacy. In conclusion, our results strongly support the clinical use of mebendazole as a replacement for vincristine for the treatment of brain tumors.

PMID: 28386621 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Reactivation of TAp73 tumor suppressor by protoporphyrin IX, a metabolite of aminolevulinic acid, induces apoptosis in TP53-deficient cancer cells.

Cell Div. 2018;13:10

Authors: Sznarkowska A, Kostecka A, Kawiak A, Acedo P, Lion M, Inga A, Zawacka-Pankau J

Abstract
Background: The p73 protein is a tumor suppressor that shares structural and functional similarity with p53. p73 is expressed in two major isoforms; the TA isoform that interacts with p53 pathway, thus acting as tumor suppressor and the N-terminal truncated ΔN isoform that inhibits TAp73 and p53 and thus, acts as an oncogene.
Results: By employing a drug repurposing approach, we found that protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a metabolite of aminolevulinic acid applied in photodynamic therapy of cancer, stabilizes TAp73 and activates TAp73-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells lacking p53. The mechanism of TAp73 activation is via disruption of TAp73/MDM2 and TAp73/MDMX interactions and inhibition of TAp73 degradation by ubiquitin ligase Itch. Finally, PpIX showed potent antitumor effect and inhibited the growth of xenograft human tumors in mice.
Conclusion: Our findings may in future contribute to the successful repurposing of PpIX into clinical practice.

PMID: 30603043 [PubMed]