Circulating Hsa-miR-431-5p as Potential Biomarker for Squamous Cell Vulvar Carcinoma and Its Premalignant Lesions.

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) develops from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dVIN). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of circulating hsa-miR-431-5p in vulvar precancers and VSCC. Expression levels of hsa-miR-431-5p were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR in plasma samples of 29 patients with vulvar precancers (HSIL or dVIN), 107 with VSCC as well as 15 healthy blood donors. We used hsa-miR-93-5p and hsa-miR-425-5p as normalizers. The levels of miR-431-5p were increased in the blood of patients with VSCC compared to those with vulvar precancers. Statistically significant differences in the survival rates (time to progression) were revealed for VSCC patients categorized by miR-431-5p levels. Low levels of circulating miR-431-5p were found to be indicative of unfavorable survival rates. In summary, our data reveal the diagnostic potential of circulating miR-431-5p in patients with vulvar precancers and VSCC.

Involvement of a coumarin analog AD-013 in the DNA damage response pathways in MCF-7 cells.

Coumarin is a plant-derived compound but as such has no medical uses. Several synthetic coumarin analogs have been shown to possess anti-proliferative activity and to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Here, we explored DNA damage responses in MCF-7 cells treated with our novel synthetic hybrid compound AD-013, which integrates a coumarin moiety and an α-methylene-δ-lactone motif. The mRNA expression of several genes engaged in DNA-damage-induced responses was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein levels of a few members of phosphoinositide-3-kinases family (ATM, ATR and DNA-PK) and BRCA1 were assessed by ELISA, while p53 was evaluated by western blot method. AD-013 down-regulated DNA-PK gene expression but increased the level of ATM/ATR and p53. The new analog completely inhibited BRCA1 and greatly decreased the activity of BRCA1 protein, engaged in DNA damage repair. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to a coumarin analog AD-013 led to DNA damage and decreased expression of several repair-associated genes.

Synthesis of 3-Methylidene-1-tosyl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones as Potent Cytotoxic Agents.

An efficient synthetic strategy to 3-methylidene-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones variously substituted in position 2 has been developed. The title compounds were synthesized in the reaction sequence involving reaction of diethyl methylphosphonate with methyl 2-(tosylamino)benzoate, condensation of thus formed diethyl 2-oxo-2-(2-N-tosylphenyl)ethylphosphonate with various aldehydes followed by successful application of the obtained 3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-1,2-dihydroquinolin-4-ols as Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagents for the olefination of formaldehyde. Also, enantioselective approach to the target compounds has been evaluated using 3-dimenthoxyphosphoryl group as a chiral auxiliary. Single X-ray crystal analysis of (2S)-3-(dimenthoxyphosphoryl)-2-phenyl-1-tosyldihydroquinolin-4-ol revealed the presence of strong resonance-assisted hydrogen bond (RAHB). The obtained 3-methylidene-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones were then tested for their cytotoxic activity against two leukemia cell lines NALM-6 and HL-60 and a breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. All compounds showed very high cytotoxic activity with the IC50 values mostly below 1 µm in all three cancer cell lines. The selected analogs were also tested on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and on human mammary gland/breast cells (MCF-10A) to evaluate their influence on normal cells. Since one of the most serious problems in cancer chemotherapy is the development of drug resistance, the mRNA levels and activity of ABCB1 transporter considered to be the most important factor engaged in drug resistance, were evaluated in MCF-7 cells treated with two selected analogs. Both compounds were strong ABCB1 transporter inhibitors that could prevent efflux of anticancer drugs from cancer cells.

Involvement of α-methylene-γ- and δ-lactones in the suppression of multidrug resistance in MCF-7 cells.

BACKGROUND: The development of multidrug resistance to chemotherapy remains a challenge in the treatment of cancer and is a major factor causing failure of many forms of chemotherapy. The ATP binding cassette (ABC) family of proteins are efflux pumps that transport various potentially dangerous substances out of the cells. Several of the ABC transporters are related to chemoresistance, as the rapidly dividing malignant cells use them to protect themselves from medical interventions. Inhibitors of ABC transporters have the potential to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs. Two new synthetic compounds, AD-06 and AD-013, were tested as possible multidrug resistance inhibitors in MCF-7 cells. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of new compounds was tested in MCF-7 and MCF-10A cell lines using the MTT method. Gene expression was measured by real-time PCR and changes in the protein levels were evaluated by flow cytometry and ELISA. A method based on the use of a fluorescent dye, being a marker of the ABC transporter activity, was used for screening the tested compounds as potential multidrug resistance inhibitors. RESULTS: AD-06 and AD-013 down-regulated NF-κB mRNA levels and decreased the population of cells with activated NF-κB. Both compounds were found to be strong ABCB1 and ABCG2 transporter inhibitors. They showed synergistic effects when incubated with taxol or oxaliplatin. CONCLUSIONS: α-Methylene-γ- and -δ-lactones AD-06 and AD-013 are promising lead structures for further development as multidrug resistance inhibitors.

Anticancer Properties of a New Hybrid Analog AD-013 Combining a Coumarin Scaffold with an α-methylene-δ-lactone Motif.

BACKGROUND: Coumarin is a natural phytochemical but as such has no medical uses. However, various natural and synthetic coumarin analogs attract attention due to their interesting biological properties. OBJECTIVE: Here, we evaluated and compared anticancer properties of a new synthetic hybrid compound AD- 013, which integrates a coumarin moiety and an α-methylene-δ-lactone motif, with novobiocin, a natural antibiotic bearing a coumarin scaffold. METHODS: Cytotoxic activities of compound AD-013 and novobiocin were assessed by the MTT assay. In order to explore the mechanism of anticancer activity of analog AD-013, we performed quantitative real-time PCR analysis of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes. The ability of AD-013 and novobiocin to induce apoptosis and DNA damage was studied by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The cytotoxic activity of this new compound was compared with the activity of a coumarin-based antibiotic novobiocin against two cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and HL-60 and also against normal human cells, MCF- 10A and HUVEC. AD-013 was much more cytotoxic than novobiocin in both cancer cell lines and showed some selectivity against MCF-7 cancer cells as compared with MCF-10A healthy cells. Expression levels of the pro-apoptotic genes significantly increased while the anti-apoptotic genes, were down-regulated for both compounds in both cancer cell lines. AD-013 was able to inhibit cell proliferation, generate DNA damage and induce apoptosis. The obtained data showed that this compound caused the cell cycle arrest in subG0/G1 in both cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: The new hybrid analog was a much stronger apoptosis inducer than novobiocin and activated the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis.

Functional polymorphism of the renalase gene is associated with cardiac hypertrophy in female patients with aortic stenosis.

Renalase decreases circulating catecholamines concentration and is important in maintaining primary cellular metabolism. Renalase acts through the plasma membrane calcium ATPase 4b in the heart, which affects pressure overload but not exercise induced heart hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to test the association between a functional polymorphism Glu37Asp (rs2296545) of the renalase gene and left ventricular hypertrophy in a large cohort of patients with aortic stenosis. The study group consisted of 657 patients with aortic stenosis referred for aortic valve replacement. Preoperative echocardiographic assessment was performed to obtain cardiac phenotypes. Generalized-linear models were implemented to analyze data using crude or full model adjusted for selected clinical factors. In females, the Asp37 variant of the Glu37Asp polymorphism was associated with higher left ventricular mass (p = 0.0021 and p = 0.055 crude and full model respectively), intraventricular septal thickness (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0143) and posterior wall thickness (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.0219) all indexed to body surface area, as well as relative wall thickness (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0097). No significant associations were found among the male patients. In conclusion, we have found the association of the renalase Glu37Asp polymorphism with left ventricle hypertrophy in large group of females with aortic stenosis. The Glu37Asp polymorphism causes not only amino-acid substitution in FAD binding domain but may also change binding affinity of the hypoxia- and hypertrophy-related transcription factors and influence renalase gene expression. Our data suggest that renalase might play a role in hypertrophic response to pressure overload, but the exact mechanism requires further investigation.

Synthesis of 4,4-Disubstituted 3-Methylidenechroman-2-ones as Potent Anticancer Agents.

The synthesis of a new library of 4,4-disubstituted 3-methylidene-3,4-dihydro-2H-chroman-2-ones applying Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons methodology for the construction of an exo-methylidene moiety is reported. Corresponding 3-diethoxyphosphorylchroman-2-ones were synthesized in a three-step reaction sequence consisting of O-methylation of ethyl 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-3-oxoalkanoates, followed by reaction of the obtained 2-diethoxyphosphoryl-3-methoxy-2-alkenoates with phenols or 1-naphthol. The resulting 3-diethoxyphosphorylochromen-2-ones proved to be effective Michael acceptors in reactions with various Grignard reagents. Preliminary biological evaluations showed that many of the synthesized 3-methylidenechroman-2-ones possess very high cytotoxic activity against NALM-6 and HL-60 cancer cell lines (IC50 <1.0 µm) as well as high activity against the MCF-7 cancer cell line (IC50 <10 µm). Furthermore, two of the highly active 3-methylidenechroman-2-ones with geminal methyl and ethyl substituents at position 4 showed promising therapeutic indexes of 10 and 13 in tests against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

New Chiral Ebselen Analogues with Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential.

New chiral camphane-derived benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones and corresponding diselenides have been synthetized using a convenient one-pot procedure. Se-N bond was efficiently converted to an Se-Se bond, which could also be easily re-oxidized to the initial benzisoselenazolone moiety. The antioxidant activity of camphor derivatives was evaluated and compared to the reactivity of a series of N-amino acid benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones obtained by a modified procedure involving the improved synthesis and isolation of the diseleno bis(dibenzoic) acid. The most efficient peroxide scavengers, N-bornyl and N-leucine methyl ester benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones, were further evaluated as cytotoxic agents on four cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HEP G2, HL 6, and DU 145) and normal cell line PNT1A. The highest antiproliferative potential was evaluated for two compounds bearing a 3-methylbutyl carbon chain, N-leucine methyl ester and N-3-methylbutyl benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones.

New glutathione peroxidase mimetics-Insights into antioxidant and cytotoxic activity.

A series of N-alkyl benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones has been obtained and transformed to corresponding diselenides by the reduction with sodium borohydride. Additionally, efficient methodology for the oxidative Se-N bond formation by potassium iodate has been presented, new conversion of diselenide to benzisoselenazolone was observed. The GPx-like activity of all synthetized derivatives has been evaluated by NMR. N-Allyl diselenide was up to five times better antioxidant than ebselen. Anticancer capacity towards MCF7 and DU145 cancer cells has been also tested. The highest antiproliferative activity was obtained for N-cyclohexyl benzisoselenazolone.

Novobiocin Analogs as Potential Anticancer Agents.

BACKGROUND: The aminocoumarin antibiotic, novobiocin, is a natural product that inhibits DNA gyrase, a bacterial enzyme involved in cell division. METHOD: More recently, novobiocin was found to act also on eukaryotic cells by blocking the 90 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90). Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone, critical for folding, stabilization and activation of many proteins, in particular oncoproteins responsible for cancer progression. As opposed to the geldanamycin and radicicol, the known inhibitors of Hsp90 that bind to the N-terminal region, the binding domain of novobiocin is localized in the C-terminal part of this protein. While the N-terminal inhibition also leads to the induction of some pro-survival signals, C-terminal inhibitors in which prosurvival responses are avoided and client degradation is maintained can be developed as a new class of potential anticancer chemotherapeutics. Numerous novobiocin analogs have been designed in the search for more potent compounds and some of them exhibit significantly enhanced anti-proliferative activity versus the natural product, as evaluated by cellular efficacies against several cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION: This review describes structure-activity-relationships of novobiocin analogs and some biological data reported so far on the anticancer activity of these modified compounds.

Anticancer activity of new molecular hybrids combining 1,4-naphthalenedione motif with phosphonic acid moiety in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

Structural motifs found in naturally occurring compounds are frequently used by researchers to develop novel synthetic drug candidates. Some of these new agents are hybrid molecules which are designed through a concept of combining more than one functional element. In this report, anticancer activity of new synthetic molecular hybrids, substituted 3-diethoxyphosphorylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-diones and 3-diethoxyphosphorylbenzo[f]indole-4,9-diones, which integrate natural 1,4-naphtalenedione scaffold, present in several anticancer agents, with pharmacophoric phosphonate moiety, were tested against hepatocellular cell line HepG2. Cytotoxicity was examined using MTT assay. Two most potent compounds, furandione 8a and benzoindoldione 12a, which reduced the number of viable HepG2 cells with the IC50 values of 4.13 µM and 5.9 µM, respectively, were selected for further research. These compounds decreased the mRNA expression levels of several genes: Bcl-2, angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-Fos, caspase-8 and increased the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and -9, c-Jun, p21, p53, as determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The ability of these compounds to induce apoptosis and DNA damage was studied by flow cytometry. The obtained data showed that the new compounds inhibited cell viability by increasing apoptosis and decreasing angiogenesis. Compound 8a was a much stronger apoptosis inducer as compared with 12a and strongly activated the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, associated with the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These findings show that the synthetic hybrids combining 1,4-naphthalenedione system and phosphonic acid moiety display potential to be further explored in the development of new anticancer agents.

ABC Transporters in the Development of Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Therapy.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the developed countries. The search for novel drug candidates is a priority goal for cancer therapy. However, the emergence of drug resistance reduces the effectiveness of new medications. The ATP binding cassette (ABC) family of proteins are efflux pumps that transport various structurally unrelated and potentially dangerous substances out of the cells. These transporters have evolved as a complex cellular defense system, for the recognition and removal of toxic agents entering the cells from their environment. Several of the ABC transporters are related to chemoresistance in cancer therapy, as the rapidly dividing malignant cells use them to protect themselves from medical interventions. Here we review the members of the ABC transporter families responsible for the multidrug resistance in anticancer therapy.

Anticancer properties of novel 4-methylene-1,2-diphenylpyrazolidin-3-ones.

The limited success of the currently used antitumor therapies is the driving force for organic chemists to seek new lead structures with anticancer potential. Two α-methylene-γ-lactams with an additional nitrogen atom in the lactam ring, 5-vinyl-1,2-diphenyl-4-methylenepyrazolidin-3-one (2a) and 5-phenyl-1,2-diphenyl-4-methylenepyrazolidin-3-one (2b) have been synthesized. Their anticancer activity was assessed in MCF-7 cells. Both compounds inhibited cell proliferation and induced DNA damage and apoptosis, with 2a being the more potent analog. Synergistic effects of 2a used in combination with known anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil, taxol, and oxaliplatin were evaluated. Compound 2a significantly enhanced the antitumor action of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil, but not taxol.

Combined effects of anticancer drugs and new synthetic α-methylene-δ-lactones on MCF-7 cells.

The search for novel drug candidates is a priority goal for cancer therapy. Natural products isolated from plants are often used as valuable leads for the synthesis of analogs with simpler structure. Two synthetic α-methylene-δ-lactones with chroman-2-one skeleton, designated DL-3 and DL-5, exhibiting strong cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines, have been tested alone and in combination with well-known anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and taxol, in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Parthenolide, a plant-derived α-methylene-γ-lactone, was used as a positive control. The effects on cell proliferation, DNA damage, and apoptosis induction were evaluated. Neither of the tested compounds significantly enhanced the effects produced by taxol, but a strong synergistic effect was observed with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin. Only small differences between the actions of both α-methylene-δ-lactones were found. The synergistic effects produced by these compounds in MCF-7 cells were stronger as compared with parthenolide. Our findings show that simple and easy-to-obtain synthetic compounds with α-methylene-δ-lactone motif can potentiate the efficiency of anticancer drugs.

The role of oxidative stress in anticancer activity of sesquiterpene lactones.

Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are plant-derived compounds that are abundant in plants of the Asteraceae family and posses a broad spectrum of biological activities, ranging from anti-inflammatory, phytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal to cytotoxic/anticancer. In recent years, anticancer properties of these compounds and molecular mechanisms of their action have been studied extensively on numerous cell lines and also on experimental animals. SLs have been shown to disrupt cellular redox balance and induce oxidative stress in cancer cells. Oxidative stress is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which in turn can promote many aspects of cancer development and progression. On the other hand, ROS, which initiate apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway, can also be used to kill cancer cells, if they can be generated in cancer. One of the most important regulators of the redox equilibrium in the cells is reduced glutathione (GSH). In cancer cells, GSH levels are higher than in normal cells. Therefore, SL can induce apoptosis of cancer cells by decreasing intracellular GSH levels. The use of SL which can affect intracellular redox signaling pathways can be considered an interesting approach for cancer treatment. In this review, we give a brief description of the mechanisms and pathways involved in oxidative stress-induced anticancer activity of SL.

[Real-time PCR test for detection and quantification of human polyomavirus BK (BKV) DNA]. / Zastosowanie metody real-time PCR do wykrywania DNA ludzkiego poliomawirusa BK.

The human polyomavirus BK (BKV) is wide-spread pathogen, associated with urogenital tract disorders or even nephropathy in immunosuppressed patients. Nowadays molecular detection by real-time PCR (qPCR) is recognized as a method-of-choice for detecting human polyomaviruses in clinical samples. The aim of the study was development of real-time PCR assay for detection and quantification of polyomavirus BK DNA in clinical samples, using specific primers targeting a viral DNA VP3 gene and a TaqMan hydrolyzing probe. The analytical sensitivity of assay was tested using serial dilutions of BKV DNA in range between 13500 and 15 copies/ml. 27 urine samples and 23 plasma samples taken from a group of 22 adult recipients of allogeneic HSCT were tested for the presence of polyomavirus BK in the LightCycler system. Described in-house real-time PCR assay detected BKV DNA in 8 specimens (6 urine and 2 plasma). Detected average viral load was 170 copies/ml for plasma and 1250 copies/ml for urine samples, respectively. The results of this study show that developed TaqMan-based probe qPCR assay is very reliable and valuable for detection and quantification of BKV DNA, both in urine and plasma samples. These data, combined with its rapid turnaround time for results and decreased hands-on time, make the LightCycler PCR assay highly suitable for the rapid diagnostics of polyomavirus BK infections in the clinical laboratory.