Systemic Photoprotection in Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), which include basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and actinic keratosis (AK), are the most common cancer diseases in the Caucasian race. If diagnosed late and improperly treated, BCC and SCC can become locally advanced and metastasize. Malignant melanoma (MM) is less frequent but more lethal than NMSC. Given the individual and social burdens of skin cancers, performing an adequate prevention is needed. Ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure is one of the main risk factors for skin cancer. Thus, the first-choice prevention strategy is represented by photoprotection that can be both topical and systemic. The latter consists of the oral administration of molecules which protect human skin against the damaging effects of UV rays, acting through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or immunomodulator mechanisms. Although several compounds are commonly used for photoprotection, only a few molecules have demonstrated their effectiveness in clinical trials and have been included in international guidelines for NMSC prevention (i.e., nicotinamide and retinoids). Moreover, none of them have been demonstrated as able to prevent MM. Clinical and preclinical data regarding the most common compounds used for systemic photoprotection are reported in this review, with a focus on the main mechanisms involved in their photoprotective properties.

trans-Dichloro(triphenylarsino)(N,N-dialkylamino)platinum(II) Complexes: In Search of New Scaffolds to Circumvent Cisplatin Resistance.

The high incidence of the resistance phenomenon represents one of the most important limitations to the clinical usefulness of cisplatin as an anticancer drug. Notwithstanding the considerable efforts to solve this problem, the circumvention of cisplatin resistance remains a challenge in the treatment of cancer. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of two trans-dichloro(triphenylarsino)(N,N-dialkylamino)platinum(II) complexes (1 and 2) were described. The trypan blue exclusion assay demonstrated an interesting antiproliferative effect for complex 1 in ovarian carcinoma-resistant cells, A2780cis. Quantitative analysis performed by ICP-AES demonstrated a scarce ability to platinate DNA, and a significant intracellular accumulation. The investigation of the mechanism of action highlighted the ability of 1 to inhibit the relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA mediated by topoisomerase II and to stabilize the cleavable complex. Cytofluorimetric analyses indicated the activation of the apoptotic pathway and the mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Therefore, topoisomerase II and mitochondria could represent possible intracellular targets. The biological properties of 1 and 2 were compared to those of the related trans-dichloro(triphenylphosphino)(N,N-dialkylamino)platinum(II) complexes in order to draw structure-activity relationships useful to face the resistance phenotype.

Cannabidiol as Self-Assembly Inducer for Anticancer Drug-Based Nanoparticles.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a biologically active compound present in the plants of the Cannabis family, used as anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and more recently, anticancer drug. In this work, its use as a new self-assembly inducer in the formation of nanoparticles is validated. The target conjugates are characterized by the presence of different anticancer drugs (namely N-desacetyl thiocolchicine, podophyllotoxin, and paclitaxel) connected to CBD through a linker able to improve drug release. These nanoparticles are formed via solvent displacement method, resulting in monodisperse and stable structures having hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 160 to 400 nm. Their biological activity is evaluated on three human tumor cell lines (MSTO-211H, HT-29, and HepG2), obtaining GI50 values in the low micromolar range. Further biological assays were carried out on MSTO-211H cells for the most effective NP 8B, confirming the involvement of paclitaxel in cytotoxicity and cell death mechanism.

New Platinum(II) Complexes Affecting Different Biomolecular Targets in Resistant Ovarian Carcinoma Cells.

Resistance to platinum-based anticancer drugs represents an important limit for their clinical effectiveness and one of the most important field of investigation in the context of platinum compounds. From our previous studies, PtII complexes containing the triphenylphosphino moiety have been emerging as promising agents, showing significant cytotoxicity to resistant ovarian carcinoma cells. Two brominated triphenylphosphino trans-platinum derivatives were prepared and evaluated on human tumor cell lines, sensitive and resistant to cisplatin. The new complexes exert a notable antiproliferative effect on resistant ovarian carcinoma cells, showing a remarkable intracellular accumulation and the ability to interact with different intracellular targets. The interaction with DNA, the collapse of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and the impairment of intracellular redox state were demonstrated. Moreover, a selectivity towards the selenocysteine of thioredoxin reductase was observed. The mechanism of action is discussed with regard to the resistance phenomenon in ovarian carcinoma cells.

Systemic Photoprotection in Skin Cancer Prevention: Knowledge among Dermatologists.

BACKGROUND: Systemic photoprotection (i.e., administration of substances such as nicotinamide, carotenoids, and vitamin D) may be important to reduce photocarcinogenesis or to support long-term protection against UV irradiation. Clinical trials showed that oral nicotinamide is effective in reducing the onset of new nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), while other oral photoprotectors failed to achieve the reduction of new melanoma or NMSC formation in humans. The aim of this study was to summarize the current state of knowledge of systemic photoprotection and to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of dermatologists regarding these treatments. METHODS: The survey was conducted on a sample of dermatologists recruited according to a snowball sampling procedure. The questionnaire consisted of a first part asking for characteristics of the participant and a second part with 12 specific questions on their knowledge about systemic photoprotection, particularly their knowledge of astaxanthin, ß-carotene, nicotinamide, and vitamin D3. RESULTS: One hundred eight dermatologists answered the survey. Most of them (85.2%) stated that oral photoprotectors have a role in the prevention of skin cancer, and responses mainly mentioned nicotinamide. More than half of them (54.6%) had prescribed all the considered oral photoprotectors, but the majority of them had prescribed nicotinamide, mainly for 2 to 3 months during summer, almost invariably (n = 106) associated with topical photoprotectors. Most dermatologists (>80%) were aware of scientific publications demonstrating an effect of systemic photoprotectors on NMSC. CONCLUSIONS: Most Italian dermatologists have positive views on oral photoprotection in skin cancer and are aware of the demonstrated potential of nicotinamide in the prevention of NMSCs.

Cytotoxicity and DNA interaction in a series of aryl terminated iminopyridine Pt(II) complexes.

A series of iminopyridine complexes of platinum(II), bearing a flexible diethereal, aryl terminated residue, where the size of aryl group is varied from phenyl to 9-anthracenyl, was synthesized. The new complexes are soluble and stable in DMSO/H2O mixtures. Besides the metal center, aryl groups are available for further interactions with DNA, due to the good side chain flexibility. The new aryl functionalized iminopyridine dichlorido platinum(II) complexes show a significant antiproliferative activity on ovarian carcinoma cells and notably, complex 13 is able to overcome cisplatin resistance. The study of the interaction mode of 13 with DNA highlighted the ability to form a molecular complex characterized by a dual (intercalative and groove binding) geometry. The complex is also able to covalently add to DNA even though interstrand cross-links appear significantly hampered with respect to cisplatin. The interactions with the macromolecule are discussed in view of the observed cell effect.

Platinum(II) Complexes Bearing Triphenylphosphine and Chelating Oximes: Antiproliferative Effect and Biological Profile in Resistant Cells.

Platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(Cl)(PPh3 ){(κ2 -N,O)-(1{C(R)=N(OH)-2(O)C6 H4 })}] with R=Me, H, (1 and 2) were synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed the proposed (SP4-3) configuration for 1. Study of the antiproliferative activity, performed on a panel of human tumor cell lines and on mesothelial cells, highlighted complex 2 as the more effective. In particular, it showed a remarkable cytotoxicity in ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780) and interestingly, a significant antiproliferative effect on cisplatin resistant cells (A2780cis). Investigation into the intracellular mechanism of action demonstrated that 2 had a lower ability to platinate DNA than did cisplatin, which was taken as reference, and a notably higher uptake in resistant cells. A significant accumulation in mitochondria, along with the ability to induce concentration-dependent mitochondrial membrane depolarization and intracellular reactive oxygen species production, allowed us to propose a mitochondrion-mediated pathway as responsible for the interesting cytotoxic profile of complex 2.

Synthesis, Antiproliferative Effect, and Topoisomerase II Inhibitory Activity of 3-Methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indoles.

A series of 3-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indoles was prepared and investigated for antiproliferative activity on three human tumor cell lines, HeLa, A2780, and MSTO-211H, and some structure-activity relationships were drawn up. The GI50 values of the most potent compounds (32 and 33) were lower than 5 µM in all tested cell lines. For the most biologically relevant derivatives, the effect on human DNA topoisomerase II relaxation activity was investigated, which highlighted the good correlation between the antiproliferative effect and topoisomerase II inhibition. The most potent derivative, 32, was shown to induce the apoptosis pathway. The obtained results highlight 3-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole as a promising scaffold for further optimization of compounds with potent antiproliferative and antitopoisomerase II activities.

New Class of Betulinic Acid-Based Nanoassemblies of Cabazitaxel, Podophyllotoxin, and Thiocolchicine.

Betulinic acid is validated as a new self-assembly inducer for the formation of nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with different drugs. The target compounds are characterized by the presence of anticancer drugs acting on tubulin dynamics and of a linker that could be a carbon chain or a triazole-based one. Nanoparticles formed are characterized and their biological activity is evaluated.

DNA interaction of a fluorescent, cytotoxic pyridinimino platinum(II) complex.

New pyridinimino complexes of platinum(II) [PtCl2(N^N-R)] (N^N = 2-pyridylmethanimino, R = -(CH2)2O(CH2)2OH, -(CH)2O(CH2)2OCH2Pyr), Pyr = pyren-1-yl) have been prepared. They are characterized by a dioxygenated alkyl side chain and, in one case, by a fluorescent terminal 1-pyrenyl residue. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H-, 13C-and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies. For [PtCl2(N^N-(CH2)2O(CH2)2OH] the molecular structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes are soluble and stable in DMSO/H2O (80/20, v/v). The pyrenyl terminated compound was tested as antiproliferative agent against selected human cancer cell lines. Comparable cytotoxic effect was obtained on human ovarian carcinoma A-2780 and A-2780cis cells, thus suggesting a certain ability to circumvent cisplatin resistance. The interaction of this complex with DNA was investigated by linear flow dichroism and by spectrophotometric (absorbance and fluorescence) titrations. Both techniques enlightened the presence of a complex mode of interaction with DNA, involving both groove binding and intercalation.

Benzothiopyranoindole- and pyridothiopyranoindole-based antiproliferative agents targeting topoisomerases.

New benzothiopyranoindoles (5a-l) and pyridothiopyranoindoles (5m-t), featuring different combinations of substituents (H, Cl, OCH3) at R2-R4 positions and protonatable R1-dialkylaminoalkyl chains, were synthesized and biologically assayed on three human tumor cell lines, showing significant antiproliferative activity (GI50 values spanning from 0.31 to 6.93 µM) and pro-apoptotic effect. Linear flow dichroism experiments indicate the ability of both chromophores to form a molecular complex with DNA, following an intercalative mode of binding. All compounds displayed a moderate ability to inhibit the relaxation activity of both topoisomerases I and II, reasonably correlated to their intercalative capacities. Cleavable assay performed with topoisomerase I revealed a significant poisoning effect for compounds 5g, 5h, 5s, and 5t. A theoretical model provided by hydrated docking calculations clarified the role of the R1-R4 substituents on the topoisomerase I poison activity, revealing a crucial role of the R2-OCH3 group.

Exploring the Biological Activity of a Library of 1,2,5-Oxadiazole Derivatives Endowed With Antiproliferative Activity.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The identification of a series of oxadiazole-based compounds, as promising antiproliferative agents, has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to explore the SAR of newly-synthesized oxadiazole derivatives and identify their molecular targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A small library of 1,2,5-oxadiazole derivatives was synthetized and their antiproliferative activity was tested by the MTT assay. Their interaction with topoisomerase I was evaluated and a molecular docking study was performed. RESULTS: Several candidates showed cytotoxicity towards two human tumor cell lines, HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma) and HeLa (cervix adenocarcinoma). Some derivatives exhibited inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I and this effect was supported by docking studies. CONCLUSION: The enzyme inhibition results, although not directly related to cytotoxicity, suggest that a properly modified 1,2,5 oxadiazole scaffold could be considered for the development of new anti-topoisomerase agents.

Heteronanoparticles by Self-Assembly of Ecdysteroid and Doxorubicin Conjugates To Overcome Cancer Resistance.

Heteronanoparticles (H-NPs) consisting of conjugates characterized by a squalene tail linked to doxorubicin and ecdysteroid derivatives are presented. Biological evaluation on A2780ADR cell line confirms not only the maintenance of the activity of the parental drug but also the ability to overcome cancer resistance. The in vitro cell uptake was demonstrated, and the involvement of an endosomal-mediated pathway was suggested.