The Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Is a Novel Target of 6,7,4′-Trihydroxyisoflavone for Suppressing Esophageal Cancer Growth

Lim, Tae-Gyu,Lee, Sung-Young,Duan, Zhaoheng,Lee, Mee-Hyun,Chen, Hanyong,Liu, Fangfang,Liu, Kangdong,Jung, Sung Keun,Kim, Dong Joon,Bode, Ann M.,Lee, Ki Won,Dong, Zigang AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH INC 2017 CANCER PREVENTION RESEARCH Vol.10 No.5

<P>Intake of soy isoflavones is inversely associated with the risk of esophageal cancer. Numerous experimental results have supported the anticancer activity of soy isoflavones. This study aimed to determine the anti-esophageal cancer activity of 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (6,7,4'-THIF), a major metabolite of daidzein, which is readily metabolized in the human body. Notably, 6,7,4'-THIF inhibited proliferation and increased apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells. On the basis of a virtual screening analysis, Pin1 was identified as a target protein of 6,7,4'-THIF. Pull-down assay results using 6,7,4'-THIF Sepharose 4B beads showed a direct interaction between 6,7,4'-THIF and the Pin1 protein. Pin1 is a critical therapeutic and preventive target in esophageal cancer because of its positive regulation of beta-catenin and cyclin D1. The 6,7,4'-THIF compound simultaneously reduced Pin1 isomerase activity and the downstream activation targets of Pin1. The specific inhibitory activity of 6,7,4'-THIF was analyzed using Neu/Pin1 wild-type (WT) and Neu/Pin1 knockout (KO) MEFs. 6,7,4'-THIF effected Neu/Pin1 WT MEFs, but not Neu/Pin1 KO MEFs. Furthermore, the results of a xenograft assay using Neu/Pin1 WT and KO MEFs were similar to those obtained from the in vitro assay. Overall, we found that 6,7,4'-THIF specifically reduced Pin1 activity in esophageal cancer models. Importantly, 6,7,4'-THIF directly bound to Pin1 but not FKBP or cyclophilin A, the same family of proteins. Because Pin1 acts like an oncogene by modulating various carcinogenesis-related proteins, this study might at least partially explain the underlying mechanism(s) of the anti-esophageal cancer effects of soy isoflavones. (C) 2017 AACR.</P>

Pentagalloylglucose induces autophagy and caspase-independent programmed deaths in human PC-3 and mouse TRAMP-C2 prostate cancer cells.

Hu, Hongbo,Chai, Yubo,Wang, Lei,Zhang, Jinhui,Lee, Hyo Jeong,Kim, Sung-Hoon,Lü,, Junxuan American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2009 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.8 No.10

<P>Penta-1,2,3,4,6-O-galloyl-beta-d-glucose (PGG) suppresses the in vivo growth of human DU145 and PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice, suggesting potential utility as a prostate cancer chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agent. Our earlier work implicates caspase-mediated apoptosis in DU145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cells as one mechanism for the anticancer activity. We show here that, in the more aggressive PC-3 prostate cancer cell line, PGG induced programmed cell deaths lacking the typical caspase-mediated apoptotic morphology and biochemical changes. In contrast, PGG induced patent features of autophagy, including formation of autophagosomes and lipid modification of light chain 3 after 48 hours of PGG exposure. The 'autophagic' responses were also observed in the murine TRAMP-C2 cells. Caspase inhibition exacerbated PGG-induced overall death. As for molecular changes, we observed a rapid inhibition of the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin-downstream targets S6K and 4EBP1 by PGG in PC-3 and TRAMP-C2 cells but not that of mammalian target of rapamycin itself, along with increased AKT phosphorylation. Whereas the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase increased PGG-induced apoptosis and autophagy, experiments with pharmacologic inducer or inhibitor of autophagy or by knocking down autophagy mediator Beclin-1 showed that autophagy provided survival signaling that suppressed caspase-mediated apoptosis. Knocking down of death receptor-interacting protein 1 kinase increased overall death without changing light chain 3-II or caspase activation, thus not supporting death receptor-interacting protein 1-necroptosis for PGG-induction of autophagy or other programmed cell death. Furthermore, PGG-treated PC-3 cells lost clonogenic ability. The induction by PGG of caspase-independent programmed cell death in aggressive prostate cancer cell lines supports testing its merit as a potential drug candidate for therapy of caspase-resistant recurrent prostate cancer.</P>

Inhibition of histone deacetylase attenuates hypoxia-induced migration and invasion of cancer cells via the restoration of RECK expression.

Jeon, Hye Won,Lee, You Mie American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2010 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.9 No.5

<P>Hypoxia is a strong signal for cell migration and invasion in cancer. The reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motif (RECK), a tumor suppressor, inhibits cancer cell migration and invasion and is frequently silenced in aggressive tumor cells by histone deacetylases (HDAC). However, the effect of RECK silencing in several cancer cells in a hypoxic microenvironment has not been fully delineated. In this report, we investigated whether hypoxia suppressed RECK expression and used HDAC inhibitor (HDACI) inhibition to restore RECK expression to inhibit cancer cell migration and invasion. HDACIs, including trichostatin A (TSA), completely rescued RECK expression, which was suppressed by hypoxia, in the H-Ras-transformed human breast MCF10A and the HT1080 cell lines (human fibrosarcoma). TSA suppressed the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, induced by hypoxia, and significantly inhibited hypoxia-stimulated migration and invasion of both cancer cells. RECK overexpression significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells induced by hypoxia. The hypoxic effect on the migration and invasion of cells was equivalent to the effect seen using the small interfering RNA (siRNA) of RECK under normoxia, suggesting an inhibitory role for RECK in hypoxic conditions. We also showed that siRNA silencing of HDAC1 suppressed hypoxia-induced RECK downregulation and inhibited the migration and invasion of cancer cells. In conclusion, the inhibition of HDAC successfully restored the expression of RECK under hypoxic conditions. This resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion through the repression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity.</P>

Modulation of transcription by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta--binding RNA aptamer in colon cancer cells.

Kwak, Hoyun,Hwang, Injoo,Kim, Jee Ho,Kim, Mee Young,Yang, Ji Sun,Jeong, Sunjoo American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2009 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.8 No.9

<P>Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPAR-delta), one of three PPAR subtypes, is a lipid-sensing nuclear receptor that has been implicated in multiple processes, including inflammation and cancer. To directly establish the role of PPAR-delta in colon cancer development and progression, we selected high-affinity RNA aptamers and expressed them in several colon cancer cell lines. Nuclear-expressed aptamers efficiently inhibited PPAR-delta-dependent transcription from a synthetic peroxisome proliferator response element-driven luciferase reporter. PPAR-delta-specific aptamers suppressed transcription from natural promoters of vascular endothelial cell growth factor-A and cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, vascular endothelial cell growth factor-A and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA levels were significantly reduced by the PPAR-delta-specific aptamers in colon cancer cells. Most significantly, HCT116 colon cancer cells with high-level expression of PPAR-delta-specific aptamers exhibited a striking loss of tumorigenic potential. Further study on these RNA aptamers could provide an opportunity to modulate PPAR-delta-mediated colon cancer development and progression. Taken together, our results establish an important role for PPAR-delta in transcription of tumor-promoting genes, which can be specifically modulated by high-affinity RNA intramers in colon cancer cells. The RNA intramers may be further developed as specific inhibitors for cancer therapeutic strategies.</P>

Prevention of colitis-associated colorectal cancer with 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine.

Ock, Chan Young,Kim, Eun-Hee,Hong, Hua,Hong, Kyung Sook,Han, Young-Min,Choi, Ki-Seok,Hahm, Ki-Baik,Chung, Myung-Hee American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2011 CANCER PREVENTION RESEARCH Vol.4 No.9

<P>Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is one of clear examples of inflammation-carcinogenesis sequence, by which the strict control of colitis with potent anti-inflammatory or antioxidative agent offers the chance of cancer prevention. Supported with the facts that Rac1 binds and activates STAT3, which are significantly upregulated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as CAC, but 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanosine or 8-OHdG) paradoxically can block Rac1 activation and subsequent NADPH oxidase (NOX) inactivation in various inflammation models, we hypothesized that attenuated Rac1-STAT3 and COX-NF-관B pathway by exogenous 8-OHdG administration may ameliorate inflammatory signaling in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis and can prevent CAC. Before commencing carcinogenesis model, we checked whether exogenous 8-OHdG can alleviate IBD, for which interleukin (IL)-10 knockout mice were designed to ingest 5% DSS for 1 week, and 8-OHdG is given through intraperitoneal route daily. 8-OHdG treatment groups significantly reduced pathologic grade of DSS-induced colitis as well as various inflammatory mediators such as TNF-관, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. To document the cancer prevention effects of 8-OHdG, mice were injected azoxymethane followed by drinking 2.5% DSS for 1 week, after which 8-OHdG-containing diets were given for 20 weeks. As results, mice that consumed 8-OHdG-containing diet significantly reduced both tumor incidence and multiplicity. Rac1 activity and phosphorylated STAT3 level were significantly attenuated in the 8-OHdG-treated group. Significantly decreased levels of malondialdehyde, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, matrix metalloproteinasess, COX-2, NOX4, and 관-catenin nuclear accumulation were responsible for cancer prevention effects of exogenous 8-OHdG. In conclusion, we clearly showed cancer-preventive effect of exogenous 8-OHdG against CAC.</P>

Immunotherapy of cancer with 4-1BB.

Vinay, Dass S,Kwon, Byoung S American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2012 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.11 No.5

<P>4-1BB (CD137), a member of the TNF receptor superfamily, is an activation-induced T-cell costimulatory molecule. Signaling via 4-1BB upregulates survival genes, enhances cell division, induces cytokine production, and prevents activation-induced cell death in T cells. The importance of the 4-1BB pathway has been underscored in a number of diseases, including cancer. Growing evidence indicates that anti-4-1BB monoclonal antibodies possess strong antitumor properties, which in turn are the result of their powerful CD8+ T-cell activating, IFN-γ producing, and cytolytic marker-inducing capabilities. In addition, combination therapy of anti-4-1BB with other anticancer agents, such as radiation, has robust tumor-regressing abilities against nonimmunogenic or poorly immunogenic tumors. Furthermore, the adoptive transfer of ex vivo anti-4-1BB-activated CD8+ T cells from previously tumor-treated animals efficiently inhibits progression of tumors in recipient mice that have been inoculated with fresh tumors. In addition, targeting of tumors with variants of 4-1BBL directed against 4-1BB also have potent antitumor effects. Currently, a humanized anti-4-1BB is in clinical trials in patients with solid tumors, including melanoma, renal carcinoma, and ovarian cancer, and so far seems to have a favorable toxicity profile. In this review, we discuss the basis of the therapeutic potential of targeting the 4-1BB-4-1BBL pathway in cancer treatment.</P>

Penta-1,2,3,4,6-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose induces p53 and inhibits STAT3 in prostate cancer cells in vitro and suppresses prostate xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

Hu, Hongbo,Lee, Hyo-Jeong,Jiang, Cheng,Zhang, Jinhui,Wang, Lei,Zhao, Yan,Xiang, Qiu,Lee, Eun-Ok,Kim, Sung-Hoon,Lü,, Junxuan American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2008 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.7 No.9

<P>Penta-1,2,3,4,6-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG) is a naturally occurring gallotannin from some Oriental herbs. Several cell culture studies suggested a potential for PGG as a novel agent for the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer. Here, we investigated the cell death signaling mechanisms induced by PGG in human prostate cancer cells of different p53 functional status. We observed the induction of G(1)- and S-phase arrests and caspase-mediated apoptosis in the androgen-dependent human LNCaP cells, which express wild-type p53, and in the androgen-independent, p53-mutant DU145 cells. In LNCaP cells, caspase-mediated apoptosis induction by PGG was associated with and mediated in major part by activation of p53 as established through small interfering RNA knockdown and dominant-negative mutant approaches. Intracellular reactive oxygen species production by PGG was found to be crucial for these molecular and cellular actions. In DU145 cells, which harbor constitutively active signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), caspase-mediated apoptosis induction by PGG was associated with an inhibition of STAT3 Tyr705 phosphorylation and the down-regulation of STAT3 transcriptional targets Bcl-XL and Mcl-1. Overexpression of Bcl-XL or knockdown of its binding partner Bak attenuated apoptosis induction. Furthermore, we provide, for the first time, in vivo data that PGG significantly inhibited DU145 xenograft growth in an athymic nude mouse model in association with an inhibition of pSTAT3. Our data support PGG as a multitargeting agent for chemoprevention and therapy of prostate cancer by activating the p53 tumor suppressor pathway and by inhibiting STAT3 oncogenic signaling.</P>

Cyclooxygenase-independent down-regulation of multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 expression by celecoxib in human lung cancer cells.

Kang, He-Kyung,Lee, Eunmyong,Pyo, Hongryull,Lim, Soo-Jeong American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2005 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.4 No.9

<P>The recent finding of a link between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and p-glycoprotein expression suggests that COX-2 is involved in the development of the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. MDR-associated protein 1 (MRP1) is another major MDR-related protein that is frequently overexpressed in cancer patients, including those with lung cancer. Based on our observation that among four human epithelial lung cell lines both MRP1 and COX-2 protein were highly expressed only in A549 cells, we have investigated whether COX-2 regulates the expression of MRP1. The COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib down-regulated the expression of MRP1 protein in A549 cells, which was accompanied by increased accumulation and enhanced cytotoxicity of doxorubicin, an MRP1 substrate. However, enforced expression of COX-2 in human H460 lung carcinoma cell lines, which express minimal level of COX-2, did not cause enhancement in MRP1 expression. Celecoxib down-regulation of MRP1 was observed independent of COX-2 expression. Moreover, in COX-2-overexpressing cell lines, celecoxib down-regulation of MRP1 was observed only at a concentration far exceeding that required for inhibiting COX activity, and exogenous addition of prostaglandin E(2) did not restore MRP1 expression. These results suggest that celecoxib down-regulates MRP1 expression in human lung cancer cells in a COX-independent manner. The use of celecoxib for adjuvant therapy in lung cancer patients may contribute to their decreased resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs transported by MRP1.</P>

Tautomycetin inhibits growth of colorectal cancer cells through p21cip/WAF1 induction via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.

Lee, Joon-Hee,Lee, Jung-Soo,Kim, Sung-Eun,Moon, Byoung-San,Kim, Yong-Chul,Lee, Seung-Kyou,Lee, Sang-Kyou,Choi, Kang-Yell American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2006 Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Vol.5 No.12

<P>Tautomycetin is an antifungal antibiotic retaining potent immunosuppressive function. We have identified the roles of tautomycetin on cellular proliferation and transformation of colorectal cancer cells. The proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of HCT-15, HT-29, and DLD-1 colorectal cancer cells were efficiently inhibited without induction of apoptosis by 150 nmol tautomycetin. These growth inhibitory effects were dependent on p21Cip/WAF induction via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, and the tautomycetin effects were abolished in HCT-116 colon cells and eight other types of cells that did not induce p21Cip/WAF by 150 nmol tautomycetin. The crucial role of p21Cip/WAF1 in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway-dependent antiproliferative responses by tautomycetin was confirmed by using p21Cip/WAF1 gene-deleted HCT-116 cells. The growth inhibitory effect of tautomycetin was acquired by regulation of Raf-1 activity through inhibition of protein phosphatase type 1 and protein phosphatase type 2A with high preference toward protein phosphatase type 1. Tautomycetin could be a potential drug for colorectal cancer.</P>

Aerosol delivery of urocanic acid-modified chitosan/programmed cell death 4 complex regulated apoptosis, cell cycle, and angiogenesis in lungs of K-ras null mice.

Jin, Hua,Kim, Tae Hee,Hwang, Soon-Kyung,Chang, Seung-Hee,Kim, Hyun Woo,Anderson, Hanjo K,Lee, Han-Woong,Lee, Kee-Ho,Colburn, Nancy H,Yang, Hsin-Sheng,Cho, Myung-Haing,Cho, Chong Su American Association for Cancer Research, Inc 2006 Molecular cancer therapeutics Vol.5 No.4

<P>The low efficiency of conventional therapies in achieving long-term survival of patients with lung cancer calls for development of novel treatment options. Although several genes have been investigated for their antitumor activities through gene delivery, problems surrounding the methods used, such as efficiency, specificity, and toxicity, hinder application of such therapies in clinical settings. Aerosol gene delivery as nonviral and noninvasive method for gene therapy may provide an alternative for a safer and more effective treatment for lung cancer. In this study, imidazole ring-containing urocanic acid-modified chitosan (UAC) designed in previous study was used as a gene carrier. The efficiency of UAC carrier in lungs was confirmed, and the potential effects of the programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) tumor suppressor gene on three major pathways (apoptosis, cell cycle, and angiogenesis) were evaluated. Aerosol containing UAC/PDCD4 complexes was delivered into K-ras null lung cancer model mice through the nose-only inhalation system developed by our group. Delivered UAC/PDCD4 complex facilitated apoptosis, inhibited pathways important for cell proliferation, and efficiently suppressed pathways important for tumor angiogenesis. In summary, results obtained by Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay suggest that our aerosol gene delivery technique is compatible with in vivo gene delivery and can be applied as a noninvasive gene therapy.</P>