pyrimidinones and Colonic-Neoplasms

Purpose TAK-733, an investigational, selective, allosteric MEK1/2 inhibitor, has demonstrated antitumor effects against multiple cancer cell lines and xenograft models. This first-in-human study investigated TAK-733 in patients with solid tumors. Methods Patients received oral TAK-733 once daily on days 1-21 in 28-day treatment cycles. Adverse events (AEs) were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for AEs version 3.0. Response was assessed using RECIST v1.1. Blood samples for TAK-733 pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (inhibition of ERK phosphorylation) were collected during cycle 1. Results Fifty-one patients received TAK-733 0.2-22 mg. Primary diagnoses included uveal melanoma (24 %), colon cancer (22 %), and cutaneous melanoma (10 %). Four patients had dose-limiting toxicities of dermatitis acneiform, plus fatigue and pustular rash in one patient, and stomatitis in one patient. The maximum tolerated dose was 16 mg. Common drug-related AEs included dermatitis acneiform (51 %), diarrhea (29 %), and increased blood creatine phosphokinase (20 %); grade ≥ 3 AEs were reported in 27 (53 %) patients. Median T

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Colonic Neoplasms; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Female; Humans; Male; MAP Kinase Kinase 1; MAP Kinase Kinase 2; Maximum Tolerated Dose; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Skin Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome; Uveal Neoplasms; Young Adult

Symptomatic colon metastasis from primary lung cancer is rare in clinical practice. We report the case of a 58-year-old patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma who developed abdominal symptoms, including abdominal distention and difficulty defecating, after immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The patient was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, and systemic positron emission tomography-computed tomography confirmed multiple lymph node, pleural, and adrenal metastases. Molecular detection indicated BRAF V600E mutation and high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. After first-line anti-programmed cell death protein 1 immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, the nodes in the chest remarkably diminished. However, it was followed by colon obstruction, incomplete ileus, and bone metastasis. Endoscopic histological examination confirmed adenocarcinoma but could not identify primary or secondary tumors due to insufficient tissue. We performed colon resection to remove the obstruction, and postoperative tissue pathological microscopy confirmed metastasis from the lung adenocarcinoma. We corroborated the BRAF V600E mutation and high PD-L1 expression and supported the molecular features of lung adenocarcinoma. During hospitalization, the patient presented with unbearable pain in the bone metastases, and palliative radiotherapy was administered. Then, the patient received dabrafenib plus trametinib as the second-line therapy. This report discusses the clinical characteristics, pathology, imaging, molecular profile assessments, and treatment of primary lung adenocarcinoma with colon metastasis.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; B7-H1 Antigen; Colonic Neoplasms; Humans; Imidazoles; Lung Neoplasms; Middle Aged; Mutation; Oximes; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Rectal Neoplasms

The enzyme 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) is one of the more recently identified mammalian sources of H

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Catalytic Domain; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Mice; Pyrimidinones; Sulfurtransferases

Cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) associated with BRAF inhibitors alone versus combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors are not fully understood.. This study included all adult patients who received BRAF inhibitors (vemurafenib, dabrafenib, encorafenib) or combinations BRAF/MEK inhibitors (vemurafenib/cobimetinib; dabrafenib/trametinib; encorafenib/binimetinib). We utilized the cross-sectional FDA's Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) and longitudinal Truven Health Analytics/IBM MarketScan database from 2011 to 2018. Various CVAEs, including arterial hypertension, heart failure (HF), and venous thromboembolism (VTE), were studied using adjusted regression techniques.. In FAERS, 7752 AEs were reported (40% BRAF and 60% BRAF/MEK). Median age was 60 (IQR 49-69) years with 45% females and 97% with melanoma. Among these, 567 (7.4%) were cardiovascular adverse events (mortality rate 19%). Compared with monotherapy, combination therapy was associated with increased risk for HF (reporting odds ratio [ROR] = 1.62 (CI = 1.14-2.30); p = 0.007), arterial hypertension (ROR = 1.75 (CI = 1.12-2.89); p = 0.02) and VTE (ROR = 1.80 (CI = 1.12-2.89); p = 0.02). Marketscan had 657 patients with median age of 53 years (IQR 46-60), 39.3% female, and 88.7% with melanoma. There were 26.2% CVAEs (CI: 14.8%-36%) within 6 months of medication start in those receiving combination therapy versus 16.7% CVAEs (CI: 13.1%-20.2%) among those receiving monotherapy. Combination therapy was associated with CVAEs compared to monotherapy (adjusted HR: 1.56 (CI: 1.01-2.42); p = 0.045).. In two independent real-world cohorts, combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors were associated with increased CVAEs compared to monotherapy, especially HF, and hypertension.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Azetidines; Benzimidazoles; Carbamates; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Cardiotoxicity; Cardiovascular Diseases; Colonic Neoplasms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heart Failure; Humans; Hypertension; Imidazoles; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Oximes; Piperidines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Registries; Regression Analysis; Skin Neoplasms; Sulfonamides; Vemurafenib; Venous Thromboembolism; Young Adult

Cancer metastasis causes >90% of cancer deaths and remains a major treatment challenge. Here we deciphered the impact of tyrosine phosphorylation of MACC1, a causative driver for cancer metastasis, for cancer cell signaling and novel interventions to restrict cancer metastasis. We identified MACC1 as new MEK1 substrate. MEK1 directly phosphorylates MACC1, leading to accelerated and increased ERK1 activation. Mutating in silico predicted hierarchical MACC1 tyrosine phosphorylation sites abrogates MACC1-induced migration, invasion, and MET expression, a transcriptional MACC1 target. Targeting MEK1 by RNAi or clinically applicable MEK1 inhibitors AZD6244 and GSK1120212 reduces MACC1 tyrosine phosphorylation and restricts MACC1-induced metastasis formation in mice. Although MEK1 levels, contrary to MACC1, are not of prognostic relevance for CRC patients, MEK1 expression was found indispensable for MACC1-induced metastasis. This study identifies MACC1 as new MEK1 substrate for tyrosine phosphorylation decisively impacting cell motility, tumor growth, and metastasis. Thus, MAP kinase signaling is not linear leading to ERK activation, but branches at the level of MEK1. This fundamental finding opens new therapeutic options for targeting the MEK1/MACC1 axis as novel vulnerability in patients at high risk for metastasis. This might be extended from CRC to further solid tumor entities.

Topics: Cell Movement; Colonic Neoplasms; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Phosphorylation; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Signal Transduction

Both the MAPK pathway and mevalonate (MVA) signaling pathway play an increasingly significant role in the carcinogenesis of colorectal carcinoma, whereas the cross-talk between these two pathways and its implication in targeted therapy remains unclear in colorectal carcinoma. Here, we identified that HMGCS1 (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1), the rate-limiting enzyme of the MVA pathway, is overexpressed in colon cancer tissues and positively regulates the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells. In addition, HMGCS1 could enhance the activity of pERK independent of the MVA pathway, and the suppression of HMGCS1 could completely reduce the EGF-induced proliferation of colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that trametinib, a MEK inhibitor, could only partially abolish the upregulation of HMGCS1 induced by EGF treatment, while combination with HMGCS1 knockdown could completely reverse the upregulation of HMGCS1 induced by EGF treatment and increase the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to trametinib. Finally, we combined trametinib and dipyridamole, a common clinically used drug that could suppress the activity of SREBF2 (sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 2), a transcription factor regulating HMGCS1 expression, and identified its synergistic effect in inhibiting the proliferation and survival of colon cancer cells

Topics: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Dipyridamole; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Synthase; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Mice, Inbred NOD; Mice, SCID; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Transfection

Molecular-targeted therapies have demonstrated disappointing results against most advanced solid cancers. This may largey be attributed to irrational drug use against unselected cancers. We investigated the efficacy of dual MEK-PI3K drug therapy against KRAS mutated mucin 2 (MUC2)-secreting LS174T cells and patient-derived ex vivo and in vivo models of KRAS mutated mucinous colon/appendix cancers. These tumors demonstrate unique phenotypic and genotypic features that likely predict sensitivity to this targeted co-therapy. Co-treatment with MEK inhibitor (trametinib) and PI3K inhibitor (pictilisib)-induced synergistic cytotoxicity and intrinsic mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in LS174T cells and tumor explants in vitro. Dual drug therapy also induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-associated proteins (GRP78/BiP, ATF4, and CHOP). However, CHOP knock-down assays demonstrated that mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in LS174T cells was not ERS-dependent. Dual drug therapy also significantly decreased MUC2 expression, MUC2 post-translational modification (palmitoylation) and secretion in LS174T cells, suggesting a simultaneous cytotoxic and mucin suppressive mechanism of action. We also demonstrated effective mucinous tumor growth suppression in ex vivo epithelial organoid (colonoid) cultures and in in vivo intraperitoneal patient-derived xenograft models derived from mucinous colon/appendix cancer. These promising preclinical data support a role for dual MEK-PI3K inhibitor therapy in mucinous colon/appendix cancers. We postulate that mucinous KRAS mutated cancers are especially vulnerable to this co-treatment based on their unique phenotypic and genotypic characteristics.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Appendiceal Neoplasms; Appendix; Cell Line, Tumor; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Synergism; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Female; Humans; Indazoles; Intestinal Mucosa; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Mucin-2; Mutation; Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Primary Cell Culture; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Sulfonamides; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Tumours manage to survive the ablation of mutant KRAS, despite the development of KRAS-targeted drugs. Here we describe that inhibition of mutant KRAS promotes MEK nuclear localization as an alternative mechanism of KRAS-targeted drugs resistance. Tissue microarray analysis in colon tumours shows that aberrant MEK nuclear localization is closely related to YAP levels and tumour malignancy. MEK nuclear localization could sequester β-TrCP from cytoplasmic inactive YAP, then stabilizing YAP. Mutant KRAS restrains MEK within the cytoplasm via IQGAP1, inhibiting MEK nuclear translocation. Trametinib, an allosteric MEK inhibitor, could prevent MEK nuclear localization and subsequently promote YAP degradation. In vitro and in vivo results suggests that inhibition of MEK nuclear localization by trametinib synergizes with KRAS knockdown or deltarasin treatment in suppressing the viability of KRAS mutant colon cancer cells. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms of resistance to KRAS ablation, and suggests novel strategies for the treatment of KRAS-mutant colon cancers.

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzimidazoles; beta-Transducin Repeat-Containing Proteins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Female; HeLa Cells; Humans; MAP Kinase Kinase 1; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Transcription Factors; YAP-Signaling Proteins

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MEK 1/2) are central components of the RAS signalling pathway and are attractive targets for cancer therapy. These agents continue to be investigated in KRAS mutant colon cancer but are met with significant resistance. Clinical investigations have demonstrated that these strategies are not well tolerated by patients.. We investigated a biomarker of response for MEK inhibition in KRAS mutant colon cancers by LC-MS/MS analysis. We tested the MEK inhibitor in PIK3CA wild(wt) and mutant(mt) colon cancer cells. In addition, we tested the combinational effects of MEK and TNKS inhibitor in vitro and in vivo.. We identified β-catenin, a key mediator of the WNT pathway, in response to MEK inhibitor. MEK inhibition led to a decrease in β-catenin in PIK3CA wt colon cancer cells but not in mt. Tumour regression was promoted by combination of MEK inhibition and NVP-TNS656, which targets the WNT pathway. Furthermore, inhibition of MEK promoted tumour regression in colon cancer patient-derived xenograft models expressing PIK3CA wt.. We propose that inhibition of the WNT pathway, particularly β-catenin, may bypass resistance to MEK inhibition in human PIK3CA mt colon cancer. Therefore, we suggest that β-catenin is a potential predictive marker of MEK inhibitor resistance.

Topics: Acetamides; Animals; beta Catenin; Biomarkers, Pharmacological; Biomarkers, Tumor; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Resistance, Viral; Humans; MAP Kinase Kinase 1; MAP Kinase Kinase 3; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyrimidinones; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Wee1 is an oncogenic nuclear kinase, which can regulate the cell cycle as a crucial G2M checkpoint. Overexpression of Wee1 can be observed in various cancer types, which may lead to a poor prognosis, but the potential therapeutic value of Wee1 in colorectal cancer has not been fully studied. In the present study, the role of Wee1 in colonic cancer was investigated. Wee1 inhibition by small interfering RNA was demonstrated to significantly restrain cancer cell proliferation and sensitize the p53 mutant colonic cancer cell lines HT29 and SW480 to the effect of treatment with ionizing radiation. The anticancer effect of the Wee1 inhibitor MK1775 was investigated in these two colonic cancer cell lines. MK1775 was demonstrated to induce significant DNA damage, suppress cell viability and induce apoptosis. In addition, MK1775 sensitized HT29 and SW480 cells to the effect of irinotecan. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining demonstrated that combination therapy can induce increased apoptosis compared with MK1775 or irinotecan monotherapy. The results of western blot analysis also indicated increased expression of the DNA damage marker histone H2AX, and apoptosis‑associated protein cleaved caspase 3, in HT29 and SW480 cells. In conclusion, the present study indicated that Wee1 may be a valuable target for treatment of p53 mutant colonic cancer.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Camptothecin; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; DNA Damage; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Irinotecan; Mutation; Nuclear Proteins; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Pyrimidinones; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

ERRα, a constitutive transcription factor that regulates energy metabolism, plays an important role in the progression of various tumours. However, its role in cell survival and proliferation and its implication in targeted therapy in colon cancer remains elusive.. The expression of ERRα in colon cancer tissues and cell lines was detected by using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. A wound healing assay and a transwell assay were performed to examine the migration and invasion of the colon cancer cells. A cell viability assay, clonogenic assay, western blot assay and the dual-luciferase reporter assay were employed to study the interaction between trametinib (inhibitor of MEK) and EGF treatment. Flow cytometry, western blotting, quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and xenograft studies were used to identify whether the combination of trametinib and simvastatin had a synergistic effect.. ERRα positively regulated the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of colon cancer cells, and the suppression of ERRα completely reduced the EGF treatment-induced proliferation of colon cancer cells. Further investigation showed that trametinib partially restrained the up-regulation of ERRα induced by the EGF treatment, and ERRα inhibition increased the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to trametinib. At last, we combined trametinib with simvastatin, a common clinically used drug with a new reported function of transcriptional activity inhibition of ERRα, and found that this combination produced a synergistic effect in inhibiting the proliferation and survival of colon cancer cells in vitro as well as in vivo.. The present data indicated that ERRα acted as an oncogene in colon cancer cells, and the combined targeting of ERRα and MEK might be a promising therapeutic strategy for colon cancer treatment.

Topics: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Colonic Neoplasms; Epidermal Growth Factor; ERRalpha Estrogen-Related Receptor; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Mice; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Receptors, Estrogen; Signal Transduction; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Mutations in KRAS are frequent in human cancer, yet effective targeted therapeutics for these cancers are still lacking. Attempts to drug the MEK kinases downstream of KRAS have had limited success in clinical trials. Understanding the specific genomic vulnerabilities of KRAS-driven cancers may uncover novel patient-tailored treatment options.. We first searched for synthetic lethal (SL) genetic interactions with mutant RAS in yeast with the ultimate aim to identify novel cancer-specific targets for therapy. Our method used selective ploidy ablation, which enables replication of cancer-specific gene expression changes in the yeast gene disruption library. Second, we used a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic screen in KRAS mutant human colon cancer cells to understand the mechanistic connection between the synthetic lethal interaction discovered in yeast and downstream RAS signaling in human cells.. We identify loss of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor IRE1 as synthetic lethal with activated RAS mutants in yeast. In KRAS mutant colorectal cancer cell lines, genetic ablation of the human ortholog of IRE1, ERN1, does not affect growth but sensitizes to MEK inhibition. However, an ERN1 kinase inhibitor failed to show synergy with MEK inhibition, suggesting that a non-kinase function of ERN1 confers MEK inhibitor resistance. To investigate how ERN1 modulates MEK inhibitor responses, we performed genetic screens in ERN1 knockout KRAS mutant colon cancer cells to identify genes whose inactivation confers resistance to MEK inhibition. This genetic screen identified multiple negative regulators of JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) /JUN signaling. Consistently, compounds targeting JNK/MAPK8 or TAK1/MAP3K7, which relay signals from ERN1 to JUN, display synergy with MEK inhibition.. We identify the ERN1-JNK-JUN pathway as a novel regulator of MEK inhibitor response in KRAS mutant colon cancer. The notion that multiple signaling pathways can activate JUN may explain why KRAS mutant tumor cells are traditionally seen as highly refractory to MEK inhibitor therapy. Our findings emphasize the need for the development of new therapeutics targeting JUN activating kinases, TAK1 and JNK, to sensitize KRAS mutant cancer cells to MEK inhibitors.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Benzimidazoles; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Endoribonucleases; HEK293 Cells; Humans; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Unfolded Protein Response; Yeasts

Targeting of human cancer stem cells (CSCs) requires the identification of vulnerabilities unique to CSCs versus healthy resident stem cells (SCs). Unfortunately, dysregulated pathways that support transformed CSCs, such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, are also critical regulators of healthy SCs. Using the ICG-001 and CWP family of small molecules, we reveal Sam68 as a previously unappreciated modulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling within CSCs. Disruption of CBP-β-catenin interaction via ICG-001/CWP induces the formation of a Sam68-CBP complex in CSCs that alters Wnt signaling toward apoptosis and differentiation induction. Our study identifies Sam68 as a regulator of human CSC vulnerability.

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Adult; Aged; Animals; Apoptosis; Azabicyclo Compounds; beta Catenin; Breast Neoplasms; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Colonic Neoplasms; DNA-Binding Proteins; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred NOD; Middle Aged; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Organophosphates; Peptide Fragments; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; Pyrimidinones; RNA Interference; RNA-Binding Proteins; Sialoglycoproteins; Sumoylation; Transcriptome; Wnt Signaling Pathway

Novel 1,5-diphenyl-6-substituted-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-ones were synthesized and characterized. All compounds were screened for their anti-proliferative activities in five different cancer cell lines. The results showed that compounds 7a and 7b comprising aminoguanidino or guanidino moiety at position 6 inhibited proliferation of RKO colon cancer cells with IC50 of 8 and 4 μM, respectively. Compounds 7a and 7b induced apoptosis in RKO cells, which was confirmed by TUNEL and annexin V-FITC assays. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that compounds 7a and 7b arrested RKO cells in the G1 phase and the most active compound 7b increased levels of p53, p21, Bax, ERK1/2 and reduced levels of Bcl2 and Akt. Compound 7b also activates release of cytochrome c, which is consistent with activation of caspase-9. Additionally, compound 7b increased caspase-3 activity and cleaved PARP-1 in RKO cells. Collectively, these findings could establish a molecular basis for the development of new anti-cancer agents.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Pyrimidinones; Spectrum Analysis

Therapeutic targeting of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma represents a major goal of clinical oncology. KRAS itself has proved difficult to inhibit, and the effectiveness of agents that target key KRAS effectors has been thwarted by activation of compensatory or parallel pathways that limit their efficacy as single agents. Here we take a systematic approach towards identifying combination targets for trametinib, a MEK inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which acts downstream of KRAS to suppress signalling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Informed by a short-hairpin RNA screen, we show that trametinib provokes a compensatory response involving the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) that leads to signalling rebound and adaptive drug resistance. As a consequence, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of FGFR1 in combination with trametinib enhances tumour cell death in vitro and in vivo. This compensatory response shows distinct specificities: it is dominated by FGFR1 in KRAS-mutant lung and pancreatic cancer cells, but is not activated or involves other mechanisms in KRAS wild-type lung and KRAS-mutant colon cancer cells. Importantly, KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells and patients’ tumours treated with trametinib show an increase in FRS2 phosphorylation, a biomarker of FGFR activation; this increase is abolished by FGFR1 inhibition and correlates with sensitivity to trametinib and FGFR inhibitor combinations. These results demonstrate that FGFR1 can mediate adaptive resistance to trametinib and validate a combinatorial approach for treating KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cell Death; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Enzyme Activation; Feedback, Physiological; Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Lung Neoplasms; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Mutant Proteins; Mutation; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyridazines; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

2-Acetyl tetralin (1) reacted with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMF-DMA) to afford the enaminone 3. The reaction of 3 with piperidine and morpholine afforded the trans enaminone 5a,b, respectively. Compound 3 was treated with primary aromatic amines to give secondary enaminones 6a-e. The enaminone 3 reacted with acetylglycine and hippuric acid to yield pyranones 10a, b, respectively. The reaction of enaminone 3 with 1,4-benzoquinone and 1,4-naphthoquinone gave benzofuranyl tetralin derivatives 14a,b, respectively. Also, when 3 reacted with 5-amino-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole 15a and 5-amino-1,2,3-triazole 15b, it afforded the new pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine 17a and 1,2,3-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine 17b, respectively. While the reaction of 3 with pyrimidines 18a, b resulted in the formation of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives 20a, b, respectively. Investigations of the cytotoxic effect of those compounds against different human cell lines indicated that some compounds showed high selective cytotoxicity against colon cancer HCT-116 cells. Some of these compounds led to DNA damaging and fragmentation that was associated with the induction of apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway. This pathway is initiated by the impairment of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) and in response to that the mitochondria released cytochrome c increased, that in turn activated caspase-9 and caspase-3 and induced apoptosis. Compounds 17b and 20b were promising anti-cancer agents that induced intrinsic apoptosis pathway in colon cancer cells.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; HCT116 Cells; Humans; MCF-7 Cells; Models, Molecular; Molecular Structure; Pyrazoles; Pyridines; Pyrimidines; Pyrimidinones; Structure-Activity Relationship; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The colon cancer tissues from DMH treated rats exhibited higher membrane potential, fluidity and changed lipid order as examined by Merocyanine 540 and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, respectively. A transition from gel to liquid crystalline state was observed by Laurdan fluorescence and also reduced fluorescence quenching of NBD-PE as contributed in the decreased membrane lipid phase separation. With piroxicam, a traditional NSAID and c-phycocyanin, a biliprotein from Spirulina platensis, these effects were normalized. An augmented intracellular Ca(+2) had contributed to the drug mediated apoptosis which is supported by an elevated calpain-9 expression. Histopathologically, a large pool of secreted acid/neutral mucopolysaccrides as well as the presence of blood vessels and dysplastic crypts signifies invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma while both the drugs reduced these neoplastic alterations. Wnt/β-catenin pathway was also found to be up-regulated which served as a crucial indicator for cancer cell growth. A concomitant down regulation of PPARγ was noted in DMH treatment which is associated with tumor progression. The expression of PPARα and δ, the other two isoforms of PPAR family was also modulated. We conclude that piroxicam and c-phycocyanin exert their anti-neoplastic effects via regulating membrane properties, raising calpain-9 and PPARγ expression while suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in experimental colon carcinogenesis.

Topics: 2-Naphthylamine; Animals; Apoptosis; Calcium; Calpain; Carcinogenesis; Colonic Neoplasms; Fluorescence Polarization; Fura-2; Intracellular Space; Laurates; Ligands; Male; Membrane Fluidity; Membrane Potentials; Phase Transition; Phosphatidylethanolamines; Phycocyanin; Piroxicam; PPAR gamma; Pyrimidinones; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Up-Regulation; Wnt Signaling Pathway

Chemotherapy for colorectal cancer has become more complicated and diversified with the appearance of molecular-targeting agents. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been a mainstay of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer, but it is still unknown whether the combining of 5-FU with novel molecular-targeting agents is effective. Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a direct target of 5-FU, and the low TS level has been generally supposed to sensitize 5-FU's efficacy. We therefore hypothesized that RB-reactivating agents could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU, because the RB-reactivating agents could suppress the function of transcription factor E2F of TS gene promoter. We used three RB-reactivating agents, trametinib/GSK1120212 (MEK inhibitor), fenofibrate (PPARα agonist), and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor), with 5-FU against human colon cancer HT-29 and HCT15 cells. Trametinib induced p15 and p27 expression and reduced cyclin D1 levels in HT-29 cells. Fenofibrate also dephosphorlated ERK1/2 and reduced cyclin D1 levels in HT-29 cells. LY294002 induced p27 expression in HCT15 cells. All three agents caused dephosphorylation of RB protein and G1-phase arrest with a reduction of TS expression. As a consequence, the combination of 5-FU with each of the agents resulted in a significant decrease of colony numbers in HT-29 or HCT15 cells. These results suggest "RB-reactivation therapy" using molecular-targeting agents to be a new strategy for 5-FU-based chemotherapy. In particular, we strongly expect trametinib, which was discovered in Japan and was recently submitted to FDA for approval, to be used together with established regimens for colorectal cancer.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cell Cycle; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fluorouracil; Genes, Retinoblastoma; HT29 Cells; Humans; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Thymidylate Synthase

Topics: Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Humans; Imidazoles; Male; MAP Kinase Kinase 1; MAP Kinase Kinase 2; Middle Aged; Mutation; Oximes; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyridones; Pyrimidinones; ras Proteins; Treatment Outcome

A series of conformationally flexible and restricted dimers of monastrol as well as related dihydropyrimidones have been synthesized by employing one-pot Biginelli multicomponent reaction. These dimers have been evaluated for cytotoxic potency against selected human cancer cell lines and some of the compounds have exhibited more cytotoxic potency than the parent monastrol. Further, the DNA binding ability by thermal denaturation studies and antimicrobial activities of these compounds are also discussed.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Colonic Neoplasms; Differential Thermal Analysis; Dimerization; DNA; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Humans; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Lung Neoplasms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Conformation; Pyrimidines; Pyrimidinones; Skin Neoplasms; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thiones

MK-1775 is a potent and selective small molecule Wee1 inhibitor. Previously we have shown that it abrogated DNA damaged checkpoints induced by gemcitabine, carboplatin, and cisplatin and enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of these agents selectively in p53-deficient tumor cells. MK-1775 is currently in Phase I clinical trial in combination with these anti-cancer drugs. In this study, the effects of MK-1775 on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and other DNA-damaging agents with different modes of action were determined. MK-1775 enhanced the cytotoxic effects of 5-FU in p53-deficient human colon cancer cells. MK-1775 inhibited CDC2 Y15 phosphorylation in cells, abrogated DNA damaged checkpoints induced by 5-FU treatment, and caused premature entry of mitosis determined by induction of Histone H3 phosphorylation. Enhancement by MK-1775 was specific for p53-deficient cells since this compound did not sensitize p53-wild type human colon cancer cells to 5-FU in vitro. In vivo, MK-1775 potentiated the anti-tumor efficacy of 5-FU or its prodrug, capecitabine, at tolerable doses. These enhancements were well correlated with inhibition of CDC2 phosphorylation and induction of Histone H3 phosphorylation in tumors. In addition, MK-1775 also potentiated the cytotoxic effects of pemetrexed, doxorubicin, camptothecin, and mitomycin C in vitro. These studies support the rationale for testing the combination of MK-1775 with various DNA-damaging agents in cancer patients.

Topics: Animals; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Camptothecin; Capecitabine; Caspases; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Deoxycytidine; DNA Damage; Doxorubicin; Flow Cytometry; Fluorouracil; Glutamates; Guanine; Histones; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mitomycin; Nuclear Proteins; Pemetrexed; Phosphorylation; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Pyrimidinones; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rats, Nude; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Cycle Proteins; Colonic Neoplasms; DNA Damage; Humans; Nuclear Proteins; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Pyrazoles; Pyrimidines; Pyrimidinones

Apoptosis is triggered by two interconnected pathways, extrinsic and intrinsic. The intrinsic pathway is activated by genomic stress promoting mitochondrial release of apoptotic proteins. One of these proteins is Omi/Htra2, a serine protease which inactivates Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs). In the present work, we assessed the participation of Omi/Htra2 in the cell death induced by the chemotherapeutic drugs 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) in SW480 colon cancer cells. CDDP and 5-FU induced apoptosis mediated by the intrinsic pathway in colon cancer cells, as demonstrated by morphological analyses, mitochondrial cytochrome c release and cleavage of caspase 3. Omi/Htra2 was also released from mitochondria of cells exposed to these drugs, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and western blot assays of subcellular fractions. Exposure of cells to the Omi/Htra2 serine protease inhibitor UCF-101 prevented death p<0.0001 and partially suppressed reproductive cell death of cells exposed to cisplatin p<0.05, but not to 5-FU p=0.49. From these experiments we show that Omi/Htra2 serine protease activity participates in the cell death induced by CDDP but not of 5-FU in colon cancer cells.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cisplatin; Colonic Neoplasms; Fluorouracil; High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2; Humans; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Proteins; Pyrimidinones; Serine Endopeptidases; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; Thiones

Inherited and somatic mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli occur in most colon cancers, leading to activation of beta-catenin-responsive genes. To identify small molecule antagonists of this pathway, we challenged transformed colorectal cells with a secondary structure-templated chemical library, looking for compounds that inhibit a beta-catenin-responsive reporter. We identified ICG-001, a small molecule that down-regulates beta-catenin/T cell factor signaling by specifically binding to cyclic AMP response element-binding protein. ICG-001 selectively induces apoptosis in transformed cells but not in normal colon cells, reduces in vitro growth of colon carcinoma cells, and is efficacious in the Min mouse and nude mouse xenograft models of colon cancer.

Topics: Adenomatous Polyposis Coli; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; beta Catenin; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Cell Line; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Cyclin D1; Cytoskeletal Proteins; DNA-Binding Proteins; Epithelial Cells; Gene Expression Regulation; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Molecular Structure; Neoplasm Proteins; Pyrimidinones; Signal Transduction; Survivin; Trans-Activators; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic

It has been suggested that selective uptake of photosensitizers is due to significantly lower pH of the interstitial fluid in tumors compared to normal tissue. Therefore, the cellular uptake of merocyanine 540 (MC 540) was examined at two pH values: 6.8+/-0.1 and 7.4+/-0.1. There was no difference in spectral properties (absorption and fluorescence maxima positions, fluorescence intensity) of the drug in the presence of increasing amounts of either human blood plasma or FCS (0-2%) at the two pH values investigated. Nevertheless, significantly higher amounts of the drug were taken up by WiDr cells at pH 6.8+/-0.1, both in the presence of 10% FCS and in the absence of FCS. The absorption spectra of MC 540 in the presence of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes turned out to be NaCl concentration-dependent (0.00-0.30 mol l(-1)). Membrane fluidity, as measured by fluorescence anisotropy of diphenylhexatriene (DPH), was unchanged within the experimental error in the NaCl concentration range 0.01-0.30 mol l(-1). The spectral changes indicated an enhancement of the incorporation of MC 540 into lipid membranes with increasing ionic strength. Such a salt concentration dependence suggests a possible involvement of the surface potential in the interaction of MC 540 with lipid membranes. The results might provide an explanation of the pH dependency of the cellular uptake of MC 540 observed in this study.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Blood Proteins; Cell Membrane Structures; Colonic Neoplasms; Culture Media; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ions; Lipid Bilayers; Liposomes; Photosensitizing Agents; Pyrimidinones; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The relationship between tumor cell differentiation and photosensitizer accumulation used in PDT is poorly defined. In the present work, specific cell differentiation of colon carcinoma CT26 cells induced by sodium butyrate was manifested by morphological changes, proliferation and protein expression and was correlated with the accumulation of endogenous and exogenous photosensitizes. Reduced accumulation of the endogenous protoporphyrin IX and the exogenous hypericin and MC540 was detected in differentiated cells. In contrast, a differentiation-dependent increase was measured with TPPS4, TMPyP, the pheophorbides (C5, C6, C12), HypS4 and helianthrone. In conclusion, PpIX, Hypericin and MC540 show specific binding and accumulation in poorly differentiated tumors, giving these tumors tissue-specific advantage in photo-diagnostic PDT applications.

Topics: Animals; Anthracenes; Butyrates; Carcinoma; Cell Cycle; Cell Differentiation; Colonic Neoplasms; Mice; Perylene; Photosensitizing Agents; Protoporphyrins; Pyrimidinones; Tumor Cells, Cultured

We studied the staining pattern of merocyanine 540 (MC540) by spectral imaging of murine CT26 and human HT29 colon carcinoma cells incubated with the dye MC540. This dye, usually considered a potential membrane probe, localized mainly in the cytoplasmic vesicles of the colon carcinoma cells. However, in cells incubated in an environment similar to that of a tumor (pH 6.7), high fluorescence was detected in the nuclear membrane and nucleoli. Under these acidic conditions, resembling the Krebs effect, a population of CT26 cells displayed fluorescent plasma membranes. In differentiating cells, exhibiting cell cycle arrest at G(1)-phase and an elevated level of alkaline phosphatase, MC540 fluorescence was confined to cytoplasmic vesicles and was not detected in the plasma membrane or in the nucleoli. Cell sorting analysis of both cell types at pH 5.0 revealed higher fluorescence intensity in proliferating cells compared to differentiating cells. The fluorescence intensity of MC540-stained cells reached a maximum at pH 5.0, although the fluorescence of MC540 dye was maximal at pH 7.2. This phenomenon may result from increased binding of MC540 monomers to the cells because disaggregation of the dye with Triton X-100 produced similar results. We conclude that nucleolar localization of MC540 and an elevated fluorescence intensity can be used as indicators for proliferating cells in the characteristically acidic tumor environment. (J Histochem Cytochem 49:147-153, 2001)

Topics: Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Butyrates; Cell Differentiation; Cell Division; Colonic Neoplasms; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Mice; Pyrimidinones; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Subcellular Fractions; Tumor Cells, Cultured

5-fluoro-3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-N-[2-2- (dimethylphenylsilyl)ethylthioethyl]-1(2H)-pyrimidinocarb oxamide (SDK-12B-5), a novel antitumor agent, is covalently linked with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 2-[(2-dimethylphenylsilyl)ethylthio] ethylamine(SDK-103) which possesses itself antitumor activity against murine solid tumors. It has a broad antitumor spectrum in experimental tumor systems including murine leukemias. Furthermore, SDK-12B-5 administered p.o. with various treatment schedules inhibited significantly the tumor growth of human breast cancer (MX-1), colon cancer (Co-4) and lung cancer (LX-1 and OAT) cells in BALB/c nu/nu mice and the chemotherapeutic index was about 10 for 4 different human cancer xenografts. In the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) metastasis model, SDK-12B-5 in combination with amputation of tumors inhibited significantly both the lymph node metastases and lung metastases of LLC and prolonged the life span (%ILS:91%) of BDF1 mice. We also found that the cell killing effect of SDK-12B-5 was affected by both concentration and exposure time in cultured human lung cancer (OAT) cells using soft-agar colony assay. A significant augmentation of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response induced by SDK-12B-5 in comparison with the mixture of SDK-103 and 5-FU was seen when it was administered p.o. simultaneously with the immunization of sheep red blood cell (SRBC) in retired CD1 mice. From the studies on tissue distribution and pharmaco-kinetics of SDK-12B-5 by HPLC and ICP analysis. the persistence of SDK-12B-5 levels in serum and tumors was correlated with the findings that a maximum chemotherapeutic effect was obtained when SDK-12B-5 was administered p.o. repeatedly with every other day to avoid the cumulative toxicity.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast Neoplasms; Colonic Neoplasms; Ethylamines; Female; Fluorouracil; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Transplantation; Neoplasms, Experimental; Organosilicon Compounds; Pyrimidinones; Sarcoma, Experimental; Transplantation, Heterologous