Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin

Alantolactone Induced Apoptosis and DNA Damage of Cervical Cancer through ATM/CHK2 Signaling Pathway

Traditional Chinese Medicine, known for its minimal side effects and significant clinical efficacy, has attracted considerable interest for its potential in cancer therapy. In particular, Inula helenium L. has demonstrated effectiveness in inhibiting a variety of cancers. This study focuses on alantolactone (ALT), a prominent compound from Inula helenium L., recognized for its anti-cancer capabilities across multiple cancer types. The primary objective of this study is to examine the influence of ALT on the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and tumor growth of cervical cancer (CC) cells, along with its associated signaling pathways. To determine protein expression alterations, Western blot analysis was conducted. Furthermore, an in vivo model was created by subcutaneously injecting HeLa cells into nude mice to assess the impact of ALT on cervical cancer. Our research thoroughly investigates the anti-tumor potential of ALT in the context of CC. ALT was found to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in SiHa and HeLa cell lines, particularly targeting ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) proteins associated with DNA damage. The suppression of DNA damage and apoptosis induction when ATM was inhibited underscores the crucial role of the ATM/cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) axis in ALT's anti-tumor effects. In vivo studies with a xenograft mouse model further validated ALT's effectiveness in reducing CC tumor growth and promoting apoptosis. This study offers new insights into how ALT combats CC, highlighting its promise as an effective anti-cervical cancer agent and providing hope for improved treatment outcomes for CC patients.

ELK3 Targeting AEG1 Promotes Migration and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells under Hypoxia

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common tumors in female reproductive organs with a five-year survival rate of less than 45%. Metastasis is a crucial contributor to OC development. ETS transcription factor (ELK3), as a transcriptional factor, have been involved in multiple tumor development. However, its role in OC remains elusive. In this study, we observed high expression of ELK3 and AEG1 in human OC tissues. OVCAR-3 and SKOV3 cells were treated with hypoxia to mimic tumor microenvironment in vivo. We found that the expression of ELK3 was significantly increased in cells under hypoxia compared with normoxia. ELK3 knockdown inhibited cell migration and invasion abilities under hypoxia. Moreover, ELK3 knockdown decreased β-catenin expression and inhibited the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in SKOV3 cells under hypoxia. Astrocyte-elevated gene-1 (AEG1) has been reported to promote OC progression. Our results showed that the mRNA level of AEG1 was decreased when ELK3 knockdown under hypoxia. Dural luciferase assay confirmed that ELK3 bound to gene AEG1 promoter (-2005-+15) and enhanced its transcriptional activity under hypoxia. Overexpression of AEG1 increased the migration and invasion abilities of SKOV3 cell with ELK3 knockdown. In the absence of ELK3, the activation of β-catenin was recovered by AEG1 overexpression. To sum up, we conclude that ELK3 promotes AEG1 expression by binding to its promoter. ELK3 could promote migration and invasion of OC cells by targeting AEG1, which provides a potential basis for therapeutic approaches to OC.

Effects of Palonosetron on Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Multiple-Day Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Study

Patients who undergo multiple-day chemotherapy sessions experience hard-to-treat nausea and vomiting. Currently, there is no effective standard treatment for this condition. This study compared the preventive effect of first-generation 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists (5-HT

The Impact of Eribulin on Stathmin Dynamics and Paclitaxel Sensitivity in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Eribulin, an inhibitor of microtubule dynamics, is used for treating breast cancers and sarcomas. The microtubule-destabilizing protein stathmin may modulate the antiproliferative activity of eribulin on breast cancer cells and leiomyosarcoma cells. The antitumor activity of eribulin in ovarian cancers has not been fully explored, so the present study aimed to determine the antitumor efficacy of eribulin and the involvement of stathmin in ovarian cancers. In a xenograft model of ovarian cancer, eribulin treatment reduced the tumor weight, which was accompanied by an increased level of phosphorylated stathmin. Eribulin stimulated the phosphorylation of stathmin in cultured cancer cell lines. The eribulin-induced phosphorylation of stathmin was inhibited by treatment with FTY720, an activator of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), and eribulin downregulated the expression of PP2A subunits. Furthermore, stathmin knockdown abrogated the inhibitory effects of eribulin on cell viability. Eribulin enhanced the antiproliferative effects of paclitaxel and concomitantly decreased stathmin expression. These results suggest that eribulin-induced phosphorylation of stathmin, mediated in part by PP2A downregulation, reduces stathmin activity and enhances the antiproliferative effects of paclitaxel in ovarian cancer. Collectively, the results of this study indicate that eribulin may suppress the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells partly by regulating the activity of stathmin.

A Morpholine Derivative <i>N</i>-(4-Morpholinomethylene)ethanesulfonamide Induces Ferroptosis in Tumor Cells by Targeting NRF2

Small molecule drugs containing morpholine-based moieties have become crucial candidates in the tumor targeted therapy strategies, but the specific molecular mechanisms of these drugs causing tumor cell death require further investigation. The morpholine derivative N-(4-morpholinomethylene)ethanesulfonamide (MESA) was used to stimulate prostate and ovarian cancer cells and we focused on the ferroptosis effects, including the target molecule and signal pathways mediated by MESA. The results showed that MESA could induce ferroptosis to cause the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis effects of tumor cells according to the identification of ferroptosis inhibitor fer-1 and other cell death inhibitors. Further MESA could significantly increase the intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe

Polyphyllin E Inhibits Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Down-Regulating the AKT/NF-κB Pathway

Ovarian cancer has long been considered the second-highest cancer threat to women's reproductive system with high mortality. This is ascribed to the absence of highly efficient therapy and cancer metastasis. Accordingly, there is an urgent need for the development of new agents. Recently, Traditional Chinese medicine has gained extensive interest because of its safe use, validity, and distinct pharmacological effects. Polyphyllin E (PPE), as a major constituent in Rhizoma Paridis, is a promising cancer-fighting agent. However, the effect of PPE on ovarian cancers as well as associated latent mechanisms is still not completely understood. In this study, PPE was found to prohibit the proliferation of SK-OV-3 and OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells, causing marked cell death. Additionally, low-dose PPE could also inhibit motility and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. The mechanistic assessment revealed PPE-mediated matrix metalloproteinases, i.e., MMP2 and MMP9, inhibition via the AKT-nuclear factor kappa B (AKT/NF-κB) signaling pathway. Rescue experiments with transfection of AKT lentiviral particles remarkably reversed PPE inhibitory effects against ovarian cancer cells. In conclusion, PPE could inhibit proliferation of ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion by down-regulating the AKT/NF-κB pathway. Moreover, it has the potential to act as a novel agent for ovarian cancer treatment.

Evidence of Passive Smoking as a Risk Factor of High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion: A Case-Control Study

This study aims to evaluate the association between passive smoking and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) at the sample of Chinese women. We conducted a case-control study to analyze the effect of passive smoking on the incidence that patients diagnosed with HSIL. The participants had undergone cervical cancer screening by cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) co-testing within a year before the study. Multiple logistic regression was used to explore the effect and interactive effect of risk factors on HSIL. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Passive smokers were 1.57 times (95% CI 1.05-2.35) higher than non-smokers to occur HSIL. The medium of the combined smoking index divided patients into low and high exposure, with the ORs of 1.64 (95%CI 1.02-2.64) and 1.71 (95%CI 1.06-2.77) relative to non-smokers, respectively. The combined smokers in the high exposure group experienced the most considerable risk of HSIL (OR = 4.67; 95%CI 1.17-18.70). The OR of HPV positive passive smoker relative to that of HPV negative non-smokers was 5.28 (95%CI 2.25-14.52;). Passive smokers who reported adolescent exposure history was 4.04 times (95%CI 1.44-11.37) more at risk of the disease than non-smokers. This study supported that passive smoking was a significant independent risk factor on the occurrence of HSIL and showed a positive correlated dose-response relationship. HPV infection interacting with passive smoking led to an even higher risk of the disease. Adolescent exposure to passive smoking persistent for more than 20 years would also increase the risk of HSIL.

Oxfendazole Induces Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer Cells by Activating JNK/MAPK Pathway and Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species Generation

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common and high mortality type of cancer among women worldwide. The majority of patients with OC respond to chemotherapy initially; however, most of them become resistant to chemotherapy and results in a high level of treatment failure in OC. Therefore, novel agents for the treatment of OC are urgently required. Benzimidazole anthelmintics might have the promising efficacy for cancer therapy as their selectively binding activity to β-tubulin. Recent study has shown that one of the benzimidazole anthelmintics oxfendazole inhibited cell growth of non-small cell lung cancer cells, revealing its anti-cancer activity; however, the pharmacological action and detailed mechanism underlying the effects of oxfendazole on OC cells remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the cytotoxic effects of oxfendazole on OC cells. Our results demonstrated that oxfendazole significantly decreased the viability of OC cells. Oxfendazole inhibited the proliferation, induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptotic cell death in A2780 cells. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was activated and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was increased in OC cells treated with oxfendazole; oxfendazole-induced apoptosis was notably abrogated when co-treated with JNK inhibitor SP600125 and ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), indicating that JNK/MAPK pathway activation and ROS accumulation was associated with the oxfendazole-induced apoptosis of OC cells. Moreover, oxfendazole could also induce the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of cisplatin resistant cells. Collectively, these results revealed that oxfendazole may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of OC.

Tamoxifen Regulates Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Endometrial Cancer <i>via</i> the CANP10/NRP1 Signaling Pathway

Tamoxifen, which is used to treat advanced gynecological tumors, has been associated with tumor cell metastasis. Herein, we investigated the effect of tamoxifen on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in endometrial cancer and the associated signaling mechanism. Wound healing and invasion chamber assays, respectively, were performed to determine the migrative capacity and invasiveness of tamoxifen-stimulated endometrial carcinoma (RL95-2) cells. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the expression of vimentin, E-cadherin, calpain 10 (CANP10), and neuropilin-1 (NRP1). Transfection of a CAPN10-harboring plasmid was used to overexpress CANP10 in RL95-2 cells, and small interfering RNAs were used to silence CANP10 and NRP1 expression. Tamoxifen induced migration, invasion, and morphological changes in RL95-2 cells. It also downregulated E-cadherin expression and upregulated vimentin, CANP10, and NRP1 expression. CANP10 silencing inhibited tamoxifen-induced NRP1 upregulation, and CANP10 or NRP1 silencing inhibited the migration and invasion of RL95-2 cells. CANP10 overexpression upregulated vimentin expression and downregulated that of E-cadherin and also increased cell migration and invasion. Silencing NRP1 protein expression inhibited the induction effect of CANP10 overexpression. In conclusion, tamoxifen promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of RL95-2 cells via the CANP10/NRP1 signaling pathway. Thus, targeting CANP10 or NRP1 may be a novel strategy for preventing tamoxifen-induced endometrial cancer metastasis.