Evaluation of ON 01910.Na, a novel modulator of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) pathway, and development of a cyclin-B1-based predictive assay in pancreatic cancer

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3569-3569
Author(s):  
A. Jimeno ◽  
A. Chan ◽  
X. Zhang ◽  
J. Wheelhouse ◽  
A. Solomon ◽  
...  

3569 Background: Plk1 is a key mitotic regulator of the transition through the G2/M checkpoint in the cell cycle. This work aimed to evaluate the activity of ON 01910.Na, a Plk1 pathway modulator, in in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer (PaCa) and to discover biomarkers predictive of efficacy. Methods: ON 01910.Na was tested in 12 PaCa cell lines. Studies assessing Plk1 related markers were conducted to identify biomarkers. For validation a live collection of PaCa xenografts from fresh tumor samples obtained at the time of surgical resection was used (PancXenoBank). The ex vivo assay was based on fine-needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies. Results: ON 01910.Na showed equal activity to gemcitabine against PaCa cell lines. The activity of ON 01910.Na correlated with suppression of two downstream mediators of PLK1, CDC25C and cyclin B1 (by mRNA and protein). ON 01910.Na was tested in xenografts from representative pancreatic cell lines. The selected markers were evaluated in an ex vivo assay, using intra-tumor pharmacokinetics to select the dose of the assay. Cyclin B1 mRNA evaluation yielded the most optimal combination of accuracy and reproducibility. Knockdown of cyclin B1 by siRNA had no effect per se or in the response of the resistant MiaPaca2 to either of the drugs. We next used the ex vivo assay to profile ten patient-derived cases from the PancXenoBank. Two cases were catalogued as potential responders. From each of these ten cases, a group of mice bearing at least 20 tumors received vehicle or ON 01910.Na for 28 days. There was a correlation between the ex vivo cyclin B1 assay and the sensitivity to the tested agent, as the 2 cases prospectively identified as sensitive met pre-specified criteria for response. Of the 8 tumors predicted to be resistant, only one was sensitive. In IHC testing cases showing ex vivo cyclin B1 down-regulation had also decreases in cyclin B1 protein, and there was a correlation between activity and IHC changes in cyclin B1. Conclusions: ON 01910.Na demonstrated significant activity in a preclinical model of PaCa. A rationally designed ex vivo cyclin B1-based assay not only identified cases sensitive to ON 01910.Na, but also replicated the pharmacodynamic events occurring after in vivo exposure. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15076-e15076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kouros Motamed ◽  
Larn Hwang ◽  
Chao Hsiao ◽  
Vuong N. Trieu

e15076 Background: The (nab-Pac)/Gemcitabine (Gem) combination has recently been shown to impart a significant survival advantage over Gem alone in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The goal of this study was to define a non-biologic, nanoparticle paclitaxel (NBN-Pac) which has a similar toxicity profile and utilizes the same albumin-mediated transport mechanism. Herein, we report in vitro, preclinical and phase I clinical results for this NBN-Pac in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Methods: In vitro drug cytotoxicity was measured as mean IC50 values following a 72-h exposure in four pancreatic cell lines (MIA Paca-2 and Capan-1 and multi-drug resistant cell lines PANC-1 and ASPC-1). In vivo anti-tumor activities were assessed in xenografted MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 models in nude mice treated with three i.v. doses of NBN-Pac (20, 50 mg/kg) and Taxol (20 mg/kg) on days 0, 3, and 6 (q3dx3), and twelve i.v. doses of Gem (140 mg/kg) on every 3 days (q3dx12). A phase I clinical trial (N=18) was conducted to determine the MTD and the recommended phase II dose of the combination therapy with NBN-Pac (220-300 mg/m2, q3w) and Gem (1250 mg/m2) as primary endpoints in first line treatment of subjects with advanced pancreatic cancer. Reduction in the plasma levels of CA19-9 was measured as a PD biomarker. Results: The mean IC50 value of NBN-Pac in four pancreatic cell lines was approximately 30-fold lower than that of Gem. NBN-Pac formulation (50 mg/kg) produced superior anti-tumor activity in the two xenograft models tested over Taxol and Gem at clinically equivalent doses. Our phase I trial established the MTD of this NBN-Pac formulation as 300mg/m2. Moreover, 5 out of 16 subjects (31.3%) were CR or PR with 95% exact confidence interval of (11.0%, 58.7%). The median PFS time was 5.6 month (95% C.I = 2.9). The median OS time could not be estimated as the survival rate did not fall below 50%. Other safety variables revealed no significant abnormality that may have affected the result of the study. Conclusions: NBN-Paclitaxel formulation has superior anti-tumor activity vs. Taxol and Gem in in vitro toxicity assays, preclinical models of pancreatic cancer, as well in a phase I clinical study in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (23) ◽  
pp. 3516-3525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Runckel ◽  
Matthew J. Barth ◽  
Cory Mavis ◽  
Juan J. Gu ◽  
Francisco J. Hernandez-Ilizaliturri

Abstract Clinical observations suggest the existence of shared resistance pathways between rituximab and chemotherapy agents. To explore the mechanisms of rituximab resistance, our group created rituximab-resistant cell lines (RRCLs), which display altered expression of several inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family proteins. Here, we provide evidence to support pharmacologically targeting IAPs in lymphoma with LCL-161, a small molecule mimetic of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC). The antitumor effect of LCL-161 was determined using luminescent adenosine triphosphate assays, flow cytometry, SCID mouse xenografts, and ex vivo patient biopsy sample studies. In vitro exposure to LCL-161 also resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in IAP levels, along with synergistic enhancement of the antitumor effect of cytotoxic chemotherapy, in rituximab-sensitive cell lines and RRCLs. In addition, LCL-161 increased the cytotoxic effect of the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib in ex vivo lymphoma patient samples. The combination of LCL-161 with the chemotherapy regimen rituximab, gemcitabine, and vinorelbine (RGV) improved in vivo survival compared with RGV alone in severe combined immunodeficient mice implanted with RRCLs but not in animals implanted with rituximab-sensitive cell lines. In summary, LCL-161 exhibits synergistic antitumor activity in both in vitro and in vivo models of resistant lymphoma. Our data support further preclinical investigation of LCL-161 as a novel antilymphoma agent.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18537-e18537
Author(s):  
Matthew John Barth ◽  
Gopichand Pendurti ◽  
Cory Mavis ◽  
Natalie Czuczman ◽  
Jospeh J. Skitzki ◽  
...  

e18537 Background: MCL is characterized by an aggressive clinical course and inevitable development of refractory disease despite early intervention that often includes: immunotherapy (e.g., rituximab), multi-agent induction chemotherapy and consolidation with high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant in first remission. OFA is a fully human anti-CD20 mAb targeting a novel membrane-proximal epitope on CD20. To characterize the activity of ofatumumab in MCL, we conducted pre-clinical studies in cell lines, primary tumor cells derived from MCL patients and a MCL bearing severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model. Methods: Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) assays were performed in 51Cr labeled Mino, Jeko, Rec-1 and Z-138 cells comparing RTX or OFA. Primary tumor cells were exposed ex vivo to OFA or RTX with human serum, differences in cell viability were determined by Cell Titer Glo assay. Expression of CD20 and complement inhibitory proteins (CIPs) CD55 and CD59 was determined by Imagestream analysis and Western blot. SCID mice were inoculated SQ with 10x106 Z-138 cells. Once tumors were established, mice were assigned to observation versus 4 doses of either OFA or RTX, and anti-tumor activity was measured by changes in tumor volume. Results: OFA induced higher CDC than RTX in all MCL cell lines tested (Mino: 65.9% vs. 0.5% ; Jeko 43.9% vs. 13.3% ; Rec-1 25.4% vs. 4.7% ; Z-138: 56.4% vs. 0.65%). No differences in ADCC were noted between OFA and RTX. In primary tumor cells, OFA and RTX demonstrated similar activity. CD20 levels were similar in all MCL cell lines tested. Of interest, CIP expression in MCL cell lines was higher when compared to other NHL cell lines, explaining differences observed between OFA and RTX. In vivo OFA was more effective in slowing tumor progression than RTX. Conclusions: Our data suggest OFA is more potent than RTX against MCL pre-clinical models. In addition and as expected, OFA exhibits potent CDC despite high expression of CIP. Our results support the evaluation of ofatumumab in future prospective clinical trials for patients with MCL.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melica Nourmoussavi Brodeur ◽  
Kayla Simeone ◽  
Kim Leclerc-Deslauniers ◽  
Hubert Fleury ◽  
Euridice Carmona ◽  
...  

AbstractEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological cancer. Among the key challenges in developing effective therapeutics is the poor translation of preclinical models used in the drug discovery pipeline. This leaves drug attrition rates and costs at an unacceptably high level. Previous work has highlighted the discrepancies in therapeutic response between current in vitro and in vivo models. To address this, we conducted a comparison study to differentiate the carboplatin chemotherapy response across four different model systems including 2D monolayers, 3D spheroids, 3D ex vivo tumors and mouse xenograft models. We used six previously characterized EOC cell lines of varying chemosensitivity and performed viability assays for each model. In vivo results from the mouse model correlated with 2D response in 3/6 cell lines while they correlated with 3D spheroids and the ex vivo model in 4/6 and 5/5 cell lines, respectively. Our results emphasize the variability in therapeutic response across models and demonstrate that the carboplatin response in EOC cell lines cultured in a 3D ex vivo model correlates best with the in vivo response. These results highlight a more feasible, reliable, and cost-effective preclinical model with the highest translational potential for drug screening and prediction studies in EOC.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2774
Author(s):  
Margherita Luongo ◽  
Oliviero Marinelli ◽  
Laura Zeppa ◽  
Cristina Aguzzi ◽  
Maria Beatrice Morelli ◽  
...  

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is related to lifestyle risks, chronic inflammation, and germline mutations in BRCA1/2, ATM, MLH1, TP53, or CDKN2A. Surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy are the main therapeutic strategies but are less effective in patients with high-grade tumors. Oxygen-ozone (O2/O3) therapy is an emerging alternative tool for the treatment of several clinical disorders. O2/O3 therapy has been found to ameliorate mechanisms promoting chronic pain and inflammation, including hypoxia, inflammatory mediators, and infection. The advantages of using cannabinoids have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo models of several human cancers. Regarding PDAC, activation of cannabinoid receptors was found to induce pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis without affecting the normal pancreas cells. In a murine model of PDAC, a combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and gemcitabine increased survival length by nearly three times. Herein, we evaluate the anticancer effect of CBD and O2/O3, alone or in combination, on two human PDAC cell lines, PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2, examining expression profiles of 92 pancreatic adenocarcinoma associated genes, cytotoxicity, migration properties, and cell death. Finally, we assess the combination effects with gemcitabine and paclitaxel. Summarizing, for the first time the antitumoral effect of combined therapy with CBD and oxygen-ozone therapy in PDAC is evidenced.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 636-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Cortes ◽  
James Foran ◽  
Darejan Ghirdaladze ◽  
Marcel P DeVetten ◽  
Mamia Zodelava ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 636 Activating mutations in the FLT3 RTK are present in ∼30% of AML patients (pts), who have a significantly worse prognosis than pts with wild type (WT) FLT3. AC220 is a novel 2nd generation RTK inhibitor with potent in vitro and in vivo activity in FLT3- and KIT-dependent tumor cell lines. It is highly selective for both WT and mutant FLT3 with significant activity against KIT. A first-in-human Phase 1 study investigating AC220 in predominantly relapsed or refractory AML pts, unselected for FLT3 mutations, was recently completed, using a standard 3+3 dose escalation with 50% dose increments. AC220 was administered once daily as an oral solution initially with an intermittent dosing (ID) regimen: 14 days on and 14 days off (1 cycle). Starting dose was escalated from 12 to 450 mg/day ID. Additional cohorts were investigated on a continuous dosing (CD) regimen: 200 and 300 mg/day for 28 days (1 cycle). A total of 76 pts (46 male, 30 female) were dosed with AC220. Median age was 60 yrs (23-86), median number of prior therapies was 4 (0-9), 12 pts had prior allogeneic transplant and 3 elderly pts (≥72 yrs) unfit for induction chemotherapy were previously untreated. Eighteen pts (24%) had FLT3 ITD mutations, 47 (62%) were WT, and 11 (14%) were undetermined. Pts were also evaluated for PK, phosphorylated (p) FLT3, pKIT, pSTAT5, and ex vivo plasma inhibitory activity. AC220 plasma exposure was sustained between dose intervals and continued to increase in a dose-proportional manner from 12 to 450 mg with a half-life of ∼1.5 days. An active metabolite, AC886, was detected that has similar potency and activity to AC220. Patient plasma at '12 mg potently inhibited pFLT3 in ex vivo FLT3-ITD cell lines and complete inhibition of pFLT3 in WT cell lines was observed at higher doses. Target inhibition was also observed, with suppression of pFLT3, pSTAT5 and pKIT in peripheral blasts. The most commonly reported possibly drug-related AEs were GI events, peripheral edema, and dysguesia, which were Grade ≤2. DLT was observed at 300 mg CD and 200 mg CD was declared as the MTD. Two pts at 300 mg CD had possibly study drug-related DLTs with grade 3 QTc prolongation, but had confounding factors including concomitant medications known to prolong QTc. Responses (IWG criteria) were observed in 23 (30%) pts. PR and CR were observed as low as the 18 and 40 mg cohorts, respectively. Most responses occurred within cycle 1. Overall, 9 (12%) pts had a complete response (CR) with 2 CR, 5 CRi, and 2 CRp. One of these pts also had complete resolution of leukemia cutis. In addition, 14 (18%) pts achieved PR. Overall median duration of response (MDOR) was 14 (4-62+) weeks and overall median survival (MS) was 14 (1-68+) weeks. In FLT3-ITD pts the MDOR was 12 (4-27+) weeks and the MS was 18 (3-42) weeks. In FLT3-WT pts the MDOR was 32 (8-62+) weeks and the MS was 11 (1-68+) weeks. 10 (56%) of 18 FLT3-ITD pts were responders (1 CR, 3 CRi, 6 PR), 9 (19%) of 47 FLT3-WT pts (1 CRi, 2 CRp, 6 PR), and 4 (36%) of 11 undetermined pts (1 CR, 1 CRi, 2 PR). At 200 mg CD (MTD expansion), 4 of 6 FLT3-ITD pts responded (1 CR, 1 CRp, 1 CRi, 1 PR). Of the 4 responders, 2 failed prior treatment with sorafenib and 2 previously refractory pts went onto transplant. The 2 FLT3-ITD non-responders had 6 and 8 prior lines of therapy, respectively. These encouraging efficacy results and an acceptable safety profile warrant continued evaluation of AC220 as monotherapy and in combination therapy for the treatment of AML. Phase 2 studies in FLT3-ITD positive and WT pts are in progress. Disclosures: Cortes: Ambit Biosciences: Research Funding. Foran:Ambit Biosciences: Research Funding. Ghirdaladze:Ambit Biosciences: Research Funding. DeVetten:Ambit Biosciences: Research Funding. Zodelava:Ambit Biosciences: Research Funding. Holman:Ambit Biosciences: Research Funding. Levis:Ambit Biosciences: Consultancy, Research Funding. James:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Zarringkar:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Gunawardane:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Armstrong:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Padre:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Wierenga:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Corringham:Ambit Biosciences: Employment. Trikha:Ambit Biosciences: Employment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14616-e14616
Author(s):  
Moshe Giladi ◽  
Rosa S. Schneiderman ◽  
Yaara Porat ◽  
Aviran Itzhaki ◽  
Daniel Mordechovich ◽  
...  

e14616 Background: TTF therapy is a novel, non-invasive treatment modality for solid tumors and was recently approved by the FDA for recurrent glioblastoma. It utilizes alternating electric fields to inhibit tumor growth, by mitotic spindle disruption and destruction of plasma membrane integrity during cytokinesis. TTF inhibits the growth of many solid tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The optimal treatment for pancreas cancer remains elusive, thus we sought to evaluate the efficacy of TTF in pre-clinical pancreatic cancer models. Methods: Cultures of hamster and human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (PC1-0 and AsPC-1, respectively) were treated with TTF (frequencies ranging from 75 to 300 kHz), using two pairs of perpendicularly oriented insulated transducer arrays. Once determining optimal frequency, TTF was combined with chemotherapy (gemcitabine or 5-Fluorouracil, 5-FU). Hamsters bearing syngeneic, orthotopic pancreatic tumors were treated with either TTF alone or in combination with gemcitabine or 5-FU. Results: TTF treatment had significant inhibitory effect on proliferation of pancreatic cancer cultures. The maximal inhibitory effect for PC1-0 and ASPC-1 was observed when TTF frequencies of 100 and 150 kHz were applied (respectively). The application of TTF to cultures treated with either gemcitabine or 5-FU resulted in an additive inhibitory effect. In-vivo, TTF therapy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, resulted in a significant decrease in tumor weight and volume. Compared to chemotherapy alone, TTF increased tumor response to both gemcitabine and 5-FU. Histological analysis demonstrated higher mitotic index in TTF-treated tumors, consistent with the mitotic arrest previously shown in TTF treated cultures. Conclusions: TTF therapy demonstrated efficacy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma in both in vitro and in vivo models. These results support the evaluation of this novel treatment modality in combination with standard chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients. A pilot study is in development to test the clinical benefit of combined TTF and gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 950-950
Author(s):  
Mark B. Meads ◽  
Rafael Renatino Canevarolo ◽  
Praneeth Reddy Sudalagunta ◽  
Paula S. Oliveira ◽  
Dario M. Magaletti ◽  
...  

Abstract Proteasome inhibitors (PI) such as bortezomib and carfilzomib are critical components of anti-multiple myeloma (MM) therapy, yet all MM patients eventually develop refractory disease. We developed a non-biased method to identify and validate dysregulated pathways associated with PI-resistance in myeloma by combining RNAseq data from 522 MM patient specimens obtained from our Total Cancer Care/M2Gen/ORIEN network at Moffitt Cancer Center with paired ex vivo sensitivity to PIs and kinase inhibitors (KI). Dimensionality reduction analysis (t-SNE) and Fuzzy C-means was used to identify 422 clusters of genes that co-express in individual patients, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to identify clusters with gene expression patterns that correlated with PI sensitivity. Using publicly curated databases and in silico integrative analyses, we built protein-protein interaction networks to identify putative transcription factors, corresponding master regulators (kinases), and candidate KIs to promote PI sensitization. This systems biology approach identified a Chk1-Cdk1-Plk1 circuit associated with PI-resistance and also found 21 additional kinases (of 501 expressed in our cohort's kinome) that could be targeted to re-sensitize PI-resistant MM, which we confirmed in cell lines, specimens from relapsed patients, and two in vivo models. A panel of paired isogenic PI-resistant and sensitive MM cell lines were differentially screened to find kinases associated with PI-resistance using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) and KI activity measured by high-throughput viability assay. The MM cell lines 8226 and U266, along with their drug resistant counterparts 8226-B25 and U266-PR, were grown in mono-culture for 24h and lysates were enriched for ATP binding proteins by affinity purification versus a chemical probe. Tryptic peptides were measured using discovery proteomics (nano-UPLC and QExactive Plus mass spectrometer) to identify 85 kinases out of a total of 715 proteins in 8226-B25 MM cells and 35 kinases out of a total of 688 proteins in U266-PR MM cells that were preferentially enriched by 2-fold change compared to parental cell lines. Twenty-four kinases were commonly activated among PI-resistant cell line pairs and were screened in PI-resistant myeloma lines using a label-free, high throughput viability assay that simulates the tumor microenvironment. Three KIs targeting Plk1 (volasertib and GSK461364) and Cdk1/5 (dinaciclib) consistently maintained LD50s in the low-nanomolar range and induced caspase-3 activation in four PI-resistant MM cell lines: 8226-B25, U266-PR, ANBL-6-V10R, and Kas6-V10R. Twenty-four kinases each were identified by RNAseq/ex vivo PI sensitivity of MM specimens and ABPP of PI-resistant/sensitive MM cell line pairs. Of these, 7 kinases were identified by both methods: Cdk1, Chk1, Plk1, ILK, Syk, PKA, and p70S6K. Several KIs targeting Cdk1, Plk1, ILK, DNAPK, Syk, MKK7, Nek2, and mTOR identified in patient specimen or cell-line screens showed single agent activity in MM patient bone marrow specimens purified by a CD138 affinity column. Among these, inhibitors to Cdk1, ILK, mTOR, and Plk1 showed the most activity in patient specimens with an average 96h LD50 of 25 nM (n=56), 2.4 uM (n=42), 2.7 uM (n=57) and 3.8 uM (n=53), respectively. Six KIs targeting Plk1, ILK, Syk, MKK7, Nek2 and MARK3 were synergistic with carfilzomib in 20 patient specimens and maintained or improved ex vivo activity in relapsed refractory MM (RRMM) specimens. Volasertib, which targets Plk1, was the most synergistic with carfilzomib of all KIs tested in patient specimens and was further validated in two in vivo models: a NSG/U266 xenograft model of PI resistance and the syngeneic C57BL/6-KaLwRij/5TGM1 immunocompetent model. Volasertib significantly increased survival and reduced tumor burden in both models as a single agent, and was more effective versus PI-resistant tumors compared to PI-sensitive counterparts. Our pharmaco-proteomic screen, coupled with rich gene expression data from patients identified Plk1 as a target critical to MM survival in the context of acquired PI resistance and represents a unique workflow to find tumor vulnerabilities that arise during therapy. We anticipate that these data will also produce a critical path for the personalized allocation of therapy to maximize efficacy and minimize the use of ineffective therapies in RRMM. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


1977 ◽  
Vol 37 (01) ◽  
pp. 154-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A Janik ◽  
S. E Papaioannou

SummaryUrokinase, streptokinase, Brinase, trypsin, and SN 687, a bacterial exoprotease, have been evaluated in an ex vivo assay system. These enzymes were injected into rabbits and the fibrinolytic activity as well as other coagulation parameters were measured by in vitro techniques. Dose-response correlations have been made using the euglobulin lysis time as a measure of fibrinolytic activity and the 50% effective dose has been determined for each enzyme. Loading doses, equal to four times the 50% effective dose, were administered to monitor potential toxicity revealing that Brinase, trypsin, and SN 687 were very toxic at this concentration.Having established the 50% effective dose for each enzyme, further testing was conducted where relevant fibrinolytic and coagulation parameters were measured for up to two days following a 50% effective dose bolus injection of each enzyme. Our results have demonstrated that urokinase and streptokinase are plasminogen activators specifically activating the rabbit fibrinolytic system while Brinase, trypsin and SN 687 increase the general proteolytic activity in vivo.The advantages of this ex vivo assay system for evaluating relative fibrinolytic potencies and side effects for plasminogen activators and fibrinolytic proteases have been discussed.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 610
Author(s):  
Robin Park ◽  
Andrew L. Coveler ◽  
Ludimila Cavalcante ◽  
Anwaar Saeed

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta is a ubiquitously and constitutively expressed molecule with pleiotropic function. It acts as a protooncogene in the development of several solid tumors including pancreatic cancer through its involvement in various cellular processes including cell proliferation, survival, invasion and metastasis, as well as autophagy. Furthermore, the level of aberrant glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta expression in the nucleus is inversely correlated with tumor differentiation and survival in both in vitro and in vivo models of pancreatic cancer. Small molecule inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta have demonstrated therapeutic potential in pre-clinical models and are currently being evaluated in early phase clinical trials involving pancreatic cancer patients with interim results showing favorable results. Moreover, recent studies support a rationale for the combination of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, warranting the evaluation of novel combination regimens in the future.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document