The Azurin-Derived Peptide CT-p19LC Exhibits Membrane-Active Properties and Induces Cancer Cell Death

Peptides have been thoroughly studied as new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. In this work, we explored in vitro the anticancer potential of three novel peptides derived from the C-terminal of azurin, an anticancer bacterial protein produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CT-p26, CT-p19 and CT-p19LC peptides were previously obtained through an in silico peptide design optimization process, CT-p19LC being the most promising as it presented higher hydrophobicity and solubility, positive total charge and, most importantly, greater propensity for anticancer activity. Therefore, in this study, through proliferation and apoptosis assays, CT-p19LC was tested in four cancer cell lines—A549, MCF-7, HeLa and HT-29—and in two non-cancer cell lines—16HBE14o- and MCF10A. Its membrane-targeting activity was further evaluated with zeta potential measurements and membrane order was assessed with the Laurdan probe. The results obtained demonstrated that CT-p19LC decreases cell viability through induction of cell death and binds to the plasma membrane of cancer cells, but not to non-cancer cells, making them less rigid. Overall, this study reveals that CT-p19LC is an auspicious selective anticancer peptide able to react with cancer cell membranes and cause effective action.

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In-Vitro Anti-Proliferative, Apoptotic and Antioxidative Activities of Medicinal Herb Kalonji (Nigella sativa)

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology ◽

10.2174/1389201020666190821144633 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (15) ◽

pp. 1288-1308

Author(s):

Tahir Maqbool ◽

Sana J. Awan ◽

Sabeen Malik ◽

Faheem Hadi ◽

Somia Shehzadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Internal Control ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Annexin V ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Oxidative Enzymes

Background: Natural product with apoptotic activity could serve as a potential new source for anti-cancer medicine. Numerous phytochemicals from plants have shown to exert antineoplastic effects via programmed cell death (apoptosis). Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in prosperous countries. The subject study was intended to evaluate the anticancer properties of Kalonji extracts against cancer cell lines HeLa and HepG2 and normal cell lines BHK and VERO were used as normal controls. Materials & Methods: For the evaluation of anti-proliferative effects, cell viability and cell death in all groups of cells were evaluated via MTT, crystal violet and trypan blue assays. For the evaluation of angiogenesis, Immunocytochemistry and ELISA of VEGF were done. Immunocytochemistry and ELISA of Annexin-V and p53 were performed for the estimation of apoptosis in all groups of cells. Furthermore, LDH assay, antioxidant enzymes activity (GSH, APOX, CAT and SOD) and RT-PCR with proliferative and apoptotic markers along with internal control were also performed. Cancer cells of both cell lines HepG2 and HeLa cells showed reduced viability, angiogenesis and proliferation with increased apoptosis when treated with Kalonji extracts. Whereas anti-oxidative enzymes show enhanced levels in treated cancer cells as compared to untreated ones. Conclusion: It was observed that Kalonji extracts have the ability to induce apoptosis and improve the antioxidant status of HeLa and HepG2 cells. They can also inhibit the proliferation and angiogenesis in both these cancer cell lines.

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In vitro photodynamic effect of gallium, indium and iron phthalocyanine chloride on different cancer cell lines

10.51415/10321/2212 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Kaminee Maduray

Keyword(s):

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Laser Treatment ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Fibroblast Cells ◽

Therapy Treatment ◽

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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is emerging as a viable alternative to invasive anti-cancer treatment regimens such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A series of metal – based phthalocyanine complexes have been discovered that may be used as a drug or photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of cancers. During photodynamic therapy the photosensitizer is administrated intravenously or topically to the patient before laser treatment at an appropriate wavelength is delivered to the cancerous site to activate the photosensitizer. The activated photosensitizer will react with oxygen typically present in the cancerous tissue to produce reactive oxygen species for the eradication of the cancerous tissue. This is the first study where gallium (GaPcCl), indium (InPcCl) and iron (FePcCl) Pc chloride complexes were used for photodynamic research. These metal – based phthalocyanine complexes were investigated using different cancer cell lines (Caco-2, MCF-7, melanoma and A549). Also, the baseline cellular uptake and photodynamic effect of these complexes were established on healthy normal cells (human fibroblast cells). Fluorescent spectrophotometry showed that all three photosensitizers accumulated in a time-dependent manner in Caco-2, MCF-7, melanoma and A549 cancer cells, as well as in healthy normal fibroblast cell in amounts which increased over a period of 24 hours, with emission peaking at 24 hours for all cell lines. Dark toxicity effects and photodynamic therapy efficacy were established with a MTT assay. High concentrations of inactive GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl was toxic to Caco-2, melanoma, A549 and fibroblast cells. However, all three photosensitizers were in its inactive state at low and high photosensitizing concentrations were highly toxic to MCF-7 cancer cells. On the other hand, in vitro photodynamic therapy treatment with both low and high concentrations of GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl were observed to be potently cytotoxic towards all four cancer cell lines upon exposure to laser light for 22 seconds (2.5 J/cm2), 39 seconds (4.5 J/cm2) and 74 seconds (8.5 J/cm2). These results revealed that all three photosensitizers reacts to photodynamic therapy in a concentration-dependent (photosensitizer) and dose-dependent (light dose/time) manner. At 24 hours after photodynamic therapy, the most effective treatment parameters were laser treatment for 74 seconds with FePcCl concentrations from 60 µg/ml - 100 µg/ml which resulted in 0% cell survival of Caco-2 cancer cells. A short laser treatment time of 74 seconds for activation of FePcCl (20 µg/ml) resulted in 0% cell survival of MCF-7 cancer cells. Similarly, FePcCl (40 µg/ml - 100 µg/ml) activated for 22 seconds, 39 seconds and 74 seconds resulted in 100% cell death of A549 cancer cells. Photodynamic therapy treatment with GaPcCl and InPcCl were very effective in reducing the cell viability of melanoma cancer cells. Healthy normal fibroblast cells survived in vitro photodynamic therapy treatment with all three photosensitizers much better than the cancer (Caco-2, MCF-7, melanoma and A549) cells. This confirms the previously reported results that photosensitizers such as phthalocyanines and its metal-based complexes preferentially accumulate in cancer cells than normal healthy cells. All three photosensitizers localized in mitochondria and lysosomes of the Caco-2, MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells. In melanoma cancer cells InPcCl also localized in the mitochondria and lysosome, but GaPcCl and FePcCl localized in mitochondria only. Apoptosis was identified via microscopical and flow cytometric investigations, as the dominant mode of cell death induced by GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl mediated photodynamic therapy in cancer cell lines tested. Therefore, this study concludes that GaPcCl, InPcCl and FePcCl are effective photosensitizers for the in vitro PDT treatment of cancer cells. The effective in vitro PDT treatment for each cell line was dependent on the photosensitizer concentration and illumination period for each of the different photosensitizers.

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Preparation, Characterization and In-vitro Biological Evaluation of Novel Curcumin Derivatives as Cytotoxic and Apoptosis-Inducing Agents

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520620666201002111205 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Omid K. Arjomandi ◽

Saiedeh Almasi ◽

Leila Hosseinzadeh ◽

Mahboubeh Kavoosi ◽

Hadi Adibi

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Biological Evaluation ◽

Caspase 9 ◽

Derivatives Of ◽

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Background: Curcumin is a natural polyphenol and lead compound of the rhizomes of curcuma longa that it has been widely used for pharmacological activities. Objective: In this study, series of novel derivatives of curcumin, which this group was linked to a 2-amino-4-phenylpyran-3-carbonitrile system, have been synthesized and tested for their antitumor activities in-vitro against a panel of three human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, A2780, and U-87MG). Method: The in-vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds was tested on three cancer cell lines (MCF-7, A2780, and U87MG) using MTT colorimetric assay. Meanwhile, the ability of the active compounds to induce apoptosis in cancer cells was investigated by examination of caspase-3 and caspase-9 and mitochondrial membrane potential assay. Results: Under relatively mild conditions in ethanol, the reaction of a series of substrates afforded the corresponding derivatives of curcumin mostly in good yields (13 analogues, 48-94% yields). Bioassay results indicated that compounds L6 (para-Bromo), L9 (paraNitro) and L12 (meta-Methoxy) were the most active members in this study demonstrating potent activities against A2780 cancer cells and experimental results of fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis revealed that L6 and L9 could induce apoptosis in A2780 cells with apoptosis ratios of about 40% and 46%, respectively at 24 h of treatment at 15.35 µM and 23µM in A2780 cells. On the other hand, they could increase the caspase-3 activity slightly (10%), while had no significant impact on the activities of caspase-9. Conclusion: Those two derivatives could be considered as useful templates for future development to obtain more potent antitumor agents.

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Small Molecular Leads Differentially Active Against HER2 Positive and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1573406414666181106143912 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 738-742 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adnan Badran ◽

Atia-tul-Wahab ◽

Sharmeen Fayyaz ◽

Elias Baydoun ◽

Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Breast Cancer Cell ◽

Triple Negative ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Type

Background:Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer type in women globally. It is characterized by distinct subtypes depending on different gene expression patterns. Oncogene HER2 is expressed on the surface of cell and is responsible for cell growth regulation. Increase in HER2 receptor protein due to gene amplification, results in aggressive growth, and high metastasis in cancer cells.Methods:The current study evaluates and compares the anti-breast cancer effect of commercially available compounds against HER2 overexpressing BT-474, and triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines.Results:Preliminary in vitro cell viability assays on these cell lines identified 6 lead molecules active against breast cancer. Convallatoxin (4), a steroidal lactone glycoside, showed the most potent activity with IC50 values of 0.63 ± 0.56, and 0.69 ± 0.59 µM against BT-474 and MDA-MB-231, respectively, whereas 4-[4-(Trifluoromethyl)-phenoxy] phenol (3) a phenol derivative, and Reserpine (5) an indole alkaloid selectively inhibited the growth of BT-474, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, respectively.Conclusion:These results exhibited the potential of small molecules in the treatment of HER2 amplified and triple negative breast cancers in vitro.

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In Vitro Antitumor Evaluation of Some Hybrid Molecules Containing Coumarin and Quinolinone Moieties

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520619666190930143856 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (16) ◽

pp. 2010-2018

Author(s):

Youstina W. Rizzk ◽

Ibrahim M. El-Deen ◽

Faten Z. Mohammed ◽

Moustafa S. Abdelhamid ◽

Amgad I.M. Khedr

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Anticancer Agents ◽

Topoisomerase Ii ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Bax Protein ◽

Hybrid Molecules ◽

Mcf 7

Background: Hybrid molecules furnished by merging two or more pharmacophores is an emerging concept in the field of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. Currently, coumarin hybrids have attracted the keen attention of researchers to discover their therapeutic capability against cancer. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antitumor activity of a new series of hybrid molecules containing coumarin and quinolinone moieties 4 and 5 against four cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: A new series of hybrid molecules containing coumarin and quinolinone moieties, 4a-c and 5a-c, were synthesized and screened for their cytotoxicity against prostate PC-3, breast MCF-7, colon HCT- 116 and liver HepG2 cancer cell lines as well as normal breast Hs-371 T. Results: All the synthesized compounds were assessed for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against four cancer cell lines and several compounds were found to be active. Further in vitro cell cycle study of compounds 4a and 5a revealed MCF-7 cells arrest at G2 /M phase of the cell cycle profile and induction apoptosis at pre-G1 phase. The apoptosis-inducing activity was evidenced by up-regulation of Bax protein together with the downregulation of the expression of Bcl-2 protein. The mechanism of cytotoxic activity of compounds 4a and 5a correlated to its topoisomerase II inhibitory activity. Conclusion: Hybrid molecules containing coumarin and quinolinone moieties represents a scaffold for further optimization to obtain promising anticancer agents.

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Discovery of New Pyrazolopyridine, Furopyridine, and Pyridine Derivatives as CDK2 Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, Docking Studies, and Anti-Proliferative Activity

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26133923 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (13) ◽

pp. 3923

Author(s):

Adel A.-H. Abdel-Rahman ◽

Amira K. F. Shaban ◽

Ibrahim F. Nassar ◽

Dina S. EL-Kady ◽

Nasser S. M. Ismail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Human Cancer ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Human Cancer Cell ◽

Molecular Docking Study ◽

Human Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Hct 116 ◽

Mcf 7

New pyridine, pyrazoloyridine, and furopyridine derivatives substituted with naphthyl and thienyl moieties were designed and synthesized starting from 6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-2-oxo-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitrile (1). The chloro, methoxy, cholroacetoxy, imidazolyl, azide, and arylamino derivatives were prepared to obtain the pyridine-−C2 functionalized derivatives. The derived pyrazolpyridine-N-glycosides were synthesized via heterocyclization of the C2-thioxopyridine derivative followed by glycosylation using glucose and galactose. The furopyridine derivative 14 and the tricyclic pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]furo[3,2-d]pyrimidine 15 were prepared via heterocyclization of the ester derivative followed by a reaction with formamide. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their ability to in vitro inhibit the CDK2 enzyme. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested against four different human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, MCF-7, HepG2, and A549). The CDK2/cyclin A2 enzyme inhibitory results revealed that pyridone 1, 2-chloro-6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)nicotinonitrile (4), 6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-amine (8), S-(3-cyano-6-(naphthaen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl) 2-chloroethanethioate (11), and ethyl 3-amino-6-(naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl)furo[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate (14) are among the most active inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.57, 0.24, 0.65, 0.50, and 0.93 µM, respectively, compared to roscovitine (IC50 0.394 μM). Most compounds showed significant inhibition on different human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, MCF-7, HepG2, and A549) with IC50 ranges of 31.3–49.0, 19.3–55.5, 22.7–44.8, and 36.8–70.7 μM, respectively compared to doxorubicin (IC50 40.0, 64.8, 24.7 and 58.1 µM, respectively). Furthermore, a molecular docking study suggests that most of the target compounds have a similar binding mode as a reference compound in the active site of the CDK2 enzyme. The structural requirements controlling the CDK2 inhibitory activity were determined through the generation of a statistically significant 2D-QSAR model.

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The α2δ1 subunit of the voltage-gated calcium channel as a potential candidate for breast cancer tumor initial cells biomarker

Cancer Biomarkers ◽

10.3233/cbm-203165 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Meng Li ◽

Wenmin Zhang ◽

Xiaodan Yang ◽

Guo An ◽

Wei Zhao

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Breast Cancer Cell ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Self Renewal

BACKGROUND: The voltage-gated calcium channel subunit alpha 2 delta 1 (α2δ1) is a functional tumor initial cells (TICs) marker for some solid cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate whether α2δ1 can be used as a potential TIC marker for breast cancer cells. METHODS: α2δ1+ and α2δ1- cells were identified and sorted from the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-435s and ZR-75-1 by Immunofluorescence (IF) and Fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses. Spheroid formation in vitro and tumorigenesis in NOD/SCID mice were assessed to determine the self-renewal and serial transplantation abilities of these cells. Using a lentivirus infection system for α2δ1 in breast cancer cell lines, we determined the mRNA levels of stemnessassociated genes by quality real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Boyden chamber and wounding assays were further performed to detect the migration of α2δ1 overexpression cells. Bioinformatics explored the relationship of molecular classification of breast cancer and drug resistance. RESULTS: α2δ1 presents on the cytomembrane of breast cancer cells, with a positive rate of 1.5–3%. The α2δ1+ cells in breast cancer cell lines have a stronger self-renewal ability and tumor initiating properties in vitro and in vivo. Overexpressing α2δ1 successfully enhanced the sphere-forming efficiency, and upregulated the expression of stemness-associated genes, and increased cell migration. However, seldom significant was available between estrogen receptor +/- (ER+/-), progesterone receptor (PR+/-), and Her2+/-. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer cells positive for the α2δ1 charactered tumor initiation, and α2δ1 is a potential TIC marker for breast cancer that further promotes the migration.

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In vitro investigation of cytotoxic and antioxidative activities of Ardisia crispa against breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12906-018-2153-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Muhammad Luqman Nordin ◽

Arifah Abdul Kadir ◽

Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria ◽

Rasedee Abdullah ◽

Muhammad Nazrul Hakim Abdullah

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Breast Cancer Cell ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

In Vitro Investigation ◽

Ardisia Crispa ◽

Mcf 7

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Selenium Induces Pancreatic Cancer Cell Death Alone and in Combination with Gemcitabine

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines10010149 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 149

Author(s):

David J. Wooten ◽

Indu Sinha ◽

Raghu Sinha

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cell ◽

Single Agent ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Cancer Cell Death ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains poor and newer treatments are urgently required. Selenium, an essential trace element, offers protection against several cancer types and has not been explored much against pancreatic cancer specifically in combination with known chemotherapeutic agents. The present study was designed to investigate selenium and Gemcitabine at varying doses alone and in combination in established pancreatic cancer cell lines growing in 2D as well as 3D platforms. Comparison of multi-dimensional synergy of combinations’ (MuSyc) model and highest single agent (HSA) model provided quantitative insights into how much better the combination performed than either compound tested alone in a 2D versus 3D growth of pancreatic cancer cell lines. The outcomes of the study further showed promise in combining selenium and Gemcitabine when evaluated for apoptosis, proliferation, and ENT1 protein expression, specifically in BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

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Synthesis and Biological Activity of 2-Arylidene-N-(quinolin-6-yl)hydrazine-1-carboxamides

Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1155/2020/2189743 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Shengxian Zhao ◽

Yin Cao ◽

Zhenzhen Cui ◽

Jiayun Zhang ◽

Zhixiang Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Colony Formation Assay ◽

M Phase ◽

Antiproliferative Activities ◽

Mcf 7

A series of 2-arylidene-N-(quinolin-6-yl)hydrazine-1-carboxamides 5a–5o were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized compounds (5a–5o) were screened in vitro against three breast cancer cell lines: SKBR3, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines by the MTT assay. According to MTT results, compounds 5k and 5l showed better antiproliferative activities over MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values of 8.50 and 12.51 μM. Colony formation assay indicated 5k/5l treatment obviously inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells and 5k/5l-induced cell cycle was arrested in the G2-M phase. Moreover, 5k/5l significantly increased the level of cleaved PARP and induced the apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. In addition, compared to Hela cells, MCF-7 cells were more sensitive to 5k/5l treatment.

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