Colon Cancer Cell Line HCT116 Research Articles

Novel Schiff bases of quinolin-4(1h)-one: Synthesis, antiproliferative evaluation, apoptosis, cell cycle, autophagy and molecular docking studies in human colon cancer cells

A green and efficient ultrasound-mediated protocol was developed for the synthesis of a series of novel Schiff bases derived from quinoline-4-one. The synthetic strategy involved the condensation of 4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-quinoline-3-carboxaldehyde with diverse anilines and heteroaryl amines. The synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopic techniques. A comprehensive in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation against HCT116 and HT-29 human colon cancer cell lines revealed that several compounds exhibited potent anticancer activity. Notably, compounds 3c and 3e demonstrated superior cytotoxicity compared to the clinical standard doxorubicin. Mechanistic studies indicated that these lead compounds induced apoptosis, necrosis, and cell cycle arrest at G1 and G2 phases. Furthermore, autophagy induction was observed. In silico ADMET predictions support the potential of compounds 3c and 3e as promising anticancer drug candidates. The molecular docking studies revealed that the Schiff bases 3c and 3e displayed good interaction with VEGFR-2 receptor. These findings underscore the quinoline-4-one scaffold as a valuable template for the development of novel antitumor agents.

O-GlcNAcylation inhibition redirects the response of colon cancer cells to chemotherapy from senescence to apoptosis.

The potential use of pro-senescence therapies, known as TIS (Therapy-Induced Senescence), for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) generated significant interest since they require lower doses compared to those required for inducing apoptosis. However, the senescent cell cycle-arrested cancer cells are long-lived, and studies have revealed escape mechanisms contributing to tumor recurrence. To deepen our understanding of the survival pathways used by senescent cancer cells, we delved into the potential involvement of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). HBP provides UDP-GlcNAc, the substrate for O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), which catalyzes O-GlcNAcylation, a post-translational modification implicated in regulating numerous cellular functions and aberrantly elevated in CRC. In this study, we demonstrated, in the p53-proficient colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and LS174T, that TIS induced by low-dose SN38 or etoposide treatment was accompanied with a decrease of GFAT (the rate limiting enzyme of the HBP), OGT and O-GlcNAcase (OGA) expression correlated with a slight reduction in O-GlcNAcylation levels. Further decreasing this level of O-GlcNAcylation by knocking-down GFAT or OGT redirected the cellular response to subtoxic chemotherapy doses from senescence to apoptosis, in correlation with an enhancement of DNA damages. Pharmacological inhibition of OGT with OSMI-4 in HCT116 and LS174T cells and in a patient-derived colon tumoroid model supported these findings. Taken together, these results suggest that combing O-GlcNAcylation inhibitors to low doses of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs could potentially reduce treatment side effects while preserving efficacy. Furthermore, this approach may increase treatment specificity, as CRC cells exhibit higher O-GlcNAcylation levels compared to normal tissues.

Fucosylated Chondroitin Sulfate from Bohadschia ocellata: Structure Analysis and Bioactivities

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (FCS) was prepared from Bohadschia ocellata using protease hydrolysis. The structural characteristics of FCS were confirmed through chemical composition analysis using FTIR spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. FCS from B. ocellata (FCS-Bo) exhibited an average molecular weight of approximately 122 kDa. The biological activities of FCS-Bo, including anticoagulant, anti-cancer, and Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibition, were evaluated. FCS-Bo displayed potent anticoagulant properties, markedly extending activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and thrombin time when compared to the heparin control. In anti-cancer bioactivity research, FCS-Bo efficiently inhibited colony formation in the colon cancer cell lines HCT-116, HT-29, and DLD-1, achieving inhibition rates of up to 65%. Additionally, FCS-Bo exhibited significant inhibition of PTP1B, with an IC50 as low as 0.0326 µg/mL, suggesting its potential for improving insulin sensitivity and managing conditions such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Predictive action of oncomiR in suppressing TP53 signaling pathway in hypoxia-conditioned colon cancer cell line HCT-116.

Hypoxia-induced heterogeneity in colorectal cancer (CRC) significantly impacts patient survival by promoting chemoresistance. These conditions alter the regulation of miRNAs, key regulators of crucial processes like proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion, leading to tumor progression. Despite their promising potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets, the underlying mechanisms by which miRNAs influence hypoxia-mediated tumorigenesis remain largely unexplored. This study aims to elucidate the action of miRNAs in HCT-116 colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) under hypoxia, providing valuable insights into their role in tumor adaptation and progression. MiRNA expression was determined using Nanostring nCounter, and bioinformatic analysis was performed to explain the molecular pathway. A total of 50 miRNAs were obtained with an average count of ≥ 20 reads for comparative expression analysis. The results showed that hypoxia-affected 36 oncomiRs were increased in HCT-116, and 14 suppressor-miRs were increased in MSCs. The increase in miRNA expression occurred consistently from normoxia to hypoxia and significantly differed between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and HCT-116. Furthermore, miR-16-5p and miR-29a-3p were dominant in regulating the p53 signaling pathway, which is thought to be related to the escape mechanism against hypoxia and maintaining cell proliferation. More research with a genome-transcriptome axis approach is needed to fully understand miRNAs' role in adapting CRC cells and MSCs to hypoxia. Further research could focus on developing specific biomarkers for diagnosis. In addition, anti-miR can be developed as a therapy to prevent cancer proliferation or inhibit the adaptation of cancer cells to hypoxia.

ANTI-CANCEROUS POTENTIAL OF POLYSACCHARIDES DERIVED FROM WHEAT CELL CULTURE

There is a global need to discover effective anti-cancerous compounds from natural sources. Cultivated wheat cells can be a valuable source of non-toxic or low toxic plant-derived polysaccharides. In this study we evaluated the antitumor ability of seven fractions of wheat cell culture polysaccharides (WCCPSs) in the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line. Almost all (6/7) fractions had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of colon cancer cells, and two fractions (A-b and A-f) had considerable therapeutic indexes. The WCCPS fractions induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and induced different rates of apoptosis (<48%). Transmission and scanning electron microscopy revealed that WCCPS fractions caused apoptotic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including damage to mitochondria and external morphological signs of apoptosis. In addition, the WCCPSs induced an increase in the levels of Bax, cytochrome c, caspases 8 and 3, indicating that cell death was assessed through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis. Furthermore, some fractions caused a significant decrease of c-Myc, b-catenin, NFkB2 and HCAM (CD 44) levels, indicating enhanced cell differentiation. Thus, for the first time, our results provide a proof of concept of the anti-cancer capacity of WCCPS fractions in colorectal cancer. This research was supported by the FEDER Operational Program 2020/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento/ Project (B-CTS-562-UGR20) and the Chair “Doctors Galera-Requena in cancer stem cell research” (CMC-CTS963); Erasmus+ Mobility Program; “Bolashak” Presidential Scholarship of the Republic of Kazakhstan for scientific work abroad; Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) division.

Enhancement of Cinnamomum camphora magnetic nanoparticle bioactivities via carboxymethyl cellulose immobilization for potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment

A promising method for cancer therapy is the coating of magnetic nanoparticles with carboxy methylcellulose. In a research project, hydroalcoholic extract of Cinnamomum camphora leaves was used to demonstrate the production of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs); MNPs were coated with carboxymethyl cellulose to form carboxymethyl cellulose-coated magnetic nanoparticles (CMNPs)were formed. Preliminary phytochemical screening of C. camphora confirmed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, and proteins. Phenolics 280.59 (mg/g), flavonoids 15.46 (mg/g), proteins 1.9 (mg/mL) and total carbohydrates 293.80 (mg/g) were all quantified. To confirm the formation of MNPs and CMNPs, UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used. Peaks were observed at 232 nm and 240 nm, respectively. The largest absorption peaks were observed in MNPs and CMNPs, respectively. The particles were spherical in shape and less than 10 (nm) in diameter. The potential scavenging activity of biosynthesized MNPs and CMNPs was evaluated by the ABTS and DPPH assays, and the inhibition values IC50 were 141.3 ± 3.0 and 61.67 ± 2.5 (µg/mL) for ABTS and 176.1 ± 4.0 and 70.92 ± 3.0 (µg/mL) for DPPH, respectively (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the cytotoxicity test results showed that the HCT-116 human colon cancer cell line had the lowest IC50 value of 20 (µg/mL) for CMNP, followed by the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line with an IC50 value of 33 (µg/mL) for CMNP, indicating that the cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells is stronger than on liver cancer cells. Molecular docking studies have revealed that CMNPs target and bind to apoptotic protein, enhancing their bioactivity and cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the induction of apoptosis may be responsible for the anticancer effects of CMNPs.Graphical abstract

Effect of central metal ion on some pharmacological properties of new Schiff base complexes. Anticancer, antioxidant, kinetic/thermodynamic and computational studies

The biological capacities of Schiff Base complexes such as anti-cancer, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties have been widely studied in the scientific community. However, the effect of central metal ion in the occurrence of their biological properties should be paid more attention. With this aim, novel 2-(hydroxyimino)-1-phenylpropylidene)benzohydrazide (HIPB) Schiff base ligand, and C1/palladium(II), C2/platinum(II), and C3/zinc(II) complexes derived from it were synthesized and characterized. Theoretical studies showed that C2 is more reactive and also has a higher pharmacological affinity than C1 and C3. Experimental investigations were done to compare some biological properties of the complexes. The anticancer assay showed that C1-C3 have the ability to inhibit the growth of HCT116 colon cancer cell lines, but C2 shows a relatively better effect than other. Antioxidant studies using •DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay presented the following trend: C2 > C1 > C3 > HIPB. Considering the importance of the antioxidant enzyme catalase in removing reactive oxygen species (ROS), the interaction of C1-C3 with Bovine Liver Catalase (BLC) was evaluated. Kinetic studies showed that C1-C3 can inhibit the catalytic performance of BLC by a similar mechanism, i.e. mixed-type inhibition. Among them, C1 was the strongest inhibitor (Activity inhibition% = 82.2). The C1-C3 quenched the BLC fluorescence emission with dynamic quenching mechanism. The binding affinity to BLC was higher for C1 and C2 than C3. The most important forces in the interaction of C1-C3 with BLC were hydrophobic interactions, which was strongly confirmed by molecular docking data. Tracking the structural changes of catalase showed that BLC undergoes structural changes in the presence of C1 more than C2 and C3.

Systematic bioinformatics analysis reveals the role of shikonin in blocking colon cancer progression by identifying senescence-induced genes.

Shikonin, a naturally occurring naphthoquinone compound extracted from comfrey plants, has antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Cell senescence plays a key role in preventing tumor progression. It is unclear whether shikonin has an effect on cell senescence in colon cancer. In the current study, we first determine the IC50 values of shikonin on colon cancer cell lines HT29 and HCT116. Then, we verified the inhibitory effects of shikonin on the proliferation and migration abilities of colon cancer cell lines HT29 and HCT116 using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and wound healing assays. Next, we identified a series of potential targets using high-throughput mRNA sequencing and identified 210 upregulated and 296 downregulated genes. KEGG profiling revealed eight downregulated genes associated with cell senescence: CCNB3, IL-1α, CXCL8, CDKN2A, MYC, IGFBP3, SQSTM1, and GADD45G. Among them, CXCL8 and CDKN2A were associated with poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer, suggesting that their downregulation by shikonin could improve patient survival. Furthermore, SA-β-galactosidase staining revealed that the percentage of cellular senescence in colon cancer cells was significantly increased after shikonin treatment. Molecular docking revealed that shikonin suppressed colon cancer progression by blocking CXCL8 activity. Based on these findings, we deem that shikonin might induce senescence and exert antitumor activity in colon cancer cells by downregulating CDKN2A and CXCL8. This provides a new molecular mechanism and potential therapeutic target for shikonin to inhibit colon cancer progression.

Sexual dimorphism of colorectal cancer in humans and colorectal tumors in a murine model.

In colorectal cancer, men exhibit a higher incidence than women, and there is a disturbance in the levels of sex steroids in serum in patients with this disease. Consistently, in animals, males have greater tumor growth than females in diverse models. Nevertheless, the role of sex steroids is not well established. For that, we analyzed the effect of the principal gonadal sex steroids in both sexes. We determined sex as a statistically risk factor for colorectal cancer with data obtained from GLOBOCAN database. To induce colorectal tumors, we used the gold standard chemical method of azoxymethane and dextran sulphate of sodium. To evaluate the role of sex steroids, we gonadectomized independent males and female animals, reconstituting and substituting them with 17β estradiol and dihydrotestosterone. Finally, we determined, in vitro, the proliferation of a human cell line exposed to 17β estradiol, testosterone, or dihydrotestosterone. Sex, as a risk factor for colorectal cancer, showed a statistically significant susceptibility of men over 50 years old. In vivo, males develop a greater number of tumors and with a larger size than females. In males, orchiectomy prevents tumor growth, whereas in females, ovariectomy promotes the development of neoplasms. DHT acts as a protumoral agent in both sexes. 17β estradiol reduces tumor growth in females but enhances it in males, showing a dimorphic effect. In vitro studies reveal that estradiol decreases the proliferation of the HCT-116 colon cancer cell line, while testosterone boosts proliferation in these cells. Interestingly, dihydrotestosterone does not influence proliferation.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship and ADME prediction studies on series of spirooxindoles derivatives for anti-cancer activity against colon cancer cell line HCT-116

Forty-one derivatives of spirooxindoles, active against HCT-116 colon cancer cells, underwent pharmacophore-based 3D-QSAR analysis to understand their correlation with anti-cancer activity. The study identified a seven-point pharmacophore model (ADHHRRR1) and QSAR models, offering insights for lead optimization and novel analogue design, thus advancing anti-cancer drug discovery. This research underscores the value of molecular modeling in elucidating structure-activity relationships and enhancing drug development efforts.

New substituted benzoxazine derivatives as potent inducers of membrane permeability and cell death

The search for new agents targeting different forms of cell death is an important research focus for developing new and potent antitumor therapies. As a contribution to this endeavor, we have designed and synthesized a series of new substituted 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives. These compounds have been evaluated for their efficacy against MCF-7 breast cancer and HCT-116 colon cancer cell lines. Overall, substituting this heterocycle led to improved antiproliferative activity compared to the unsubstituted derivative 1. The most active compounds, 2b and 4b, showed IC50 values of 2.27 and 3.26 μM against MCF-7 cells and 4.44 and 7.63 μM against HCT-116 cells, respectively. To investigate the mechanism of action of the target compounds, the inhibition profile of 8 kinases involved in cell signaling was studied highlighting residual activity on HER2 and JNK1 kinases. 2b and 4b showed a consistent binding mode to both receptor kinases, establishing significant interactions with known and catalytically important domains and residues. Compounds 2b and 4b exhibit potent cytotoxic activity by disrupting cell membrane permeability, likely triggering both inflammatory and non-inflammatory cell death mechanisms. This dual capability increases their versatility in the treatment of different stages or types of tumors, providing greater flexibility in clinical applications.

Identification of Anticancer Peptides from the Genome of Candida albicans: in Silico Screening, in Vitro and in Vivo Validations.

Anticancer peptides (ACPs) are promising future therapeutics, but their experimental discovery remains time-consuming and costly. To accelerate the discovery process, we propose a computational screening workflow to identify, filter, and prioritize peptide sequences based on predicted class probability, antitumor activity, and toxicity. The workflow was applied to identify novel ACPs with potent activity against colorectal cancer from the genome sequences of Candida albicans. As a result, four candidates were identified and validated in the HCT116 colon cancer cell line. Among them, PCa1 and PCa2 emerged as the most potent, displaying IC50 values of 3.75 and 56.06 μM, respectively, and demonstrating a 4-fold selectivity for cancer cells over normal cells. In the colon xenograft nude mice model, the administration of both peptides resulted in substantial inhibition of tumor growth without causing significant adverse effects. In conclusion, this work not only contributes a proven computational workflow for ACP discovery but also introduces two peptides, PCa1 and PCa2, as promising candidates poised for further development as targeted therapies for colon cancer. The method as a web service is available at https://app.cbbio.online/acpep/home and the source code at https://github.com/cartercheong/AcPEP_classification.git.

Dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) Induced Hypoxia Promoted Migratory and Invasive Properties of HCT116 Colon Cancer Cell Line

Hypoxia, a condition characterised by low oxygen levels, leads to increased production of a protein called hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) in cancer cells. This protein is involved in driving processes such as vascularization, cytoskeletal reorganisation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), which contribute to metastasis. Previous studies used hypoxic workstations, chambers, and incubators to evaluate the effects of hypoxia on colon cancer cell lines. In a cell culture model, hypoxic conditions can also be induced using dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) as the hypoxia-mimicking agent. This study aims to investigate the effects of DMOG-induced hypoxia on colon cancer metastasis, focusing on cell migration and invasion. HCT116 cells were subjected to hypoxic conditions by treating them with DMOG, and the expression of HIF-1α proteins was measured at various time points, followed by wound healing and invasion assays. It was found that HIF-1α protein expression increases after 6 h of DMOG induction and persists for 24 h. At 6 and 24 h, a significantly higher percentage of hypoxic cells migrated compared to normoxic cells. The invasion assay demonstrated that hypoxic cells were more invasive than normoxic cells within 24 h. Thus, the increase in migration and invasion of cells is comparable to the increase in HIF-1α expression at 6 and 24 h. These findings suggest that DMOG induces HIF-1α expression in colon cancer cells, leading to enhanced cell migration and invasiveness. The established model can be further utilised in gene knockdown or drug treatment studies to evaluate the effects of hypoxia on cancer cells.

P97 inhibitor promotes apoptosis on colon cancer cells

Background: p97 is a multifunctional protein that plays an important role in DNA damage repair and processes related to programmed cell death. We used CB-5083, a specific p97 inhibitor, to evaluate the effect of inhibiting cluster proliferation and promoting apoptosis on HCT116 colon cancer cells. Materials and methods: Experimental research method used p97 inhibitor CB-5083 (Sellechem) and colon cancer cell line HCT116 (code: CCL-247, ATCC). Colony formation assay and apoptotic assay were used in this study. Data were analysed on ImageJ and GraphPad Prism 9 software. Results: The density and size of cell colonies in the 0.25 µM CB5083 treatment group were statistically significantly smaller than the other groups. The 0.25 µM treatment group had a statistically significant higher percentage of apoptotic cells compared to the 0,125µM group and the control group (p < 0.0001). The percentage of necrotic cells in the 0.125 µM and 0.25 µM treatment groups was statistically significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Inhibiting p97 by CB5083 suppressed cell colony formation and promoted apoptosis on HCT116 colon cancer cell line. Key words: p97, DNA damage repair, colon cancer, apoptosis.

Novel 1,2,4-triazole-maleamic acid derivatives: synthesis and evaluation as anticancer agents with carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity

Hybrid compounds with 1,2,4-triazole ring and a hydrazone moiety were designed and synthesized by amine acylation of uncommon triaminogunidine derivatives using maleic anhydride. Synthesized compounds were characterized by various spectral techniques, including FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Furthermore, the proposed structure of TM-2 was resolved by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity in vitro against the colon cancer cell line HCT116 and the ovarian cancer cell line A2780. Among them, some compounds, TM-3, TM-4, and TM-14, exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activity in the cell line A2780, with IC50 values of 6.11, 5.15, and 5.93 µM, respectively. Further investigation revealed that these compounds could inhibit cancerous cell growth by inducing an increase in caspase-3 activity. In addition, antioxidant capabilities, interaction with plasmid pBR322 DNA, and inhibitory effects against two physiologically and pharmacologically relevant human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isoforms, namely hCA I and hCA II, of the synthesized compounds were also assessed. Finally, computational studies, such as DFT calculation, molecular docking, and in silico predictions of ADME/T analysis, were conducted to gain an understanding of the specific reactive sites of the compounds, the binding modes in the active sites, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of the newly synthesized hybrid compounds, which were calculated to establish their drug-likeness properties.

Design, synthesis and characterization of novel 1,5- and 2,5-coumarin-4-yl-methyl regioisomers of 5-pyrazol-3-yl-tetrazoles as promising anticancer and antifungal agents

A novel series of compounds was synthesized using 3-arylsydnone 1a-b. Initially, 3-arylsydnone was converted into 1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitriles 2a-bvia [3+2] cycloaddition with acrylonitrile by ring transformation which once again underwent [2+3] cycloaddition with sodium azide to afford 5-(1-aryl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-1H-tetrazoles 3a-b.These were subjected to N-alkylation with 4-bromomethyl coumarins 4c-e to afford regioisomers viz., 2,5- and 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole derivatives 5f-k and 6f-k. Single crystal X-ray analysis of compound 6f was carried out. All the synthesized compounds were characterized using various techniques including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopy.These previously unknown compounds were screened for their anticancer activity against HCT-116 colon cancer and non-cancerous L929 cell line at a single high dose (10−5 M) concentration assay. Among the tested compounds, 6g and 5f have exhibited excellent activity with very low IC50 valuei.e.,27.85 µg/mLand 37.86 µg/mL respectively, comparable with standard Cisplatin. In the non-cancerous L929 cell line, the tested compound 6f was proven to be less toxic, and all the tested compounds exhibited toxicity at higher concentrations comparable with standard Cisplatin. Further, the in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans for these compounds 5f-k and 6f-k revealed potential to moderate activities compared to the standard. Moreover, docking analysis was performed to know the exact binding mode of the newly synthesized compounds with N-myristoyltransferase (PDB ID: 1IYL) from Candida albicanswhich was selected as the antifungal targets. The drug-likeness of the compound was assessed using Molinspiration, while the toxicity profile was evaluated using Protox.

Gfi-1 modulates HMGB1-Mediated autophagy to overcome oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer

BackgroundResistance to oxaliplatin (L-OHP) is a major barrier in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Autophagy is the main cause of L-OHP tolerance in CRC cells. MethodThe human colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and SW480 were treated with L-OHP to obtain the drug-resistant cell lines HCT116/L-OHP and SW480/L-OHP, respectively. To probe the relationship between autophagy and L-OHP tolerance of growth factor independent 1 (Gfi-1) and high-mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) in CRC cells, gene knockout or overexpression was performed, and Western blotting was used to determine the levels of drug tolerance interrelated proteins. Transwell and CCK-8 assays were employed to analyze the proliferation of cancer cells. Immunofluorescence detection of LC3 reflected autophagy levels. Finally, the relationship between Gfi-1 and HMGB1 was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). ResultCompared to normal CRC cells, L-OHP-tolerant CRC cells exhibited greater autophagy (8.2 times greater in HCT116/L-OHP cells and 7.4 times greater in SW480/L-OHP cells). In addition, we detected low levels of Gfi-1 (0.6-fold for HCT116/L-OHP cells and 0.4-fold for SW480/L-OHP cells), and OE-Gfi-1 decreased HMGB1 levels (0.6-fold for HCT116/L-OHP + OE-Gfi-1 cells and 0.5-fold for SW480/L-OHP + OE-Gfi-1 cells). The inhibition of Gfi-1 further enhanced cell viability (1.7 times in HCT116+sh-Gfi-1 cells and 1.2 times in SW480+sh-Gfi-1 cells) and invasion (1.8 times in HCT116+sh-Gfi-1 cells and 2.1 times in SW480+sh-Gfi-1 cells) in CRC cells, thus promoting oxaliplatin resistance in these cells. The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA reversed the above effects. Furthermore, we noted that Gfi-1 can restrain HMGB1 expression by binding to its promoter (0.5 times in HCT116+OE-Gfi-1 cells and 0.5 times in SW480+OE-Gfi-1 cells). The inhibitory influence of 3-MA on HMGB1 reversed the influence of Gfi-1 on autophagy and malignant progression in CRC cells. ConclusionOur study suggested that Gfi-1 inhibited HMGB1 to reduce CRC autophagy levels, increasing CRC sensitivity to L-OHP.

NXPH4 can be used as a biomarker for pan-cancer and promotes colon cancer progression.

NXPH4 promotes cancer proliferation and invasion. However, its specific role and mechanism in cancer remain unclear. Transcriptome and clinical data for pan-cancer were derived from the TCGA database. K-M survival curve and univariate Cox were used for prognostic analysis. CIBERSORT and TIMER algorithms were employed to calculate immune cell infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was employed for investigating the function of NXPH4. Western blot verified differential expression of NXPH4 in colon cancer. Functional assays (CCK-8, plate clonogenicity assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay) confirmed the impact of NXPH4 on proliferation, invasion, and migration of colon cancer cells. Dysregulation of NXPH4 in pan-cancer suggests its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for certain cancers, including colon and liver cancer. High expression of NXPH4 in pan-cancer might be associated with the increase in copy number and hypomethylation. NXPH4 expression in pan-cancer is substantially linked to immune cell infiltration in the immune microenvironment. NXPH4 expression is associated with the susceptibility to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Western blot further confirmed the higher expression of NXPH4 in colon cancer. Knockdown of NXPH4 significantly suppresses proliferation, invasion, and migration of colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and HCT116, as validated by functional assays.

Abstract LB322: ARC2-001, a CAF-targeting drug exhibits strong anticancer effect in in vivo setting

Abstract For more effective tumor growth suppression, a combinatorial treatment of CAF-targeting agent and other well-validated therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint therapy should be considered. Thus, we hypothesized that co-administration of the CAF-targeting drug, ARC2-001 (the in vitro-approved CAF-targeting candidate) and clinically practiced anticancer drugs could be useful strategy for treating under clinical settings. However, it is essentially important to evaluate this using well-established pre-clinical models. We thoroughly verified the anticancer effect of ARC-001 using two in vivo model systems. ( 2nd- in vivo systems for CAF targeted drugs Research). 1. (Subcutaneous model) Immune-deficient mice (NOD/SCID): in which human colon cancer cell line HCT116 was co-injected with human CAF (CAFs were obtained from stage IV CRC patients) followed by administration of ARC2-001 alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5FU). 2. (Subcutaneous and Orthotopic model) Wild-type mice (C57BL/6): in which mouse colon cancer cells was co-injected with mouse colon CAFs (both cancer cells and CAFs were obtained from chemically-induced colorectal cancer model with rich desmoplastic stroma) followed by administration of ARC2-001 alone or in combination with aPD-1. We observed a magnificent inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis in the combined treatment group over singular treatment groups in both models. This denotes that ARC2-001 largely augments the anti-cancer effect of widely employed anticancer drugs, such as 5FU, and thus can be exploited as an adjuvant for enhanced colorectal cancer chemotherapy.Collectively, our results evidenced the necessity of considering CAF-targeting agents for a more regulated therapeutic strategy to treat desmoplastic cancers. Citation Format: So-Young Yeo, Mohamed Farh, InSuk Sohn, Seok-Hyung Kim, Keun-Woo Lee. ARC2-001, a CAF-targeting drug exhibits strong anticancer effect in in vivo setting [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB322.

DNA-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE INHIBITOR INDUCES APOPTOSIS IN COLON CANCER CELLS

Objectives: Among all types of DNA damage, DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are considered the most deleterious form induced by either endogenous factors (oxi-dative damages, mismatches, altered chromatin structures, and missing, or modified nucleotides) or exogenous factors, i.e., ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ionizing radiation (IR), and chemicals or drugs. DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a crucial role in repairing DSBs through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Cells lacking DNA-PK exhibit heightened sensitivity to IR and various DNA-damaging agents. The inhibition of DNA-PK further intensifies cellular susceptibility to IR and DNA-damaging agents. Several small molecules that inhibit DNA-PK have been developed. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of DNA-PK inhibitor (DNA-PKi) NU7441 on the HCT116 cell line. Methods: DNA-PKi NU7441 was used to assess the effect on anti-proliferation and induction of apoptosis on the HCT116 colorectal cancer cell line. Cells were cultured under standard conditions; crystal violet and apoptosis assay were applied to evaluate cell proliferation and apoptosis. Data were analysed using GraphPad Prism 8.4. Results: DNA-PKi effectively inhibited HCT116 colon cancer cell growth via crystal violet assay (p < 0.01). In addition, DNA-PKi also induced programmed cell death in the HCT116 cell line (p < 0.05). Conclusion: DNA-PKi NU7441 suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in the HCT116 colon cancer cell line.