18 results match your criteria: "Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center[Affiliation]"

Inhibitors targeting BCL-2 apoptotic proteins have significant potential for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, complete responses are observed in only 20% of patients, suggesting that targeting BCL-2 alone is insufficient to yield durable responses. Here, we assessed the efficacy of coadministration of the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor GDC-0980 or the p110β-sparing PI3K inhibitor taselisib with the selective BCL-2 antagonist venetoclax in AML cells. Tetracycline-inducible downregulation of BCL-2 significantly sensitized MV4-11 and MOLM-13 AML cells to PI3K inhibition.

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The role of the positive RNA Pol II regulator, P-TEFb (positive transcription elongation factor b), in maintenance of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and bortezomib (btz) resistance was investigated in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Mcl-1 was up-regulated in all MM lines tested, including bortezomib-resistant lines, human MM xenograft mouse models, and primary CD138 MM cells. Mcl-1 over-expression significantly reduced bortezomib lethality, indicating a functional role for Mcl-1 in bortezomib resistance.

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Interactions between the polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor volasertib and the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) belinostat were examined in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells in vitro and in vivo. Exposure of DLBCL cells to very low concentrations of volasertib in combination with belinostat synergistically increased cell death (apoptosis). Similar interactions occurred in GC-, ABC-, double-hit DLBCL cells, MCL cells, bortezomib-resistant cells and primary lymphoma cells.

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The NAE inhibitor pevonedistat interacts with the HDAC inhibitor belinostat to target AML cells by disrupting the DDR.

Blood

May 2016

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA; Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center and the Virginia Institute of Molecular Medicine, Richmond, VA.

Two classes of novel agents, NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, have shown single-agent activity in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)/myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Here we examined mechanisms underlying interactions between the NAE inhibitor pevonedistat (MLN4924) and the approved HDAC inhibitor belinostat in AML/MDS cells. MLN4924/belinostat coadministration synergistically induced AML cell apoptosis with or without p53 deficiency or FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD), whereas p53 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown or enforced FLT3-ITD expression significantly sensitized cells to the regimen.

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Introduction of bortezomib, the first generation of proteasome inhibitor, has significantly improved the median overall survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the dose-limiting adverse events and acquired drug resistance limit its long-term usage. Here, we report in vitro and in vivo anti-MM activity of the irreversible proteasome inhibitor BSc2118.

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A variety of anticancer agents employed in standard chemotherapy or novel targeted therapy induce autophagy. A cytoprotective autophagic response often counteracts apoptosis triggered by such agents, potentially contributing to acquired drug-resistance. It is recognized that autophagy and apoptosis share molecular regulatory mechanisms primarily governed by multidomain anti-apoptotic members (e.

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A regimen combining the Wee1 inhibitor AZD1775 with HDAC inhibitors targets human acute myeloid leukemia cells harboring various genetic mutations.

Leukemia

April 2015

1] Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA [2] Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center and Virginia Institute of Molecular Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.

AZD1775 targets the cell cycle checkpoint kinase Wee1 and potentiates genotoxic agent cytotoxicity through p53-dependent or -independent mechanisms. Here, we report that AZD1775 interacted synergistically with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs, for example, Vorinostat), which interrupt the DNA damage response, to kill p53-wild type (wt) or -deficient as well as FLT3-ITD leukemia cells in association with pronounced Wee1 inhibition and diminished cdc2/Cdk1 Y15 phosphorylation. Similarly, Wee1 shRNA knockdown significantly sensitized cells to HDACIs.

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A Bim-targeting strategy overcomes adaptive bortezomib resistance in myeloma through a novel link between autophagy and apoptosis.

Blood

October 2014

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA; Virginia Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA.

Bim contributes to resistance to various standard and novel agents. Here we demonstrate that Bim plays a functional role in bortezomib resistance in multiple myeloma (MM) cells and that targeting Bim by combining histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) with BH3 mimetics (eg, ABT-737) overcomes bortezomib resistance. BH3-only protein profiling revealed high Bim levels (Bim(hi)) in most MM cell lines and primary CD138(+) MM samples.

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Circumvention of Mcl-1-dependent drug resistance by simultaneous Chk1 and MEK1/2 inhibition in human multiple myeloma cells.

PLoS One

February 2015

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.

The anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 plays a major role in multiple myeloma (MM) cell survival as well as bortezomib- and microenvironmental forms of drug resistance in this disease. Consequently, there is a critical need for strategies capable of targeting Mcl-1-dependent drug resistance in MM. The present results indicate that a regimen combining Chk1 with MEK1/2 inhibitors effectively kills cells displaying multiple forms of drug resistance stemming from Mcl-1 up-regulation in association with direct transcriptional Mcl-1 down-regulation and indirect disabling of Mcl-1 anti-apoptotic function through Bim up-regulation and increased Bim/Mcl-1 binding.

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Synergism of ursolic acid derivative US597 with 2-deoxy-D-glucose to preferentially induce tumor cell death by dual-targeting of apoptosis and glycolysis.

Sci Rep

May 2014

Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, 523 Industry Road, Science Building, 3FL., Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally bioactive product that exhibits potential anticancer effects. The relatively safe and effective molecule intrigued us to explore a way to further improve its anti-cancer activity and tumor-targeting specificity. In the present study, a series of structural modifications of UA was achieved, which resulted in significant increase in growth inhibition on various cancer cell lines with minimal effects on normal cells.

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CDK inhibitors upregulate BH3-only proteins to sensitize human myeloma cells to BH3 mimetic therapies.

Cancer Res

August 2012

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA.

BH3 mimetic drugs induce cell death by antagonizing the activity of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors that function as transcriptional repressors downregulate the Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1 and increase the activity of selective BH3 mimetics that fail to target this protein. In this study, we determined whether CDK inhibitors potentiate the activity of pan-BH3 mimetics directly neutralizing Mcl-1.

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Introduction. Cutaneous foot melanoma is rare, challenging to manage, and not adequately examined in the literature. This study evaluated the prognostic variables and surgical management of foot melanoma.

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Effects of the HDAC inhibitor LBH-589 (panobinostat) on fludarabine lethality toward acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. LBH-589 pretreatment sensitized U937, HL-60, and primary leukemia cells to fludarabine while blocking NF-κB activation accompanied by XIAP down-regulation and JNK activation. Pharmacologic or genetic JNK inhibition significantly attenuated LBH-589/fludarabine lethality, whereas XIAP over-expression diminished JNK activation and apoptosis.

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Bortezomib interacts synergistically with belinostat in human acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells in association with perturbations in NF-κB and Bim.

Br J Haematol

April 2011

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Massey Cancer Center, VCU Health Sciences Center, 401 College Street, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

Interactions between the histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib were investigated in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells. Co-administration of sub-micromolar concentrations of belinostat with low nanomolar concentrations of bortezomib sharply increased apoptosis in both AML and ALL cell lines and primary blasts. Synergistic interactions were associated with interruption of both canonical and non-canonical nuclear factor (NF)-κB signalling pathways, e.

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Background: The objective of this study was to determine the potential economic implications resulting from using exemestane (EXE), a new steroidal, irreversible aromatase inactivator, compared with megestrol acetate (MA) in patients with advanced breast carcinoma.

Methods: The model used the clinical results from the manufacturer-sponsored, international, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of patients with postmenopausal, tamoxifen-refractory advanced breast carcinoma. Seven hundred sixty-nine women were randomized to EXE 25 mg per day or MA 40 mg four times daily EXE was well tolerated, significantly delayed tumor progression (relative risk [RR], 0.

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Purpose: Pamidronate is effective in reducing bony complications in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have known osteolytic lesions. However, pamidronate does not increase survival and is associated with additional financial costs and inconvenience. We conducted a post-hoc evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of pamidronate using the results of two randomized trials that evaluated pamidronate 90 mg administered intravenously every month versus placebo.

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