Statin-Dipyridamole
Statin-Dipyridamole combination for hematologic malignancies (and not only)
New therapies are urgently needed for hematologic malignancies, especially in patients with relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma. We and others have previously shown that FDA-approved statins, which are used to control hypercholesterolemia and target the mevalonate pathway (MVA), can trigger tumor-selective apoptosis. Our goal was to identify other FDA-approved drugs that synergize with statins to further enhance the anticancer activity of statins in vivo. Using a screen composed of other FDA approved drugs, we identified dipyridamole, used for the prevention of cerebral ischemia, as a potentiator of statin anticancer activity. The statin-dipyridamole combination was synergistic and induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma and AML cell lines and primary patient samples, whereas normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells were not affected. This novel combination also decreased tumor growth in vivo. Statins block HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the rate-limiting enzyme of the MVA pathway. Dipyridamole blunted the feedback response, which upregulates HMGCR and HMG-CoA synthase 1 (HMGCS1) following statin treatment. We further show that dipyridamole inhibited the cleavage of the transcription factor required for this feedback regulation, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2, SREBP2). Simultaneously targeting the MVA pathway and its restorative feedback loop is preclinically effective against hematologic malignancies. This work provides strong evidence for the immediate evaluation of this novel combination of FDA-approved drugs in clinical trials. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24994712
3-bromopyruvate
Killing multiple myeloma cells with the small molecule 3-bromopyruvate: implications for therapy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24557015
The small molecule 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP), which has emerged recently as the first member of a new class of potent anticancer agents, was tested for its capacity to kill multiple myeloma (MM) cancer cells. Human MM cells (RPMI 8226) begin to lose viability significantly within 8 h of incubation in the presence of 3-BP. The Km (0.3 mmol/l) for intracellular accumulation of 3-BP in MM cells is 24 times lower than that in control cells (7.2 mmol/l). Therefore, the uptake of 3-BP by MM cells is significantly higher than that by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Further, the IC50 values for human MM cells and control peripheral blood mononuclear cells are 24 and 58 µmol/l, respectively. Therefore, specificity and selectivity of 3-BP toward MM cancer cells are evident on the basis of the above. In MM cells the transcription levels of the gene encoding the monocarboxylate transporter MCT1 is significantly amplified compared with control cells. The level of intracellular ATP in MM cells decreases by over 90% within 1 h after addition of 100 µmol/l 3-BP. The cytotoxicity of 3-BP, exemplified by a marked decrease in viability of MM cells, is potentiated by the inhibitor of glutathione synthesis buthionine sulfoximine. In addition, the lack of mutagenicity and its superior capacity relative to Glivec to kill MM cancer cells are presented in this study
ciclopiroxolamine
Chelation of intracellular iron with the antifungal agent ciclopiroxolamine induces cell death in leukemia and myeloma cells. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19589922
Off-patent drugs with previously unrecognized anticancer activity could be rapidly repurposed for this new indication. To identify such compounds, we conducted 2 independent cell-based chemical screens and identified the antimicrobial ciclopirox olamine (CPX) in both screens. CPX decreased cell growth and viability of malignant leukemia, myeloma, and solid tumor cell lines as well as primary AML patient samples at low-micromolar concentrations that appear pharmacologically achievable. Furthermore, oral CPX decreased tumor weight and volume in 3 mouse models of leukemia by up to 65% compared with control without evidence of weight loss or gross organ toxicity. In addition, oral CPX prevented the engraftment of primary AML cells in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mouse models, thereby establishing its ability to target leukemia stem cells. Mechanistically, CPX bound intracellular iron, and this intracellular iron chelation was functionally important for its cytotoxicity. By electron paramagnetic resonance, CPX inhibited the iron-dependent enzyme ribonucleotide reductase at concentrations associated with cell death. Thus, in summary, CPX has previously unrecognized anticancer activity at concentrations that are pharmacologically achievable. Therefore, CPX could be rapidly repurposed for the treatment of malignancies, including leukemia and myeloma
valproic acid
Two synthetic HDAC inhibitors, valproic acid and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) decreased glucose uptake in myeloma cells, reduced Glut1 and HK expression, and induced apoptosis (overview in [113]). These studies indicate that HDAC inhibitors in general might be able to affect tumor cell homeostasis. https://www.dkfz.de/en/tox/download/gerh/pdf-files/Biomedical-Research-Clarissa-Gerhauser.pdf
Niclosamide
Niclosamide has been recently shown multiple anticancer effects in tumors of the ovary and colon, and also in leukemia and myeloma [19-24]. Some of its molecular targets have been disclosed and include, among others, the Wnt/Frizzled 1 [25], the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTOR) [26], and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3) [27] signalling http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3704944/
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)
“This reprogramming reawakens thousands of genes that have been silenced in the cancer cells, immediately stopping the myeloma cells from growing, while activating the immune system to respond to the cancer,” says Dr. Shortt. http://www.gizmag.com/peter-mac-solvent-cancer-trial/31984/
The drug vehicle and solvent N-methylpyrrolidone is an immunomodulator and antimyeloma compound. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24813887
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a common solvent and drug vehicle. We discovered unexpected antineoplastic and immunomodulatory activity of NMP in a cMYC-driven myeloma model. Coincident to this, NMP was identified as an acetyllysine mimetic and candidate bromodomain ligand. Accordingly, NMP-treated cells demonstrated transcriptional overlap with BET-bromodomain inhibition, including downregulation of cMYC and IRF4. NMP’s immunomodulatory activity occurred at sub-BET inhibitory concentrations, and, despite phenotypic similarities to lenalidomide, its antimyeloma activity was independent of the IMiD targets cereblon and Ikaros-1/3. Thus, low-affinity yet broad-spectrum bromodomain inhibition by NMP mediates biologically potent, cereblon-independent immunomodulation and at higher doses targets malignant cells directly via BET antagonism. These data reveal that NMP is a functional acetyllysine mimetic with pleotropic antimyeloma and immunomodulatory activities. Our studies highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of NMP, the consequences of current human NMP exposures, and the need for reassessment of scientific literature where NMP was used as an “inert” drug-delivery vehicle.
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