Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 25, Issue 17, 2018

Background: Aging is a natural part of human life. However, recent discoveries indicate that pharmacological approaches used for the improvement and possibly, for the delay of the aging process, might shed a new light on this topic. This might obviously contribute to the extension of the active life of older people and maintenance of their quality of life, which could consequently reduce both social and economic burden of each country, especially the developed ones. Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore pharmacological discoveries which may help to the delay or improvement of the aging process. More specifically, the authors focus on three anti-aging drugs candidates: metformin, rapamycin and resveratrol and one anti-aging component NAD+ precursors whose randomized control trials on animals have appeared to provide some efficacy in this respect and they seem to be promising in the aging process of human beings. Methods: This was done by conducting a literature review of available sources describing the issue of aging process with special focus on those anti-aging drug candidates. Results: The results of this study indicate that promising anti-aging candidates seem to be metformin, especially as far as cardiovascular or cancer mortality is concerned, and NAD+ precursors since they appear to promote better organ function, increased physical resistance, disease resistance and prolonged life expectancy. Conclusion: There is a call for more longitudinal clinical trials, which would prove the efficacy of the promising anti-aging drugs candidates in humans.

Background: Glioma is a heterogeneous, highly complicated central nervous system (CNS) tumor with uncertain mechanism of initiation and progression, resulting in an unfavorable outcome. An extended network of cytokines is recognized as a major regulator of glioma pathogenesis, either promoting or inhibiting glioma progression based on their type and specificity. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been revealed as a critical regulator of CNS function and development with participation in many CNS disorders including gliomas. Objective: The aim of the present review is to address the role of IL-8 in glioma pathogenesis focusing on the implicated molecular pathways as well as on its potential targeting for glioma therapy. Methods and Results: PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases were searched for pre-clinical and clinical studies related to IL-8 implication in gliomagenesis and IL-8 targeting strategies for gliomas. Literature data indicate that IL-8 participates in glioma angiogenesis and cell migration and it can serve as a potential biomarker, for early diagnosis, follow-up and response to therapy. Conclusion: Several promising approaches that target directly or indirectly IL-8 effects in gliomas are currently in progress while more-in-depth studies are needed to validate its biomarker role and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Background: The possible use of acridines as anticancer agents was first considered in the 1920´s. Since then, a large number of acridine drugs have been tested as antitumour agents, including compounds containing sulphur on the acridine chromophore. In this review, we will discuss recent studies which have investigated the anticancer activity of this class of acridine derivatives. Methods: We present the results both of our own decade-long research and also of existing research literature into the anticancer activity of acridine derivatives containing sulphur. The evidence of specific tumor-cell killing properties displayed by these compounds suggest the potential of using such molecules as anticancer therapeutics. Results: During the last decade, a number of acridine analogs have been developed by modifying the position and the nature of the substituent on the acridine core. In this paper, we published results on the anticancer activity of acridine derivatives containing sulfur (acridine thioureas, acridine thiazolidine/thiazoidinone, and acridine thiosemicarbazones/ thiosemicarbazides). In cancer chemotherapy, the mechanism of the drugs is complex, although the study of the anticancer activity of acridines has yielded exciting results. Conclusion: In this review we have summarized recent literature on the anticancer activity of acridine derivatives containing sulfur. A considerable amount of published data suggests that these compounds exhibit promising anticancer activity against selected cancer cell lines. The obtained results can be helpful in the development of new pharmaceutical agents.

Background: Overexpression and amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) occur in 20% of total breast carcinomas. HER2-overexpression is implicated in disease initiation and progression and associated with poor prognosis. Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, is the standard HER2-targeted therapy for early and metastatic HER2-amplified breast cancer patients. Trastuzumab has significantly increased clinical benefit in HER2+ metastatic and adjuvant settings; however, it is not effective for many patients due to primary or acquired resistance to the drug. During the last decade, many studies have revealed a number of novel molecular traits of HER2+ breast cancer, allowing us to uncover the molecular mechanisms involved in trastuzumab resistance and develop strategies to overcome resistance to therapy. Objective: In this review, we comprehensively addressed the current achievements in preclinical studies; we discussed molecular mechanisms of acquired trastuzumab resistance in HER2+ breast cancer models and potential therapeutic approaches based on the molecular features for HER2+ breast cancer. Conclusion: Enhanced understanding of the molecular profiles in HER2+ breast cancer may lead to the identification of novel biomarkers for the development of diagnostic approaches and improvement of therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of trastuzumab resistant HER2+ breast cancer.

Recent advances in multiple omics technologies and the advent of massively parallel sequencing provide technical supports for the implementation of precision medicine. The precision medicine emphasizes that heterogeneous diseases can be well classified into more precise subtypes by the powerful detection methods and integration of clinical features, so that the clinicians should develop more accurate diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for the disease subtype population in an effort to maximize the efficacy and minimize the unnecessary side effects. Oncology is at the forefront of precision medicine, as malignant tumors have significant heterogeneity and are among the leading causes of death nationally and worldwide. The incidence and mortality of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), a kind of extraordinarily heterogeneous malignancy, have been increasing worldwide, making it a major public health concern. Such heterogeneity affects key signaling pathways, driving phenotypic variation, influences tumor evolution, and poses severe challenges to HCC treatment. The application of precision medicine will have certain impact on HCC diagnosis and treatment strategies. Herein, we summarize the updates and challenges in high-risk population screening, prevention, diagnosis, staging and therapy of HCC under the concept of precision medicine.

Selenium-containing small molecules have attracted considerable attention of chemical and medicinal researchers owing to their various biological activities, such as antitumor effects, cardiovascular protection, antibacterial or antiviral effects, immunoregulation and nerve protection, among which the most promising area is antineoplasm. In the past several decades, different kinds of organoselenium compounds, such as selenides, seleno(iso)cyanates, substituted selenoureas, selenious esters and Se-containing heterocycles have been reported as candidates of anti-cancer agents. Current reviews of Se-containing anticancer compounds mainly concerned about the investigation of their bioactivities, whereas, few attention has been addressed on their synthetic approaches. Herein, we summarized methodologies recently developed to synthesize organoselenium compounds with potent antineoplastic properties, which would be helpful for further design and synthesis of new bioactive Se-containing molecules with diverse structural features.

Background: Cantharidin has been categorized as highly toxicant in Chinese medicine. But cantharidin can efficiently treat different types of diseases, such as molluscum contagiosum. While cantharidin is quite useful, unfortunately, due to its side effects, increasing regulations have limited access to this useful therapeutic option. Cantharidin's toxic effects have caused it to fall into disuse for most legitimate medical purposes. Although cantharidin generates effects and its advantages must be realized. Recently, cancer affects people's life more and more. Because cantharidin can treat some cancers, so solutions must be used to reduce side effects. This review aims to describe some its analogues, several efficient methods to inhibit the side effects of cantharidin and pharmacogenomics of cantharidin. Methods: We searched for research about cantharidin by entering the database. Then evaluated these papers and analyzed their founding, solution, mechanism, etc., and targeted to screen the papers related to the content of our research, and then sorted them out in accordance with the solution, mechanism research and other content. Finally, these content was unified into a framework. Results: Some cantharidin's analogues were found that they show some similar functions to cantharidin and we found that norcantharidin, acylthiourea derivatives, cantharidinamides, anhydride-modified derivatives and other derivatives have less side effects. The modified cantharidin analogues reduce toxicity in hepatocytes. Cantharidin consists of a six-ring and a five-ring, the moiety of oxygen on the six-ring and the anhydride section exhibit biochemical activity. Protein phosphatases are associated with many cellular processes including apoptosis, cell cycle progression and so on. Cantharidin can cause apoptosis and double-stand breakage of DNA. Cantharidin and norcantharidin can efficiently inhibit the activity of mammalian and plant protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in vivo. Cantharidin inhibits PP5 at the nanomolar level with an IC50 value of 600 nM. PP5 can manage the cellular survival, death, proliferation and other some intracellular biological activities in mammals. After cantharidin's treatment, the level of EtPP5 mRNA expression was downregulated. Their also can be used to inhibit the Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), angiogenesis and the expression of A549 human lung cancer cells, trigger eryptosis and induced bladder cancer cell apoptosis. We found that using Vitamin C and ginsenosides and translating cantharidin into nanoparticles can minimize the cantharidin side effects in the patients. Conclusion: Cantharidin can inhibit various tumor cell lines. Cantharidin causes both DNA single- and double- strand breaks and induces apoptosis. Although cantharidin shows some toxicity for human, its anti-cancer effects should be taken seriously. Several viable methods can help solve this problem. The most important pharmacogenomics of cantharidin is that cantharidin can inhibit PPs, because PPs are associated with many cellular processes. This prospect is very broad and needs to continue studying.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive impairments and chronic inflammation that affects over 30 million people all over the world. Most of the Alzheimer's patients also suffer from psychosis, aggression, agitation, depression, anxiety, and many other behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Unfortunately, the currently available anti-AD drugs provide modest symptomatic relief, and they do not reverse the neurodegeneration. Therefore, the average life expectancy after diagnosis is between six and ten years. Research data suggest that multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs) give an opportunity to prevent, halt, or reverse the progression of AD, and reduce the symptoms of the disease. The aim of this review is to update the most recent reports on the development of MTDLs affecting serotonergic neurotransmission as potential drugs for both symptomatic and disease-modifying therapy of AD. Multifunctional modulators of serotonergic system exerted procognitive, antipsychotic, antidepressant, and/or anxiolytic properties in preclinical studies. Some of them revealed their potential as modulators of tau phosphorylation or amyloid beta aggregation with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and/or antioxidant properties. Among them, lumateperone - an inhibitor of serotonin transporter with a high affinity for serotonergic and dopaminergic receptors is currently being tested in clinical trials in patients with dementia, bipolar depression, or schizophrenia. The high therapeutic potential of MTDLs as anti-AD drugs seems to be the result of their involvement in multiple neurotransmitter systems and intracellular signaling pathways.