Ammad Ahmad Farooqi

Mir-34: A New Weapon Against Cancer?

The microRNA(miRNA)-34a is a key regulator of tumor suppression. It controls the expression of a plethora of target proteins involved in cell cycle, differentiation and apoptosis, and antagonizes processes that are necessary for basic cancer cell viability as well as cancer stemness, metastasis, and chemoresistance. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms of miR-34a-mediated tumor suppression, giving emphasis on the main miR-34a targets, as well as on the principal regulators involved in the modulation of this miRNA. Moreover, we shed light on the miR-34a role in modulating responsiveness to chemotherapy and on the phytonutrients-mediated regulation of miR-34a expression and activity in cancer cells. Given the broad anti-oncogenic activity of miR-34a, we also discuss the substantial benefits of a new therapeutic concept based on nanotechnology delivery of miRNA mimics. In fact, the replacement of oncosuppressor miRNAs provides an effective strategy against tumor heterogeneity and the selective RNA-based delivery systems seems to be an excellent platform for a safe and effective targeting of the tumor.

ATM protein kinase: the linchpin of cellular defenses to stress

ATM is the most significant molecule involved in monitoring the genomic integrity of the cell. Any damage done to DNA relentlessly challenges the cellular machinery involved in recognition, processing and repair of these insults. ATM kinase is activated early to detect and signal lesions in DNA, arrest the cell cycle, establish DNA repair signaling and faithfully restore the damaged chromatin. ATM activation plays an important role as a barrier to tumorigenesis, metabolic syndrome and neurodegeneration. Therefore, studies of ATM-dependent DNA damage signaling pathways hold promise for treatment of a variety of debilitating diseases through the development of new therapeutics capable of modulating cellular responses to stress. In this review, we have tried to untangle the complex web of ATM signaling pathways with the purpose of pinpointing multiple roles of ATM underlying the complex phenotypes observed in AT patients.

Anticancer drugs for the modulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress

Prior research has demonstrated how the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions as a multifunctional organelle and as a well-orchestrated protein-folding unit. It consists of sensors which detect stress-induced unfolded/misfolded proteins and it is the place where protein folding is catalyzed with chaperones. During this folding process, an immaculate disulfide bond formation requires an oxidized environment provided by the ER. Protein folding and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a protein oxidative byproduct in ER are crosslinked. An ER stress-induced response also mediates the expression of the apoptosis-associated gene C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) and death receptor 5 (DR5). ER stress induces the upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor and opening new horizons for therapeutic research. These findings can be used to maximize TRAIL-induced apoptosis in xenografted mice. This review summarizes the current understanding of the interplay between ER stress and ROS. We also discuss how damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) function as modulators of immunogenic cell death and how natural products and drugs have shown potential in regulating ER stress and ROS in different cancer cell lines. Drugs as inducers and inhibitors of ROS modulation may respectively exert inducible and inhibitory effects on ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR). Reconceptualization of the molecular crosstalk among ROS modulating effectors, ER stress, and DAMPs will lead to advances in anticancer therapy.

Targeting Cancer with Nano-Bullets: Curcumin, EGCG, Resveratrol and Quercetin on Flying Carpets

It is becoming progressively more understandable that different phytochemicals isolated from edible plants interfere with specific stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer cells have evolved hallmark mechanisms to escape from death. Concordant with this approach, there is a disruption of spatiotemproal behaviour of signaling cascades in cancer cells, which can escape from apoptosis because of downregulation of tumor suppressor genes and over- expression of oncogenes. Genomic instability, intra-tumor heterogeneity, cellular plasticity and metastasizing potential of cancer cells all are related to molecular alterations. Data obtained through in vitro studies has convincingly revealed that curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin are promising anticancer agents. Their efficacy has been tested in tumor xenografted mice and considerable experimental findings have stimulated researchers to further improve the bioavailability of these nutraceuticals. We partition this review into different sections with emphasis on how bioavailability of curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin has improved using different nanotechnology approaches.

PDGF: the nuts and bolts of signalling toolbox

PDGF is a growth factor and is extensively involved in multi-dimensional cellular dynamics. It switches on a plethora of molecules other than its classical pathway. It is engaged in various transitions of development; however, if the unleashed potentials lead astray, it brings forth tumourigenesis. Conventionally, it has been assumed that the components of this signalling pathway show fidelity and act with a high degree of autonomy. However, as illustrated by the PDGF signal transduction, reinterpretation of recent data suggests that machinery is often shared between multiple pathways, and other components crosstalk to each other through multiple mechanisms. It is important to note that metastatic cascade is an intricate process that we have only begun to understand in recent years. Many of the early steps of this PDGF cascade are not readily targetable in the clinic. In this review, we will unravel the paradoxes with reference to mitrons and cellular plasticity and discuss how disruption of signalling cascade triggers cellular proliferation phase transition and metastasis. We will also focus on the therapeutic interventions to counteract resultant molecular disorders.

Anthocyanins: Targeting of Signaling Networks in Cancer Cells

It is becoming progressively more understandable that phytochemicals derived from edible plants have shown potential in modelling their interactions with their target proteins. Rapidly accumulating in-vitro and in- vivo evidence indicates that anthocyanins have anticancer activity in rodent models of cancer. More intriguingly, evaluation of bilberry anthocyanins as chemopreventive agents in twenty-five colorectal cancer patients has opened new window of opportunity in translating the findings from laboratory to clinic. Confluence of information suggests that anthocyanins treated cancer cells reveal up-regulation of tumor suppressor genes. There is a successive increase in the research-work in nutrigenomics and evidence has started to shed light on intracellular-signaling cascades as common molecular targets for anthocyanins. In this review we bring to limelight how anthocyanins induced apoptosis in cancer cells via activation of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

Reactive oxygen species and autophagy modulation in non-marine drugs and marine drugs.

It is becoming more understandable that an existing challenge for translational research is the development of pharmaceuticals that appropriately target reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated molecular networks in cancer cells. In line with this approach, there is an overwhelmingly increasing list of many non-marine drugs and marine drugs reported to be involved in inhibiting and suppressing cancer progression through ROS-mediated cell death. In this review, we describe the strategy of oxidative stress-based therapy and connect the ROS modulating effect to the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, we focus on exploring the function and mechanism of cancer therapy by the autophagy modulators including inhibitors and inducers from non-marine drugs and marine drugs.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signalling in cancer: rapidly emerging signalling landscape.

Platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐mediated signalling has emerged as one of the most extensively and deeply studied biological mechanism reported to be involved in regulation of growth and survival of different cell types. However, overwhelmingly increasing scientific evidence is also emphasizing on dysregulation of spatio‐temporally controlled PDGF‐induced signalling as a basis for cancer development. We partition this multi‐component review into recently developing understanding of dysregulation PDGF signalling in different cancers, how PDGF receptors are quantitatively controlled by microRNAs. Moreover, we also summarize most recent advancements in therapeutic targeting of PDGFR as evidenced by preclinical studies. Better understanding of the PDGF‐induced intracellular signalling in different cancers will be helpful in catalysing the transition from a segmented view of cancer biology to a conceptual continuum.

Methanolic extracts of Solieria robusta inhibits proliferation of oral cancer Ca9-22 cells via apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Many red algae-derived natural products are known to have anticancer effects. The biological functions of the red alga Solieria robusta from the Karachi coast (Pakistan) remain unclear. Here, we prepared a methanolic extracts of S. robusta (MESR) to examine its possible anti-oral cancer effects and the corresponding mechanism of action. Cell viability of MESR-incubated oral cancer Ca9-22 cells was dose-responsively decreased (p < 0.001). According to a propidium iodide (PI)-based assay the cell cycle distribution was dramatically changed, especially for subG1 accumulation. Annexin V/PI assay of apoptosis using flow cytometry also showed that MESR-incubated Ca9-22 cells were dose-responsively increased (p < 0.001). For evaluation of oxidative stress in MESR-incubated Ca9-22 cells, we found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were overexpressed dose- and time-responsively and mitochondrial depolarization was also increased (p < 0.001). Taken together, MESR showed inhibitory effects on oral cancer proliferation coupled with apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Algae extracts and methyl jasmonate anti-cancer activities in prostate cancer: choreographers of 'the dance macabre'

There is an overwhelmingly increasing trend of analysis of naturally occurring ingredients in treatment of prostate cancer. Substantial fraction of information has been added that highlights activity at various levels and steps of deregulated cellular proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. Among such ingredients, algae extracts and jasmonates are documented to have anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo and induce growth inhibition in cancer cells, while leaving the non-transformed cells intact. In this short review we outline systematically, how these ingredients predispose prostate cancer cells to undergo apoptosis.