👤 Veani Fernando

Cancer remains a major global health burden, with rising incidence and mortality linked to aging populations and increased exposure to genotoxic agents. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in cancer development, progression, and resistance to therapy. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway is central to maintaining redox balance by regulating the expression of antioxidant and detoxification genes. Under physiological conditions, this pathway protects cells from oxidative damage, however, sustained activation of NRF2 in cancer, often due to mutations in KEAP1, supports tumor cell survival, drug resistance, and metabolic reprogramming. Recent studies demonstrate that NRF2 enhances glutathione (GSH) synthesis, induces detoxifying enzymes, and upregulates drug efflux transporters, collectively contributing to resistance against chemotherapy and targeted therapies. The inhibition of NRF2 using small molecules or dietary phytochemicals has shown promise in restoring drug sensitivity in preclinical cancer models. This review highlights the dual role of NRF2 in redox regulation and cancer therapy, emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target. While targeting NRF2 offers a novel approach to overcoming treatment resistance, further research is needed to enhance specificity and facilitate clinical translation. Show less

BACKGROUND: Arginine metabolism in tumors is often shunted into the pathway producing pro-tumor and immune suppressive polyamines (PAs), while downmodulating the alternative nitric oxide (NO) synthesis pathway. Aiming to correct arginine metabolism in tumors, arginine deprivation therapy and inhibitors of PA synthesis have been developed. Despite some therapeutic advantages, these approaches have often yielded severe side effects, making it necessary to explore an alternative strategy. We previously reported that supplementing sepiapterin (SEP), the endogenous precursor of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4, the essential NO synthase cofactor), could correct arginine metabolism in tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and induce their metabolic and phenotypic reprogramming. We saw that oral SEP treatment effectively suppressed the growth of HER2-positive mammary tumors in animals. SEP also has no reported dose-dependent toxicity in clinical trials for metabolic disorders. In the present study, we tested our hypothesis that a long-term administration of SEP to individuals susceptible to HER2-positive mammary tumor would protect them against tumor occurrence. METHODS: We administered SEP, in comparison to control DMSO, to MMTV-neu mice susceptible to HER2-positive mammary tumors for 8 months starting at their pre-pubertal stage. We monitored tumor onsets to determine the rate of tumor-free survival. After 8 months of treatment, we grouped animals into DMSO treatment with or without tumors and SEP treatment with or without tumors. We analyzed blood metabolites, PBMC, and bone marrow of DMSO vs. SEP treated animals. RESULTS: We found that a long-term use of SEP in animals susceptible to HER2-positive mammary tumors effectively suppressed tumor occurrence. These SEP-treated animals had undergone reprogramming of the systemic metabolism and immunity, elevating total T cell counts in the circulation and bone marrow. Given that bone marrow-resident T cells are mostly memory T cells, it is plausible that chronic SEP treatment promoted memory T cell formation, leading to a potent tumor prevention. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the possible roles of the SEP/BH4/NO axis in promoting memory T cell formation and its potential therapeutic utility for preventing HER2-positive breast cancer. Show less

Oxaliplatin is a platinum analog that can interfere with DNA replication and transcription. Continuous exposure to oxaliplatin results in chemoresistance; however, this mechanism is not well known. In this study, oxaliplatin-resistant (OR) colorectal cancer (CRC) cells of HCT116, HT29, SW480 and SW620 were established by gradually increasing the drug concentration to 2.5 μM. The inhibitory concentrations of cell growth by 50% (IC 50 ) of oxaliplatin were 4.40–12.7-fold significantly higher in OR CRC cells as compared to their respective parental (PT) CRC cells. Phospho-Akt and phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) decreased in PT CRC cells but was overexpressed in OR CRC cells in response to oxaliplatin. In addition, an oxaliplatin-mediated decrease in phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in PT CRC cells induced autophagy. Contrastingly, an increased phospho-AMPK in OR CRC cells was accompanied by a decrease in LC3B, further inducing the activity of glycolytic enzymes, such as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) and phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK1), to mediate cell survival. Inhibition of AMPK in OR CRC cells induced autophagy through inactivation of Akt/mTOR pathway and a decrease in GLUT1, PFKFB3, and PFK1. Collectively, targeting AMPK may provide solutions to overcome chemoresistance in OR CRC cells and restore chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs. Show less

Abstract TFIIH is a 10‐subunit complex that regulates RNA polymerase II (pol II) transcription but also serves other important biological roles. Although much remains unknown about TFIIH function in eukaryotic cells, much progress has been made even in just the past few years, due in part to technological advances (e.g. cryoEM and single molecule methods) and the development of chemical inhibitors of TFIIH enzymes. This review focuses on the major cellular roles for TFIIH, with an emphasis on TFIIH function as a regulator of pol II transcription. We describe the structure of TFIIH and its roles in pol II initiation, promoter‐proximal pausing, elongation, and termination. We also discuss cellular roles for TFIIH beyond transcription (e.g. DNA repair, cell cycle regulation) and summarize small molecule inhibitors of TFIIH and diseases associated with defects in TFIIH structure and function. Show less