Integrin αvβ3, a cell surface receptor, participates in signaling transduction pathways in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Several ligands bind to integrin αvβ3 to regulate proliferation and metastasis in cancer cells. Crosstalk between the integrin and other signal transduction pathways also plays an important role in modulating cancer proliferation. Carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) activates the downstream integrin FAK to stimulate biological activities including cancer proliferation and metastasis. Blockage of signals related to integrin αvβ3 was shown to be a promising target for cancer therapies. 3,3′,5,5′-tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) completely binds to the integrin with the thyroid hormone to suppress cancer proliferation. The (E)-stilbene analog, resveratrol, also binds to integrin αvβ3 to inhibit cancer growth. Recently, nanotechnologies have been used in the biomedical field for detection and therapeutic purposes. In the current review, we show and evaluate the potentiation of the nanomaterial carrier RGD peptide, derivatives of PLGA-tetrac (NDAT), and nanoresveratrol targeting integrin αvβ3 in cancer therapies.

Polyphenols are valuable natural antioxidants present in our diet that likely mitigate aging effects, neurodegenerative conditions, and other diseases. However, because of their poor absorption in the gut and consequent low concentration in biological fluids (µM range), reservations about polyphenol antioxidant efficiency have been raised. In this review, it is shown that after scavenging superoxide radicals, coumarin, chalcone, and flavonoid polyphenols can reform themselves, becoming ready for additional cycles of scavenging, similar to the catalytic cycle in superoxide dismutase (SOD) action. The π-π interaction between one polyphenol ring and superoxide is associated with oxidation of the latter due to transfer of its unpaired electron to a polyphenolic aromatic ring, and consequent formation of a molecule of O₂ (one product of SOD action). Mechanistically, it is very difficult to establish if this π-π interaction proceeds before or after the most common mode of scavenging superoxide, e.g., abstraction of an aromatic polyphenol H(hydroxyl), which then is used to form H₂O₂ (the other molecule produced by SOD action). At the end of this cycle of superoxide scavenging, 4-methyl-7,8-di-hydroxy-coumarin and the flavonoid galangin reform themselves. An alternative mechanistic pathway by galangin forms the η-(H₂O₂)-galangin-η-O₂ complex that includes additional H₂O₂ and O₂ molecules. Another mode of action is seen with the chalcone butein, in which the polyphenol system incorporates a molecule of O₂, e.g., a η-O₂-butein complex is formed, ready for additional scavenging. Of the several families of polyphenols analyzed in this review, only butein was able to circumvent an initial π-π interaction, directing the superoxide towards H(hydroxyl) in position 4, e.g., acting as a typical polyphenol scavenger of superoxide. This fact did not impede an additional superoxide to later react with the aromatic ring in π-π fashion. It is concluded that by mimicking SOD enzyme action, the low concentration of polyphenols in biological fluids is not a limiting factor for effective scavenging of superoxide.

The purpose of this study was to examine the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities of ellagic acid (EA) and ellagic acid peracetate (EAPA) by measuring their reactions with the radicals, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and galvinoxyl using EPR spectroscopy. We have also evaluated the influence of EA and EAPA on the ROS production in L-6 myoblasts and rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation catalyzed by NADPH. The results obtained clearly indicated that EA has tremendous ability to scavenge free radicals, even at concentration of 1 µM. Interestingly even in the absence of esterase, EAPA, the acetylated product of EA, was also found to be a good scavenger but at a relatively slower rate. Kinetic studies revealed that both EA and EAPA have ability to scavenge free radicals at the concentrations of 1 µM over extended periods of time. In cellular systems, EA and EAPA were found to have similar potentials for the inhibition of ROS production in L-6 myoblasts and NADPH-dependent catalyzed microsomal lipid peroxidation.

Background: Heteronemin, a marine sesterterpenoid-type natural product, possesses an antiproliferative effect in cancer cells. In addition, heteronemin has been shown to inhibit p53 expression. Our laboratory has demonstrated that the thyroid hormone deaminated analogue, tetrac, activates p53 and induces antiproliferation in colorectal cancer. However, such drug mechanisms are still to be studied in oral cancer cells. Methods: We investigated the antiproliferative effects by Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry. The signal transduction pathway was measured by Western blotting analyses. Quantitative PCR was used to evaluate gene expression regulated by heteronemin, 3,3’,5,5’-tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac), or their combined treatment in oral cancer cells. Results: Heteronemin inhibited not only expression of proliferative genes and Homo Sapiens Thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) but also cell proliferation in both OEC-M1 and SCC-25 cells. Remarkably, heteronemin increased TGF-β1 expression in SCC-25 cells. Tetrac suppressed expression of THBS-1 but not p53 expression in both cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of tetrac and heteronemin inhibited ERK1/2 activation and heteronemin also blocked STAT3 signaling. Combined treatment increased p53 protein and p53 activation accumulation although heteronemin inhibited p53 expression in both cancer cell lines. The combined treatment induced antiproliferation synergistically more than a single agent. Conclusions: Both heteronemin and tetrac inhibited ERK1/2 activation and increased p53 phosphorylation. They also inhibited THBS-1 expression. Moreover, tetrac suppressed TGF-β expression combined with heteronemin to further enhance antiproliferation and anti-metastasis in oral cancer cells.

Thyroid hormones, T₃(triiodothyronine) and T₄(thyroxine), induce a variety of long-term effects on important physiological functions, ranging from development and growth to metabolism regulation, by interacting with specific nuclear or cytosolic receptors. Extranuclear or nongenomic effects of thyroid hormones are mediated by plasma membrane or cytoplasmic receptors, mainly by αvβ3 integrin, and are independent of protein synthesis. A wide variety of nongenomic effects have now been recognized to be elicited through the binding of thyroid hormones to this receptor, which is mainly involved in angiogenesis, as well as in cell cancer proliferation. Several signal transduction pathways are modulated by thyroid hormone binding to αvβ3 integrin: protein kinase C, protein kinase A, Src, or mitogen-activated kinases. Thyroid hormone-activated nongenomic effects are also involved in the regulation of Na⁺-dependent transport systems, such as glucose uptake, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Na⁺/H⁺exchanger, and amino acid transport System A. Of note, the modulation of these transport systems is cell-type and developmental stage-dependent. In particular, dysregulation of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity is involved in several pathological situations, from viral infection to cancer. Therefore, this transport system represents a promising pharmacological tool in these pathologies.