Mitochondrial dysregulation plays a significant role in the carcinogenesis. On the other hand, its destabilization strongly represses the viability and metastatic potential of cancer cells. Photodynamic and photothermal therapies (PDT and PTT) target mitochondria effectively, providing innovative and non-invasive anticancer therapeutic modalities. Cyanine dyes, with strong mitochondrial selectivity, show significant potential in enhancing PDT and PTT. The potential and limitations of cyanine dyes for mitochondrial PDT and PTT are discussed, along with their applications in combination therapies, theranostic techniques, and optimal delivery systems. Additionally, novel approaches for sonodynamic therapy using photoactive cyanine dyes are presented, highlighting advances in cancer treatment.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

IL-6 signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of serious diseases, including chronic inflammation and cancer. Targeting of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) by small molecules is therefore an intensively studied strategy in cancer treatment. We describe the design, synthesis, and characteristics of two new bis-pentamethinium salts 5 and 6 (meta and para) bearing indole moieties. Molecular docking studies showed that both compounds have the potential to bind IL-6R (free energy of binding -9.5 and -8.1 kcal/mol). The interaction with IL-6R was confirmed using microscale thermophoresis analyses, which revealed that both compounds had strong affinity for the IL-6R (experimentally determined dissociation constants 26.5 ± 2.5 nM and 304 ± 27.6 nM, respectively). In addition, both compounds were cytotoxic for a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines in micromolar concentrations, most likely due to their accumulation in mitochondria and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. In summary, the structure motif of bis-pentamethinium salts represents a promising starting point for the design of novel multitargeting compounds with the potential to inhibit IL-6 signaling and simultaneously target mitochondrial metabolism in cancer cells.

• Klíčová slova
• IL-6R synthetic inhibitors, cancer, mitochondria,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Cancer cells preferentially utilize glycolysis for ATP production even in aerobic conditions (the Warburg effect) and adapt mitochondrial processes to their specific needs. Recent studies indicate that altered mitochondrial activities in cancer represent an actionable target for therapy. We previously showed that salt 1-3C, a quinoxaline unit (with cytotoxic activity) incorporated into a meso-substituted pentamethinium salt (with mitochondrial selectivity and fluorescence properties), displayed potent cytotoxic effects in vitro and in vivo, without significant toxic effects to normal tissues. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic mechanism of salt 1-3C compared to its analogue, salt 1-8C, with an extended side carbon chain. Live cell imaging demonstrated that salt 1-3C, but not 1-8C, is rapidly incorporated into mitochondria, correlating with increased cytotoxicity of salt 1-3C. The accumulation in mitochondria led to their fragmentation and loss of function, accompanied by increased autophagy/mitophagy. Salt 1-3C preferentially activated AMP-activated kinase and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, sensors of cellular metabolism, but did not induce apoptosis. These data indicate that salt 1-3C cytotoxicity involves mitochondrial perturbation and disintegration, and such compounds are promising candidates for targeting mitochondria as a weak spot of cancer.

• Klíčová slova
• autophagy, cancer therapy, glucose metabolism, mitochondria,
• MeSH
• chinazoliny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• karbocyaniny chemie   MeSH
• kinasy AMP aktivovaných proteinkinas MeSH
• kvartérní amoniové sloučeniny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitofagie * MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• proteinkinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• protinádorové látky chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• TOR serin-threoninkinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chinazoliny MeSH
• karbocyaniny MeSH
• kinasy AMP aktivovaných proteinkinas MeSH
• kvartérní amoniové sloučeniny MeSH
• proteinkinasy MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• TOR serin-threoninkinasy MeSH