Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer across the world. Acquired resistance to therapeutics is one of the major challenges in cancer cure. With the development of resistance to organometallic drugs there was switch for the usage of inhibitors of kinases which play a crucial role in cellular activities. Regorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor used as an oral anti-cancer drug for treating advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). With increasing reports of acquired resistance to regorafenib in long-term use it is inevitable to understand the mechanisms underlying in the development of resistance. To understand the molecular mechanism of acquired drug resistance towards regorafenib we have developed a regorafenib resistant HCT116 cell line (Reg-R-HCT116) and an integrated quantitative proteomic and phospho-proteomics approach is used to elucidate the molecular signaling mechanisms that help in drug tolerance. Proteome and Phosphoproteome analysis revealed an extensive remodelling of signaling pathways associated with metabolism, protein synthesis and stress adaptations. This also revealed a large set of phosphorylated proteins as well as proteins that might be associated with aberrant activation or differential alteration of PI3K-AKT-mTOR, EIF2, HIF-1, Apoptosis inhibition, Glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism and DNA-repair-associated signaling. Differential phosphorylation of downstream molecules of the mentioned pathways NDRG1, ACINUS and RICTOR and enhanced cell survival further confirmed their role in drug tolerance. Targeted inhibition of both the mTOR complexes using Torin1 resensitized the cells to regorafenib. Combination treatment of regorafenib with torin1 showed a synergistic cytotoxicity and attenuated the expression of key survival proteins. These findings provide mechanistic insight into acquired resistance to regorafenib in colorectal cancer and identified mTOR/eIF2 signaling as one of the critical drivers of resistance phenotype. The results suggest combinatorial targeting of these pathways could be an effective strategy to overcome regorafenib resistance and improve clinical outcomes in CRC. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.

A highly stereoselective, efficient and facile route was achieved for the synthesis of novel and biochemically potent sugar fused pyrano[3,2-c]pyranone derivatives starting from inexpensive, naturally occurring d-galactose and d-glucose. First, β-C-glycopyranosyl aldehydes were synthesized from these d-hexose sugars in six steps, with overall yields 41-55%. Next, two different 1-C-formyl glycals were synthesized from these β-C-glycopyranosyl aldehydes by treatment in basic conditions. The optimization of reaction conditions was carried out following reactions between 1-C-formyl galactal and 4-hydroxycoumarin. Next, 1-C-formyl galactal and 1-C-formyl glucal were treated with nine substituted 4-hydroxy coumarins at room temperature (25 °C) in ethyl acetate for ∼1-2 h in the presence of l-proline to obtain exclusively single diastereomers of pyrano[3,2-c]pyranone derivatives in excellent yields. Four compounds were found to be active for the MCF-7 cancer cell line. The MTT assay, apoptosis assay and migration analysis showed significant death of the cancer cells induced by the synthesized compounds.

Abemaciclib (Ab) and palbociclib (Pb) are CDK4/6 inhibitors used to cure advanced breast cancer (BC). However, acquired resistance is a major challenge. The molecular mechanisms and signature proteins of therapy resistance for Ab and Pb drugs need to be explored. Here we developed resistant cells for Ab and Pb drugs in MCF-7 cell lines and explored the mechanisms and signature proteins of therapy resistance in BC. Proteome profiling was performed using the label-free proteome-orbitrap-fusion-MS-MS technique. Gene ontology (GO)-terms, KEGG pathways and network analysis were performed for the proteome data. Drug-resistant cells showed increased drug tolerance, enhanced colony formation potential and an increased gap-healing tendency for the respective drug. Up-regulation of survival genes (BCL-2 and MCL-1) and down-regulation of apoptosis inducers were observed. Drug-resistance markers (MDR-1 and ABCG2 (BCRP)) along with ESR-1, CDK4, CDK6, and cyclin-D1 genes were up-regulated in resistant cells. A total of 237 and 239 proteins were found to be differentially expressed in the Ab and Pb-resistant cells, respectively. Down-regulated proteins induce apoptosis signalling and nucleotide metabolisms and restrict EGFR signalling; however, up-regulated proteins induce Erk, wnt-β-catenin, VEGFR-PI3K-AKT, glucose transportation, and hypoxia signalling pathways and regulate hydrogen peroxide signalling pathways. The panel of identified proteins associated with these pathways might have characteristics of molecular signature and new drug targets for overcoming drug resistance in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND:Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in females worldwide. Schleichera oleosa (kusum tree) belongs to the Sapindaceae family commonly found in many states of India. This plant is traditionally being used in various pathological conditions.METHODS:In vitro studies were performed using seed extract of Schleichera oleosa. Different concentrations of seed extracts were treated on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and its effect on migration and colony formation were observed. BRCA1 and p16 gene expression was analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blotting.RESULTS:We have analyzed anticancer and anti-metastatic effects of seed extract in breast cancer and IC50 was 140µg/ml concentration. Further, its inhibitory role in cell migration and colony formation was at 140µg/ml (P<0.0001) concentration and reduced significantly growth of sphere at 140 µg (P<0.0031) and 150µg (P<0.0010) concentration after 5 days of treatment. The apoptosis study was shown a significant increase at 140 µg (P<0.0001) in apoptotic cells. Expression of BRCA1 and p16 were found to be over-expressed as 1.4 and 1.7 fold, respectively, at 140µg/ml concentration after 24 h of treatment at the transcription level. BRCA1 protein was up-regulated but p16 expression down-regulated at 140 to 150µg/ml (One-Way ANOVA, P<0.0001) concentration.CONCLUSION:In this study, we found a significant role of S. Oleosa seed extract has an anti-cancer as well as anti-metastatic via up-regulation of BRCA1 and p16 genes in breast cancer cells.

Synergistic action of combination therapy can be enhanced by appropriate selection of drugs combination that might reduce the likelihood acquired resistance to chemotherapy in cancer. Nano based formulations offer a parallel opportunity to design advance combination drug delivery systems with specific internal and external stimulus. In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in the study of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for biomedical applications. Because of their extraordinary chemical properties such as tunable porous structure with high surface area MOFs are an infancy material used in drug delivery systems as a nacarrier. MOFs are regarded as a promising class of nanocarriers for drug delivery owing to well-defined structure, ultrahigh surface area and porosity, tunable pore size, and easy chemical functionalization. Herein we summarize the most recent progress in stimuli-based dual drug-delivery systems including inorganic and organic nanocarriers. Moreover, we have highlighted the specific stimuli responsive nano-MOFs as dual drug delivery systems, which offer a fresh perspective for development of hybrid nanocarrier to overcome the drawbacks of pure organic and inorganic carriers, such as toxicity, lower payload capacity and burst effect.

The synthesis, characterization, and X-ray structure of a series of mono, tri, and polynuclear copper complexes of benzimidazole-based N-substituted thiones, Bz(Me)S(H) (10) and Bz(OH)S(H) (11), and N,N'-disubstituted, Bz(Me)S(Me) (12) and Bz(OH)S(Me) (13) are reported here. The X-ray structure analyses of the copper-thione complexes have revealed that the coordination behaviour and the geometry of the central metal ion in these complexes are significantly dependent on the type of the counter anion used in the reaction. For instance, the reactions of benzimidazolebased thiones with CuCl2 afforded mononuclear trigonal planar Cu(I) complexes 14, 15, 18, and 19. On contrast, upon reaction with CuSO4, 10 afforded the trinuclear copper complex 16, in which thione 10 acts as a bridging as well as terminal ligand, leading to the formation of a six-membered Cu3S3 cluster. The chair-form of six-membered Cu3S3 ring is further stabilized by six intramolecular H-bonding interactions, with overall stabilization energy of 19.28 kcal.mol(-1), between the free NH group of 10 and O atom of the counter anion SO42-. Whereas, when thione 10 was reacted with CuI, a 1D-polymeric chain-like copper complex 17 was obtained as a thermodynamically stable product, in which both 10 and iodine act as bridging ligand. The 3D network of complexes has revealed that these copper-thione compounds are stabilized by the presence of various types of intermolecular and intramolecular H-bonding and pi pi stacking interactions in the solid state. NBO analysis of the crystal geometries revealed that the strength of these interactions ranging from 0.14 to 5.67 kcal.mol(-1). We have also demonstrated that the N-substituted thiones have excellent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging property and, thus, protect biomolecules including DNA and protein against Cu(I)-mediated oxidative damage.

CDK4/6 inhibitors (Abemaciclib, Ab and Palbociclib, Pb) stop the G1-phase in cell-cycle being used to cure advanced stage of breast cancer (BC). Acquired resistance is a major challenge in BC therapy. The molecular signature of the therapy resistance for Ab and Pb drugs in BC should be explored. Here, we developed Ab/Pb-resistant cell-models and explored the molecular changes. Drug’s resistance cells were developed in MCF-7 cells by continuous drug treatment and it was confirmed by MTT-assay, PI-staining-microscopy, and real-time-qPCR. Global proteome profiling done by Labelled-free-Proteome-Orbitrap-Fusion-MS-MS technique. Bioinformatics tools used to analyse the proteome data. Ab-resistant and Pb-resistant MCF-7 cells showed increased tolerance for the respective drug. The BCL-2 and MCL-1 survival genes were up-regulated, while the apoptosis genes BAD, BAX, CASP-3 and PARP-1were down-regulated in the resistant cells. Expression of the MDR-1, ABCG2, ESR-1, CDK4, CDK6, and Cyclin-D1 genes were increased in both resistance cells. For proteomics, 237 and 239 proteins were expressed differently in the resistant Ab and Pb cells, respectively. The NUDT5, PEPD, ABAT, ATP1B1, GGCT, and SELENBP1 proteins were down-regulated and the SBSN, HSD17B10, CD9, PDIA3, PSMB4, SLC2A1, and VTN proteins were up-regulated in Ab-resistant cells. The NUDT5, PEPD, and GGCT proteins were down-regulated, while CD47, HIST1H2BN, LMNA, VTN, PSMB5, HBB, PSMA7, FLNB, PRDX4, VDAC1, GOT2, HSPA5, SERPINH1, EIF4A2, FTH, and VIM proteins were up-regulated in Pb-resistant cells. These proteins are a new set of prognostic markers and drug targets for overcoming the respective drug resistance. However, it is necessary to perform an in vivo or clinical assessment.

Exploration of an efficient dual-drug based nanocarrier with high drug loading capacity, specific targeting properties, and long-term stability is highly desirable in cancer therapy. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to be a promising class of drug carriers due to their high porosity, crystalline properties with defined structure information, and their potential for further functionalization. To enhance the drug efficacy as well as to overcome the burst effect of drugs, here we synthesized a pH responsive folic acid (FA) and graphene oxide (GO) decorated zeolitical imidazolate frameworks-8 (GO-FA/ZIF-8), for targeted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and cyclophosphamide (CP), simultaneously. In this system, DOX molecules were encapsulated in the pores of ZIF-8 during in situ synthesis of ZIF-8 and CP molecules have been captured by the GO surface via hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions as well. Furthermore, the resulting pH-responsive nanocarrier (DOX@ZIF-8/GO-FA/CP) showed in vitro sustained release characteristics (76% of DOX and 80% of CP) by cleavage of chemical bonding and disruption of the MOFs structure under acidic condition (at pH 5.6). Moreover, DOX@ZIF-8/GO-FA/CP has synergistic cytotoxic effects as compared to the combination of both the drugs without ZIF-8/GO-FA when treating MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines (with a combination index of 0.29 and 0.75 for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell-lines, respectively). Hence this system can be applied as an effective platform for smart dual drug delivery in breast cancer treatment through its remarkable manageable multidrug release.

Cancer is the second major cause of deaths next to noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The major treatment regimens followed to counter this disease include surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These treatment regimens can be employed individually or in combinations. The heterogeneity in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and development of resistance to chemotherapeutics agents and the secondary complication due to their toxic activity in normal cells lead to the research for discovery of novel therapeutics. With increasing knowledge of the aberrant signaling pathways in cancers, the novel approach to avoid the toxic effect of the chemotherapeutic drugs in normal cells was to look for targeted therapeutics. Targeted therapies include the use of either monoclonal antibodies against receptors or extracellular molecules present on cancer cells or using inhibitor molecules that target aberrant pathways in cancers. This chapter mostly focusses on discussing the role of protein kinase inhibitors a class of small molecule inhibitors in cancers with their functional significance and limitations.

The Hg-C bond of MeHgCl, a ubiquitous environmental toxicant, is notoriously inert and exceedingly difficult to cleave. The cleavage of the Hg-C bond of MeHgCl at low temperature, therefore, is of significant importance for human health. Among various bis(imidazole)-2-selones LnSe (n=1-4, or 6), the three-spacer L3Se shows extraordinarily high reactivity in the degradation of various mercury alkyls including MeHgCl because of its unique ability to coordinate through kappa(2)-fashion, in which both the Se atoms simultaneously attack the Hg center of mercury alkyls for facile Hg-C bond cleavage. It has the highest softness (sigma) parameter and the lowest HOMO(LnSe)-LUMO(MeHgX) energy gap and, thus, L3Se is the most reactive among LnSe towards MeHgX (X=Cl or I). L3Se is highly efficient, more than L1Se, in restoring the activity of antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase (GR) that is completely inhibited by MeHgCl; 80 % GR activity is recovered by L3Se relative to 50 % by L1Se. It shows an excellent cytoprotective effect in liver cells against MeHgCl-induced oxidative stress by protecting vital antioxidant enzymes from inhibition caused by MeHgCl and, thus, does not allow to increase the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Furthermore, it protects the mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta psi(m)) from perturbation by MeHgCl. Major Hg-responsive genes analyses demonstrate that L3Se plays a significant role in MeHg+ detoxification in liver cells.

The sulfur-containing antioxidant molecule ergothioneine with an ability to protect metalloenzymes from reactive oxygen species (ROS) has attracted significant interest in both chemistry and biology. Herein, we demonstrated the importance of hydrogen bonding in S-oxygenation reactions between various thiones and H2O2 and its significance in protecting the metal ion from H2O2-mediated oxidation. Among all imidazole- and benzimidazole-based thiones (1-10), ImMeSH (2) showed the highest reactivity toward H2O2-almost 10 and 75 times more reactive than N, N'-disubstituted ImMeSMe (5) and BzMeSMe (10), respectively. Moreover, metal-bound ImMeSH (2) of [TpmCu(2)]+ (13) was found to be 51 and 1571 times more reactive toward H2O2 than the metal-bound ImMeSMe (5) of [TpmCu(5)]+ (16), and BzMeSMe (10) of [TpmCu(10)]+ (21), respectively. The electron-donating N-Me substituent and the free N-H group at the imidazole ring played a very crucial role in the high reactivity of ImMeSH toward H2O2. The initial adduct formation between ImMeSH and H2O2 (ImMeSH·H2O2) was highly facilitated (-23.28 kcal mol-1) due to the presence of a free N-H group, which leads to its faster oxygenation than N, N'-disubstituted ImMeSMe (5) or BzMeSMe (10). As a result, ImMeSH (2) showed a promising effect in protecting the metal ion from H2O2-mediated oxidation. It protected biomolecules from Cu(I)-mediated oxidative damage of through coordination to the Cu(I) center of [TpmCu(CH3CN)]+ (11), whereas metal-bound ImMeSMe or BzMeSMe failed to protect biomolecules under identical reaction conditions.

Synthetic organic molecules, which can selectively convert excess intracellular copper (Cu) ions to nanozymes with an ability to protect cells from oxidative stress, are highly significant in developing therapeutic agents against Cu-related disorder like Wilson's disease. Here, we report 1,3-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1 H-benzoimidazole-2-selenone (1), which shows a remarkable ability to remove Cu ion from glutathione, a major cytosolic Cu-binding ligand, and thereafter converts it into copper selenide (CuSe) nanozyme that exhibits remarkable glutathione peroxidase-like activity, at cellular level of H2O2 concentration, with excellent cytoprotective effect against oxidative stress in hepatocyte. Cu-driven deselenization of 1, under physiologically relevant conditions, occurred in two steps. The activation of C═Se bond by metal ion is the crucial first step, followed by cleavage of the metal-activated C═Se bond, initiated by the OH group of N-(CH2)2OH substituent through neighboring group participation (deselenization step), resulted in the controlled synthesis of various types of Cu2-xSe nanocrystals (NCs) (nanodisks, nanocubes, and nanosheets) and tetragonal Cu3Se2 NCs, depending upon the oxidation state of the Cu ion used to activate the C═Se bond. Deselenization of 1 is highly metal-selective. Except Cu, other essential metal ions, including Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, or Zn2+, failed to produce metal selenide under identical reaction conditions. Moreover, no significant change in the expression level of Cu-metabolism-related genes, including metallothioneines MT1A, is observed in liver cells co-treated with Cu and 1, as opposed to the large increase in the concentrations of these genes observed in cells treated with Cu alone, suggesting the participation of 1 in Cu homeostasis in hepatocyte.

Cancer of large intestine is commonly referred as colorectal cancer, which is also the third most frequently prevailing neoplasm across the globe. Though, much of work is being carried out to understand the mechanism of carcinogenesis and advancement of this disease but, fewer studies has been performed to collate the scattered information of alterations in tumorigenic cells like genes, mutations, expression changes, epigenetic alteration or post translation modification, genetic heterogeneity. Earlier findings were mostly focused on understanding etiology of colorectal carcinogenesis but less emphasis were given for the comprehensive review of the existing findings of individual studies which can provide better diagnostics based on the suggested markers in discrete studies.Colon Rectal Cancer Gene Database (CoReCG), contains 2056 colon-rectal cancer genes information involved in distinct colorectal cancer stages sourced from published literature with an effective knowledge based information retrieval system. Additionally, interactive web interface enriched with various browsing sections, augmented with advance search facility for querying the database is provided for user friendly browsing, online tools for sequence similarity searches and knowledge based schema ensures a researcher friendly information retrieval mechanism.Colorectal cancer gene database (CoReCG) is expected to be a single point source for identification of colorectal cancer-related genes, thereby helping with the improvement of classification, diagnosis and treatment of human cancers.DATABASE URL:lms.snu.edu.in/corecg.