A new class of compounds that incorporated the structural motif of the 1-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxtbenzoyl)-3-arylamino-5-amino-1,2,4-triazole molecular skeleton was synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity in vitro, interactions with tubulin, and cell cycle effects. The most active agent, 3c, was evaluated for antitumor activity in vivo. Structure-activity relationships were elucidated with various substituents on the phenyl ring of the anilino moiety at the C-3 position of the 1,2,4-triazole ring. The best results for inhibition of cancer cell growth were obtained with the p-Me, m,p-diMe, and p-Et phenyl derivatives 3c, 3e, and 3f, respectively, and overall, these compounds were more or less as active as CA-4. Their vascular disrupting activity was evaluated in HUVEC cells, with compound 3c showing activity comparable with that of CA-4. Compound 3c almost eliminated the growth of syngeneic hepatocellular carcinoma in Balb/c mice, suggesting that 3c could be a new antimitotic agent with clinical potential.

Glucocorticoids are widely used to treat B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL); however, the molecular mechanism underlying glucocorticoid response and resistance is unclear. In this study, the role and regulation of FOXO3a in mediating the dexamethasone response in B-ALL were investigated. The results show that FOXO3a mediates the cytotoxic function of dexamethasone. In response to dexamethasone, it was found that FOXO3a translocates into the nucleus, where it induces the expression of downstream targets, including p27Kip1 and Bim, important for proliferative arrest and cell death in the sensitive RS4;11 and SUP-B15 B-ALL cells. FOXO3a activation by dexamethasone is mediated partially through the suppression of the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade. Furthermore, two posttranslational modifications were uncovered, phosphorylation on Ser-7 and acetylation on Lys-242/5, that associated with FOXO3a activation by dexamethasone. Immunoblot analysis showed that the phosphorylation on Ser-7 of FOXO3a is associated with p38/ JNK activation, whereas the acetylation on Lys-242/5 is correlated with the downregulation of SIRT1/2/6 and the induction of the acetyltransferase CBP/p300. Collectively, these results indicate that FOXO3a is essential for dexamethasone response in B-ALL cells, and its nuclear translocation and activation is associated with its phosphorylation on Ser-7 and acetylation on Lys-242/245. These posttranslational events can be exploited as biomarkers for B-ALL diagnosis and as drug targets for B-ALL treatment, particularly for overcoming the glucocorticoid resistance.Implications: FOXO3a and its posttranslational regulation are essential for dexamethasone response, and targeting FOXO3a and sirtuins may enhance the dexamethasone-induced cytotoxicity in B-ALL cells.

A phosphine copper(I) complex [Cu(thp)4][PF6] (CP) was recently identified as an efficient in vitro antitumor agent. In this study, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of CP in leukemia cell lines finding a significant efficacy, especially against SEM and RS4;11 cells. Immunoblot analysis showed the activation of caspase-12 and caspase-9 and of the two effector caspase-3 and -7, suggesting that cell death occurred in a caspase-dependent manner. Interestingly we did not observe mitochondrial involvement in the process of cell death. Measures on semipurified proteasome from RS4;11 and SEM cell extracts demonstrated that chymotrypsin-, trypsin- and caspase-like activity decreased in the presence of CP. Moreover, we found an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and a remarkable increase of ER stress markers: GRP78, CHOP, and the spliced form of XBP1. Accordingly, the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide significantly protected cancer cells from CP-induced cell death, suggesting that protein synthesis machinery was involved. In well agreement with results obtained on stabilized cell lines, CP induced ER-stress and apoptosis also in primary cells from B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Importantly, we showed that the combination of CP with some chemotherapeutic drugs displayed a good synergy that strongly affected the survival of both RS4;11 and SEM cells.

Hair loss is a common aesthetic disorder that can be triggered by genetic, inflammatory, hormonal, and environmental factors acting on hair follicles and their life cycle. There are several types of hair loss that differ in causes, symptoms, and spatial and temporal progression. Androgenic alopecia, a common form of hair loss, is the consequence of a decreased microcirculation of the scalp as well as the toxic action of elevated dihydrotestosterone levels on the hair bulbs.In the present study, the lotions TRINOV Lozione Anticaduta Uomo and TRINOV Lozione Anticaduta Donna, containing dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), S-equol, and propionyl-L-carnitine, were tested on 30 men and 30 women (mean age of men was 46.6 AE 6.4 years; mean age of women was 49.5 AE 9.0) with signs of androgenic alopecia, respectively. DGLA is a precursor of the prostaglandin PGE1, which acts by improving microcirculation; S-equol inhibits 5α-reductases, thus preventing the transformation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone; and propionyl-L-carnitine promotes lipid metabolism, stimulating energy production. These three molecules are loaded into liposomes for their effective transdermal delivery. Daily topical applications of the lotions resulted in a hair count that significantly increased for women and marginally increased for men after 6 months of treatment. Furthermore, significant increase in anagen hair and a significant decrease in telogen hair were observed starting from 3 months in male and 1 month in female patients. Thus, the formulations under investigation were effective in attenuating androgenic alopecia-related hair loss in men and women.