PurposeTo compare the recurrence rate at 3 years (RR-3y) for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) between good quality (GQ) PDD-TURBT and GQWL-TURBT where PDD is used in routine practice for all new tumours.MethodsAll new, consecutive, NMIBC that received “good quality” criteria first TURBT across a university hospital service were prospectively recruited to this study over a 4-year period. Data were prospectively collected on all WL-TURBTs performed in 2007/8 and compared with PDD-TURBT from 2009/10. Only resection meeting strict “good quality criteria” were included from each cohort to control for resection quality, then cases were further matched 1:1 based on demographic and pathological criteria. The primary outcome was overall and risk group-specific recurrence rate at 3 years.ResultsOf 808 patients recruited, 345 had GQ-TURBT for NMIBC and were included. RR-3y was significantly less for GQ-PDD overall [RR-3y: GQ-PDD: 57/146 (39.0%), GQ-WL: 72/135 (53.3%) OR = 0.56 (0.35–0.90) p = 0.02] and on a 1:1 matched pair basis [RR GQ-PDD: 29/118 (24.6) vs. 59/118 (50.0) OR 0.33 (0.19–0.57) p < 0.001)]. Benefit was most marked in high-risk patients: RR-3y in high-risk patients treated with GQ-PDD was 25/48 (52.1%) vs. 28/35 (80%) for GQ-WL [OR 0.27 (0.10–0.74) p = 0.01].ConclusionWhen adopted for all new bladder tumour resections in routine practice, PDD appears to be associated with significantly reduced recurrence rates at 3 years in our “real life” experience, particularly in high-risk patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00345-017-2077-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Post-translational modifications of proteins ensure optimized cellular processes, including proteostasis, regulated signaling, cell survival, and stress adaptation to maintain a balanced homeostatic state. Abnormal post-translational modifications are associated with cellular dysfunction and the occurrence of life-threatening diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, some of the frequently seen protein modifications have been used as disease markers, while others are targeted for developing specific therapies. The ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like post-translational modifiers, namely, small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) and neuronal precursor cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 8 (NEDD8), share several features, such as protein structures, enzymatic cascades mediating the conjugation process, and targeted amino acid residues. Alterations in the regulatory mechanisms lead to aberrations in biological processes during tumorigenesis, including the regulation of tumor metabolism, immunological modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and cancer stem cell stemness, besides many more. Novel insights into ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like pathways involved in cancer biology reveal a potential interplay between ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and NEDDylation. This review outlines the current understandings of the regulatory mechanisms and assay capabilities of ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and NEDDylation. It will further highlight the role of ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and NEDDylation in tumorigenesis.

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Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) are among the most effective chemotherapeutics used in the treatment of cancer. However, the clinical utility of current MTAs, such as paclitaxel and vinblastine, are often limited due to adverse side effects or multidrug resistance (MDR) driving the continuous pursuit for the development of novel microtubule interactors. Here, we report the development of a novel non P-gp substrate MTA that is metabolically stable, and that displays broad-spectrum anti-cancer activity in vitro and ex vivo. Anti-cancer activity was assessed by screening a panel of 102 cancer cell lines and in a multi-tumor type panel of patient-derived organoids (PDOs). In vitro, double to triple digit nanomolar (ranging from 17nM to 318 nM) potency was observed in 101 cell lines, while viability was reduced by more than 70% in 76 cell lines out of 102. Similarly, 23 out of 34 (68%) of ex vivo treated PDOs were highly or partially responsive as indicated by a 37-73% decrease in viability. Studies using spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) inhibitors demonstrated a mechanism at or before microtubule-kinetochore attachment in M phase of the cell cycle. Subsequent microscopic evaluation of kinetochore assembly revealed a lack of proper mitotic spindle formation highlighted with an increase in Mad1 signal intensity emphasizing metaphase arrest. Furthermore, in vitro tubulin polymerization assays demonstrated that the anti-cancer effect is a result of cytoskeleton targeting to inhibit microtubule assembly. Additionally, the antimicrotubule agent inhibited the formation of EBI (N,N’-ethylene-bis(iodoacetamide)):β-tubulin adducts indicating an occupied colchicine-binding site of tubulin. Six multi-tumor preclinical oncology models were evaluated for in vivo anti-tumor efficacy by oral administration of the compound. Further, tumor growth inhibition (%) was demonstrated in preclinical murine models of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) (MV-4-11, 51%), colorectal (COLO205, 35%), prostate (DU 145, 38%), and gastric cancer (HS746T, 74%; SNU-5, 48%). Moreover, tumor tissue analysis for prominent mitotic cell cycle markers, Cyclin B1 and pHH3, revealed a dose-dependent elevation of both markers revealing mitotic arrest phenotype. Together, our data supports further preclinical and clinical development of a novel oral MTA notably in Taxane resistant and/or Taxane sensitive tumors. Citation Format: Maria-Dorothea Nastke, Jacob Matson, Andressa Mota, Archna Ravi, Alex Batrouni, Marcus O'Hara, Shiva Kazerounian, Arcan Guven, Nicole Pellegrino, Kashni Grover, Kayleigh Gray, Anne Diers, Michael Kiebish, Vivek Vishnudas, Stephane Gesta. Development of a novel oral microtubule targeting agent with pan-cancer efficacy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1663.