Alterations in the expression of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5 or CD195) have been correlated with disease progression in different cancers. Recently, a few investigations have reported the blockage of this receptor by an antagonist (maraviroc) and its antineoplastic effects on tumor cell growth. However, little is known about the mechanistic reasons behind these antineoplastic effects of CCR5 blockage by maraviroc. In this study, we blocked the CCR5 receptor by maraviroc in SW480 and SW620 colorectal cancer cells to study the resulting changes in biological properties and related pathways. This blockage induced significantly reduced proliferation and a profound arrest in G1 phase of the cell cycle. Concomitantly, maraviroc caused significant signs of apoptosis at morphological level. Significant modulation of multiple apoptosis-relevant genes was also noticed at mRNA levels. In addition, we found remarkable increases in cleaved caspases at protein level. These modulations led us to propose a signaling pathway for the observed apoptotic effects. In conclusion, blocking the CCR5 by maraviroc induces significant cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in colorectal cancer cells. Thus, maraviroc can be considered a model compound, which may foster the development of further CCR5 antagonists to be used for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Our initial structure-activity relationship studies on 7-methoxy-4-morpholino-benzothiazole derivatives featured by aryloxy-2-methylpropanamide moieties at the 2-position led to identification of compound 25 as a potent and selective A adenosine receptor (AAdoR) antagonist with reasonable ADME and pharmacokinetic properties. However, poor intrinsic solubility and low to moderate oral bioavailability made this series unsuitable for further development. Further optimization using structure-based drug design approach resulted in discovery of potent and selective adenosine A receptor antagonists bearing substituted 1-methylcyclohexyl-carboxamide groups at position 2 of the benzothiazole scaffold and endowed with better solubility and oral bioavailability. Compounds 41 and 49 demonstrated a number of positive attributes with respect to in vitro ADME properties. Both compounds displayed good pharmacokinetic properties with 63% and 61% oral bioavailability, respectively, in rat. Further, compound 49 displayed oral efficacy in 6-OHDA lesioned rat model of Parkinson diseases.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an essential role in cell function and survival. Accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the lumen of the ER activates the unfolded protein response (UPR), resulting in ER stress and subsequent apoptosis. The alkylphosphocholine erufosine is a known Akt-mTOR inhibitor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In the present study, we evaluate erufosine’s role to induce ER and mitochondrial stress leading to autophagy, apoptosis, and ROS induction. The cellular toxicity of erufosine was determined in two OSCC cell lines and gene expression and enrichment analyses were performed. A positive enrichment of ER stress upon erufosine exposure was observed, which was verified at protein levels for the ER stress sensors and their downstream mediators. Knockdown and pharmacological inhibition of the ER stress sensors PERK and XBP1 revealed their involvement into erufosine’s cellular effects, including proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy induction. Autophagy was confirmed by increased acidic vacuoles and LC3-B levels. Upon erufosine exposure, calcium influx into the cytoplasm of the two OSCC cell lines was seen. Apoptosis was confirmed by nuclear staining, Annexin-V, and immunoblotting of caspases. The induction of mitochondrial stress upon erufosine exposure was predicted by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and shown by erufosine’s effect on mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP, and ROS production in OSCC cells. These data show that ER and mitochondrial targeting by erufosine represents a new facet of its mechanism of action as well as a promising new framework in the treatment of head and neck cancers.