Nukaya, Manabu

SUMMARY Intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms (IOPNs) are rare tumors that develop from biliary and pancreatic ductal epithelium and progress to lethal cancers. Human IOPNs and IOPN-associated carcinomas are known to harbor the DNAJB1-PRKACA gene fusion, however the role of the oncogenic fusion in carcinogenesis is poorly understood. We developed a Cre-inducible mouse model of human DNAJB1-PRKACA expression and substantiated that the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion gene is a bona fide driver of IOPN-associated biliary and pancreatic carcinoma. By analyzing the unique histopathologic and transcriptional changes that occur at each stage of tumor development, we found that these murine tumors closely mimic human DNAJB1-PRKACA driven tumors. Furthermore, we identified that many of the salient features of invasive carcinoma are established at the pre-invasive stage, including evidence of tumor cell metabolic dysregulation, immunosuppressive tumor stroma and expression of genes strongly associated with invasive DNAJB1-PRKACA driven cancer in humans. Finally, we found that Slc16a14 , a characteristic DNAJB1-PRKACA regulated super-enhancer associated gene, serves as a robust biomarker of malignant transformation from IOPN to invasive carcinoma.

AbstractIn a continuing search for curcuminoid (CUR) compounds with antitumor activity, a novel series of heterocyclic CUR–BF2 adducts and CUR compounds based on indole, benzothiophene, and benzofuran along with their aryl pyrazoles were synthesized. Computational docking studies were performed to compare binding efficiency to target proteins involved in specific cancers, namely HER2, proteasome, VEGFR, BRAF, and Bcl‐2, versus known inhibitor drugs. The majority presented very good binding affinities, similar to, and even more favorable than those of known inhibitors. The indole‐based CUR–BF2 and CUR compounds and their bis‐thiocyanato derivatives exhibited high anti‐proliferative and apoptotic activity by in vitro bioassays against a panel of 60 cancer cell lines, more specifically against multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines (KMS11, MM1.S, and RPMI‐8226) with significantly lower IC50 values versus healthy PBMC cells; they also exhibited higher anti‐proliferative activity in human colorectal cancer cells (HCT116, HT29, DLD‐1, RKO, SW837, and Caco2) than the parent curcumin, while showing notably lower cytotoxicity in normal colon cells (CCD112CoN and CCD841CoN).