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Background. Curaxin CBL0137 is a novel non-genotoxic compound with anti-cancer activity based on CBL0137 ability of non-covalent interaction with DNA causing histone chaperone FACT relocation. Anti-cancer activity of this drug was demonstrated previously on the wide panel of solid cancer models in vitro and in vivo.Objectives. Estimation of anticancer effects of CBL0137 on the acute myeloblastic leukemia cells (THP-1) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (CCRF-CEM).Materials and methods. CBL0137 cytotoxicity was analyzed using the MTT test, the effects on the cell cycle and the induction of apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, the activity of signaling pathways in cells treated with CBL0137 was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results. Cell treatment with CBL0137 led to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. In the study of CBL0137 effect on target gene clusters of 10 signal transduction pathways involved in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia we have showed that CBL0137 inhibited the expression of down-stream genes of WNT and Hedgehog signaling in both cell lines. In THP-1 cells we also observed the inhibition of the expression of PPARγ target and hypoxia-activated genes. In CCRF-CEM cells CBL0137 also induced the expression of Notch signaling target genes.Conclusion. The antitumor activity of CBL0137 was demonstrated on acute leukemia cell cultures, the drug possesses cytotoxicity, causes cell cycle arrest and activation of apoptosis. Significant changes in the expression of efferent gene clusters of several signaling pathways were observed in the cells treated with CBL0137.

Introduction.High rates of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide dictate the necessity of developing new methodological approaches in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer progression associated with intracellular redox regulation imbalance.The objectiveof the study was to evaluate the role of protein carbonylation in regulating breast cancer cell proliferation under redox status modulation.Materials and Methods. In the intact breast cancer cells and in the cells cultured under redox status modulation using 5mM N-ethylmaleimide (an - SH group blocker) and 5 Mm 1,4-dithioerythritol (a thiol group protector), the concentration of thioredoxin and its carbonylated form was measured using Western blot analysis. The activity of thioredoxin reductase and the level of protein carbonyl derivatives were determined using spectrophotometry. Cell cycle phase distribution was evaluated by flow cytometry.Results and Discussion. Under the effect of N-ethylmaleimide, cell cycle arrest in the S-phase was confirmed by oxidative modification of proteins, including thioredoxin carbonylation. When culturing MCF-7 cells in the presence of 1,4-dithioerythritol, cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phases was associated with a rise in the concentrations of reduced thioredoxin and glutathione forms.Conclusion.The thioredoxin system and oxidative modification of proteins are involved in redox-dependent modulation of breast cancer cell proliferation. Studies in the area of redox proteomics offer great potential to seek molecular targets of malignant transformation of breast cells.

Aim. To examine deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage repair and cell cycle regulatory mechanisms of Ewing sarcoma cells exposed to pivaloyl-substituted pyrrole containing heterocyclic compounds. Methods. The study was performed on A673 Ewing sarcoma cell line. The tumor cells were incubated for 48 h in the presence of pivaloyl-substituted pyrrole containing heterocyclic compounds (compounds №20 and №24). Western blot analysis was utilized to examine expression of the markers of DNA single-strand (phosphorylated forms of ATR and Chk1) and double-strand breaks (phosphorylated forms of H2AX, АТМ, DNA-PK, BRCA-1, Chk-2). Analysis of the cell cycle phases was performed by flow cytometry (BD FacsCanto, USA). Results. Pivaloyl-substituted pyrrole containing heterocyclic compounds substantially increased the expression of histone 2A phosphorylated on serine 138 (γ-H2AX) that indicates DNA damage (double-strand breaks). Under exposure to pivaloyl-substituted pyrrole containing heterocyclic compounds the studied cells increased expression of phosphorylated forms of ATM-kinase and BRCA-1. Also cell cycle disorders leading to substantial G2/M arrest and enhanced apoptosis of tumor cells were observed. Conclusion. Pivaloyl-substituted pyrrole containing heterocyclic compounds induced DNA double-strand breaks in A673 Ewing sarcoma cell line; in response to DNA damage in tumor cells, the mechanisms of DNA double-strand breaks repair were activated; despite activation of DNA repair mechanisms, A673 cells underwent cell cycle arrest in the G2/M-phase and apoptosis.