• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.542-550
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• 2018

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is treated as a molecular therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Geldanamycin (GA) was the first identified natural Hsp90 inhibitor, but hepatotoxicity has limited its clinical application. Nevertheless, a new GA analog (WK-88-1) with the non-benzoquinone skeleton, obtained from genetically engineered Streptomyces hygroscopicus, was found to have anticancer activity against two human breast cancer cell lines. WK-88-1 produced concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 and ER-negative MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Detailed analysis showed that WK-88-1 downregulated some key cell cycle molecules (CDK1 and cyclin B1) and lead to $G_2/M$ cell cycle arrest. Further studies also showed that WK-88-1 could induce human breast cancer cell apoptosis by downregulating Hsp90 client proteins (Akt, p-Akt, IKK, c-Raf, and Bcl-2), decreasing the ATP level, increasing reactive oxygen species production, and lowering the mitochondrial membrane potential. Meanwhile, we discovered that WK-88-1 significantly decreased the levels of Her-2 and $ER-{\alpha}$ in MCF-7 cells but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, WK-88-1 significantly increased caspase-3, -8, and -9 activities and the cleavage of PARP in a concentration-dependent manner (with the exception of caspase-3 and PARP in MCF-7 cells). Taken together, our preliminary results suggest that WK-88-1 has the potential to play a role in breast cancer therapy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.914-920
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• 2014

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) possesses a higher rate of distant recurrence and a poorer prognosis than other breast cancer subtypes. Interestingly, most of the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) client proteins are oncoproteins, and some are closely related to unfavorable factors of TNBC patients. 17-Demethoxy-reblastatin (17-DR), a novel non-benzoquinone-type geldanamycin analog, exhibited potent Hsp90 ATPase inhibition activity. In this study, the anticancer effects of 17-DR on TNBC MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated. These results showed that 17-DR inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed cell invasion and migration in the MDA-MB-231 cells. Down-regulation of the key Hsp90-dependent tumor-driving molecules, such as RIP1 and MMP-9, by 17-DR may be related to these effects. Taken together, our results suggest that 17-DR has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of TNBC.