Imaging and Inhibiting: A Dual Function Molecular Flare for Cancer Cells

Anal Chem. 2019 Nov 5;91(21):13501-13507. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02558. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Abstract

The Wnt pathway is dysregulated and activated in many human malignancies. More than 90% of colon cancers have variations in the Wnt pathway. Sulindac, a drug that targets protein Dvl of the Wnt/Dvl/β-catenin pathway, which regulates cancer gene expression, has been reported to significantly reduce the incidence and the risk of death from colorectal cancer and other types of cancer. Herein, a dual functional compound (SLN) containing Sulindac and a linked fluorophore is first reported, combining the functions of lighting up colon cancer cells as a flare and inhibiting colon tumors as a drug. SLN can not only mark the Dvl protein in the Wnt pathway to recognize tumors layer by layer but also achieve effective inhibition of colon cancer, providing a promising reagent for chemotherapy and a fluorescent indicator for surgery during the removal the colon tumors in situ.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Colonic Neoplasms
  • Dishevelled Proteins / chemistry*
  • Dishevelled Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental
  • Optical Imaging
  • Sulindac / pharmacology*
  • Wnt Proteins / chemistry
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Dishevelled Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Sulindac