{"id":130,"date":"2020-05-13T13:58:53","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T10:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/drug-targeting\/?page_id=130"},"modified":"2026-02-24T13:59:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T11:59:33","slug":"cancer-cell-targeting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/drug-targeting\/projects\/cancer-cell-targeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer Cell Targeting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Solute Carriers (SLCs) as well as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, so-called efflux transporters are over-expressed in many different types of cancer cells and in solid tumors. Thus, SLCs can be utilized for cancer cell-targeted selective drug delivery or to inhibit and starve the cancer cell from essential nutrients. ABC transporters, on the other hand, have a crucial role in cancer biology and more importantly in chemoresistance, as they can pump a wide range of chemotherapeutics out of the cancer cells and thereby reduce the efficacy of these anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, modulating selectively efflux transporters’ expression and\/or may offer a potential alternative to improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main aim of our research group is to study:<\/b>
1. SLCs, such as LAT1, as Selective Carriers of Chemotherapeutics <\/em>
2. Modulation of ABC Expression\/Function via Cancer Cell-Targeted Agents<\/em>
3. Inhibition SLCs to Prevent Cancer Cell Proliferation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Selected Publications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. LAT1-Utilizing Prodrugs of Chemotherapeutics or Efflux Transporter Inhibitors<\/u><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bahrami, K.; K\u00e4rkk\u00e4inen, J.; Bibi, S.; Huttunen, J.; Tampio, J.; Montaser, A. B.; Moody, C. L.; Lehtonen, M.; Rautio, J.; Wheelhouse, R.T.; Huttunen, K. M.<\/strong> Selective Transport of Temozolomide Does Not Override DNA Repair-mediated Chemoresistance. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences<\/em>, 2024<\/strong>, 195<\/em>:106661. https:\/\/doi.org\/0.1016\/j.ejps.2023.106661<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huttunen, J.; Tampio, J.; J\u00e4rvinen, J.; Montaser, A.B.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Huttunen, K. M.<\/strong> Amino Acid Derivative of Probenecid Potentiates Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Vinblastine by Increasing Oxidative Stress in a Cancer Cell-Specific Manner. Chemico-Biological Interactions<\/em><\/strong>, 2024<\/strong>, 388<\/em>: 110833. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cbi.2023.110833<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Huttunen, J.; Montaser, A.; Adla. S. K.; Auriola, S.; Lehtonen, M.; Huttunen K M. Ganciclovir and Its Hemocompatible More Lipophilic Derivative Can Enhance the Apoptotic Effects of Methotrexate by Inhibiting Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP). International Journal of Molecular Sciences<\/em><\/strong>, 2021<\/strong>, 22<\/em>(14): 7727. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms22147727<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montaser, A.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Sikora, J.; Jalkanen, J.; Huttunen, K. M. L-Type Amino acid Transporter 1 (LAT1)-Utilizing Efflux Transporter Inhibitors Can Improve the Brain Uptake and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Vinblastine in Cancer Cells. International Journal of Pharmaceutics<\/em><\/strong>, 2020<\/strong>, 586<\/em>, 119585. <\/em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpharm.2020.119585<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huttunen J.; Gynther, M.; Huttunen, K. M. Targeted Efflux Transporter Inhibitors \u2013 A Solution to Improve Poor Cellular Accumulation of Anti-cancer Agents. International Journal of Pharmaceutics<\/i><\/b>, 2018<\/b>, 550<\/i>, 278-289. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ijpharm.2018.08.047<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Other Transporters as Novel Anti-Cancer Carriers <\/u><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kuorikoski, V.; Tampio, J.; Kerachni, S.; Timonen, D.; Tonduru, A. K.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Terasaki, T.; Poso, A.; Huttunen, K. M. Enhanced Polarity of Sulfonamide Metformin Derivatives Increases Cellular Uptake and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Molecular Pharmaceutics<\/em><\/strong>, 2026<\/strong><\/em>, 23<\/em>(2):680-693. http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.molpharmaceut.5c00432<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Huttunen, J.; Zajda, A.; Sikora, J.; Huttunen, K. M. Sulfonamide Metformin Derivatives Induce Mitochondrial-Associated Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Breast Cancer Cells. Chemico-Biological Interactions<\/em><\/strong>, 2022<\/strong>, 352<\/em>, 109795. <\/em>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cbi.2021.109795<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Sadowski, K.; Huttunen, J.; Sikora, J.; Huttunen, K.M. Incorporation of Sulfonamide Moiety into Biguanide Scaffold Results in Apoptosis Induction and Cell Cycle Arrest in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences<\/em><\/strong>, 2021<\/strong>, 22<\/em>(11): 5642. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms22115642<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Komeil, I.; Huttunen, J.; Sikora, J.; Huttunen, K. M. Effective cellular transport of ortho-halogenated sulfonamide derivatives of metformin is related with improved antiproliferative activity and apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences<\/i><\/b>, 2020<\/b>, 21<\/i>, 2389-2417. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.bioorg.2019.03.036<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markowicz-Piasecka M, Huttunen J, Sikora J, Huttunen KM. Sulfenamide derivatives can improve transporter-mediated cellular uptake of metformin and induce cytotoxicity in human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. Bioorganic Chemistry<\/i><\/b>, 2019<\/b>, 87<\/i>, 321-334. http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.bioorg.2019.03.036<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Inhibitors of LAT1 as a Novel Anti-Cancer Agents <\/u><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huttunen, K. M.; Gynther, M.; Huttunen, J.; Puris, E.; Spicer, J. A.; Denny, W. A. A Selective and Slowly Reversible Inhibitor of L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) Potentiates Antiproliferative Drug Efficacy in Cancer Cells. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry<\/i><\/b>, 2016<\/b>, 59<\/i> (12), 5740-5751. http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.jmedchem.6b00190<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Huttunen, J.; Montaser, A.; Huttunen, K. M.  Hemocompatible LAT1-inhibitor Can Induce Apoptosis in Cancer Cells Without Affecting Brain Amino Acid Homeostasis. Apoptosis<\/em><\/strong>, 2020<\/strong>, 25<\/em>(5), 426-440. http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10495-020-01603-7<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Solute Carriers (SLCs) as well as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, so-called efflux transporters are over-expressed in many different types of cancer cells and in solid tumors. Thus, SLCs can be utilized for cancer cell-targeted selective drug delivery or to inhibit and starve the cancer cell from essential nutrients. ABC transporters, on the other hand, have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":0,"parent":43,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-130","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCancer Cell Targeting - Drug targeting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/drug-targeting\/projects\/cancer-cell-targeting\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cancer Cell Targeting - Drug targeting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Solute Carriers (SLCs) as well as ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, so-called efflux transporters are over-expressed in many different types of cancer cells and in solid tumors. 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