Carcinogenic N-nitrosamine contamination in certain drugs has recently caused great concern and the attention of regulatory agencies. These carcinogens—widely detectable in relatively low levels in food, water, cosmetics, and drugs—are well-established and powerful animal carcinogens. The electrophiles resulting from the cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of N-nitrosamines can readily react with DNA and form covalent addition products (DNA adducts) that play a central role in carcinogenesis if not repaired. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive and updated review of progress on the metabolic activation and DNA interactions of 10 carcinogenic N-nitrosamines to which humans are commonly exposed. Certain DNA adducts such as O6-methylguanine with established miscoding properties play central roles in the cancer induction process, whereas others have been linked to the high incidence of certain types of cancers. We hope the data summarized here will help researchers gain a better understanding of the bioactivation and DNA interactions of these 10 carcinogenic N-nitrosamines and facilitate further research on their toxicologic and carcinogenic properties.
Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are members of the transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily which are distinguished from others by the presence of a discoidin motif in the extracellular domain and their utilization of collagens as internal ligands. Two types of DDRs, DDR1 and DDR2, have been identified with distinct expression profiles and ligand specificities. These DDRs play important roles in the regulation of fundamental cellular process, such as proliferation, survival, differentiation, adhesion, and matrix remodeling. They have also been closely linked to a number of human diseases, including various fibrotic disorders, atherosclerosis, and cancer. As a consequence, DDRs have been considered as novel potential molecular targets for drug discovery and increasing efforts are being devoted to the identification of new small molecule inhibitors targeting the receptors. In this review, we offer a contemporary overview on the discovery of DDRs inhibitors and their potential medical application for the treatment of cancer and inflammation related disorders.
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