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Dai B, Clark AM, Wells A. Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Secreted Exosomes and Soluble Signals Regulate Breast Cancer Metastatic Dormancy: Current Progress and Future Outlook. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7133. [PMID: 39000239 PMCID: PMC11241820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is most common in women, and in most cases there is no evidence of spread and the primary tumor is removed, resulting in a 'cure'. However, in 10% to 30% of these women, distant metastases recur after years to decades. This is due to breast cancer cells disseminating to distant organs and lying quiescent. This is called metastatic dormancy. Dormant cells are generally resistant to chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy as they are non-cycling and receive survival signals from their microenvironment. In this state, they are clinically irrelevant. However, risk factors, including aging and inflammation can awaken dormant cells and cause breast cancer recurrences, which may happen even more than ten years after the primary tumor removal. How these breast cancer cells remain in dormancy is being unraveled. A key element appears to be the mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow that have been shown to promote breast cancer metastatic dormancy in recent studies. Indirect co-culture, direct co-culture and exosome extraction were conducted to investigate the modes of signal operation. Multiple signaling molecules act in this process including both protein factors and microRNAs. We integrate these studies to summarize current findings and gaps in the field and suggest future research directions for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Dai
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (B.D.); (A.M.C.)
- R&D Service, Pittsburgh VA Health System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Amanda M. Clark
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (B.D.); (A.M.C.)
- R&D Service, Pittsburgh VA Health System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cell Biology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (B.D.); (A.M.C.)
- R&D Service, Pittsburgh VA Health System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cell Biology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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2
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Liu R, Zhao Y, Su S, Kwabil A, Njoku PC, Yu H, Li X. Unveiling cancer dormancy: Intrinsic mechanisms and extrinsic forces. Cancer Lett 2024; 591:216899. [PMID: 38649107 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Tumor cells disseminate in various distant organs at early stages of cancer progression. These disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) can stay dormant/quiescent without causing patient symptoms for years or decades. These dormant tumor cells survive despite curative treatments by entering growth arrest, escaping immune surveillance, and/or developing drug resistance. However, these dormant cells can reactivate to proliferate, causing metastatic progression and/or relapse, posing a threat to patients' survival. It's unclear how cancer cells maintain dormancy and what triggers their reactivation. What are better approaches to prevent metastatic progression and relapse through harnessing cancer dormancy? To answer these remaining questions, we reviewed the studies of tumor dormancy and reactivation in various types of cancer using different model systems, including the brief history of dormancy studies, the intrinsic characteristics of dormant cells, and the external cues at the cellular and molecular levels. Furthermore, we discussed future directions in the field and the strategies for manipulating dormancy to prevent metastatic progression and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010070, China; Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Yawei Zhao
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Shang Su
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Augustine Kwabil
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Prisca Chinonso Njoku
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Haiquan Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010070, China.
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
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3
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Ko J, Song J, Lee Y, Choi N, Kim HN. Understanding organotropism in cancer metastasis using microphysiological systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1542-1556. [PMID: 38192269 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00889d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, remains a complex challenge in medical science. Stephen Paget's "seed and soil theory" introduced the concept of organotropism, suggesting that metastatic success depends on specific organ microenvironments. Understanding organotropism not only offers potential for curbing metastasis but also novel treatment strategies. Microphysiological systems (MPS), especially organ-on-a-chip models, have emerged as transformative tools in this quest. These systems, blending microfluidics, biology, and engineering, grant precise control over cell interactions within organ-specific microenvironments. MPS enable real-time monitoring, morphological analysis, and protein quantification, enhancing our comprehension of cancer dynamics, including tumor migration, vascularization, and pre-metastatic niches. In this review, we explore innovative applications of MPS in investigating cancer metastasis, particularly focusing on organotropism. This interdisciplinary approach converges the field of science, engineering, and medicine, thereby illuminating a path toward groundbreaking discoveries in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihoon Ko
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jiyoung Song
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yedam Lee
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei-KIST Convergence Research Institute, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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4
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Richbourg NR, Irakoze N, Kim H, Peyton SR. Outlook and opportunities for engineered environments of breast cancer dormancy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl0165. [PMID: 38457510 PMCID: PMC10923521 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Dormant, disseminated breast cancer cells resist treatment and may relapse into malignant metastases after decades of quiescence. Identifying how and why these dormant breast cancer cells are triggered into outgrowth is a key unsolved step in treating latent, metastatic breast cancer. However, our understanding of breast cancer dormancy in vivo is limited by technical challenges and ethical concerns with triggering the activation of dormant breast cancer. In vitro models avoid many of these challenges by simulating breast cancer dormancy and activation in well-controlled, bench-top conditions, creating opportunities for fundamental insights into breast cancer biology that complement what can be achieved through animal and clinical studies. In this review, we address clinical and preclinical approaches to treating breast cancer dormancy, how precisely controlled artificial environments reveal key interactions that regulate breast cancer dormancy, and how future generations of biomaterials could answer further questions about breast cancer dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan R. Richbourg
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Ninette Irakoze
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Hyuna Kim
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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5
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McDonald JC, Clark AM. Modeling Tumor Cell Dormancy in an Ex Vivo Liver Metastatic Niche. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2811:37-53. [PMID: 39037648 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3882-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Despite decades of research into metastatic disease, our knowledge of the mechanisms governing dormancy are still limited. Unraveling the process will aid in developing effective therapies to either maintain or eliminate these dormant cells and thus prevent them from emerging into overt metastatic disease. To study the behavior of dormant tumor cells-mechanisms that promote, maintain, and disrupt this state-we utilize the Legacy LiverChip®, an all-human ex vivo hepatic microphysiological system. This complex, bioengineered system is able to recreate metastatic disease that is reflective of the human situation and is among only a handful of systems able to mimic spontaneous tumor cell dormancy. The dormant subpopulation reflects the defining traits of cellular dormancy-survival in a foreign microenvironment, chemoresistance, and reversible growth arrest. This microphysiological system has and continues to provide critical insights into the biology of dormant tumor cells. It also serves as an accessible tool to identify new therapeutic strategies targeting dormancy and concurrently evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic agents as well as their metabolism and dose-limiting toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob C McDonald
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amanda M Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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6
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Alshabi A, Shaik IH, Zhao Y, Pillai VC, Caritis S, Venkataramanan R. A cocktail probe approach to evaluate the effect of hormones on the expression and activity of CYP enzymes in human hepatocytes with conditions simulating late stage of pregnancy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2023; 79:815-827. [PMID: 37060457 PMCID: PMC10105140 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-023-03489-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pregnancy-mediated physiological and biochemical changes contribute to alterations in the pharmacokinetics of certain drugs. There is a paucity of data on the systematic evaluation of the underlying mechanisms. The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of changes in circulating and tissue hormonal concentration during the late stage of pregnancy on the activity and expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes using a cocktail probe approach. METHODS Freshly isolated primary human hepatocytes were incubated with third trimester physiologic (plasma) and projected liver (ten-fold higher) concentrations of female hormones: progesterone (2 µM), estradiol (0.3 µM), estriol (0.8 µM), estrone (0.2 µM), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (0.1 µM), and human growth hormone (0.005 µM). The metabolic activity of the hepatocytes was assessed using a cocktail of isozyme-specific P450 probe substrates (CYP1A2 (phenacetin), CYP2C9 (diclofenac), CYP2C19 (S-mephenytoin), CYP2D6 (dextromethorphan), and CYP3A4 (testosterone)). A validated LC-MS/MS assay was used to measure the corresponding metabolite concentrations. CYP450 protein and mRNA levels were measured using western blot and qRT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS Female hormones at projected third-semester hepatic concentrations significantly enhanced mRNA and protein expression and increased the metabolic activity of CYP3A4. The expression and activity of other CYP450 enzymes studied were not affected by mixtures of female hormones at concentrations used. CONCLUSION The increased activity of CYP3A4 is consistent with the clinically observed increase in clearance of CYP3A4 substrates during pregnancy. Overall expression and activity of CYP450 isozymes are differentially regulated during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alshabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imam H Shaik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Venkateswaran C Pillai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Steve Caritis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Magee Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Raman Venkataramanan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
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7
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Fröhlich E. The Variety of 3D Breast Cancer Models for the Study of Tumor Physiology and Drug Screening. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087116. [PMID: 37108283 PMCID: PMC10139112 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and responsible for multiple deaths worldwide. 3D cancer models enable a better representation of tumor physiology than the conventional 2D cultures. This review summarizes the important components of physiologically relevant 3D models and describes the spectrum of 3D breast cancer models, e.g., spheroids, organoids, breast cancer on a chip and bioprinted tissues. The generation of spheroids is relatively standardized and easy to perform. Microfluidic systems allow control over the environment and the inclusion of sensors and can be combined with spheroids or bioprinted models. The strength of bioprinting relies on the spatial control of the cells and the modulation of the extracellular matrix. Except for the predominant use of breast cancer cell lines, the models differ in stromal cell composition, matrices and fluid flow. Organoids are most appropriate for personalized treatment, but all technologies can mimic most aspects of breast cancer physiology. Fetal bovine serum as a culture supplement and Matrigel as a scaffold limit the reproducibility and standardization of the listed 3D models. The integration of adipocytes is needed because they possess an important role in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonore Fröhlich
- Center for Medical Research, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering GmbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
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8
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McDuffie D, Barr D, Helm M, Baumert T, Agarwal A, Thomas E. Physiomimetic In Vitro Human Models for Viral Infection in the Liver. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:31-49. [PMID: 36402129 PMCID: PMC10005888 DOI: 10.1055/a-1981-5944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver morbidity and mortality globally. The mechanisms underlying acute infection and clearance, versus the development of chronic infection, are poorly understood. In vitro models of viral hepatitis circumvent the high costs and ethical considerations of animal models, which also translate poorly to studying the human-specific hepatitis viruses. However, significant challenges are associated with modeling long-term infection in vitro. Differentiated hepatocytes are best able to sustain chronic viral hepatitis infection, but standard two-dimensional models are limited because they fail to mimic the architecture and cellular microenvironment of the liver, and cannot maintain a differentiated hepatocyte phenotype over extended periods. Alternatively, physiomimetic models facilitate important interactions between hepatocytes and their microenvironment by incorporating liver-specific environmental factors such as three-dimensional ECM interactions and co-culture with non-parenchymal cells. These physiologically relevant interactions help maintain a functional hepatocyte phenotype that is critical for sustaining viral hepatitis infection. In this review, we provide an overview of distinct, novel, and innovative in vitro liver models and discuss their functionality and relevance in modeling viral hepatitis. These platforms may provide novel insight into mechanisms that regulate viral clearance versus progression to chronic infections that can drive subsequent liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis McDuffie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
| | - David Barr
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Madeline Helm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
| | - Thomas Baumert
- Inserm Research Institute for Viral and Liver Diseases, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ashutosh Agarwal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Emmanuel Thomas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
- Schiff Center for Liver Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
- Address for correspondence Emmanuel Thomas, MD, PhD, FAASLD Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL 33136-1015
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9
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Elkholi IE, Lalonde A, Park M, Côté JF. Breast Cancer Metastatic Dormancy and Relapse: An Enigma of Microenvironment(s). Cancer Res 2022; 82:4497-4510. [PMID: 36214624 PMCID: PMC9755970 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-1902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Multiple factors act in concert to define the fate of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) to enter dormancy or develop overt metastases. Here, we review these factors in the context of three stages of the metastatic cascade that impact DTCs. First, cells can be programmed within the primary tumor microenvironment to promote or inhibit dissemination, and the primary tumor can condition a premetastatic niche. Then, cancer cells from the primary tumor spread through hematogenous and lymphatic routes, and the primary tumor sends cues systematically to regulate the fate of DTCs. Finally, DTCs home to their metastatic site, where they are influenced by various organ-specific aspects of the new microenvironment. We discuss these factors in the context of breast cancer, where about one-third of patients develop metastatic relapse. Finally, we discuss how the standard-of-care options for breast cancer might affect the fate of DTCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam E. Elkholi
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Corresponding Authors: Jean-François Côté, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal H2W 1R7, Québec, Canada. Phone: 514-987-5647; E-mail: ; and Islam E. Elkholi, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal (QC) Canada, H2W 1R7. Phone: 514-987-5656; E-mail:
| | - Andréane Lalonde
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Morag Park
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-François Côté
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Molecular Biology Programs, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Corresponding Authors: Jean-François Côté, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal H2W 1R7, Québec, Canada. Phone: 514-987-5647; E-mail: ; and Islam E. Elkholi, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), 110 Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montréal (QC) Canada, H2W 1R7. Phone: 514-987-5656; E-mail:
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10
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Lim AR, Ghajar CM. Thorny ground, rocky soil: Tissue-specific mechanisms of tumor dormancy and relapse. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 78:104-123. [PMID: 33979673 PMCID: PMC9595433 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) spread systemically yet distinct patterns of metastasis indicate a range of tissue susceptibility to metastatic colonization. Distinctions between permissive and suppressive tissues are still being elucidated at cellular and molecular levels. Although there is a growing appreciation for the role of the microenvironment in regulating metastatic success, we have a limited understanding of how diverse tissues regulate DTC dormancy, the state of reversible quiescence and subsequent awakening thought to contribute to delayed relapse. Several themes of microenvironmental regulation of dormancy are beginning to emerge, including vascular association, co-option of pre-existing niches, metabolic adaptation, and immune evasion, with tissue-specific nuances. Conversely, DTC awakening is often associated with injury or inflammation-induced activation of the stroma, promoting a proliferative environment with DTCs following suit. We review what is known about tissue-specific regulation of tumor dormancy on a tissue-by-tissue basis, profiling major metastatic organs including the bone, lung, brain, liver, and lymph node. An aerial view of the barriers to metastatic growth may reveal common targets and dependencies to inform the therapeutic prevention of relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea R Lim
- Public Health Sciences Division/Translational Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Cyrus M Ghajar
- Public Health Sciences Division/Translational Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
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11
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Wang AJ, Allen A, Sofman M, Sphabmixay P, Yildiz E, Griffith LG. Engineering Modular 3D Liver Culture Microenvironments In Vitro to Parse the Interplay between Biophysical and Biochemical Microenvironment Cues on Hepatic Phenotypes. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2022; 2:2100049. [PMID: 35872804 PMCID: PMC9307216 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro models of human liver functions are used across a diverse range of applications in preclinical drug development and disease modeling, with particular increasing interest in models that capture facets of liver inflammatory status. This study investigates how the interplay between biophysical and biochemical microenvironment cues influence phenotypic responses, including inflammation signatures, of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) cultured in a commercially available perfused bioreactor. A 3D printing-based alginate microwell system was designed to form thousands of hepatic spheroids in a scalable manner as a comparator 3D culture modality to the bioreactor. Soft, synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel scaffolds with biophysical properties mimicking features of liver were engineered to replace polystyrene scaffolds, and the biochemical microenvironment was modulated with a defined set of growth factors and signaling modulators. The supplemented media significantly increased tissue density, albumin secretion, and CYP3A4 activity but also upregulated inflammatory markers. Basal inflammatory markers were lower for cells maintained in ECM hydrogel scaffolds or spheroid formats than polystyrene scaffolds, while hydrogel scaffolds exhibited the most sensitive response to inflammation as assessed by multiplexed cytokine and RNA-seq analyses. Together, these engineered 3D liver microenvironments provide insights for probing human liver functions and inflammatory response in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J Wang
- Biological Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Allysa Allen
- Biological Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Marianna Sofman
- Biological Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Pierre Sphabmixay
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Ece Yildiz
- Biological Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Route Cantonale, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Linda G. Griffith
- Biological Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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12
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Akkoc Y, Gozuacik D. Autophagy and Hepatic Tumor Microenvironment Associated Dormancy. J Gastrointest Cancer 2021; 52:1277-1293. [PMID: 34921672 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-021-00774-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The goal of successful cancer treatment is targeting the eradication of cancer cells. Although surgical removal of the primary tumors and several rounds of chemo- and radiotherapy reduce the disease burden, in some cases, asymptomatic dormant cancer cells may still exist in the body. Dormant cells arise from the disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) from the primary lesion. DTCs escape from immune system and cancer therapy and reside at the secondary organ without showing no sign of proliferation. However, under some conditions. dormant cells can be re-activated and enter a proliferative state even after decades. As a stress response mechanism, autophagy may help the adaptation of DTCs at this futile foreign microenvironment and may control the survival and re-activation of dormant cells. Studies indicate that hepatic microenvironment serves a favorable condition for cancer cell dormancy. Although, no direct study was pointing out the role of autophagy in liver-assisted dormancy, involvement of autophagy in both liver microenvironment, health, and disease conditions has been indicated. Therefore, in this review article, we will summarize cancer dormancy and discuss the role and importance of autophagy and hepatic microenvironment in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunus Akkoc
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, 34010, Turkey.
| | - Devrim Gozuacik
- Koç University Research Centre for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, 34010, Turkey.,Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey
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13
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Tan ML, Ling L, Fischbach C. Engineering strategies to capture the biological and biophysical tumor microenvironment in vitro. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 176:113852. [PMID: 34197895 PMCID: PMC8440401 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of research and advancements in diagnostic and treatment modalities, cancer remains a major global healthcare challenge. This is due in part to a lack of model systems that allow investigating the mechanisms underlying tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance under relevant conditions in vitro. Tumor cell interactions with their surroundings influence all stages of tumorigenesis and are shaped by both biological and biophysical cues including cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, tissue architecture and mechanics, and mass transport. Engineered tumor models provide promising platforms to elucidate the individual and combined contributions of these cues to tumor malignancy under controlled and physiologically relevant conditions. This review will summarize current knowledge of the biological and biophysical microenvironmental cues that influence tumor development and progression, present examples of in vitro model systems that are presently used to study these interactions and highlight advancements in tumor engineering approaches to further improve these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Tan
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lu Ling
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Claudia Fischbach
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA; Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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14
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Balachander GM, Kotcherlakota R, Nayak B, Kedaria D, Rangarajan A, Chatterjee K. 3D Tumor Models for Breast Cancer: Whither We Are and What We Need. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:3470-3486. [PMID: 34286955 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c00230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) models have led to a paradigm shift in disease modeling in vitro, particularly for cancer. The past decade has seen a phenomenal increase in the development of 3D models for various types of cancers with a focus on studying stemness, invasive behavior, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance of cancer cells, as well as contributions of its stroma, which has expanded our understanding of these processes. Cancer biology is moving into exploring the emerging hallmarks of cancer, such as inflammation, immune evasion, and reprogramming of energy metabolism. Studies into these emerging concepts have provided novel targets and treatment options such as antitumor immunotherapy. However, 3D models that can investigate the emerging hallmarks are few and underexplored. As commonly used immunocompromised mice and syngenic mice cannot accurately mimic human immunology, stromal interactions, and metabolism and require the use of prohibitively expensive humanized mice, there is tremendous scope to develop authentic 3D tumor models in these areas. Taking the specific case of breast cancer, we discuss the currently available 3D models, their applications to mimic signaling in cancer, tumor-stroma interactions, drug responses, and assessment of drug delivery systems and therapies. We discuss the lacunae in the development of 3D tumor models for the emerging hallmarks of cancer, for lesser-explored forms of breast cancer, and provide insights to develop such models. We discuss how the next generation of 3D models can provide a better mimic of human cancer modeling compared to xenograft models and the scope toward preclinical models and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gowri Manohari Balachander
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, MD9-04-11, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Rajesh Kotcherlakota
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
| | - Biswadeep Nayak
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States.,Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
| | - Dhaval Kedaria
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
| | - Annapoorni Rangarajan
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.,Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
| | - Kaushik Chatterjee
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.,Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India
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15
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Tu Y, Chen D, Pan T, Chen Z, Xu J, Jin L, Sheng L, Jin X, Wang X, Lan X, Ge Y, Sun H, Chen Y. Inhibition of miR-431-5p attenuated liver apoptosis through KLF15/p53 signal pathway in S100 induced autoimmune hepatitis mice. Life Sci 2021; 280:119698. [PMID: 34111466 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of miR-431-5p on hepatocyte apoptosis in AIH. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used intraperitoneal injection of S100 to establish AIH mouse model and injected AAV into tail vein on day 14 of modeling to regulate miR-431-5p expression. The expression of ALT, AST, IgG and apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase 3 were measured in each group. Cellular experiments were performed using miR-431-5p mimics or inhibitors to transfect LPS-stimulated AML12 cells, and apoptosis was verified using Western blot and Hoechst 33342/PI Double Staining. The target of miR-431-5p, KLF15, was screened using databases and verified by the luciferase reporter assay. The relationship between KLF15 and p53 was verified by si-KLF15 and PFTβ (a p53-specific inhibitor). KEY FINDINGS Here, we observed that the increase in the level of miR-431-5p was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of Krüppel-like zinc finger transcription factor 15 (KLF15). In addition, the deletion of miR-431-5p significantly reduced hepatocyte apoptosis in AIH mice induced by liver S100 and apoptosis of AML12 cells induced by LPS stimulation, accompanied by decreased expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 as well as increased expression of Bcl-2. Moreover, KLF15 was the direct and functional target of miR-431-5p. Furthermore, miR-431-5p negatively regulated the expression of KLF15, and KLF15 deletion partially abolished the inhibitory effect of miR-431-5p deletion on apoptosis by activating p53 signaling. SIGNIFICANCE In summary, miR-431-5p may be a potential therapeutic target for AIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulu Tu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Dazhi Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100032, China
| | - Tongtong Pan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Zhengkang Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Lanling Jin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Lina Sheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Affiliated Yiwu Central Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Xiaozhi Jin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China
| | - Xiaolin Lan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui 323000, China
| | - Yuli Ge
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui 323000, China.
| | - Huiling Sun
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lishui People's Hospital, Lishui 323000, China.
| | - Yongping Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Diseases, Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatology, Hepatology Institute of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325006, China.
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16
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Janani G, Mandal BB. Mimicking Physiologically Relevant Hepatocyte Zonation Using Immunomodulatory Silk Liver Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds toward a Bioartificial Liver Platform. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:24401-24421. [PMID: 34019382 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c00719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mimicking nativelike metabolic zonation is indispensable to develop an efficient bioartificial liver model, as it facilitates physiological cues, hepatocyte polarity, and phenotypic functions. The present study shows the first evidence of hepatocyte metabolic heterogeneity in an in vitro liver model encompassing liver extracellular matrix (ECM)-functionalized silk scaffolds (LECM-SF) by altering ECM proportion. Upon static culture, individual LECM-SF scaffold supports differential synthetic and metabolic functions of cultured primary neonatal rat hepatocytes (PNRHs), owing to discrete biophysical attributes. A single in vitro liver system comprising PNRHs seeded LECM-SF scaffolds assisting periportal to pericentral gradient functions is stacked and matured in a perfusion bioreactor to simulate oxygen gradient. The scaffold with high ECM supports periportal-specific albumin synthesis, urea secretion, and bile duct formation, albeit scaffold with low ECM supports pericentral-specific cytochrome P450 activity. Extensive physicochemical characterizations confirmed the stability and interconnected porous network of scaffolds, signifying cellular infiltration and bidirectional nutrient diffusion. Furthermore, scaffolds demonstrate minimal thrombogenicity, reduced foreign-body response, and enhanced pro-remodeling macrophage activation, supporting constructive tissue remodeling. The developed liver model with zone-specific functions would be a promising avenue in bioartificial liver and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Janani
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Biman B Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
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17
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Clark AM, Allbritton NL, Wells A. Integrative microphysiological tissue systems of cancer metastasis to the liver. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 71:157-169. [PMID: 32580025 PMCID: PMC7750290 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the most commonly involved organ in metastases from a wide variety of solid tumors. The use of biologically and cellularly complex liver tissue systems have shown that tumor cell behavior and therapeutic responses are modulated within the liver microenvironment and in ways distinct from the behaviors in the primary locations. These microphysiological systems have provided unexpected and powerful insights into the tumor cell biology of metastasis. However, neither the tumor nor the liver exist in an isolated tissue situation, having to function within a complete body and respond to systemic events as well as those in other organs. To examine the influence of one organ on the function of other tissues, microphysiological systems are being linked. Herein, we discuss extending this concept to tumor metastases by integrating complex models of the primary tumor with the liver metastatic environment. In addition, inflammatory organs and the immune system can be incorporated into these multi-organ systems to probe the effects on tumor behavior and cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Nancy L Allbritton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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18
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Bushnell GG, Deshmukh AP, den Hollander P, Luo M, Soundararajan R, Jia D, Levine H, Mani SA, Wicha MS. Breast cancer dormancy: need for clinically relevant models to address current gaps in knowledge. NPJ Breast Cancer 2021; 7:66. [PMID: 34050189 PMCID: PMC8163741 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-021-00269-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the USA. Although advances in treatment over the past several decades have significantly improved the outlook for this disease, most women who are diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive disease remain at risk of metastatic relapse for the remainder of their life. The cellular source of late relapse in these patients is thought to be disseminated tumor cells that reactivate after a long period of dormancy. The biology of these dormant cells and their natural history over a patient's lifetime is largely unclear. We posit that research on tumor dormancy has been significantly limited by the lack of clinically relevant models. This review will discuss existing dormancy models, gaps in biological understanding, and propose criteria for future models to enhance their clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace G Bushnell
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Abhijeet P Deshmukh
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Petra den Hollander
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ming Luo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rama Soundararajan
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dongya Jia
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics and Departments of Physics and Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Max S Wicha
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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19
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Clark AM, Heusey HL, Griffith LG, Lauffenburger DA, Wells A. IP-10 (CXCL10) Can Trigger Emergence of Dormant Breast Cancer Cells in a Metastatic Liver Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:676135. [PMID: 34123844 PMCID: PMC8190328 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.676135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic breast cancer remains a largely incurable and fatal disease with liver involvement bearing the worst prognosis. The danger is compounded by a subset of disseminated tumor cells that may lie dormant for years to decades before re-emerging as clinically detectable metastases. Pathophysiological signals can drive these tumor cells to emerge. Prior studies indicated CXCR3 ligands as being the predominant signals synergistically and significantly unregulated during inflammation in the gut-liver axis. Of the CXCR3 ligands, IP-10 (CXCL10) was the most abundant, correlated significantly with shortened survival of human breast cancer patients with metastatic disease and was highest in those with triple negative (TNBC) disease. Using a complex ex vivo all-human liver microphysiological (MPS) model of dormant-emergent metastatic progression, CXCR3 ligands were found to be elevated in actively growing populations of metastatic TNBC breast cancer cells whereas they remained similar to the tumor-free hepatic niche in those with dormant breast cancer cells. Subsequent stimulation of dormant breast cancer cells in the ex vivo metastatic liver MPS model with IP-10 triggered their emergence in a dose-dependent manner. Emergence was indicated to occur indirectly possibly via activation of the resident liver cells in the surrounding metastatic microenvironment, as stimulation of breast cancer cells with exogenous IP-10 did not significantly change their migratory, invasive or proliferative behavior. The findings reveal that IP-10 is capable of triggering the emergence of dormant breast cancer cells within the liver metastatic niche and identifies the IP-10/CXCR3 as a candidate targetable pathway for rational approaches aimed at maintaining dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Haley L. Heusey
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Linda G. Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Douglas. A. Lauffenburger
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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20
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Drew J, Machesky LM. The liver metastatic niche: modelling the extracellular matrix in metastasis. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm048801. [PMID: 33973625 PMCID: PMC8077555 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Dissemination of malignant cells from primary tumours to metastatic sites is a key step in cancer progression. Disseminated tumour cells preferentially settle in specific target organs, and the success of such metastases depends on dynamic interactions between cancer cells and the microenvironments they encounter at secondary sites. Two emerging concepts concerning the biology of metastasis are that organ-specific microenvironments influence the fate of disseminated cancer cells, and that cancer cell-extracellular matrix interactions have important roles at all stages of the metastatic cascade. The extracellular matrix is the complex and dynamic non-cellular component of tissues that provides a physical scaffold and conveys essential adhesive and paracrine signals for a tissue's function. Here, we focus on how extracellular matrix dynamics contribute to liver metastases - a common and deadly event. We discuss how matrix components of the healthy and premetastatic liver support early seeding of disseminated cancer cells, and how the matrix derived from both cancer and liver contributes to the changes in niche composition as metastasis progresses. We also highlight the technical developments that are providing new insights into the stochastic, dynamic and multifaceted roles of the liver extracellular matrix in permitting and sustaining metastasis. An understanding of the contribution of the extracellular matrix to different stages of metastasis may well pave the way to targeted and effective therapies against metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Drew
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Laura M. Machesky
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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21
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Sigdel I, Gupta N, Faizee F, Khare VM, Tiwari AK, Tang Y. Biomimetic Microfluidic Platforms for the Assessment of Breast Cancer Metastasis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:633671. [PMID: 33777909 PMCID: PMC7992012 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.633671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Of around half a million women dying of breast cancer each year, more than 90% die due to metastasis. Models necessary to understand the metastatic process, particularly breast cancer cell extravasation and colonization, are currently limited and urgently needed to develop therapeutic interventions necessary to prevent breast cancer metastasis. Microfluidic approaches aim to reconstitute functional units of organs that cannot be modeled easily in traditional cell culture or animal studies by reproducing vascular networks and parenchyma on a chip in a three-dimensional, physiologically relevant in vitro system. In recent years, microfluidics models utilizing innovative biomaterials and micro-engineering technologies have shown great potential in our effort of mechanistic understanding of the breast cancer metastasis cascade by providing 3D constructs that can mimic in vivo cellular microenvironment and the ability to visualize and monitor cellular interactions in real-time. In this review, we will provide readers with a detailed discussion on the application of the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art microfluidics-based breast cancer models, with a special focus on their application in the engineering approaches to recapitulate the metastasis process, including invasion, intravasation, extravasation, breast cancer metastasis organotropism, and metastasis niche formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira Sigdel
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Niraj Gupta
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Fairuz Faizee
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Vishwa M Khare
- Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Amit K Tiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Yuan Tang
- Biofluidics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
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22
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Wang Y, Brodin E, Nishii K, Frieboes HB, Mumenthaler SM, Sparks JL, Macklin P. Impact of tumor-parenchyma biomechanics on liver metastatic progression: a multi-model approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1710. [PMID: 33462259 PMCID: PMC7813881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78780-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer and other cancers often metastasize to the liver in later stages of the disease, contributing significantly to patient death. While the biomechanical properties of the liver parenchyma (normal liver tissue) are known to affect tumor cell behavior in primary and metastatic tumors, the role of these properties in driving or inhibiting metastatic inception remains poorly understood, as are the longer-term multicellular dynamics. This study adopts a multi-model approach to study the dynamics of tumor-parenchyma biomechanical interactions during metastatic seeding and growth. We employ a detailed poroviscoelastic model of a liver lobule to study how micrometastases disrupt flow and pressure on short time scales. Results from short-time simulations in detailed single hepatic lobules motivate constitutive relations and biological hypotheses for a minimal agent-based model of metastatic growth in centimeter-scale tissue over months-long time scales. After a parameter space investigation, we find that the balance of basic tumor-parenchyma biomechanical interactions on shorter time scales (adhesion, repulsion, and elastic tissue deformation over minutes) and longer time scales (plastic tissue relaxation over hours) can explain a broad range of behaviors of micrometastases, without the need for complex molecular-scale signaling. These interactions may arrest the growth of micrometastases in a dormant state and prevent newly arriving cancer cells from establishing successful metastatic foci. Moreover, the simulations indicate ways in which dormant tumors could "reawaken" after changes in parenchymal tissue mechanical properties, as may arise during aging or following acute liver illness or injury. We conclude that the proposed modeling approach yields insight into the role of tumor-parenchyma biomechanics in promoting liver metastatic growth, and advances the longer term goal of identifying conditions to clinically arrest and reverse the course of late-stage cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Wang
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Erik Brodin
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Kenichiro Nishii
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Hermann B Frieboes
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Shannon M Mumenthaler
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jessica L Sparks
- Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA.
| | - Paul Macklin
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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23
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Amirghasemi F, Adjei-Sowah E, Pockaj BA, Nikkhah M. Microengineered 3D Tumor Models for Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery in Female-Related Cancers. Ann Biomed Eng 2021; 49:1943-1972. [PMID: 33403451 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02704-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The burden of cancer continues to increase in society and negatively impacts the lives of numerous patients. Due to the high cost of current treatment strategies, there is a crucial unmet need to develop inexpensive preclinical platforms to accelerate the process of anti-cancer drug discovery to improve outcomes in cancer patients, most especially in female patients. Many current methods employ expensive animal models which not only present ethical concerns but also do not often accurately predict human physiology and the outcomes of anti-cancer drug responsiveness. Conventional treatment approaches for cancer generally include systemic therapy after a surgical procedure. Although this treatment technique is effective, the outcome is not always positive due to various complex factors such as intratumor heterogeneity and confounding factors within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Patients who develop metastatic disease still have poor prognosis. To that end, recent efforts have attempted to use 3D microengineered platforms to enhance the predictive power and efficacy of anti-cancer drug screening, ultimately to develop personalized therapies. Fascinating features of microengineered assays, such as microfluidics, have led to the advancement in the development of the tumor-on-chip technology platforms, which have shown tremendous potential for meaningful and physiologically relevant anti-cancer drug discovery and screening. Three dimensional microscale models provide unprecedented ability to unveil the biological complexities of cancer and shed light into the mechanism of anti-cancer drug resistance in a timely and resource efficient manner. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the development of microengineered tumor models for anti-cancer drug discovery and screening in female-related cancers. We specifically focus on female-related cancers to draw attention to the various approaches being taken to improve the survival rate of women diagnosed with cancers caused by sex disparities. We also briefly discuss other cancer types like colon adenocarcinomas and glioblastoma due to their high rate of occurrence in females, as well as the high likelihood of sex-biased mutations which complicate current treatment strategies for women. We highlight recent advances in the development of 3D microscale platforms including 3D tumor spheroids, microfluidic platforms as well as bioprinted models, and discuss how they have been utilized to address major challenges in the process of drug discovery, such as chemoresistance, intratumor heterogeneity, drug toxicity, etc. We also present the potential of these platform technologies for use in high-throughput drug screening approaches as a replacements of conventional assays. Within each section, we will provide our perspectives on advantages of the discussed platform technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farbod Amirghasemi
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA
| | - Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA
| | - Barbara A Pockaj
- Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Mehdi Nikkhah
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-9709, USA. .,Biodesign Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
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Trapecar M, Wogram E, Svoboda D, Communal C, Omer A, Lungjangwa T, Sphabmixay P, Velazquez J, Schneider K, Wright CW, Mildrum S, Hendricks A, Levine S, Muffat J, Lee MJ, Lauffenburger DA, Trumper D, Jaenisch R, Griffith LG. Human physiomimetic model integrating microphysiological systems of the gut, liver, and brain for studies of neurodegenerative diseases. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/5/eabd1707. [PMID: 33514545 PMCID: PMC7846169 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd1707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Slow progress in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) motivates an urgent need for highly controlled in vitro systems to investigate organ-organ- and organ-immune-specific interactions relevant for disease pathophysiology. Of particular interest is the gut/microbiome-liver-brain axis for parsing out how genetic and environmental factors contribute to NDs. We have developed a mesofluidic platform technology to study gut-liver-cerebral interactions in the context of Parkinson's disease (PD). It connects microphysiological systems (MPSs) of the primary human gut and liver with a human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral MPS in a systemically circulated common culture medium containing CD4+ regulatory T and T helper 17 cells. We demonstrate this approach using a patient-derived cerebral MPS carrying the PD-causing A53T mutation, gaining two important findings: (i) that systemic interaction enhances features of in vivo-like behavior of cerebral MPSs, and (ii) that microbiome-associated short-chain fatty acids increase expression of pathology-associated pathways in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Trapecar
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emile Wogram
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Devon Svoboda
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Communal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Attya Omer
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Pierre Sphabmixay
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jason Velazquez
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kirsten Schneider
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles W Wright
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Mildrum
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT BioMicro Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Austin Hendricks
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT BioMicro Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stuart Levine
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- MIT BioMicro Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julien Muffat
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meelim Jasmine Lee
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Douglas A Lauffenburger
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David Trumper
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rudolf Jaenisch
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Linda G Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Abstract
Cancer mortality predominantly results from distant metastases that are undetectable at diagnosis and escape initial therapies to lie as dormant micrometastases for years. To study the behavior of micrometastases-how they resist initial treatments and then awaken from a dormant state-we utilize the Legacy LiverChip®, an all-human ex vivo hepatic microphysiological system. The functional liver bioreactor, comprising hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells in a 3D microperfused culture format, mimics the dormant-emergent metastatic progression observed in human patients: (a) a subpopulation of cancer cells spontaneously enter dormancy, (b) cycling cells are eliminated by standard chemotherapies, while quiescent dormant cells remain, and (c) chemoresistant dormant cells can be stimulated to emerge. The system effluent and tissue can be queried for proteomic and genomic data, immunofluorescent imaging as well as drug efficacy and metabolism. This microphysiological system continues to provide critical insights into the biology of dormant and re-emergent micrometastases and serves as an accessible tool to identify new therapeutic strategies targeting the various stages of metastasis, while concurrently evaluating antineoplastic agent efficacy for metastasis, metabolism, and dose-limiting toxicity.
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26
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Sistigu A, Musella M, Galassi C, Vitale I, De Maria R. Tuning Cancer Fate: Tumor Microenvironment's Role in Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Reawakening. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2166. [PMID: 33193295 PMCID: PMC7609361 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell dormancy is a common feature of human tumors and represents a major clinical barrier to the long-term efficacy of anticancer therapies. Dormant cancer cells, either in primary tumors or disseminated in secondary organs, may reawaken and relapse into a more aggressive disease. The mechanisms underpinning dormancy entry and exit strongly resemble those governing cancer cell stemness and include intrinsic and contextual cues. Cellular and molecular components of the tumor microenvironment persistently interact with cancer cells. This dialog is highly dynamic, as it evolves over time and space, strongly cooperates with intrinsic cell nets, and governs cancer cell features (like quiescence and stemness) and fate (survival and outgrowth). Therefore, there is a need for deeper insight into the biology of dormant cancer (stem) cells and the mechanisms regulating the equilibrium quiescence-versus-proliferation are vital in our pursuit of new therapeutic opportunities to prevent cancer from recurring. Here, we review and discuss microenvironmental regulations of cancer dormancy and its parallels with cancer stemness, and offer insights into the therapeutic strategies adopted to prevent a lethal recurrence, by either eradicating resident dormant cancer (stem) cells or maintaining them in a dormant state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Sistigu
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Musella
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Galassi
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilio Vitale
- IIGM - Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCSS Candiolo (TO), Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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27
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Fuller HC, Wei TY, Behrens MR, Ruder WC. The Future Application of Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies as Proving Grounds for MicroBioRobots. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E947. [PMID: 33092054 PMCID: PMC7589118 DOI: 10.3390/mi11100947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
An evolving understanding of disease pathogenesis has compelled the development of new drug delivery approaches. Recently, bioinspired microrobots have gained traction as drug delivery systems. By leveraging the microscale phenomena found in physiological systems, these microrobots can be designed with greater maneuverability, which enables more precise, controlled drug release. Their function could be further improved by testing their efficacy in physiologically relevant model systems as part of their development. In parallel with the emergence of microscale robots, organ-on-a-chip technologies have become important in drug discovery and physiological modeling. These systems reproduce organ-level functions in microfluidic devices, and can also incorporate specific biological, chemical, and physical aspects of a disease. This review highlights recent developments in both microrobotics and organ-on-a-chip technologies and envisions their combined use for developing future drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley C. Fuller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; (H.C.F.); (T.-Y.W.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Ting-Yen Wei
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; (H.C.F.); (T.-Y.W.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Michael R. Behrens
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; (H.C.F.); (T.-Y.W.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Warren C. Ruder
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; (H.C.F.); (T.-Y.W.); (M.R.B.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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28
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A Perspective on Therapeutic Pan-Resistance in Metastatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21197304. [PMID: 33022920 PMCID: PMC7582598 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic spread represents the leading cause of disease-related mortality among cancer patients. Many cancer patients suffer from metastatic relapse years or even decades after radical surgery for the primary tumor. This clinical phenomenon is explained by the early dissemination of cancer cells followed by a long period of dormancy. Although dormancy could be viewed as a window of opportunity for therapeutic interventions, dormant disseminated cancer cells and micrometastases, as well as emergent outgrowing macrometastases, exhibit a generalized, innate resistance to chemotherapy and even immunotherapy. This therapeutic pan-resistance, on top of other adaptive responses to targeted agents such as acquired mutations and lineage plasticity, underpins the current difficulties in eradicating cancer. In the present review, we attempt to provide a framework to understand the underlying biology of this major issue.
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29
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Özkan A, Stolley D, Cressman ENK, McMillin M, DeMorrow S, Yankeelov TE, Rylander MN. The Influence of Chronic Liver Diseases on Hepatic Vasculature: A Liver-on-a-chip Review. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E487. [PMID: 32397454 PMCID: PMC7281532 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma, the cells and extracellular matrix of the liver undergo significant alteration in response to chronic injury. Recent literature has highlighted the critical, but less studied, role of the liver vasculature in the progression of chronic liver diseases. Recent advancements in liver-on-a-chip systems has allowed in depth investigation of the role that the hepatic vasculature plays both in response to, and progression of, chronic liver disease. In this review, we first introduce the structure, gradients, mechanical properties, and cellular composition of the liver and describe how these factors influence the vasculature. We summarize state-of-the-art vascularized liver-on-a-chip platforms for investigating biological models of chronic liver disease and their influence on the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells of the hepatic vasculature. We conclude with a discussion of how future developments in the field may affect the study of chronic liver diseases, and drug development and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alican Özkan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Danielle Stolley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Erik N K Cressman
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew McMillin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA
| | - Sharon DeMorrow
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Thomas E Yankeelov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Departments of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Marissa Nichole Rylander
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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30
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Entry and exit of chemotherapeutically-promoted cellular dormancy in glioblastoma cells is differentially affected by the chemokines CXCL12, CXCL16, and CX3CL1. Oncogene 2020; 39:4421-4435. [PMID: 32346064 PMCID: PMC7253351 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1302-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor that evades therapy regimens. Since cellular dormancy is one strategy for surviving, and since chemokines determine the environmental conditions in which dormancy occurs, we investigated how chemokines affect temozolomide (TMZ)-promoted cellular dormancy entry and exit in GBM cells. TMZ administration over ten days promoted cellular dormancy entry, whereas discontinuing TMZ for a further 15 days resulted in resumption of proliferation. Co-administration of a chemokine cocktail containing CXCL12, CXCL16, and CX3CL1 resulted in both delayed entry and exit from cellular dormancy. A microarray-based transcriptome analysis in LN229 GBM cells revealed that cellular dormancy entry was characterized by an increased expression of CCL2 and SAA2, while THSD4, FSTL3, and VEGFC were upregulated during dormancy exit. Co-stimulation with the chemokine cocktail reduced upregulation of identified genes. After verifying the appearance of identified genes in human GBM primary cultures and ex vivo samples, we clarified whether each chemokine alone impacts cellular dormancy mechanisms using specific antagonists and selective CRISPR/Cas9 clones. While expression of CCL2 and SAA2 in LN229 cells was altered by the CXCL12-CXCR4-CXCR7 axis, CXCL16 and CX3CL1 contributed to reduced upregulation of THSD4 and, to a weaker extent, of VEGFC. The influence on FSTL3 expression depended on the entire chemokine cocktail. Effects of chemokines on dormancy entry and exit-associated genes were detectable in human GBM primary cells, too, even if in a more complex, cell-specific manner. Thus, chemokines play a significant role in the regulation of TMZ-promoted cellular dormancy in GBMs.
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31
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Fisher MF, Rao SS. Three‐dimensional culture models to study drug resistance in breast cancer. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:2262-2278. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.27356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline F. Fisher
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama
| | - Shreyas S. Rao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Alabama
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32
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Narkhede AA, Crenshaw JH, Crossman DK, Shevde LA, Rao SS. An in vitro hyaluronic acid hydrogel based platform to model dormancy in brain metastatic breast cancer cells. Acta Biomater 2020; 107:65-77. [PMID: 32119920 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer cells (BCCs) can remain dormant at the metastatic site, which when revoked leads to formation of metastasis several years after the treatment of primary tumor. Particularly, awakening of dormant BCCs in the brain results in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBrM) which marks the most advanced stage of the disease with a median survival period of ~4-16 months. However, our understanding of dormancy associated with BCBrM remains obscure, in part, due to the lack of relevant in vitro platforms to model dormancy associated with BCBrM. To address this need, we developed an in vitro hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel platform to model dormancy in brain metastatic BCCs via exploiting the bio-physical cues provided by HA hydrogels while bracketing the normal brain and metastatic brain malignancy relevant stiffness range. In this system, we observed that MDA-MB-231Br and BT474Br3 brain metastatic BCCs exhibited a dormant phenotype when cultured on soft (0.4 kPa) HA hydrogel compared to stiff (4.5 kPa) HA hydrogel as characterized by significantly lower EdU and Ki67 positivity. Further, we demonstrated the nuclear localization of p21 and p27 (markers associated with dormancy) in dormant MDA-MB-231Br cells contrary to their cytoplasmic localization in the proliferative population. We also demonstrated that the stiffness-based dormancy in MDA-MB-231Br cells was reversible and was, in part, mediated by focal adhesion kinases and the initial cell seeding density. Finally, RNA sequencing confirmed the dormant phenotype in MDA-MB-231Br cells. This platform could further our understanding of dormancy in BCBrM and could be adapted for anti-metastatic drug screening. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our understanding of dormancy associated with BCBrM remains obscure, in part, due to the lack of relevant in vitro platforms to model dormancy associated with BCBrM. Herein, we present a HA hydrogel-based platform to model dormancy in brain metastatic BCCs while recapitulating key aspects of brain microenvironment. We demonstrated that the biophysical cues provided the HA hydrogel mediates dormancy in brain metastatic BCCs by assessing both proliferation and cell cycle arrest markers. We also established the role of focal adhesion kinases and initial cell seeding density in the stiffness-mediated dormancy in brain metastatic BCCs. Further, RNA-seq. confirmed the dormant phenotype in brain metastatic BCCs. This platform could be utilized to further our understanding of microenvironmental regulation of dormancy in BCBrM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay A Narkhede
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203, USA
| | - James H Crenshaw
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203, USA
| | - David K Crossman
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lalita A Shevde
- Department of Pathology, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Shreyas S Rao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203, USA.
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33
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Trapecar M, Communal C, Velazquez J, Maass CA, Huang YJ, Schneider K, Wright CW, Butty V, Eng G, Yilmaz O, Trumper D, Griffith LG. Gut-Liver Physiomimetics Reveal Paradoxical Modulation of IBD-Related Inflammation by Short-Chain Fatty Acids. Cell Syst 2020; 10:223-239.e9. [PMID: 32191873 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although the association between the microbiome and IBD and liver diseases is known, the cause and effect remain elusive. By connecting human microphysiological systems of the gut, liver, and circulating Treg and Th17 cells, we created a multi-organ model of ulcerative colitis (UC) ex vivo. The approach shows microbiome-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to either improve or worsen UC severity, depending on the involvement of effector CD4 T cells. Using multiomics, we found SCFAs increased production of ketone bodies, glycolysis, and lipogenesis, while markedly reducing innate immune activation of the UC gut. However, during acute T cell-mediated inflammation, SCFAs exacerbated CD4+ T cell-effector function, partially through metabolic reprograming, leading to gut barrier disruption and hepatic injury. These paradoxical findings underscore the emerging utility of human physiomimetic technology in combination with systems immunology to study causality and the fundamental entanglement of immunity, metabolism, and tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Trapecar
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Communal
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jason Velazquez
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christian Alexander Maass
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Certara UK, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yu-Ja Huang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kirsten Schneider
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Charles W Wright
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vincent Butty
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; MIT BioMicro Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - George Eng
- The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Omer Yilmaz
- The David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David Trumper
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Linda G Griffith
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Gynepathology Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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34
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Abstract
High-throughput in vitro models lack human-relevant complexity, which undermines their ability to accurately mimic in vivo biologic and pathologic responses. The emergence of microphysiological systems (MPS) presents an opportunity to revolutionize in vitro modeling for both basic biomedical research and applied drug discovery. The MPS platform has been an area of interdisciplinary collaboration to develop new, predictive, and reliable in vitro methods for regulatory acceptance. The current MPS models have been developed to recapitulate an organ or tissue on a smaller scale. However, the complexity of these models (ie, including all cell types present in the in vivo tissue) with appropriate structural, functional, and biochemical attributes are often not fully characterized. Here, we provide an overview of the capabilities and limitations of the microfluidic MPS model (aka organs-on-chips) within the scope of drug development. We recommend the engagement of pathologists early in the MPS design, characterization, and validation phases, because this will enable development of more robust and comprehensive MPS models that can accurately replicate normal biology and pathophysiology and hence be more predictive of human responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Terry Van Vleet
- Global Preclinical Safety, AbbVie Inc, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brian R Berridge
- National Toxicology Program, The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
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35
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Montagner M, Sahai E. In vitro Models of Breast Cancer Metastatic Dormancy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:37. [PMID: 32195244 PMCID: PMC7062644 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Delayed relapses at distant sites are a common clinical observation for certain types of cancers after removal of primary tumor, such as breast and prostate cancer. This evidence has been explained by postulating a long period during which disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) survive in a foreign environment without developing into overt metastasis. Because of the asymptomatic nature of this phenomenon, isolation, and analysis of disseminated dormant cancer cells from clinically disease-free patients is ethically and technically highly problematic and currently these data are largely limited to the bone marrow. That said, detecting, profiling and treating indolent metastatic lesions before the onset of relapse is the imperative. To overcome this major limitation many laboratories developed in vitro models of the metastatic niche for different organs and different types of cancers. In this review we focus specifically on in vitro models designed to study metastatic dormancy of breast cancer cells (BCCs). We provide an overview of the BCCs employed in the different organotypic systems and address the components of the metastatic microenvironment that have been shown to impact on the dormant phenotype: tissue architecture, stromal cells, biochemical environment, oxygen levels, cell density. A brief description of the organ-specific in vitro models for bone, liver, and lung is provided. Finally, we discuss the strategies employed so far for the validation of the different systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Montagner
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Erik Sahai
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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36
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Ma B, Khazali A, Shao H, Jiang Y, Wells A. Expression of E-cadherin and specific CXCR3 isoforms impact each other in prostate cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2019; 17:164. [PMID: 31831069 PMCID: PMC6909607 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-019-0489-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Carcinoma cells shift between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes during cancer progression, as defined by surface presentation of the cell-cell cohesion molecule E-cadherin, affecting dissemination, progression and therapy responsiveness. Concomitant with the loss of E-cadherin during the mesenchymal transition, the predominant receptor isoform for ELR-negative CXC ligands shifts from CXCR3-B to CXCR3-A which turns this classical G-protein coupled receptor from an inhibitor to an activator of cell migration, thus promoting tumor cell invasiveness. We proposed that CXCR3 was not just a coordinately changed receptor but actually a regulator of the cell phenotype. Methods Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry assays investigated the expression of E-cadherin and CXCR3 isoforms. Intrasplenic inoculation of human prostate cancer (PCa) cells with spontaneous metastasis to the liver analyzed E-cadherin and CXCR3-B expression during cancer progression in vivo. Results We found reciprocal regulation of E-cadherin and CXCR3 isoforms. E-cadherin surface expression promoted CXCR3-B presentation on the cell membrane, and to a lesser extent increased its mRNA and total protein levels. In turn, forced expression of CXCR3-A reduced E-cadherin expression level, whereas CXCR3-B increased E-cadherin in PCa. Meanwhile, a positive correlation of E-cadherin and CXCR3-B expression was found both in experimental PCa liver micro-metastases and patients’ tissue. Conclusions CXCR3-B and E-cadherin positively correlated in vitro and in vivo in PCa cells and liver metastases, whereas CXCR3-A negatively regulated E-cadherin expression. These results suggest that CXCR3 isoforms may play important roles in cancer progression and dissemination via diametrically regulating tumor’s phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Ma
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, S713 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA. .,Jiangsu Center for the Collaboration and Innovation of Cancer Biotherapy, Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, 84 Huaihai Xi Road, Quanshan, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221002, People's Republic of China. .,Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, USA.
| | - Ahmad Khazali
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, S713 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hanshuang Shao
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, S713 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Yuhan Jiang
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, S713 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, S713 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA. .,Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, USA. .,McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Zhou Y, Shen JX, Lauschke VM. Comprehensive Evaluation of Organotypic and Microphysiological Liver Models for Prediction of Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1093. [PMID: 31616302 PMCID: PMC6769037 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major concern for the pharmaceutical industry and constitutes one of the most important reasons for the termination of promising drug development projects. Reliable prediction of DILI liability in preclinical stages is difficult, as current experimental model systems do not accurately reflect the molecular phenotype and functionality of the human liver. As a result, multiple drugs that passed preclinical safety evaluations failed due to liver toxicity in clinical trials or postmarketing stages in recent years. To improve the selection of molecules that are taken forward into the clinics, the development of more predictive in vitro systems that enable high-throughput screening of hepatotoxic liabilities and allow for investigative studies into DILI mechanisms has gained growing interest. Specifically, it became increasingly clear that the choice of cell types and culture method both constitute important parameters that affect the predictive power of test systems. In this review, we present current 3D culture paradigms for hepatotoxicity tests and critically evaluate their utility and performance for DILI prediction. In addition, we highlight possibilities of these emerging platforms for mechanistic evaluations of selected drug candidates and present current research directions towards the further improvement of preclinical liver safety tests. We conclude that organotypic and microphysiological liver systems have provided an important step towards more reliable DILI prediction. Furthermore, we expect that the increasing availability of comprehensive benchmarking studies will facilitate model dissemination that might eventually result in their regulatory acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Volker M. Lauschke
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Rossari F, Zucchinetti C, Buda G, Orciuolo E. Tumor dormancy as an alternative step in the development of chemoresistance and metastasis - clinical implications. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2019; 43:155-176. [PMID: 31392521 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00467-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability of a tumor to become dormant in response to suboptimal conditions has recently been recognized as a key step in tumor progression. Tumor dormancy has been found to be implicated in several tumor types as the culprit of therapy resistance and metastasis development, the deadliest features of a cancer. Several lines of evidence indicate that the development of these traits may rely on the de-differentiation of committed tumor cells that regain stem-like properties during a dormant state. Presently, dormancy is classified into cell- and population-level, according to the preponderance of cellular mechanisms that keep tumor cells quiescent or to a balance between overall cell division and death, respectively. Cellular dormancy is characterized by autophagy, stress-tolerance signaling, microenvironmental cues and, of prime relevance, epigenetic modifications. It has been found that the epigenome alters during cellular quiescence, thus representing the driving force for short-term cancer progression. Population-level dormancy is characterized by processes that counteract proliferation, such as inappropriate blood supply and intense immune responses. The latter two mechanisms are not mutually exclusive and may affect tumor masses both simultaneously and subsequently. CONCLUSIONS Overall, tumor dormancy may represent an additional step in the acquisition of cancer characteristics, and its comprehension may clarify both theoretical and practical aspects of cancer development. Clinically, only a deep understanding of dormancy may explain the course of tumor development in different patients, thus representing a process that may be targeted to prevent and/or treat advanced-stage cancers. That is especially the case for breast cancer, against which the mTOR inhibitor everolimus displays potent antitumor activity in patients with metastatic disease by impeding autophagy and tumor dormancy onset. Here we will also discuss other targeted therapies directed towards tumor dormancy onset, e.g. specific inhibitors of SFK and MEK, or aimed at keeping tumor cells dormant, e.g. prosaposin derivatives, that may shortly enter clinical assessment in breast, and possibly other cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Rossari
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127, Pisa, Italy. .,Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Cristina Zucchinetti
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Buda
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Hematology, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Enrico Orciuolo
- Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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Ma B, Wells A, Clark AM. The pan-therapeutic resistance of disseminated tumor cells: Role of phenotypic plasticity and the metastatic microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 60:138-147. [PMID: 31376430 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in patients with solid tumors. The majority of these deaths are associated with metastatic disease that occurs after a period of clinical remission, anywhere from months to decades following removal of the primary mass. This dormancy is prominent in cancers of the breast and prostate among others, leaving the survivors uncertain about their longer-term prognosis. The most daunting aspect of this dormancy and re-emergence is that the micrometastases in particular, and even large lethal outgrowths are often show resistance to agents to which they have not been exposed. This suggests that in addition to specific mutations that target single agents, there also exist adaptive mechanisms that provide this pan-resistance. Potential molecular underpinnings of which are the topic of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Ma
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Amanda M Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Are Integrins Still Practicable Targets for Anti-Cancer Therapy? Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11070978. [PMID: 31336983 PMCID: PMC6678560 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11070978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Correlative clinical evidence and experimental observations indicate that integrin adhesion receptors, in particular those of the αV family, are relevant to cancer cell features, including proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, integrins promote events in the tumor microenvironment that are critical for tumor progression and metastasis, including tumor angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, and the recruitment of immune and inflammatory cells. In spite of compelling preclinical results demonstrating that the inhibition of integrin αVβ3/αVβ5 and α5β1 has therapeutic potential, clinical trials with integrin inhibitors targeting those integrins have repeatedly failed to demonstrate therapeutic benefits in cancer patients. Here, we review emerging integrin functions and their proposed contribution to tumor progression, discuss preclinical evidence of therapeutic significance, revisit clinical trial results, and consider alternative approaches for their therapeutic targeting in oncology, including targeting integrins in the other cells of the tumor microenvironment, e.g., cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune/inflammatory cells. We conclude that integrins remain a valid target for cancer therapy; however, agents with better pharmacological properties, alternative models for their preclinical evaluation, and innovative combination strategies for clinical testing (e.g., together with immuno-oncology agents) are needed.
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Miedel MT, Gavlock DC, Jia S, Gough A, Taylor DL, Stern AM. Modeling the Effect of the Metastatic Microenvironment on Phenotypes Conferred by Estrogen Receptor Mutations Using a Human Liver Microphysiological System. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8341. [PMID: 31171849 PMCID: PMC6554298 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44756-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Reciprocal coevolution of tumors and their microenvironments underlies disease progression, yet intrinsic limitations of patient-derived xenografts and simpler cell-based models present challenges towards a deeper understanding of these intercellular communication networks. To help overcome these barriers and complement existing models, we have developed a human microphysiological system (MPS) model of the human liver acinus, a common metastatic site, and have applied this system to estrogen receptor (ER)+ breast cancer. In addition to their hallmark constitutive (but ER-dependent) growth phenotype, different ESR1 missense mutations, prominently observed during estrogen deprivation therapy, confer distinct estrogen-enhanced growth and drug resistant phenotypes not evident under cell autonomous conditions. Under low molecular oxygen within the physiological range (~5–20%) of the normal liver acinus, the estrogen-enhanced growth phenotypes are lost, a dependency not observed in monoculture. In contrast, the constitutive growth phenotypes are invariant within this range of molecular oxygen suggesting that ESR1 mutations confer a growth advantage not only during estrogen deprivation but also at lower oxygen levels. We discuss the prospects and limitations of implementing human MPS, especially in conjunction with in situ single cell hyperplexed computational pathology platforms, to identify biomarkers mechanistically linked to disease progression that inform optimal therapeutic strategies for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Miedel
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dillon C Gavlock
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shanhang Jia
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Albert Gough
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - D Lansing Taylor
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Andrew M Stern
- Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Jiang Y, Wells A, Sylakowski K, Clark AM, Ma B. Adult Stem Cell Functioning in the Tumor Micro-Environment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20102566. [PMID: 31130595 PMCID: PMC6566759 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor progression from an expanded cell population in a primary location to disseminated lethal growths subverts attempts at cures. It has become evident that these steps are driven in a large part by cancer cell-extrinsic signaling from the tumor microenvironment (TME), one cellular component of which is becoming more appreciated for potential modulation of the cancer cells directly and the TME globally. That cell is a heterogenous population referred to as adult mesenchymal stem cells/multipotent stromal cells (MSCs). Herein, we review emerging evidence as to how these cells, both from distant sources, mainly the bone marrow, or local resident cells, can impact the progression of solid tumors. These nascent investigations raise more questions than they answer but paint a picture of an orchestrated web of signals and interactions that can be modulated to impact tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Jiang
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
- Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Kyle Sylakowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Amanda M Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Bo Ma
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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43
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Jiang X, Wells A, Brufsky A, Neapolitan R. A clinical decision support system learned from data to personalize treatment recommendations towards preventing breast cancer metastasis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213292. [PMID: 30849111 PMCID: PMC6407919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) that can amass Electronic Health Record (EHR) and other patient data holds promise to provide accurate classification and guide treatment choices. Our objective is to develop the Decision Support System for Making Personalized Assessments and Recommendations Concerning Breast Cancer Patients (DPAC), which is a CDSS learned from data that recommends the optimal treatment decisions based on a patient's features. METHOD We developed a Bayesian network architecture called Causal Modeling with Internal Layers (CAMIL), and an algorithm called Treatment Feature Interactions (TFI), which learns from data the interactions needed in a CAMIL model. Using the TFI algorithm, we learned interactions for six treatments from the LSDS-5YDM dataset. We created a CAMIL model using these interactions, resulting in a DPAC which recommends treatments towards preventing 5-year breast cancer metastasis. RESULTS In a 5-fold cross-validation analysis, we compared the probability of being metastasis free in 5 years for patients who made decisions recommended by DPAC to those who did not. These probabilities are (the probability for those making the decisions appears first): chemotherapy (.938, .872); breast/chest wall radiation (.939, .902); nodal field radiation (.940, .784); antihormone (.941, .906); HER2 inhibitors (.934, .880); neadjuvant therapy (.931, .837). In an application of DPAC to the independent METABRIC dataset, the probabilities for chemotherapy were (.845, .788). DISCUSSION Patients who took the advice of DPAC had, as a group, notably better outcomes than those who did not. We conclude that DPAC is effective at amassing and analyzing data towards treatment recommendations. Some of the findings in DPAC are controversial. For example, DPAC says that chemotherapy increases the chances of metastasis for many node negative patients. This controversy shows the importance of developing a conclusive version of DPAC to ensure we provide patients with the best patient-specific treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh VA Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.,UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Adam Brufsky
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Richard Neapolitan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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Rao SS, Kondapaneni RV, Narkhede AA. Bioengineered models to study tumor dormancy. J Biol Eng 2019; 13:3. [PMID: 30647771 PMCID: PMC6327399 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-018-0137-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset of cancer metastasis is the defining event in cancer progression when the disease is considered lethal. The ability of metastatic cancer cells to stay dormant for extended time periods and reawaken at later stages leading to disease recurrence makes treatment of metastatic disease extremely challenging. The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in deciding the ultimate fate of tumor cells, yet the mechanisms by which this occurs, including dormancy, is not well understood. This mini-review discusses bioengineered models inspired from tissue engineering strategies that mimic key aspects of the tumor microenvironment to study tumor dormancy. These models include biomaterial based three dimensional models, microfluidic based models, as well as bioreactor based models that incorporate relevant microenvironmental components such as extracellular matrix molecules, niche cells, or their combination to study microenvironmental regulation of tumor dormancy. Such biomimetic models provide suitable platforms to investigate the dormant niche, including cues that drive the dormant to proliferative transition in cancer cells. In addition, the potential of such model systems to advance research in the field of tumor dormancy is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreyas S. Rao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203 USA
| | - Raghu Vamsi Kondapaneni
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203 USA
| | - Akshay A. Narkhede
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203 USA
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Wells A, Clark A, Bradshaw A, Ma B, Edington H. The great escape: How metastases of melanoma, and other carcinomas, avoid elimination. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2019; 243:1245-1255. [PMID: 30764707 DOI: 10.1177/1535370218820287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Cancers kill mainly because metastatic disease is resistant to systemic therapies. It was hoped that newer targeted and immunomodulatory interventions could overcome these issues. However, recent findings point to a generalized resistance to elimination imparted by both cancer-intrinsic and -extrinsic changes to provide survival advantages to the disseminated tumor cells. Here, we present a novel conceptual framework for the microenvironmental inputs and changes that contribute to this generalized therapeutic resistance. In addition we address the issues of experimental systems in terms of studying this phenomenon with their advantages and limitations. This is meant to spur studies into this critical aspect of tumor progression that directly leads to cancer mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Wells
- 1 Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,2 Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,3 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.,4 McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,5 Hillman Cancer Centers of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Amanda Clark
- 1 Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Andrew Bradshaw
- 1 Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,3 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA
| | - Bo Ma
- 1 Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,3 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.,5 Hillman Cancer Centers of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Howard Edington
- 6 Department of Surgery, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
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46
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Pradhan S, Sperduto JL, Farino CJ, Slater JH. Engineered In Vitro Models of Tumor Dormancy and Reactivation. J Biol Eng 2018; 12:37. [PMID: 30603045 PMCID: PMC6307145 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-018-0120-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic recurrence is a major hurdle to overcome for successful control of cancer-associated death. Residual tumor cells in the primary site, or disseminated tumor cells in secondary sites, can lie in a dormant state for long time periods, years to decades, before being reactivated into a proliferative growth state. The microenvironmental signals and biological mechanisms that mediate the fate of disseminated cancer cells with respect to cell death, single cell dormancy, tumor mass dormancy and metastatic growth, as well as the factors that induce reactivation, are discussed in this review. Emphasis is placed on engineered, in vitro, biomaterial-based approaches to model tumor dormancy and subsequent reactivation, with a focus on the roles of extracellular matrix, secondary cell types, biochemical signaling and drug treatment. A brief perspective of molecular targets and treatment approaches for dormant tumors is also presented. Advances in tissue-engineered platforms to induce, model, and monitor tumor dormancy and reactivation may provide much needed insight into the regulation of these processes and serve as drug discovery and testing platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Pradhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - John L. Sperduto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - Cindy J. Farino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
| | - John H. Slater
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, 150 Academy Street, 161 Colburn Lab, Newark, DE 19716 USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, 15 Innovation Way, Newark, DE 19711 USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, 201 DuPont Hall, Newark, DE 19716 USA
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Statins attenuate outgrowth of breast cancer metastases. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:1094-1105. [PMID: 30401978 PMCID: PMC6220112 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0267-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Metastasis in breast cancer foreshadows mortality, as clinically evident disease is aggressive and generally chemoresistant. Disseminated breast cancer cells often enter a period of dormancy for years to decades before they emerge as detectable cancers. Harboring of these dormant cells is not individually predictable, and available information suggests that these micrometastatic foci cannot be effectively targeted by existing therapies. As such, long-term, relatively non-toxic interventions that prevent metastatic outgrowth would be an advance in treatment. Epidemiological studies have found that statins reduce breast cancer specific mortality but not the incidence of primary cancer. However, the means by which statins reduce mortality without affecting primary tumor development remains unclear. Methods We examine statin efficacy against two breast cancer cell lines in models of breast cancer metastasis: a 2D in vitro co-culture model of breast cancer cell interaction with the liver, a 3D ex vivo microphysiological system model of breast cancer metastasis, and two independent mouse models of spontaneous breast cancer metastasis to the lung and liver, respectively. Results We demonstrate that statins can directly affect the proliferation of breast cancer cells, specifically at the metastatic site. In a 2D co-culture model of breast cancer cell interaction with the liver, we demonstrate that atorvastatin can directly suppress proliferation of mesenchymal but not epithelial breast cancer cells. Further, in an ex vivo 3D liver microphysiological system of breast cancer metastasis, we found that atorvastatin can block stimulated emergence of dormant breast cancer cells. In two independent models of spontaneous breast cancer metastasis to the liver and to the lung, we find that statins significantly reduce proliferation of the metastatic but not primary tumor cells. Conclusions As statins can block metastatic tumor outgrowth, they should be considered for use as long-term adjuvant drugs to delay clinical emergence and decrease mortality in breast cancer patients.
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Cirit M, Stokes CL. Maximizing the impact of microphysiological systems with in vitro-in vivo translation. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:1831-1837. [PMID: 29863727 PMCID: PMC6019627 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00039e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS) hold promise for improving therapeutic drug approval rates by providing more physiological, human-based, in vitro assays for preclinical drug development activities compared to traditional in vitro and animal models. Here, we first summarize why MPSs are needed in pharmaceutical development, and examine how MPS technologies can be utilized to improve preclinical efforts. We then provide the perspective that the full impact of MPS technologies will be realized only when robust approaches for in vitro-in vivo (MPS-to-human) translation are developed and utilized, and explain how the burgeoning field of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) can fill that need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Cirit
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Beckwitt CH, Shiraha K, Wells A. Lipophilic statins limit cancer cell growth and survival, via involvement of Akt signaling. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197422. [PMID: 29763460 PMCID: PMC5953490 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, have been used as lipid lowering drugs for decades and several epidemiological studies suggest statin usage correlates with a decreased incidence of cancer specific mortality in patients. However, the mechanism of this mortality benefit remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that statin drug lipophilicity and affinity for its target enzyme, HMGCR, determine their growth suppressive potency against various tumor cell lines. The lipophilic atorvastatin decreases cancer cell proliferation and survival in vitro. Statin sensitivity coincided with Ras localization to the cytosol instead of the membrane, consistent with a decrement in prenylation. To investigate signaling pathways that may be involved with sensitivity to statin therapy, we employed inhibitors of the PI3K-Akt and Mek-Erk signaling cascades. We found that inhibition of PI3K signaling through Akt potentiated statin sensitivity of breast cancer cells in vitro and in co-culture with primary human hepatocytes. The same effect was not observed with inhibition of Mek signaling through Erk. Moreover, the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to atorvastatin-mediated growth suppression correlated with a decrease in EGF-mediated phosphorylation of Akt. As an increase in Akt activity has been shown to be involved in the metastasis and metastatic outgrowth of many cancer types (including breast), these data suggest a mechanism by which statins may reduce cancer specific mortality in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin H. Beckwitt
- Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Pittsburgh VA Health System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Keisuke Shiraha
- Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Alan Wells
- Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Pittsburgh VA Health System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
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Clark AM, Kumar MP, Wheeler SE, Young CL, Venkataramanan R, Stolz DB, Griffith LG, Lauffenburger DA, Wells A. A Model of Dormant-Emergent Metastatic Breast Cancer Progression Enabling Exploration of Biomarker Signatures. Mol Cell Proteomics 2018; 17:619-630. [PMID: 29353230 PMCID: PMC5880110 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer mortality predominantly results from dormant micrometastases that emerge as fatal outgrowths years after initial diagnosis. In order to gain insights concerning factors associated with emergence of liver metastases, we recreated spontaneous dormancy in an all-human ex vivo hepatic microphysiological system (MPS). Seeding this MPS with small numbers (<0.05% by cell count) of the aggressive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, two populations formed: actively proliferating ("growing"; EdU+), and spontaneously quiescent ("dormant"; EdU-). Following treatment with a clinically standard chemotherapeutic, the proliferating cells were eliminated and only quiescent cells remained; this residual dormant population could then be induced to a proliferative state ("emergent"; EdU+) by physiologically-relevant inflammatory stimuli, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Multiplexed proteomic analysis of the MPS effluent enabled elucidation of key factors and processes that correlated with the various tumor cell states, and candidate biomarkers for actively proliferating (either primary or secondary emergence) versus dormant metastatic cells in liver tissue. Dormancy was found to be associated with signaling reflective of cellular quiescence even more strongly than the original tumor-free liver tissue, whereas proliferative nodules presented inflammatory signatures. Given the minimal tumor burden, these markers likely represent changes in the tumor microenvironment rather than in the tumor cells. A computational decision tree algorithm applied to these signatures indicated the potential of this MPS for clinical discernment of each metastatic stage from blood protein analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Clark
- From the ‡Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Manu P Kumar
- §Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sarah E Wheeler
- From the ‡Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Carissa L Young
- §Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Raman Venkataramanan
- From the ‡Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- ¶Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Donna B Stolz
- From the ‡Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- ‖Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- **University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Linda G Griffith
- §Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Douglas A Lauffenburger
- §Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Alan Wells
- From the ‡Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
- ‡‡McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- §§Pittsburgh VA Medical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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