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Deiana C, Agostini M, Brandi G, Giovannetti E. The trend toward more target therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2024; 24:525-565. [PMID: 38768098 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2024.2357802] [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] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the considerable progress made in cancer treatment through the development of target therapies, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to exhibit resistance to this category of drugs. As a result, chemotherapy combination regimens remain the primary treatment approach for this aggressive cancer. AREAS COVERED In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of past and ongoing trials on both well-known and novel targets that are being explored in PDAC, including PARP, EGFR, HER2, KRAS, and its downstream and upstream pathways (such as RAF/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR), JAK/STAT pathway, angiogenesis, metabolisms, epigenetic targets, claudin, and novel targets (such as P53 and plectin). We also provide a comprehensive overview of the significant trials for each target, allowing a thorough glimpse into the past and future of target therapy. EXPERT OPINION The path toward implementing a target therapy capable of improving the overall survival of PDAC is still long, and it is unlikely that a monotherapy target drug will fulfill a meaningful role in addressing the complexity of this cancer. Thus, we discuss the future direction of target therapies in PDAC, trying to identify the more promising target and combination treatments, with a special focus on the more eagerly awaited ongoing trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Deiana
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Margherita Agostini
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) Start-Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, San Giuliano, Italy
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Wolkersdorfer A, Bergmann B, Adelmann J, Ebbinghaus M, Günther E, Gutmann M, Hahn L, Hurwitz R, Krähmer R, Leenders F, Lühmann T, Schueler J, Schmidt L, Teifel M, Meinel L, Rudel T. PEGylated Recombinant Aplysia punctata Ink Toxin Depletes Arginine and Lysine and Inhibits the Growth of Tumor Xenografts. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:3825-3832. [PMID: 38722049 PMCID: PMC11168412 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, a novel treatment method for cancer has emerged, which is based on the starvation of tumors of amino acids like arginine. The deprivation of arginine in serum is based on enzymatic degradation and can be realized by arginine deaminases like the l-amino acid oxidase found in the ink toxin of the sea hare Aplysia punctata. Previously isolated from the ink, the l-amino acid oxidase was described to oxidate the essential amino acids l-lysine and l-arginine to their corresponding deaminated alpha-keto acids. Here, we present the recombinant production and functionalization of the amino acid oxidase Aplysia punctata ink toxin (APIT). PEGylated APIT (APIT-PEG) increased the blood circulation time. APIT-PEG treatment of patient-derived xenografted mice shows a significant dose-dependent reduction of tumor growth over time mediated by amino acid starvation of the tumor. Treatment of mice with APIT-PEG, which led to deprivation of arginine, was well tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena
M. Wolkersdorfer
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University
of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Bergmann
- Chair
of Microbiology, Biocentre, University of
Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Juliane Adelmann
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Ebbinghaus
- Charles
River Laboratories Germany GmbH, Am Flughafen 12−14, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Günther
- Aeterna
Zentaris GmbH, Weismuellerstr. 50, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marcus Gutmann
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University
of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Hahn
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University
of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Robert Hurwitz
- Max-Planck-Institute
for Infection Biology, Virchowweg 12, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Krähmer
- Celares
GmbH, Otto-Warburg-Haus, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Tessa Lühmann
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University
of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schueler
- Charles
River Laboratories Germany GmbH, Am Flughafen 12−14, 79108 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Luisa Schmidt
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University
of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Teifel
- Aeterna
Zentaris GmbH, Weismuellerstr. 50, 60314 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute
of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University
of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute
for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Rudel
- Chair
of Microbiology, Biocentre, University of
Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz-Institute
for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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Zheng R, Liu X, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang Y, Guo S, Jin X, Zhang J, Guan Y, Liu Y. Frontiers and future of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: from molecular mechanisms to clinical application. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383978. [PMID: 38756774 PMCID: PMC11096556 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, that is becoming increasingly common in recent years. Despite advances in intensive treatment modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy, the overall survival rate has not significantly improved in patients with pancreatic cancer. This may be attributed to the insidious onset, unknown pathophysiology, and poor prognosis of the disease. It is therefore essential to identify and develop more effective and safer treatments for pancreatic cancer. Tumor immunotherapy is the new and fourth pillar of anti-tumor therapy after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Significant progress has made in the use of immunotherapy for a wide variety of malignant tumors in recent years; a breakthrough has also been made in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This review describes the advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic virus, and matrix-depletion therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. At the same time, some new potential biomarkers and potential immunotherapy combinations for pancreatic cancer are discussed. The molecular mechanisms of various immunotherapies have also been elucidated, and their clinical applications have been highlighted. The current challenges associated with immunotherapy and proposed strategies that hold promise in overcoming these limitations have also been discussed, with the aim of offering new insights into immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zheng
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaobin Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yufu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yan’an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongxian Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shutong Guo
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jin
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuehong Guan
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yusi Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
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Bianchi M, Rossi L, Pierigè F, Biagiotti S, Bregalda A, Tasini F, Magnani M. Preclinical and clinical developments in enzyme-loaded red blood cells: an update. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:921-935. [PMID: 37249524 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2219890] [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] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We have previously described the preclinical developments in enzyme-loaded red blood cells to be used in the treatment of several rare diseases, as well as in chronic conditions. AREA COVERED Since our previous publication we have seen further progress in the previously discussed approaches and, interestingly enough, in additional new studies that further strengthen the idea that red blood cell-based therapeutics may have unique advantages over conventional enzyme replacement therapies in terms of efficacy and safety. Here we highlight these investigations and compare, when possible, the reported results versus the current therapeutic approaches. EXPERT OPINION The continuous increase in the number of new potential applications and the progress from the encapsulation of a single enzyme to the engineering of an entire metabolic pathway open the field to unexpected developments and confirm the role of red blood cells as cellular bioreactors that can be conveniently manipulated to acquire useful therapeutic metabolic abilities. Positioning of these new approaches versus newly approved drugs is essential for the successful transition of this technology from the preclinical to the clinical stage and hopefully to final approval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Bianchi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Luigia Rossi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- EryDel SpA, Bresso, MI, Italy
| | - Francesca Pierigè
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Sara Biagiotti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bregalda
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Filippo Tasini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Mauro Magnani
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
- EryDel SpA, Bresso, MI, Italy
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Chu YD, Lai MW, Yeh CT. Unlocking the Potential of Arginine Deprivation Therapy: Recent Breakthroughs and Promising Future for Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10668. [PMID: 37445845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that supports protein synthesis to maintain cellular functions. Recent studies suggest that arginine also promotes wound healing, cell division, ammonia metabolism, immune system regulation, and hormone biosynthesis-all of which are critical for tumor growth. These discoveries, coupled with the understanding of cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, have led to renewed interest in arginine deprivation as a new anticancer therapy. Several arginine deprivation strategies have been developed and entered clinical trials. The main principle behind these therapies is that arginine auxotrophic tumors rely on external arginine sources for growth because they carry reduced key arginine-synthesizing enzymes such as argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) in the intracellular arginine cycle. To obtain anticancer effects, modified arginine-degrading enzymes, such as PEGylated recombinant human arginase 1 (rhArg1-PEG) and arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), have been developed and shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. They have been tried as a monotherapy or in combination with other existing therapies. This review discusses recent advances in arginine deprivation therapy, including the molecular basis of extracellular arginine degradation leading to tumor cell death, and how this approach could be a valuable addition to the current anticancer arsenal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-De Chu
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Lai
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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6
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Jiménez-Alonso JJ, López-Lázaro M. Dietary Manipulation of Amino Acids for Cancer Therapy. Nutrients 2023; 15:2879. [PMID: 37447206 DOI: 10.3390/nu15132879] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells cannot proliferate and survive unless they obtain sufficient levels of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids (AAs). Unlike normal cells, cancer cells have genetic and metabolic alterations that may limit their capacity to obtain adequate levels of the 20 AAs in challenging metabolic environments. However, since normal diets provide all AAs at relatively constant levels and ratios, these potentially lethal genetic and metabolic defects are eventually harmless to cancer cells. If we temporarily replace the normal diet of cancer patients with artificial diets in which the levels of specific AAs are manipulated, cancer cells may be unable to proliferate and survive. This article reviews in vivo studies that have evaluated the antitumor activity of diets restricted in or supplemented with the 20 proteinogenic AAs, individually and in combination. It also reviews our recent studies that show that manipulating the levels of several AAs simultaneously can lead to marked survival improvements in mice with metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel López-Lázaro
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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7
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Assi G, Faour WH. Arginine deprivation as a treatment approach targeting cancer cell metabolism and survival: A review of the literature. Eur J Pharmacol 2023:175830. [PMID: 37277030 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175830] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Amino acid requirement of metabolically active cells is a key element in cellular survival. Of note, cancer cells were shown to have an abnormal metabolism and high-energy requirements including the high amino acid requirement needed for growth factor synthesis. Thus, amino acid deprivation is considered a novel approach to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and offer potential treatment prospects. Accordingly, arginine was proven to play a significant role in cancer cell metabolism and therapy. Arginine depletion induced cell death in various types of cancer cells. Also, the various mechanisms of arginine deprivation, e.g., apoptosis and autophagy were summarized. Finally, the adaptive mechanisms of arginine were also investigated. Several malignant tumors had high amino acid metabolic requirements to accommodate their rapid growth. Antimetabolites that prevent the production of amino acids were also developed as anticancer therapies and are currently under clinical investigation. The aim of this review is to provide a concise literature on arginine metabolism and deprivation, its effects in different tumors, its different modes of action, as well as the related cancerous escape mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghaith Assi
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon, P.O. Box 36
| | - Wissam H Faour
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon, P.O. Box 36.
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Anakha J, Prasad YR, Sharma N, Pande AH. Human arginase I: a potential broad-spectrum anti-cancer agent. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:159. [PMID: 37152001 PMCID: PMC10156892 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03590-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
With high rates of morbidity and mortality, cancer continues to pose a serious threat to public health on a global scale. Considering the discrepancies in metabolism between cancer and normal cells, metabolism-based anti-cancer biopharmaceuticals are gaining importance. Normal cells can synthesize arginine, but they can also take up extracellular arginine, making it a semi-essential amino acid. Arginine auxotrophy occurs when a cancer cell has abnormalities in the enzymes involved in arginine metabolism and relies primarily on extracellular arginine to support its biological functions. Taking advantage of arginine auxotrophy in cancer cells, arginine deprivation, which can be induced by introducing recombinant human arginase I (rhArg I), is being developed as a broad-spectrum anti-cancer therapy. This has led to the development of various rhArg I variants, which have shown remarkable anti-cancer activity. This article discusses the importance of arginine auxotrophy in cancer and different arginine-hydrolyzing enzymes that are in various stages of clinical development and reviews the need for a novel rhArg I that mitigates the limitations of the existing therapies. Further, we have also analyzed the necessity as well as the significance of using rhArg I to treat various arginine-auxotrophic cancers while considering the importance of their genetic profiles, particularly urea cycle enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Anakha
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, 160062 Punjab India
| | - Yenisetti Rajendra Prasad
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, 160062 Punjab India
| | - Nisha Sharma
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, 160062 Punjab India
| | - Abhay H. Pande
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, 160062 Punjab India
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Fang K, Sun M, Leng Z, Chu Y, Zhao Z, Li Z, Zhang Y, Xu A, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Chen T, Xu M. Targeting IGF1R signaling enhances the sensitivity of cisplatin by inhibiting proline and arginine metabolism in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma under hypoxia. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:73. [PMID: 36978187 PMCID: PMC10044411 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02623-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cisplatin (DDP)-based chemotherapy is commonly adopted as the first-line treatment for patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but the high rate of drug resistance limits its clinical application and the underlying mechanisms at play remain unclear. The aims of this study were to elucidate the role of abnormal signal transmission and metabolism in the chemoresistance of OSCC under hypoxia and to identify targeted drugs that enhance the sensitivity of DDP chemotherapy. METHODS Upregulated genes in OSCC were determined by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and western blotting (WB). The clinicopathological significance of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF1R), argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) in OSCC was analysed using tissue micriarray (TMA). Metabolic abnormalities were determined by untargeted metabolomics analysis. The DDP-resistance role of IGF1R, ASS1, and PYCR1 in OSCC was investigated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Generally, tumour cells exist in a hypoxic microenvironment. By genomic profiling, we determined that IGF1R, as a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), was upregulated in OSCC under low-oxygen conditions. Clinically, enhanced IGF1R expression was associated with higher tumour stages and a poorer prognosis in OSCC patients, and its inhibitor, linsitinib, showed synergistic effects with DDP therapy in vivo and in vitro. Since oxygen-deprivation frequently lead to metabolic reprogramming, we further learned via metabolomics analysis that abnormal IGF1R pathways promoted the expression of metabolic enzymes ASS1 and PYCR1 by the transcriptional activity of c-MYC. In detail, enhanced expression of ASS1 promotes arginine metabolism for biological anabolism, whereas PYCR1 activates proline metabolism for redox balance, which maintains the proliferation ability of OSCC cells during DDP treatment under hypoxic conditions. CONCLUSION Enhanced expression of ASS1 and PYCR1 via IGF1R pathways rewired arginine and proline metabolism, promoting DDP resistance in OSCC under hypoxia. Linsitinib targeting IGF1R signaling may lead to promising combination therapy options for OSCC patients with DDP resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Fang
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Mingchuang Sun
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Zhuyun Leng
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yuan Chu
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Ziying Zhao
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Zhaoxing Li
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yunwei Zhang
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Aiping Xu
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Zehua Zhang
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Meidong Xu
- Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200120, China.
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The addition of arginine deiminase potentiates Mithramycin A-induced cell death in patient-derived glioblastoma cells via ATF4 and cytochrome C. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:38. [PMID: 36843002 PMCID: PMC9969664 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02873-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arginine auxotrophy constitutes a shortcoming for ~ 30% of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Indeed, arginine-depleting therapy using arginine deiminase from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpyADI) has proven activity against GBM in preclinical studies. The good safety profile of SpyADI renders this agent an ideal combination partner for cytostatic therapy. METHODS In this study, we combined the antineoplastic antibiotic Mithramycin A (MitA) with SpyADI to boost single-agent activity and analyzed underlying response mechanisms in-depth. RESULTS MitA monotherapy induced a time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in eight patient-derived GBM cell lines and had a radiosensitizing effect in all but one cell line. Combination treatment boosted the effects of the monotherapy in 2D- and 3D models. The simultaneous approach was superior to the sequential application and significantly impaired colony formation after repetitive treatment. MitA monotherapy significantly inhibited GBM invasiveness. However, this effect was not enhanced in the combination. Functional analysis identified SpyADI-triggered senescence induction accompanied by increased mitochondrial membrane polarization upon mono- and combination therapy. In HROG63, induction of lysosomes was seen after both monotherapies, indicative of autophagy. These cells seemed swollen and had a more pronounced cortically formed cytoskeleton. Also, cytochrome C and endoplasmatic reticulum-stress-associated proteins ATF4 and Calnexin were enhanced in the combination, contributing to apoptosis. Notably, no significant increases in glioma-stemness marker were seen. CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic utilization of a metabolic defect in GBM along with cytostatic therapy provides a novel combination approach. Whether this SpyADI/MitA regimen will provide a safe alternative to combat GBM, will have to be addressed in subsequent (pre-)clinical trials.
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11
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Bench-to-Bedside Studies of Arginine Deprivation in Cancer. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28052150. [PMID: 36903394 PMCID: PMC10005060 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid which becomes wholly essential in many cancers commonly due to the functional loss of Argininosuccinate Synthetase 1 (ASS1). As arginine is vital for a plethora of cellular processes, its deprivation provides a rationale strategy for combatting arginine-dependent cancers. Here we have focused on pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20, pegargiminase)-mediated arginine deprivation therapy from preclinical through to clinical investigation, from monotherapy to combinations with other anticancer therapeutics. The translation of ADI-PEG20 from the first in vitro studies to the first positive phase 3 trial of arginine depletion in cancer is highlighted. Finally, this review discusses how the identification of biomarkers that may denote enhanced sensitivity to ADI-PEG20 beyond ASS1 may be realized in future clinical practice, thus personalising arginine deprivation therapy for patients with cancer.
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12
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The exploitation of enzyme-based cancer immunotherapy. Hum Cell 2023; 36:98-120. [PMID: 36334180 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00821-2] [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: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy utilizes the immune system and its wide-ranging components to deliver anti-tumor responses. In immune escape mechanisms, tumor microenvironment-associated soluble factors and cell surface-bound molecules are mainly accountable for the dysfunctional activity of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and stromal cells. The myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), are also key tumor-promoting immune cells. These potent immunosuppressive networks avert tumor rejection at various stages, affecting immunotherapies' outcomes. Numerous clinical trials have elucidated that disruption of immunosuppression could be achieved via checkpoint inhibitors. Another approach utilizes enzymes that can restore the body's potential to counter cancer by triggering the immune system inhibited by the tumor microenvironment. These immunotherapeutic enzymes can catalyze an immunostimulatory signal and modulate the tumor microenvironment via effector molecules. Herein, we have discussed the immuno-metabolic roles of various enzymes like ATP-dephosphorylating ectoenzymes, inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, phenylamine, tryptophan, and arginine catabolizing enzymes in cancer immunotherapy. Understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms of the enzymes involved in modulating the tumor microenvironment may help find new opportunities for cancer therapeutics.
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Chu YD, Liu HF, Chen YC, Chou CH, Yeh CT. WWOX-rs13338697 genotype predicts therapeutic efficacy of ADI-PEG 20 for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:996820. [PMID: 36530994 PMCID: PMC9756969 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.996820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): GALNT14-rs9679162, WWOX-rs13338697 and rs6025211. Their genotypes are associated with therapeutic outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we examined whether these SNP genotypes could predict the clinical outcome of HCC patients treated with ADI-PEG 20. METHODS Totally 160 patients with advanced HCC, who had previously been enrolled in clinical trials, including 113 receiving ADI-PEG 20 monotherapy (cohort-1) and 47 receiving FOLFOX/ADI-PEG 20 combination treatment (cohort-2), were included retrospectively. RESULTS The WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype was associated with favorable overall survival in cohort-1 patients (P = 0.025), whereas the rs6025211-TT genotype was associated with unfavorable time-to-tumor progression in cohort-1 (P = 0.021) and cohort-1 plus 2 patients (P = 0.008). As ADI-PEG 20 can reduce plasma arginine levels, we examined its pretreatment levels in relation to the WWOX-rs13338697 genotypes. Pretreatment plasma arginine levels were found to be significantly higher in patients carrying the WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype (P = 0.006). We next examined the association of the WWOX-rs13338697 genotypes with WWOX tissue protein levels in 214 paired (cancerous/noncancerous) surgically resected HCC tissues (cohort-3). The WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype was associated with decreased tissue levels of WWOX and ASS1. Mechanistic studies showed that WWOX and ASS1 levels were downregulated in hypoxic HCC cells. Silencing WWOX to mimic low WWOX protein expression in HCC in patients with the WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype, enhanced HIF1A increment under hypoxia, further decreased ASS1, and increased cell susceptibility to ADI-PEG 20. COMCLUSION In summary, the WWOX-rs13338697 and rs6025211 genotypes predicted treatment outcomes in ADI-PEG 20-treated advanced HCC patients. The WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype was associated with lower tissue WWOX and ASS1 levels and higher pretreatment plasma arginine levels, resembling an arginine auxotrophic phenotype requires excessive extracellular arginine supply. Silencing WWOX to mimic HCC with the WWOX-rs13338697-GG genotype further stimulated HCC cell response to hypoxia through increased HIF1A expression, leading to further reduction of ASS1 and thus increased cell susceptibility to ADI-PEG 20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-De Chu
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Fen Liu
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Polaris Group, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Chen
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Polaris Group, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hung Chou
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Polaris Group, Taipei, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Biotechnology Industry, College of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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14
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Sardar M, Recio-Boiles A, Mody K, Karime C, Chandana SR, Mahadevan D, Starr J, Jones J, Borad M, Babiker H. Pharmacotherapeutic options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2022; 23:2079-2089. [PMID: 36394449 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2149322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy projected to be the 2nd leading cause of cancer related death in the USA by 2030. This manuscript discusses current and evolving treatment approaches in patients with pancreatic cancer. AREAS COVERED PDAC is classified as: a) resectable, b) borderline resectable, c) unresectable (locally advanced and metastatic). The standard of care for patients who present with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma is six months of adjuvant modified (m) FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine plus capecitabine, or single agent gemcitabine. For many reasons, there has been a paradigm shift to employing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For resectable and borderline resectable patients, we generally start with systemic therapy and reevaluate resectability with subsequent scans specifically when the tumor is located in the head or body of the pancreas. Combined chemoradiation therapy can be employed in select patients. The standard of care for metastatic PDAC is FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Germline and somatic genomic profiling should be obtained in all patients. Patients with a germline BRCA mutation can receive upfront gemcitabine and cisplatin. EXPERT OPINION Thorough understanding of molecular pathogenesis in PDAC has opened various therapeutic avenues. We remain optimistic that future treatment modalities such as targeted therapies, cellular therapies and immunotherapy will further improve survival in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sardar
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Az, USA
| | - Alejandro Recio-Boiles
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Az, USA
| | - Kabir Mody
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Daruka Mahadevan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Jason Starr
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jeremy Jones
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Mitesh Borad
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Hani Babiker
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA
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15
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Reprogramming T-Cell Metabolism for Better Anti-Tumor Immunity. Cells 2022; 11:cells11193103. [PMID: 36231064 PMCID: PMC9562038 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells play central roles in the anti-tumor immunity, whose activation and differentiation are profoundly regulated by intrinsic metabolic reprogramming. Emerging evidence has revealed that metabolic processes of T cells are generally altered by tumor cells or tumor released factors, leading to crippled anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, better understanding of T cell metabolic mechanism is crucial in developing the next generation of T cell-based anti-tumor immunotherapeutics. In this review, we discuss how metabolic pathways affect T cells to exert their anti-tumor effects and how to remodel the metabolic programs to improve T cell-mediated anti-tumor immune responses. We emphasize that glycolysis, carboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation, cholesterol metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism work together to tune tumor-reactive T-cell activation and proliferation.
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16
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Szyszko TA, Dunn JT, Phillips MM, Bomalaski J, Sheaff MT, Ellis S, Pike L, Goh V, Cook GJ, Szlosarek PW. Role of 3'-Deoxy-3'-[ 18F] Fluorothymidine Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography as a Predictive Biomarker in Argininosuccinate Synthetase 1-Deficient Thoracic Cancers Treated With Pegargiminase. JTO Clin Res Rep 2022; 3:100382. [PMID: 36082278 PMCID: PMC9445378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pegargiminase (ADI-PEG 20I) degrades arginine in patients with argininosuccinate synthetase 1-deficient malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and NSCLC. Imaging with proliferation biomarker 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F] fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) was performed in a phase 1 study of pegargiminase with pemetrexed and cisplatin (ADIPemCis). The aim was to determine whether FLT PET-CT predicts treatment response earlier than CT. Methods A total of 18 patients with thoracic malignancies (10 MPM; eight NSCLC) underwent imaging. FLT PET-CT was performed at baseline (PET1), 24 hours post-pegargiminase monotherapy (PET2), post one cycle of ADIPemCis (PET3), and at end of treatment (EOT, PET4). CT was performed at baseline (CT1) and EOT (CT4). CT4 (modified) Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) response was compared with treatment response on PET (changes in maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax] on European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-based criteria). Categorical responses (progression, partial response, and stable disease) for PET2, PET3, and PET4 were compared against CT using Cohen's kappa. Results ADIPemCis treatment response resulted in 22% mean decrease in size between CT1 and CT4 and 37% mean decrease in SUVmax between PET1 and PET4. PET2 agreed with CT4 response in 62% (8 of 13) of patients (p = 0.043), although decrease in proliferation (SUVmax) did not precede decrease in size (RECIST). Partial responses on FLT PET-CT were detected in 20% (3 of 15) of participants at PET2 and 69% (9 of 13) at PET4 with good agreement between modalities in MPM at EOT. Conclusions Early FLT imaging (PET2) agrees with EOT CT results in nearly two-thirds of patients. Both early and late FLT PET-CT provide evidence of response to ADIPemCis therapy in MPM and NSCLC. We provide first-in-human FLT PET-CT data in MPM, indicating it is comparable with modified RECIST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa A. Szyszko
- King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ PET Centre, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joel T. Dunn
- King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ PET Centre, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa M. Phillips
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Michael T. Sheaff
- Department of Histopathology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Ellis
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Pike
- King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ PET Centre, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vicky Goh
- Cancer Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gary J.R. Cook
- King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ PET Centre, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W. Szlosarek
- Department of Medical Oncology, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Sun N, Zhao X. Argininosuccinate synthase 1, arginine deprivation therapy and cancer management. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:935553. [PMID: 35910381 PMCID: PMC9335876 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.935553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is an emerging hallmark of tumor cells. In order to survive in the nutrient-deprived environment, tumor cells rewire their metabolic phenotype to provide sufficient energy and build biomass to sustain their transformed state and promote malignant behaviors. Amino acids are the main compositions of protein, which provide key intermediate substrates for the activation of signaling pathways. Considering that cells can synthesize arginine via argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1), arginine is regarded as a non-essential amino acid, making arginine depletion as a promising therapeutic strategy for ASS1-silencing tumors. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of expression pattern of ASS1 and related signaling pathways in cancer and its potential role as a novel therapeutic target in cancer. Besides, we outline how ASS1 affects metabolic regulation and tumor progression and further discuss the role of ASS1 in arginine deprivation therapy. Finally, we review approaches to target ASS1 for cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naihui Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xing Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Xing Zhao,
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18
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Chan PY, Phillips MM, Ellis S, Johnston A, Feng X, Arora A, Hay G, Cohen VML, Sagoo MS, Bomalaski JS, Sheaff MT, Szlosarek PW. A Phase 1 study of ADI-PEG20 (pegargiminase) combined with cisplatin and pemetrexed in ASS1-negative metastatic uveal melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2022; 35:461-470. [PMID: 35466524 PMCID: PMC9322321 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) is a devastating disease with few treatment options. We evaluated the safety, tolerability and preliminary activity of arginine depletion using pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI‐PEG20; pegargiminase) combined with pemetrexed (Pem) and cisplatin (Cis) chemotherapy in a phase 1 dose‐expansion study of patients with argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1)‐deficient metastatic UM. Eligible patients received up to six cycles of Pem (500 mg/m2) and Cis (75 mg/m2) every 3 weeks plus weekly intramuscular ADI (36 mg/m2), followed by maintenance ADI until progression (NCT02029690). Ten of fourteen ASS1‐deficient patients with UM liver metastases and a median of one line of prior immunotherapy received ADIPemCis. Only one ≥ grade 3 adverse event of febrile neutropenia was reported. Seven patients had stable disease with a median progression‐free survival of 3.0 months (range, 1.3–8.1) and a median overall survival of 11.5 months (range, 3.2–36.9). Despite anti‐ADI‐PEG20 antibody emergence, plasma arginine concentrations remained suppressed by 18 weeks with a reciprocal increase in plasma citrulline. Tumour rebiopsies at progression revealed ASS1 re‐expression as an escape mechanism. ADIPemCis was well tolerated with modest disease stabilisation in metastatic UM. Further investigation of arginine deprivation is indicated in UM including combinations with immune checkpoint blockade and additional anti‐metabolite strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pui Ying Chan
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.,Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Melissa M Phillips
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Stephen Ellis
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Xiaoxing Feng
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals Inc, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Amit Arora
- Department of Ocular Oncology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gordon Hay
- Department of Ocular Oncology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Victoria M L Cohen
- Department of Ocular Oncology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Mandeep S Sagoo
- Department of Ocular Oncology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | | | - Michael T Sheaff
- Department of Histopathology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Peter W Szlosarek
- Department of Medical Oncology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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19
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Chakrabarti S, Kamgar M, Mahipal A. Systemic Therapy of Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Current Status, Challenges, and Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2588. [PMID: 35681565 PMCID: PMC9179239 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by nonspecific presenting symptoms, lack of a screening test, rapidly progressive clinical course, and presentation with an advanced-stage disease in the majority of patients. PDAC is essentially a systemic disease irrespective of the initial stage, as most patients with non-metastatic PDAC undergoing curative-intent treatment eventually experience metastatic relapse. Currently, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment in patients with advanced disease. However, the current standard treatment with multiagent chemotherapy has modest efficacy and results in median overall survival (OS) of less than a year and a 5-year OS of about 10%. The pathobiology of PDAC poses many challenges, including a unique tumor microenvironment interfering with drug delivery, intratumoral heterogeneity, and a strongly immunosuppressive microenvironment that supports cancer growth. Recent research is exploring a wide range of novel therapeutic targets, including genomic alterations, tumor microenvironment, and tumor metabolism. The rapid evolution of tumor genome sequencing technologies paves the way for personalized, targeted therapies. The present review summarizes the current chemotherapeutic treatment paradigm of advanced PDAC and discusses the evolving novel targets that are being investigated in a myriad of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakti Chakrabarti
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (S.C.); (M.K.)
| | - Mandana Kamgar
- Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (S.C.); (M.K.)
| | - Amit Mahipal
- Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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20
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Zhang Y, Higgins CB, Van Tine BA, Bomalaski JS, DeBosch BJ. Pegylated arginine deiminase drives arginine turnover and systemic autophagy to dictate energy metabolism. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100498. [PMID: 35106510 PMCID: PMC8784773 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a multi-systemic disorder of energy balance. Despite intense investigation, the determinants of energy homeostasis remain incompletely understood, and efficacious treatments against obesity and its complications are lacking. Here, we demonstrate that conferred arginine iminohydrolysis by the bacterial virulence factor and arginine deiminase, arcA, promotes mammalian energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity and reverses dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammation in obese mice. Extending this, pharmacological arginine catabolism via pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) recapitulates these metabolic effects in dietary and genetically obese models. These effects require hepatic and whole-body expression of the autophagy complex protein BECN1 and hepatocyte-specific FGF21 secretion. Single-cell ATAC sequencing further reveals BECN1-dependent hepatocyte chromatin accessibility changes in response to ADI-PEG 20. The data thus reveal an unexpected therapeutic utility for arginine catabolism in modulating energy metabolism by activating systemic autophagy, which is now exploitable through readily available pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Cassandra B. Higgins
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brian A. Van Tine
- Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | | | - Brian J. DeBosch
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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21
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Yao S, Janku F, Koenig K, Tsimberidou AM, Piha-Paul SA, Shi N, Stewart J, Johnston A, Bomalaski J, Meric-Bernstam F, Fu S. Phase 1 trial of ADI-PEG 20 and liposomal doxorubicin in patients with metastatic solid tumors. Cancer Med 2021; 11:340-347. [PMID: 34841717 PMCID: PMC8729058 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Arginine depletion interferes with pyrimidine metabolism and DNA damage repair pathways. Preclinical data demonstrated that depletion of arginine by PEGylated arginine deiminase (ADI‐PEG 20) enhanced liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) cytotoxicity in cancer cells with argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) deficiency. The objective of this study was to assess safety and tolerability of ADI‐PEG 20 and PLD in patients with metastatic solid tumors. Methods Patients with advanced ASS1‐deficient solid tumors were enrolled in this phase 1 trial of ADI‐PEG 20 and PLD following a 3 + 3 design. Eligible patients were given intravenous PLD biweekly and intramuscular (IM) ADI‐PEG 20 weekly. Toxicity and efficacy were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0) and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (version 1.1), respectively. Results Of 15 enrolled patients, 9 had metastatic HER2‐negative breast carcinoma. We observed no dose‐limiting toxicities or treatment‐related deaths. One patient safely received 880 mg/m2 PLD in this study and 240 mg/m2 doxorubicin previously. Treatment led to stable disease in 9 patients and was associated with a median progression‐free survival time of 3.95 months in 15 patients. Throughout the duration of treatment, decreased arginine and increased citrulline levels in peripheral blood remained significant in a majority of patients. We detected no induction of anti‐ADI‐PEG 20 antibodies by week 8 in one third of patients. Conclusion Concurrent IM injection of ADI‐PEG 20 at 36 mg/m2 weekly and intravenous infusion of PLD at 20 mg/m2 biweekly had an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced ASS1‐deficient solid tumors. Further evaluation of this combination is under discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyang Yao
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Filip Janku
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | | - Nai Shi
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John Stewart
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - John Bomalaski
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Siqing Fu
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA
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22
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Kang BW, Chau I. Emerging agents for metastatic pancreatic cancer: spotlight on early phase clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:1089-1107. [PMID: 34727804 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1995354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the recent development of new chemotherapeutic regimens and combination strategies, metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) still shows only a modest response to conventional cytotoxic agents. However, several novel therapeutic agents targeting the unique features of mPC are showing promise in clinical trials. AREA COVERED This article reviews the current state of development of new agents targeting various systems and molecular pathways. We searched PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov in September 2021 with a special focus on ongoing early phase clinical trials to identify the promising therapeutic strategies for mPC. EXPERT OPINION Extensive tumor heterogeneity, complex tumor microenvironment, genetic alterations of the oncogenic signaling pathways, metabolic dysregulation, and a low immunogenicity are hurdles for current treatment approaches. Ongoing research efforts strive to overcome these hurdles and are showing some promising early results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Woog Kang
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ian Chau
- Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, Surrey, UK
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23
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Chisari A, Golán I, Campisano S, Gélabert C, Moustakas A, Sancho P, Caja L. Glucose and Amino Acid Metabolic Dependencies Linked to Stemness and Metastasis in Different Aggressive Cancer Types. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:723798. [PMID: 34588983 PMCID: PMC8473699 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.723798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant cells are commonly characterised by being capable of invading tissue, growing self-sufficiently and uncontrollably, being insensitive to apoptosis induction and controlling their environment, for example inducing angiogenesis. Amongst them, a subpopulation of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells (CSCs) shows sustained replicative potential, tumor-initiating properties and chemoresistance. These characteristics make CSCs responsible for therapy resistance, tumor relapse and growth in distant organs, causing metastatic dissemination. For these reasons, eliminating CSCs is necessary in order to achieve long-term survival of cancer patients. New insights in cancer metabolism have revealed that cellular metabolism in tumors is highly heterogeneous and that CSCs show specific metabolic traits supporting their unique functionality. Indeed, CSCs adapt differently to the deprivation of specific nutrients that represent potentially targetable vulnerabilities. This review focuses on three of the most aggressive tumor types: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and glioblastoma (GBM). The aim is to prove whether CSCs from different tumour types share common metabolic requirements and responses to nutrient starvation, by outlining the diverse roles of glucose and amino acids within tumour cells and in the tumour microenvironment, as well as the consequences of their deprivation. Beyond their role in biosynthesis, they serve as energy sources and help maintain redox balance. In addition, glucose and amino acid derivatives contribute to immune responses linked to tumourigenesis and metastasis. Furthermore, potential metabolic liabilities are identified and discussed as targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Chisari
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Irene Golán
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sabrina Campisano
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, National University of Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Caroline Gélabert
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Translational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Laia Caja
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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24
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Kamgar M, Chakrabarti S, Shreenivas A, George B. Evolution of Systemic Therapy in Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Surg Oncol Clin N Am 2021; 30:673-691. [PMID: 34511189 DOI: 10.1016/j.soc.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is characterized by early systemic dissemination, a complex tumor microenvironment, as well as significant intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity. Treatment options and survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have improved steadily over the last 3 decades. Although cytotoxic chemotherapy is currently the mainstay of treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, evolving therapeutic strategies are aimed at targeting the tumor microenvironment, metabolism, and the tumor-host immune balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Kamgar
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Sakti Chakrabarti
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Aditya Shreenivas
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Ben George
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Gu Z, Du Y, Zhao X, Wang C. Tumor microenvironment and metabolic remodeling in gemcitabine-based chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2021; 521:98-108. [PMID: 34461181 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a solid malignant tumor with a very low operative rate and a poor patient prognosis. Therefore, gemcitabine (GEM)-based chemotherapy remains one of the most important treatment choices for PDAC. However, the efficacy of GEM monotherapy or GEM combination chemotherapy in improving the survival of patients with advanced PDAC is very limited, primarily due to GEM resistance. The mechanism of GEM resistance is complex and unclear. An extensive and dense fibrous matrix in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important feature of PDAC. Increasing evidence indicates that this fibrotic TME not only actively participates in the growth and spread of PDAC but also contributes to the induction of GEM resistance. Metabolic remodeling reduces GEM transport and synthesis in PDAC. This review focuses on the main cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM), immune cells, and metabolic remodeling in the induction of GEM resistance; highlights the prospect of targeting the TME as an essential strategy to overcome GEM resistance; and provides new precise interventions for chemotherapy sensitization and improving the overall prognosis of patients with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongting Gu
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yongxing Du
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Xueping Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Chengfeng Wang
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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26
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Kumari N, Bansal S. Arginine depriving enzymes: applications as emerging therapeutics in cancer treatment. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:565-594. [PMID: 34309734 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04335-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy and other medications are employed to treat various types of cancer. However, each treatment has its own set of side effects, owing to its low specificity. As a result, there is an urgent need for newer therapeutics that do not disrupt healthy cells' normal functioning. Depriving nutrient or non/semi-essential amino acids to which cancerous cells are auxotrophic remains one such promising anticancer strategy. L-Arginine (Arg) is a semi-essential vital amino acid involved in versatile metabolic processes, signaling pathways, and cancer cell proliferation. Hence, the administration of Arg depriving enzymes (ADE) such as arginase, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), and arginine deiminase (ADI) could be effective in cancer therapy. The Arg auxotrophic cancerous cells like hepatocellular carcinoma, human colon cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer cells are sensitive to ADE treatment due to low expression of crucial enzymes argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS), argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), and ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT). These therapeutic enzyme treatments induce cell death through inducing autophagy, apoptosis, generation of oxidative species, i.e., oxidative stress, and arresting the progression and expansion of cancerous cells at certain cell cycle checkpoints. The enzymes are undergoing clinical trials and could be successfully exploited as potential anticancer agents in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Kumari
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Bansal
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology Waknaghat, Solan, 173234, Himachal Pradesh, India.
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27
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Chen CL, Hsu SC, Ann DK, Yen Y, Kung HJ. Arginine Signaling and Cancer Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3541. [PMID: 34298755 PMCID: PMC8306961 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginine is an amino acid critically involved in multiple cellular processes including the syntheses of nitric oxide and polyamines, and is a direct activator of mTOR, a nutrient-sensing kinase strongly implicated in carcinogenesis. Yet, it is also considered as a non- or semi-essential amino acid, due to normal cells' intrinsic ability to synthesize arginine from citrulline and aspartate via ASS1 (argininosuccinate synthase 1) and ASL (argininosuccinate lyase). As such, arginine can be used as a dietary supplement and its depletion as a therapeutic strategy. Strikingly, in over 70% of tumors, ASS1 transcription is suppressed, rendering the cells addicted to external arginine, forming the basis of arginine-deprivation therapy. In this review, we will discuss arginine as a signaling metabolite, arginine's role in cancer metabolism, arginine as an epigenetic regulator, arginine as an immunomodulator, and arginine as a therapeutic target. We will also provide a comprehensive summary of ADI (arginine deiminase)-based arginine-deprivation preclinical studies and an update of clinical trials for ADI and arginase. The different cell killing mechanisms associated with various cancer types will also be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Lin Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Miaoli County, Taiwan;
| | - Sheng-Chieh Hsu
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu 30035, Taiwan;
- Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - David K. Ann
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Yun Yen
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
| | - Hsing-Jien Kung
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Miaoli County, Taiwan;
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan;
- Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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28
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Chang KY, Chiang NJ, Wu SY, Yen CJ, Chen SH, Yeh YM, Li CF, Feng X, Wu K, Johnston A, Bomalaski JS, Wu BW, Gao J, Subudhi SK, Kaseb AO, Blando JM, Yadav SS, Szlosarek PW, Chen LT. Phase 1b study of pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) plus Pembrolizumab in advanced solid cancers. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1943253. [PMID: 34290906 PMCID: PMC8276661 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1943253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20) is a metabolism-based strategy that depletes arginine, resulting in tumoral stress and cytotoxicity. Preclinically, ADI-PEG 20 modulates T-cell activity and enhances the therapeutic efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibition. Methods A phase 1b study, including a dose-escalation cohort and an expansion cohort, was undertaken to explore the effects of ADI-PEG 20 in combination with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, for safety, pharmacodynamics, and response. CD3 levels and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression were assessed in paired biopsies collected prior to and after ADI-PEG 20 treatment but before pembrolizumab. Results Twenty-five patients, nine in the dose-escalation cohort and sixteen in the expansion cohort, were recruited. Treatment was feasible with adverse events consistent with those known for each agent, except for Grade 3/4 neutropenia which was higher than expected, occurring in 10/25 (40%) patients. Mean arginine levels were suppressed for 1-3 weeks, but increased gradually. CD3+ T cells increased in 10/12 (83.3%) subjects following ADI-PEG 20 treatment, including in three partial responders (p = .02). PD-L1 expression was low and increased in 3/10 (30%) of subjects. Partial responses occurred in 6/25 (24%) heavily pretreated patients, in both argininosuccinate synthetase 1 proficient and deficient subjects. Conclusions The immunometabolic combination was safe with the caveat that the incidence of neutropenia might be increased compared with either agent alone. ADI-PEG 20 treatment increased T cell infiltration in the low PD-L1 tumor microenvironment. The recommended phase 2 doses are 36 mg/m2 weekly for ADI-PEG 20 and 200 mg every 3 weeks for pembrolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Yu Chang
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Jung Chiang
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Yin Wu
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jui Yen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Hung Chen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Min Yeh
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Feng Li
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Pathology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Xiaoxing Feng
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Katherine Wu
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | | | - Bor-Wen Wu
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jianjun Gao
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sumit K. Subudhi
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ahmed O. Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jorge M. Blando
- The Immunotherapy Platform, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TXUSA
| | - Shalini S. Yadav
- The Immunotherapy Platform, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TXUSA
| | - Peter W. Szlosarek
- Center for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Li-Tzong Chen
- Department of Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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29
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Martí I Líndez AA, Reith W. Arginine-dependent immune responses. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5303-5324. [PMID: 34037806 PMCID: PMC8257534 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03828-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates that, over the course of evolution of the immune system, arginine has been selected as a node for the regulation of immune responses. An appropriate supply of arginine has long been associated with the improvement of immune responses. In addition to being a building block for protein synthesis, arginine serves as a substrate for distinct metabolic pathways that profoundly affect immune cell biology; especially macrophage, dendritic cell and T cell immunobiology. Arginine availability, synthesis, and catabolism are highly interrelated aspects of immune responses and their fine-tuning can dictate divergent pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory immune outcomes. Here, we review the organismal pathways of arginine metabolism in humans and rodents, as essential modulators of the availability of this semi-essential amino acid for immune cells. We subsequently review well-established and novel findings on the functional impact of arginine biosynthetic and catabolic pathways on the main immune cell lineages. Finally, as arginine has emerged as a molecule impacting on a plethora of immune functions, we integrate key notions on how the disruption or perversion of arginine metabolism is implicated in pathologies ranging from infectious diseases to autoimmunity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Walter Reith
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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30
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Hsu SC, Chen CL, Cheng ML, Chu CY, Changou CA, Yu YL, Yeh SD, Kuo TC, Kuo CC, Chuu CP, Li CF, Wang LH, Chen HW, Yen Y, Ann DK, Wang HJ, Kung HJ. Arginine starvation elicits chromatin leakage and cGAS-STING activation via epigenetic silencing of metabolic and DNA-repair genes. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:7527-7545. [PMID: 34158865 PMCID: PMC8210599 DOI: 10.7150/thno.54695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: One of the most common metabolic defects in cancers is the deficiency in arginine synthesis, which has been exploited therapeutically. Yet, challenges remain, and the mechanisms of arginine-starvation induced killing are largely unclear. Here, we sought to demonstrate the underlying mechanisms by which arginine starvation-induced cell death and to develop a dietary arginine-restriction xenograft model to study the in vivo effects. Methods: Multiple castration-resistant prostate cancer cell lines were treated with arginine starvation followed by comprehensive analysis of microarray, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq were to identify the molecular and epigenetic pathways affected by arginine starvation. Metabolomics and Seahorse Flux analyses were used to determine the metabolic profiles. A dietary arginine-restriction xenograft mouse model was developed to assess the effects of arginine starvation on tumor growth and inflammatory responses. Results: We showed that arginine starvation coordinately and epigenetically suppressed gene expressions, including those involved in oxidative phosphorylation and DNA repair, resulting in DNA damage, chromatin-leakage and cGAS-STING activation, accompanied by the upregulation of type I interferon response. We further demonstrated that arginine starvation-caused depletion of α-ketoglutarate and inactivation of histone demethylases are the underlying causes of epigenetic silencing. Significantly, our dietary arginine-restriction model showed that arginine starvation suppressed prostate cancer growth in vivo, with evidence of enhanced interferon responses and recruitment of immune cells. Conclusions: Arginine-starvation induces tumor cell killing by metabolite depletion and epigenetic silencing of metabolic genes, leading to DNA damage and chromatin leakage. The resulting cGAS-STING activation may further enhance these killing effects.
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31
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van Gisbergen MW, Zwilling E, Dubois LJ. Metabolic Rewiring in Radiation Oncology Toward Improving the Therapeutic Ratio. Front Oncol 2021; 11:653621. [PMID: 34041023 PMCID: PMC8143268 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.653621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To meet the anabolic demands of the proliferative potential of tumor cells, malignant cells tend to rewire their metabolic pathways. Although different types of malignant cells share this phenomenon, there is a large intracellular variability how these metabolic patterns are altered. Fortunately, differences in metabolic patterns between normal tissue and malignant cells can be exploited to increase the therapeutic ratio. Modulation of cellular metabolism to improve treatment outcome is an emerging field proposing a variety of promising strategies in primary tumor and metastatic lesion treatment. These strategies, capable of either sensitizing or protecting tissues, target either tumor or normal tissue and are often focused on modulating of tissue oxygenation, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization, glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function and the redox balance. Several compounds or therapies are still in under (pre-)clinical development, while others are already used in clinical practice. Here, we describe different strategies from bench to bedside to optimize the therapeutic ratio through modulation of the cellular metabolism. This review gives an overview of the current state on development and the mechanism of action of modulators affecting cellular metabolism with the aim to improve the radiotherapy response on tumors or to protect the normal tissue and therefore contribute to an improved therapeutic ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marike W van Gisbergen
- The M-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Dermatology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Emma Zwilling
- The M-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ludwig J Dubois
- The M-Lab, Department of Precision Medicine, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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32
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Targeting nutrient metabolism with FDA-approved drugs for cancer chemoprevention: Drugs and mechanisms. Cancer Lett 2021; 510:1-12. [PMID: 33857528 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.03.029] [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] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Proliferating cancer cells exhibit metabolic alterations and specific nutritional needs for adapting to their rapid growth. These changes include using aerobic glycolysis, lipid metabolic disorder, and irregular protein degradation. It may be useful to target metabolic abnormalities for cancer chemoprevention. Epidemiological and mechanism-related studies have indicated that many FDA-approved anti-metabolic drugs decrease tumor risk, inhibit tumor growth, or enhance the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs. Drugs targeting nutrient metabolism have fewer side effects with long-term use compared to chemotherapeutic drugs. The characteristics of these drugs make them promising candidates for cancer chemoprevention. Here, we summarize recent discoveries of the chemo-preventive effects of drugs targeting nutrient metabolic pathways and discuss future applications and challenges. Understanding the effects and mechanisms of anti-metabolic drugs in cancer has important implications for exploring strategies for cancer chemoprevention.
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33
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Tsai HJ, Hsiao HH, Hsu YT, Liu YC, Kao HW, Liu TC, Cho SF, Feng X, Johnston A, Bomalaski JS, Kuo MC, Chen TY. Phase I study of ADI-PEG20 plus low-dose cytarabine for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Med 2021; 10:2946-2955. [PMID: 33787078 PMCID: PMC8085967 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are argininosuccinate synthetase‐deficient. Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI‐PEG20) monotherapy depletes circulating arginine, thereby selectively inducing tumor cell death. ADI‐PEG20 was shown to induce complete responses in ~10% of relapsed/refractory or poor‐risk AML patients. We conducted a phase I, dose‐escalation study combining ADI‐PEG20 and low‐dose cytarabine (LDC) in AML patients. Patients received 20 mg LDC subcutaneously twice daily for 10 days every 28 days and ADI‐PEG20 at 18 or 36 mg/m2 (dose levels 1 and 2) intramuscularly weekly. An expansion cohort for the maximal tolerated dose of ADI‐PEG20 was planned to further estimate the toxicity and preliminary response of this regimen. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. The secondary endpoints were time on treatment, overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and biomarkers (pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity detection). Twenty‐three patients were included in the study, and seventeen patients were in the expansion cohort (dose level 2). No patients developed dose‐limiting toxicities. The most common grade III/IV toxicities were thrombocytopenia (61%), anemia (52%), and neutropenia (30%). One had an allergic reaction to ADI‐PEG20. The ORR in 18 evaluable patients was 44.4%, with a median OS of 8.0 (4.5‐not reached) months. In seven treatment‐naïve patients, the ORR was 71.4% and the complete remission rate was 57.1%. The ADI‐PEG20 and LDC combination was well‐tolerated and resulted in an encouraging ORR. Further combination studies are warranted. (This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov as a Ph1 Study of ADI‐PEG20 Plus Low‐Dose Cytarabine in Older Patients With AML, NCT02875093).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Jen Tsai
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hua Hsiao
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ting Hsu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chang Liu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Wen Kao
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Chih Liu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology-Oncology and Cancer Center, Chang Bing Show Chwan Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Feng Cho
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Xiaoxing Feng
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Polaris Group, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Amanda Johnston
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Polaris Group, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Ming-Chung Kuo
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Linkou, Taiwan
| | - Tsai-Yun Chen
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Phase 1 trial of ADI-PEG20 plus cisplatin in patients with pretreated metastatic melanoma or other advanced solid malignancies. Br J Cancer 2021; 124:1533-1539. [PMID: 33674736 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01230-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arginine depletion interferes with pyrimidine metabolism and DNA damage-repair pathways, and pairing arginine deiminase pegylated with 20,000-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (ADI-PEG20) with platinum enhances cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in arginine auxotrophs. METHODS This single-centre, Phase 1 trial was conducted using a 3 + 3 dose escalation designed to assess safety, tolerability and determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of ADI-PEG20. RESULTS We enrolled 99 patients with metastatic argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) deficient malignancies. We observed no dose-limiting toxic effects or treatment-related mortality. Three percent of patients discontinued treatment because of toxicity. After treatment, 5% (5/99) of patients had partial responses, and 41% had stable disease. The median progression-free and overall survival durations were 3.62 and 8.06 months, respectively. Substantial arginine depletion and citrulline escalation persisted in most patients through weeks 24 and 8, respectively. Tumour responses were associated with anti-ADI-PEG20 antibody levels at weeks 8 and 16 (p = 0.031 and p = 0.0357, respectively). CONCLUSION Concurrently administered ADI-PEG20 and cisplatin had an acceptable safety profile and had shown antitumour activity against metastatic ASS1-deficient solid tumours. Further evaluation of this treatment combination is warranted.
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35
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Zheng-Lin B, O'Reilly EM. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the era of precision medicine. Semin Oncol 2021; 48:19-33. [PMID: 33637355 PMCID: PMC8355264 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The paradigm for treatment of PDAC is shifting from a "one size fits all" of cytotoxic therapy to a precision medicine approach based on specific predictive biomarkers for a subset of patients. As the genomic landscape of pancreatic carcinogenesis has become increasingly defined, several oncogenic alterations have emerged as actionable targets and their use has been validated in novel approaches such as targeting mutated germline DNA damage response genes (BRCA) and mismatch deficiency (dMMR/MSI-H) or blockade of rare somatic oncogenic fusions. Chemotherapy selection based on transcriptomic subtypes and developing stroma- and immune-modulating strategies have yielded encouraging results and may open therapeutic refinement to a broader PDAC population. Notwithstanding, a series of negative late-stage trials over the last year continue to underscore the inherent challenges in the treatment of PDAC. Multifactorial therapy resistance warrants further exploration in PDAC "omics" and tumor-stroma-immune cells crosstalk. Herein, we discuss precision medicine approaches applied to the treatment of PDAC, its current state and future perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Zheng-Lin
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eileen M O'Reilly
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Tu MJ, Duan Z, Liu Z, Zhang C, Bold RJ, Gonzalez FJ, Kim EJ, Yu AM. MicroRNA-1291-5p Sensitizes Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells to Arginine Deprivation and Chemotherapy through the Regulation of Arginolysis and Glycolysis. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:686-694. [PMID: 33051382 PMCID: PMC7673485 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.120.000130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells are dysregulated and addicted to continuous supply and metabolism of nutritional glucose and amino acids (e.g., arginine) to drive the synthesis of critical macromolecules for uncontrolled growth. Recent studies have revealed that genome-derived microRNA (miRNA or miR)-1291-5p (miR-1291-5p or miR-1291) may modulate the expression of argininosuccinate synthase (ASS1) and glucose transporter protein type 1 (GLUT1). We also developed a novel approach to produce recombinant miR-1291 agents for research, which are distinguished from conventional chemo-engineered miRNA mimics. Herein, we firstly demonstrated that bioengineered miR-1291 agent was selectively processed to high levels of target miR-1291-5p in human pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. After the suppression of ASS1 protein levels, miR-1291 perturbed arginine homeostasis and preferably sensitized ASS1-abundant L3.3 cells to arginine deprivation therapy. In addition, miR-1291 treatment reduced the protein levels of GLUT1 in both AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cells, leading to a lower glucose uptake (deceased > 40%) and glycolysis capacity (reduced approximately 50%). As a result, miR-1291 largely improved cisplatin efficacy in the inhibition of PC cell viability. Our results demonstrated that miR-1291 was effective to sensitize PC cells to arginine deprivation treatment and chemotherapy through targeting ASS1- and GLUT1-mediated arginolysis and glycolysis, respectively, which may provide insights into understanding miRNA signaling underlying cancer cell metabolism and development of new strategies for the treatment of lethal PC. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Many anticancer drugs in clinical use and under investigation exert pharmacological effects or improve efficacy of coadministered medications by targeting cancer cell metabolism. Using new recombinant miR-1291 agent, we revealed that miR-1291 acts as a metabolism modulator in pancreatic carcinoma cells through the regulation of argininosuccinate synthase- and glucose transporter protein type 1-mediated arginolysis and glycolysis. Consequently, miR-1291 effectively enhanced the efficacy of arginine deprivation (pegylated arginine deiminase) and chemotherapy (cisplatin), offering new insights into development of rational combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Juan Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Zhijian Duan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Richard J Bold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Frank J Gonzalez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Edward J Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
| | - Ai-Ming Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (M.-J.T., Z.D., Z.L., C.Z., A.-M.Y.), Division of Surgical Oncology (R.J.B.), Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine (E.J.K.), University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California; and Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland (F.J.G.)
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Yang JS, Wang CC, Qiu JD, Ren B, You L. Arginine metabolism: a potential target in pancreatic cancer therapy. Chin Med J (Engl) 2020; 134:28-37. [PMID: 33395072 PMCID: PMC7862822 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000001216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely malignant disease, which has an extremely low survival rate of <9% in the United States. As a new hallmark of cancer, metabolism reprogramming exerts crucial impacts on PDAC development and progression. Notably, arginine metabolism is altered in PDAC cells and participates in vital signaling pathways. In addition, arginine and its metabolites including polyamine, creatine, agmatine, and nitric oxide regulate the proliferation, growth, autophagy, apoptosis, and metastasis of cancer cells. Due to the loss of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression, the key enzyme in arginine biosynthesis, arginine deprivation is regarded as a potential strategy for PDAC therapy. However, drug resistance develops during arginine depletion treatment, along with the re-expression of ASS1, metabolic dysfunction, and the appearance of anti-drug antibody. Additionally, arginase 1 exerts crucial roles in myeloid-derived suppressor cells, indicating its potential targeting by cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we introduce arginine metabolism and its impacts on PDAC cells. Also, we discuss the role of arginine metabolism in arginine deprivation therapy and immunotherapy for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Shou Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
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Combinatory Treatment of Canavanine and Arginine Deprivation Efficiently Targets Human Glioblastoma Cells via Pleiotropic Mechanisms. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102217. [PMID: 33008000 PMCID: PMC7600648 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas are the most frequent and aggressive form of primary brain tumors with no efficient cure. However, they often exhibit specific metabolic shifts that include deficiency in the biosynthesis of and dependence on certain exogenous amino acids. Here, we evaluated, in vitro, a novel combinatory antiglioblastoma approach based on arginine deprivation and canavanine, an arginine analogue of plant origin, using two human glioblastoma cell models, U251MG and U87MG. The combinatory treatment profoundly affected cell viability, morphology, motility and adhesion, destabilizing the cytoskeleton and mitochondrial network, and induced apoptotic cell death. Importantly, the effects were selective toward glioblastoma cells, as they were not pronounced for primary rat glial cells. At the molecular level, canavanine inhibited prosurvival kinases such as FAK, Akt and AMPK. Its effects on protein synthesis and stress response pathways were more complex and dependent on exposure time. We directly observed canavanine incorporation into nascent proteins by using quantitative proteomics. Although canavanine in the absence of arginine readily incorporated into polypeptides, no motif preference for such incorporation was observed. Our findings provide a strong rationale for further developing the proposed modality based on canavanine and arginine deprivation as a potential antiglioblastoma metabolic therapy independent of the blood-brain barrier.
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Xu R, Yang J, Ren B, Wang H, Yang G, Chen Y, You L, Zhao Y. Reprogramming of Amino Acid Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer: Recent Advances and Therapeutic Strategies. Front Oncol 2020; 10:572722. [PMID: 33117704 PMCID: PMC7550743 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.572722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal malignancies with an extremely poor prognosis. Energy metabolism reprogramming, an emerging hallmark of cancer, has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and development of pancreatic cancer. In addition to well-elaborated enhanced glycolysis, investigating the role of reprogramming of amino acid metabolism has sparked great interests in recent years. The rewiring amino acid metabolism orchestrated by genetic alterations contributes to pancreatic cancer malignant characteristics including cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis and redox balance. In the unique hypoperfused and nutrient-deficient tumor microenvironment (TME), the interactions between cancer cells and stromal components and salvaging processes including autophagy and macropinocytosis play critical roles in fulfilling the metabolic requirements and supporting growth of PDAC. In this review, we elucidate the recent advances in the amino acid metabolism reprogramming in pancreatic cancer and the mechanisms of amino acid metabolism regulating PDAC progression, which will provide opportunities to develop promising therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinshou Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huanyu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Ji JX, Cochrane DR, Tessier-Cloutier B, Chen SY, Ho G, Pathak KV, Alcazar IN, Farnell D, Leung S, Cheng A, Chow C, Colborne S, Negri GL, Kommoss F, Karnezis A, Morin GB, McAlpine JN, Gilks CB, Weissman BE, Trent JM, Hoang L, Pirrotte P, Wang Y, Huntsman DG. Arginine Depletion Therapy with ADI-PEG20 Limits Tumor Growth in Argininosuccinate Synthase-Deficient Ovarian Cancer, Including Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:4402-4413. [PMID: 32409304 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-1905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many rare ovarian cancer subtypes, such as small-cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), have poor prognosis due to their aggressive nature and resistance to standard platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy. The development of effective therapeutics has been hindered by the rarity of such tumors. We sought to identify targetable vulnerabilities in rare ovarian cancer subtypes. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We compared the global proteomic landscape of six cases each of endometrioid ovarian cancer (ENOC), clear cell ovarian cancer (CCOC), and SCCOHT to the most common subtype, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), to identify potential therapeutic targets. IHC of tissue microarrays was used as validation of arginosuccinate synthase (ASS1) deficiency. The efficacy of arginine-depriving therapeutic ADI-PEG20 was assessed in vitro using cell lines and patient-derived xenograft mouse models representing SCCOHT. RESULTS Global proteomic analysis identified low ASS1 expression in ENOC, CCOC, and SCCOHT compared with HGSC. Low ASS1 levels were validated through IHC in large patient cohorts. The lowest levels of ASS1 were observed in SCCOHT, where ASS1 was absent in 12 of 31 cases, and expressed in less than 5% of the tumor cells in 9 of 31 cases. ASS1-deficient ovarian cancer cells were sensitive to ADI-PEG20 treatment regardless of subtype in vitro. Furthermore, in two cell line mouse xenograft models and one patient-derived mouse xenograft model of SCCOHT, once-a-week treatment with ADI-PEG20 (30 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg) inhibited tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies identified ADI-PEG20 as a potential therapy for patients with rare ovarian cancers, including SCCOHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer X Ji
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dawn R Cochrane
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Basile Tessier-Cloutier
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Shary Yutin Chen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Germain Ho
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Khyatiben V Pathak
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Isabel N Alcazar
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - David Farnell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Samuel Leung
- Genetic Pathology Evaluation Center, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Angela Cheng
- Genetic Pathology Evaluation Center, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Shane Colborne
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Gian Luca Negri
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Friedrich Kommoss
- Institute of Pathology, Medizin Campus Bodensee, Friedrichshafen, Germany
| | - Anthony Karnezis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Gregg B Morin
- Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jessica N McAlpine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - C Blake Gilks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Bernard E Weissman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jeffrey M Trent
- Integrated Cancer Genomics, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Lynn Hoang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Patrick Pirrotte
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Yemin Wang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, with systemic therapy being the mainstay of treatment. Survival continues to be limited, typically less than 1 year. The PDAC microenvironment is characterized by a paucity of malignant epithelial cells, abundant stroma with predominantly immunosuppressive T cells and myelosuppressive-type macrophages (M2), and hypovascularity. The current treatment options for metastatic PDAC are modified (m)FOLFIRINOX /FOLFIRINOX or nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in patients with good performance status (PS) (ECOG 0-1/KPS 70-100%) and gemcitabine with or without a second agent for those with ECOG PS 2-3. New therapies are emerging, and the current guidelines endorse both germline and somatic testing in PDAC to evaluate actionable findings. Important themes related to new therapeutic approaches include DNA damage repair strategies, immunotherapy, targeting the stroma, and cancer-cell metabolism. Targeted therapy alone (outside small genomically defined subsets) or in combination with standard cytotoxic therapy, thus far, has proven disappointing in PDAC; however, novel therapies are evolving with increased integration of genomic profiling along with a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment and immunology. A small but important sub-group of patients have some of these agents available in the clinics for use. Olaparib was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for maintenance therapy in germline BRCA1/2 mutated PDAC following demonstration of survival benefit in a phase 3 trial. Pembrolizumab is approved for patients with defects in mismatch repair/microsatellite instability. PDAC with wild-type KRAS represents a unique subgroup who have enrichment of potentially targetable oncogenic drivers. Small-molecule inhibitors including ERBB inhibitors (e.g., afatinib, MCLA-128), TRK inhibitors (e.g., larotrectinib, entrectinib), ALK/ROS inhibitor (e.g., crizotinib), and BRAF/MEK inhibitors are in development. In a small subset of patients with the KRASG12C mutation, a KRASG12C inhibitor, AMG510, and other agents are being investigated. Major efforts are underway to effectively target the tumor microenvironment and to integrate immunotherapy into the treatment of PDAC, and although thus far the impact has been modest to ineffective, nonetheless, there is optimism that some of the challenges will be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Raj Singh
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai West, New York, NY, 10019, USA
| | - Eileen M O'Reilly
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Weill Cornell Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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A modified arginine-depleting enzyme NEI-01 inhibits growth of pancreatic cancer cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231633. [PMID: 32353864 PMCID: PMC7192632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine deprivation cancer therapy targets certain types of malignancies with positive result in many studies and clinical trials. NEI-01 was designed as a novel arginine-depleting enzyme comprising an albumin binding domain capable of binding to human serum albumin to lengthen its half-life. In the present work, NEI-01 is shown to bind to serum albumin from various species, including mice, rat and human. Single intraperitoneal administration of NEI-01 to mice reduced plasma arginine to undetectable level for at least 9 days. Treatment of NEI-01 specifically inhibited cell viability of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cancer cell lines, which were ASS1 negative. Using a human pancreatic mouse xenograft model, NEI-01 treatment significantly reduced tumor volume and weight. Our data provides proof of principle for a cancer treatment strategy using NEI-01.
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Shuvayeva GY, Bobak YP, Vovk OI, Kunz-Schughart LA, Fletcher MT, Stasyk OV. Indospicine combined with arginine deprivation triggers cancer cell death via caspase-dependent apoptosis. Cell Biol Int 2020; 45:518-527. [PMID: 32068315 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Arginine-deprivation therapy is a rapidly developing metabolic anticancer approach. To overcome the resistance of some cancer cells to this monotherapy, rationally designed combination modalities are needed. In this report, we evaluated for the first time indospicine, an arginine analogue of Indigofera plant genus origin, as potential enhancer compound for the metabolic therapy that utilizes recombinant human arginase I. We demonstrate that indospicine at low micromolar concentrations is selectively toxic for human colorectal cancer cells only in the absence of arginine. In arginine-deprived cancer cells indospicine deregulates some prosurvival pathways (PI3K-Akt and MAPK) and activates mammalian target of rapamycin, exacerbates endoplasmic reticulum stress and triggers caspase-dependent apoptosis, which is reversed by the exposure to translation inhibitors. Simultaneously, indospicine is not degraded by recombinant human arginase I and does not inhibit this arginine-degrading enzyme at its effective dose. The obtained results emphasize the potential of arginine structural analogues as efficient components for combinatorial metabolic targeting of malignant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galyna Y Shuvayeva
- Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Street 14/16, 79005, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Yaroslav P Bobak
- Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Street 14/16, 79005, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Olena I Vovk
- Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Street 14/16, 79005, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Leoni A Kunz-Schughart
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Fetscherstr 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner site Dresden (NCT), Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Mary T Fletcher
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, PO Box 156 Archerfield, QLD, 4108, Australia
| | - Oleh V Stasyk
- Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Drahomanov Street 14/16, 79005, Lviv, Ukraine
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Zarei M, Rahbar MR, Negahdaripour M, Morowvat MH, Nezafat N, Ghasemi Y. Cell Penetrating Peptide: Sequence-Based Computational Prediction for Intercellular Delivery of Arginine Deiminase. CURR PROTEOMICS 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1570164616666190701120351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:Cell-Penetrating Peptides (CPPs), a family of short peptides, are broadly used as the carrier in the delivery of drugs and different therapeutic agents. Thanks to the existence of valuable databases, computational screening of the experimentally validated CPPs can help the researchers to select more effective CPPs for the intercellular delivery of therapeutic proteins. Arginine deiminase of Mycoplasma hominis, an arginine-degrading enzyme, is currently in the clinical trial for treating several arginine auxotrophic cancers. However, some tumor cells have developed resistance to ADI treatment. The ADI resistance arises from the over-expression of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 enzyme, which is involved in arginine synthesis. Intracellular delivery of ADI into tumor cells is suggested as an efficient approach to overcome the aforesaid drawback.Objective:In this study, in-silico tools were used for evaluating the experimentally validated CPPs to select the best CPP candidates for the intracellular delivery of ADI.Results:In this regard, 150 CPPs of protein cargo available at CPPsite were retrieved and evaluated by the CellPPD server. The best CPP candidates for the intracellular delivery of ADI were selected based on stability and antigenicity of the ADI-CPP fusion form. The conjugated forms of ADI with each of the three CPPs including EGFP-hcT (9-32), EGFP-ppTG20, and F(SG)4TP10 were stable and nonantigenic; thus, these sequences were introduced as the best CPP candidates for the intracellular delivery of ADI. In addition, the proposed CPPs had appropriate positive charge and lengths for an efficient cellular uptake.Conclusion:These three introduced CPPs not only are appropriate for the intracellular delivery of ADI, but also can overcome the limitation of its therapeutic application, including short half-life and antigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahboubeh Zarei
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Rahbar
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Manica Negahdaripour
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Navid Nezafat
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Younes Ghasemi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Kim SS, Xu S, Cui J, Poddar S, Le TM, Hayrapetyan H, Li L, Wu N, Moore AM, Zhou L, Yu AC, Dann AM, Elliott IA, Abt ER, Kim W, Dawson DW, Radu CG, Donahue TR. Histone deacetylase inhibition is synthetically lethal with arginine deprivation in pancreatic cancers with low argininosuccinate synthetase 1 expression. Theranostics 2020; 10:829-840. [PMID: 31903153 PMCID: PMC6929997 DOI: 10.7150/thno.40195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Arginine (Arg) deprivation is a promising therapeutic approach for tumors with low argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression. However, its efficacy as a single agent therapy needs to be improved as resistance is frequently observed. Methods: A tissue microarray was performed to assess ASS1 expression in surgical specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its correlation with disease prognosis. An RNA-Seq analysis examined the role of ASS1 in regulating the global gene transcriptome. A high throughput screen of FDA-approved oncology drugs identified synthetic lethality between histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors and Arg deprivation in PDAC cells with low ASS1 expression. We examined HDAC inhibitor panobinostat (PAN) and Arg deprivation in a panel of human PDAC cell lines, in ASS1-high and -knockdown/knockout isogenic models, in both anchorage-dependent and -independent cultures, and in multicellular complex cultures that model the PDAC tumor microenvironment. We examined the effects of combined Arg deprivation and PAN on DNA damage and the protein levels of key DNA repair enzymes. We also evaluated the efficacy of PAN and ADI-PEG20 (an Arg-degrading agent currently in Phase 2 clinical trials) in xenograft models with ASS1-low and -high PDAC tumors. Results: Low ASS1 protein level is a negative prognostic indicator in PDAC. Arg deprivation in ASS1-deficient PDAC cells upregulated asparagine synthetase (ASNS) which redirected aspartate (Asp) from being used for de novo nucleotide biosynthesis, thus causing nucleotide insufficiency and impairing cell cycle S-phase progression. Comprehensively validated, HDAC inhibitors and Arg deprivation showed synthetic lethality in ASS1-low PDAC cells. Mechanistically, combined Arg deprivation and HDAC inhibition triggered degradation of a key DNA repair enzyme C-terminal-binding protein interacting protein (CtIP), resulting in DNA damage and apoptosis. In addition, S-phase-retained ASS1-low PDAC cells (due to Arg deprivation) were also sensitized to DNA damage, thus yielding effective cell death. Compared to single agents, the combination of PAN and ADI-PEG20 showed better efficacy in suppressing ASS1-low PDAC tumor growth in mouse xenograft models. Conclusion: The combination of PAN and ADI-PEG20 is a rational translational therapeutic strategy for treating ASS1-low PDAC tumors through synergistic induction of DNA damage.
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Kuo MT, Long Y, Tsai WB, Li YY, Chen HHW, Feun LG, Savaraj N. Collaboration Between RSK-EphA2 and Gas6-Axl RTK Signaling in Arginine Starvation Response That Confers Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors. Transl Oncol 2019; 13:355-364. [PMID: 31887630 PMCID: PMC6938815 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many human malignancies require extracellular arginine (Arg) for survival because the key enzyme for de novo Arg biosynthesis, argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), is silenced. Recombinant arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20), which digests extracellular Arg, has been in clinical trials for treating ASS1-negative tumors. Reactivation of ASS1 is responsible for the treatment failure. We previously demonstrated that ASS1 reactivation is transcriptionally regulated by c-Myc via the upstream Gas6-Axl tyrosine kinase (RTK) signal. Here, we report that another RTK EphA2 is coactivated via PI3K-ERK/RSK1 pathway in a ligand-independent mechanism. EphA2 is also regulated by c-Myc. Moreover, we found that knockdown Axl upregulates EphA2 expression, demonstrating cross-talk between these RTKs. ADIR cell lines exhibits enhanced sensitivities to nutrient deprivation such as charcoal-stripped FBS and multiple RTK inhibitor foretinib but resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Knockdown EphA2, and to lesser extent, Axl, overcomes EGFRi resistance. c-Myc inhibitor JQ1 can also sensitize ADIR cells to ADI-PEG20. This study elucidates molecular interactions of multiple RTKs in Arg-stress response and offers approaches for developing strategies of overcoming ADI-PEG20 resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macus Tien Kuo
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Yan Long
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wen-Bin Tsai
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ying-Ying Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Helen H W Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan
| | - Lynn G Feun
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Niramol Savaraj
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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Qian J, Yang J, Liu X, Chen Z, Yan X, Gu H, Xue Q, Zhou X, Gai L, Lu P, Shi Y, Yao N. Analysis of lncRNA-mRNA networks after MEK1/2 inhibition based on WGCNA in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:3657-3668. [PMID: 31583713 PMCID: PMC6972678 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) responds poorly to treatment. Efforts have been exerted to prolong the survival time of PDA, but the 5-year survival rates remain disappointing. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of PDA development is significant. MEK/ERK pathway signaling has been proven to be important in PDA. lncRNA-mRNA networks have become a vital part of molecular mechanisms in the MEK/ERK pathway. Herein, weighted gene coexpression network analysis was used to investigate the coexpressed lncRNA-mRNA networks in the MEK/ERK pathway based on GSE45765. Differently expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) were found and 10 modules were identified based on coexpression profiles. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were then performed to analyze the coexpressed lncRNA and mRNA in different modules. PDA cells and tissues were used to validate the analysis results. Finally, we found that NONHSAT185150.1 and B4GALT6 were negatively correlated with MEK1/2. By analyzing GSE45765, the genome-wide profiles of lncRNA-mRNA network after MEK1/2 was established, which might aid the development of drug-targeting MEK1/2 and the investigation of diagnostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Qian
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianxin Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qidong People's Hospital, Qidong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xianchen Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiming Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaodi Yan
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongmei Gu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qiang Xue
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingqin Zhou
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Gai
- Department of Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Pengpeng Lu
- Department of Oncology, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ninghua Yao
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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Singh PK, Deorukhkar AA, Venkatesulu BP, Li X, Tailor R, Bomalaski JS, Krishnan S. Exploiting Arginine Auxotrophy with Pegylated Arginine Deiminase (ADI-PEG20) to Sensitize Pancreatic Cancer to Radiotherapy via Metabolic Dysregulation. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 18:2381-2393. [PMID: 31395686 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Distinct metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells compared with normal cells can potentially be exploited for therapeutic targeting. Deficiency of argininosuccinate synthetase-1 (ASS1) in pancreatic cancers creates auxotrophy for the semiessential amino acid arginine. We explored the therapeutic potential of depleting exogenous arginine via pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20) treatment as an adjunct to radiotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy of treatment of human pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenografts with ADI-PEG20 and radiation via clonogenic assays and tumor growth delay experiments. We also investigated potential mechanisms of action using reverse-phase protein array, Western blotting, and IHC and immunofluorescence staining. ADI-PEG20 potently radiosensitized ASS1-deficient pancreatic cancer cells (MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1, AsPc-1, HPAC, and CaPan-1), but not ASS1-expressing cell lines (Bxpc3, L3.6pl, and SW1990). Reverse phase protein array studies confirmed increased expression of proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis, which were confirmed by Western blot analysis. Inhibition of ER stress signaling with 4-phenylbutyrate abrogated the expression of ER stress proteins and reversed radiosensitization by ADI-PEG20. Independent in vivo studies in two xenograft models confirmed significant tumor growth delays, which were associated with enhanced expression of ER stress proteins and apoptosis markers and reduced expression of proliferation and angiogenesis markers. ADI-PEG20 augmented the effects of radiation by triggering the ER stress pathway, leading to apoptosis in pancreatic tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj K Singh
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Amit A Deorukhkar
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Bhanu P Venkatesulu
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiaolin Li
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ramesh Tailor
- Department of Radiation Physics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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Current Status and Future Prospects of Clinically Exploiting Cancer-specific Metabolism-Why Is Tumor Metabolism Not More Extensively Translated into Clinical Targets and Biomarkers? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061385. [PMID: 30893889 PMCID: PMC6471292 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells exhibit a specialized metabolism supporting their superior ability for rapid proliferation, migration, and apoptotic evasion. It is reasonable to assume that the specific metabolic needs of the tumor cells can offer an array of therapeutic windows as pharmacological disturbance may derail the biochemical mechanisms necessary for maintaining the tumor characteristics, while being less important for normally proliferating cells. In addition, the specialized metabolism may leave a unique metabolic signature which could be used clinically for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. Quantitative global metabolic profiling (metabolomics) has evolved over the last two decades. However, despite the technology’s present ability to measure 1000s of endogenous metabolites in various clinical or biological specimens, there are essentially no examples of metabolomics investigations being translated into actual utility in the cancer clinic. This review investigates the current efforts of using metabolomics as a tool for translation of tumor metabolism into the clinic and further seeks to outline paths for increasing the momentum of using tumor metabolism as a biomarker and drug target opportunity.
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50
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Hall PE, Lewis R, Syed N, Shaffer R, Evanson J, Ellis S, Williams M, Feng X, Johnston A, Thomson JA, Harris FP, Jena R, Matys T, Jefferies S, Smith K, Wu BW, Bomalaski JS, Crook T, O'Neill K, Paraskevopoulos D, Khadeir RS, Sheaff M, Pacey S, Plowman PN, Szlosarek PW. A Phase I Study of Pegylated Arginine Deiminase (Pegargiminase), Cisplatin, and Pemetrexed in Argininosuccinate Synthetase 1-Deficient Recurrent High-grade Glioma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:2708-2716. [PMID: 30796035 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas (HGG) are usually managed with alkylating chemotherapy ± bevacizumab. However, prognosis remains very poor. Preclinically, we showed that HGGs are a target for arginine depletion with pegargiminase (ADI-PEG20) due to epimutations of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS1) and/or argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). Moreover, ADI-PEG20 disrupts pyrimidine pools in ASS1-deficient HGGs, thereby impacting sensitivity to the antifolate, pemetrexed. PATIENTS AND METHODS We expanded a phase I trial of ADI-PEG20 with pemetrexed and cisplatin (ADIPEMCIS) to patients with ASS1-deficient recurrent HGGs (NCT02029690). Patients were enrolled (01/16-06/17) to receive weekly ADI-PEG20 36 mg/m2 intramuscularly plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 intravenously once every 3 weeks for up to 6 cycles. Patients with disease control were allowed ADI-PEG20 maintenance. The primary endpoints were safety, tolerability, and preliminary estimates of efficacy. RESULTS Ten ASS1-deficient heavily pretreated patients were treated with ADIPEMCIS therapy. Treatment was well tolerated with the majority of adverse events being Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.03 grade 1-2. The best overall response was stable disease in 8 patients (80%). Plasma arginine was suppressed significantly below baseline with a reciprocal increase in citrulline during the sampling period. The anti-ADI-PEG20 antibody titer rose during the first 4 weeks of treatment before reaching a plateau. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.2 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.5-20.8) and overall survival was 6.3 months (95% CI, 1.8-9.7). CONCLUSIONS In this recurrent HGG study, ADIPEMCIS was well tolerated and compares favorably to historical controls. Additional trials of ADI-PEG20 in HGG are planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Hall
- Department of Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Lewis
- Department of Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nelofer Syed
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Shaffer
- St. Luke's Cancer Centre, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Jane Evanson
- Department of Radiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Ellis
- Department of Radiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Williams
- Department of Oncology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Fiona P Harris
- Department of Oncology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Raj Jena
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tomasz Matys
- Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Jefferies
- Department of Oncology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Smith
- Department of Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bor-Wen Wu
- Polaris Pharmaceuticals Inc., San Diego, California
| | | | - Timothy Crook
- St. Luke's Cancer Centre, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin O'Neill
- Department of Neurosurgery, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ramsay S Khadeir
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Sheaff
- Department of Pathology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Pacey
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Piers N Plowman
- Department of Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter W Szlosarek
- Department of Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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