Human tumor xenografts transplanted under the renal capsule of conventional mice. Growth rates and host immune response

A novel photosensitizer for light-controlled gene silencing

We here demonstrate for the first time that 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) covalently linked to nuclear localization signal (NLS)-conjugated peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are photosensitizers (PSs) with the capacity to initiate photochemical damage to endocytic membranes, resulting in release of endocytosed material into cytosol. Our results show that TAMRA/PNA/NLS conjugates work as multifunctional molecules by offering cellular uptake, PNA-directed gene silencing, and the possibility for targeting in a light-controlled manner. In addition to PNA-directed gene silencing, we demonstrate that TAMRA/PNA/NLS molecules may function as a PS for light-controlled release of small interfering RNA molecules from the endocytic pathway when combined with an appropriate carrier. Using these strategies, we could silence the S100A4 gene at both protein and mRNA levels in a light-controlled manner, without any detectable reduction in cell viability. Our data demonstrate the possibility for light-controlled delivery of macromolecules entrapped within endocytic vesicles using multifunctional TAMRA/PNA/NLS molecules as PSs.

B7-H3 contributes to the metastatic capacity of melanoma cells by modulation of known metastasis-associated genes

B7-H3, an immunoregulatory protein, is known to play a role in tumor progression. In many cancer types, observed correlations between high B7-H3 expression and poor prognosis have been attributed to involvement in antitumor immunity. However, here we demonstrate a nonimmunological alternative function of B7-H3 in cancer metastasis. Since advanced malignant melanoma is a disease with a poor survival rate and a broad pattern of metastasis, we used this disease as a model in our studies. We found that shRNA silencing of B7-H3 reduced the in vitro migratory potential and matrigel invasiveness of MDA-MB-435 and FEMX-I melanoma cells. In an experimental metastasis model in vivo, B7-H3 silencing of MDA-MB-435 cells resulted in reduced metastatic capacity and significantly increased the median symptom-free survival of nude mice (147 vs. 65 days, p < 0.001) and rats (53 vs. 42 days, p = 0.025) injected with MDA-MB-435 cells. Furthermore, a smaller fraction of mice had microscopically detectable metastases compared to control animals, and the pattern of metastases was slightly different between the two groups but with the brain as the predominant organ. Immunohistochemistry on samples from two melanoma patients showed strong B7-H3 staining in both a primary tumor and metastases. Notably, the metastasis-associated proteins, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), and the level of secreted interleukin-8 (IL-8) were reduced in the B7-H3 knock-down cell variants, whereas tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and-2 levels were increased. Taken together, our findings indicate a novel role for B7-H3 in the regulation of the metastatic capacity of melanoma cells and it might be a potential therapeutic target for anti-metastasis therapy.

Photochemically induced gene silencing using PNA-peptide conjugates

The potential for exploration of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as an experimental and therapeutic regulator of gene expression has been hampered by a poor delivery and a lack of site-specific targeting. In the present study, we have developed an efficient strategy for nuclear delivery of PNA by combining cationically charged PNA-peptide conjugates and photochemical internalization (PCI) technology. When using the S100A4 gene as a model system, a consistent downregulation to around 10% remaining protein signal was obtained in three selected cell lines. Furthermore, a dose-dependent and time-dependent inhibition of the S100A4 protein was demonstrated. A main benefit of the strategy proposed is the possibility of site-specific targeting.

Melanoma-specific expression in first-generation adenoviral vectors in vitro and in vivo -- use of the human tyrosinase promoter with human enhancers

Current treatment regimens for patients with metastatic melanoma are not curative, and new treatment strategies are needed. One possible approach is targeted treatment using the tyrosinase promoter for melanoma-specific expression of genes delivered by adenoviral (Ad) vectors. In this study, a vector with the human minimal tyrosinase promoter and two human enhancer elements (2hE-hTyrP) was compared with different hybrid promoter constructs, containing tyrosinase regulatory sequences and the viral simian virus 40 (SV40) promoter. The tissue specificity of the first-generation vectors was measured by enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) reporter flow cytometry in 12 human melanoma and nonmelanoma cell lines. In the melanotic melanoma cells, the activity of the 2hE-hTyrP promoter was comparable with the activity of the cytomegalovirus promoter, and the background expression levels obtained in the nonmelanoma cell lines confirmed the strict tissue-specific property of this promoter. The hybrid SV40-based promoters were effective, but no tissue specificity was observed even after the inclusion of tyrosinase enhancer elements identical to the elements used in the 2hE-hTyrP promoter. The in vivo tissue specificity of the 2hE-hTyrP vector was demonstrated in subcutaneous xenografted tumors by ex vivo detection of EGFP fluorescence with the IVIS Imaging equipment and fluorescence microscopy visualizing the in situ EGFP expression in tumor sections. The tyrosinase mRNA level in the 12 cell lines was measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and the expression levels reliably reflected to what extent the 2hE-hTyrP promoter could drive the gene expression in the individual cell lines. In conclusion, the human tyrosinase promoter fused to two human tyrosinase enhancers (2hE-hTyrP) can be used for efficient tissue-specific expression from first-generation Ad vectors in melanoma cell lines both in vitro and in vivo, as predicted by the quantitative tyrosinase mRNA levels in the melanoma and nonmelanoma cell lines tested.

Establishment of fluorescent lung carcinoma metastasis model and its real-time microscopic detection in SCID mice

Lung cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor in the world. Metastasis of the disease causes death in lung cancer patients. Recent study has shown that multiple cascades of gene defects occur in lung cancer. In this report, we established a novel H1299/EGFP tumor model to determine whether H1299 transfected with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene in vitro and xenotransplanted into SCID mouse lung would permit the detection of lung cancer micrometastasis in vivo. We demonstrated that EGFP-transduced H1299 cells maintained stable high-level EGFP expressions during their growth in vivo. EGFP fluorescence clearly demarcated the primary seeding place and readily allowed for the visualization of distant micrometastasis and local invasion at the single-cell level. Small metastatic and locally invasive foci, including those immediately adjacent to the tumor's leading invasive edge, were almost undetectable by routine hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. The GFP tagged lung cancer model is superior for the detection and study of physiologically relevant patterns of lung cancer invasion and metastasis in vivo.

Orthotopic growth and metastasis of human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell injected into the pleural cavity of nude mice

We have constructed a metastatic model of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by injection of NSCLC cell lines directly into the left pleural cavity of BALB/c nude mice. All of seven NSCLC cell lines, which are tumorigenic after subcutaneous injection, were successfully transplanted in the pleural cavity, while only three of the seven cell lines produced lung metastatic colonies after intravenous injection. Tumors grew extensively in the pleural cavity and infiltrated into the lung parenchyma directly. Furthermore, tumors metastasized to the mediastinum and contralateral pleural cavity through lymphatic routes. Since this model is easy to perform and the result is reproducible, it would be useful for studies on the biological behavior and treatment of human NSCLC in vivo.

Immunohistopathological characterizatin of spontaneous metastases in a human lung mucoepidermoid adenocarcinoma (HLMC) xenograft

The most common clinical form of lung cancer is a disseminated disease with distant metastases; several years of cancer progression precede presentation, and this ultimately limits the efficacy of curative therapy. In this immunohistochemical study, we examined a mucinous adenocarcinoma cell line, maintained by xenogeneic transplantation, and a spontaneous metastatic variant which produces distant tumors (in liver, spleen and kidney). The aim was to investigate possible parameters which characterize the metastatic process. Histopathological comparison between the two subcutaneous transplanted tumor lines showed that both lines presented a similar cellular morphology, a different pattern of cellular growth and an increased vascularization in the metastatic line with respect to its parent. All the tumor sections expressed differential immune reactivity with monoclonal antibodies against Lewis y (MAb C14), sialyl-Lewis x (MAb SNH3) and Lewis x (MAb FH2) determinants. Neither expressed MUC 1 mucins detectable with monoclonal antibodies reactive with the mucin protein core (MAbs C595 and SM3) nor was carcinoembryonic antigen (MAb C365) expressed. Neoplastic cells were reactive with an anti-pan cytokeratin monoclonal antibody confirming their epithelial histogenesis. Our findings have been evaluated with respect to defining metastatic phenotypes in lung cancer by examination of distinct histopathological and immunological parameters.

Solid tumor chemotherapy and in vivo distribution of fluorouracil following administration in poly(L-lactic acid) microspheres

The physicochemical properties and in vivo distribution of poly(L-lactide) (L-PLA) microspheres containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) prepared by a solvent evaporation method were evaluated for potential use in the treatment of liver cancers. Two different molecular weight polymers of L-PLA [L-PLA1 (152,500 Da) and L-PLA2 (52,000 Da)] were used to prepare 5-FU-loaded microspheres. The mean particle size of the microspheres was 3-6 microns, and there was a direct relationship between the mean particle size and the molecular weight of the polymers. The drug release behavior from microspheres exhibited a diffusion mechanism in different dissolution media, with the molecular weight of the polymer being a major factor in controlling the drug release and degradation rates. Following intravenous injection of 99mTc-labeled L-PLA microspheres, with or without 5-FU, or free 5-FU into mice, L-PLA2 microspheres localized mainly in the liver. The disappearance rate of radioactivity from the tissue was very slow in comparison to that of free 5-FU. The results were confirmed by histological examination of liver tissue following administration of fluorescein particles. In addition, growth of a human liver tumor as first transplant generation under the renal capsule of immunocompetent rats and antitumor activity of L-PLA2 microspheres were investigated. Histological examination by optical microscopy showed that there was no neoplastic tissue of the kidney or in other tissues examined after treatment.

Subrenal capsule assay using nude mice as a predictor of the response of the gastric cancer to chemotherapy

Feasibility of utilizing human gastric cancers as first transplant generation xenografts in nude mice for determining tumor sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents was demonstrated by applying subrenal capsule (SRC) assay. A total of 55 human gastric tumors from patients were tested in this assay. Mitomycin-C (MMC) and hexycarbamyl-5-FU (HCFU, 5-FU derivative) were selected for the treatment of these patients after surgery and also for this assay as first transplant. Evaluable rate of MMC in this assay was 92.7% and that of HCFU was 90.9%. Sensitivity of tumors to MMC was 25% and to HCFU was 32%. Correlation between response to chemotherapy of human tumors in patients and in nude mice was 78.6%. These results indicate that this assay could predict effective drugs for patients with gastric cancer.

Chemosensitivity test for carcinoma of digestive organs

For the chemosensitivity for carcinoma of digestive organs, gastric, colorectal, and hepatic cancer tissues were examined using in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition (SDI) test and in vivo subrenal capsule (SRC) assay. The chemosensitivity varied in the tissue. The origin of an organ tumor, histological differentiation, and difference of primary or metastatic lesions are critical for determining chemosensitivity. Biochemical analysis shows that antitumor drugs have an increased susceptibility in tissues with high activity of pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis.

5-Fluorouracil and UFT-sensitive gastric carcinoma has a high level of thymidylate synthase

The authors examined the relationship between the level of thymidylate synthase (TS) and the sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and UFT, a combined oral preparation of 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil (tegafur) and uracil in a molar ratio of 1:4. For the studies we used the subrenal capsule (SRC) assay and 15 human gastric cancer tissues. The TS levels were assayed by the ligand-binding technique, using [6-3H]FdUMP. The relative variation of tumor size (delta TuS/TuS0) was calculated to be as follows: delta TuS/TuS0 = [(TuS6 - TuS0)/TuS0] x 100 (%), where TuS6 was the tumor size on day 6 and TuS0 on day 0. The chemosensitivity was considered to be positive when delta TuS/TuS0 in the treated group decreased to below -10%. Decrease in tumor size was marked in case of exposure to UFT (-19.8 +/- 13.0%) (mean +/- standard deviation), compared with that to 5-FU (-9.0 +/- 7.2%), with a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.001). The TS level varied from 1.7 to 30.8 pmol/g gastric cancer tissue and the mean was 7.1 +/- 7.2 pmol/g tissue. A correlation was noted between the TS level and decrease in size of the tumor exposed to 5-FU (r = -0.671) or UFT (r = -0.758): gastric cancer tissue with higher level of TS is more sensitive to 5-FU and UFT than is that with a lower TS level. These findings show that the sensitivity to 5-FU and UFT of gastric cancer tissue is related to the TS level and that UFT shows promise for the treatment of patients with gastric cancer.

Radiation responses of subrenally transplanted syngeneic and allogeneic mouse fibrosarcomas

The radiation responses of two tumor types transplantable into C3H/He mice and differing in radiosensitivity, i.e., 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced fibrosarcoma and NFSa fibrosarcoma, were investigated using the subrenal capsule assay. Subrenal tumor growth was histologically confirmed. Volume regression and regrowth of subrenal capsule-implanted and subcutaneously implanted tumors after X-irradiation were compared. No difference was found in tumor growth speed (volume doubling time: 1.2-1.3 days) between the subrenal transplants into C3H/He mice, syngeneic to the tumor grafts, and those into immuno-incompetent C57BL mice, allogeneic to the tumor grafts. The tumor growth rates for subrenal capsule transplants were 1.7- to 1.8-fold higher than those for subcutaneous transplants of the same tumor type. A marked difference was found in the radiation responses of the two tumor types by the subrenal capsule assay, i.e., tumor regrowth time following 20 Gy irradiation was more than 8 days for MCA-induced fibrosarcoma and 4.5-5.4 days for radioresistant NFSa fibrosarcoma. These values correlate well with the estimated radiation sensitivities of these tumors.

The 6 day subrenal capsule assay is of no value with primary surgical explants from gastric cancer

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Chemosensitivity profiles of human cancers assessed by the 6-day SRC assay on serially xenografted tumors

To assess the potential value of the 6-day subrenal capsule (SRC) assay in preclinical evaluation of new drugs using serially xenografted human tumors as source of tumor tissue, we studied the response of 31 human tumor lines (8 malignant melanomas, 12 sarcomas, 9 lung carcinomas and 2 colon carcinomas) to relevant standard drugs and to a new imidazotetrazine, Mitozolomide. Mitozolomide was found to be the most active drug tested in 50% of the lung carcinomas and as active as CCNU in melanomas. The activity of the standard anticancer drugs against subrenal grafts closely resembled the patterns seen with the same tumors in the clinic. In further attempts to validate the procedure, sensitivity profiles of some tumors were concurrently determined in the subcutaneous (s.c.) nude mouse model. In 11 out of the 12 tumors, the two assays selected the same drug as being the most active and in most of these tumors the two procedures gave the same ranking for the different drugs. Also, when the relative sensitivities of a series of melanoma xenografts to each of two drugs (DTIC and CCNU) were tested, the two assays gave the same ranking of the xenografts for each drug. The concordance between the two assays and the fact that the s.c. nude mouse assay reflects the chemosensitivity of the parent tumor in patients, suggest that the application of the 6-day SRC assay to xenografted tumors is a valid and useful procedure permitting rapid preclinical evaluation of new drugs to be carried out at relatively low cost.

The use of multicellular spheroids in establishing human sarcoma cell lines in vitro

By a new procedure stable monolayer cultures were derived from spheroids in 8 out of 17 different human sarcomas (16 soft-tissue and I osteogenic sarcoma). Eleven of the sarcomas were obtained from patients undergoing surgery, and 6 from BALB/c nude mice carrying s.c. growing xenografts. The new procedure involves aggregation of single-cell suspensions into spheroids and cultivation of these in agar-coated flasks until the growth rate levels off, at which time the spheroids are transferred to uncoated flasks. Cells proliferating from the rim of adhering spheroids are trypsinized and aggregated to form new spheroids. By 3 to 5 such alternations, monolayer cultures were obtained that have now been subcultured for about 6 months. The cell lines all gave rise to colonies in a clonogenic soft-agar system, and upon s.c. injection into athymic nude mice 3 lines tested formed growing tumors. The histology of spheroids formed from late monolayer passages closely resembled that of the original tumors. That the new procedure is superior to other methods of establishing sarcoma cell lines is indicated by the fact that a stable monolayer culture could be obtained directly from the tumors in only 1/8 cases where the above procedure was successful, and in only 2 instances from soft-agar colonies derived from the tumors.

Characteristics of human tumour xenografts transplanted under the renal capsule of immunocompetent mice

Human tumour lines established in athymic nude mice were grafted under the renal capsule of immunocompetent mice. Grafts from 27 human tumour lines comprising 9 malignant melanomas, 10 sarcomas, 2 colon carcinomas, 4 lung carcinomas and 2 mammary carcinomas, grew well under the renal capsule of the immunocompetent mice and retained morphological and functional characteristics of the parent tumours, as judged by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical examinations. Numerous mitoses were detected. Granulation tissue and necrosis were not predominant features. After Day 4, the grafts became infiltrated from the periphery by mouse inflammatory cells. The infiltration could be prevented by pretreatment of the animals with cyclophosphamide. Anti-human antibodies were detected after Day 3. Single cell suspensions from the subrenal grafts were able to form colonies in soft agar. and upon reimplantation in nude mice, subcutaneous tumours were formed showing that the grafted tumour tissue had also retained its malignant character. Altogether the results support the view that human tumour xenografts grow well under the renal capsule of immunocompetent mice and that the grafts retain important characteristics of the original tumour.