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Abo Qoura L, Balakin KV, Hoffman RM, Pokrovsky VS. The potential of methioninase for cancer treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189122. [PMID: 38796027 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189122] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells are addicted to L-methionine (L-Met) and have a much greater requirement for L-Met than normal cells due to excess transmethylation, termed the Hoffman effect. By targeting this vulnerability through dietary restriction of L-Met, researchers have been able to achieve promising results in inhibiting tumor growth and eradicating cancer cells. Methioninase (EC 4.4.1.11; METase) catalyzes the transformation of L-Met into α-ketobutyrate, ammonia, and methanethiol. The use of METase was initially limited due to its poor stability in vivo, high immunogenicity, and enzyme-induced inactivating antibodies. These issues could be partially resolved by PEGylation, encapsulation in erythrocytes, and various site-directed mutagenesis. The big breakthrough came when it was discovered that METase is effectively administered orally. The enzyme L-asparaginase is approved by the FDA for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. METase has more potential as a therapeutic since addiction to L-Met is a general and fundamental hallmark of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louay Abo Qoura
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia; N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 115478 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA 92111, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037-7400, USA
| | - Vadim S Pokrovsky
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia; N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, 115478 Moscow, Russia.
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Zou Y, Yuan Y, Zhou Q, Yue Z, Liu J, Fan L, Xu H, Xin L. The Role of Methionine Restriction in Gastric Cancer: A Summary of Mechanisms and a Discussion on Tumor Heterogeneity. Biomolecules 2024; 14:161. [PMID: 38397398 PMCID: PMC10887009 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020161] [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: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is ranked as the fifth most prevalent cancer globally and has long been a topic of passionate discussion among numerous individuals. However, the incidence of gastric cancer in society has not decreased, but instead has shown a gradual increase in recent years. For more than a decade, the treatment effect of gastric cancer has not been significantly improved. This is attributed to the heterogeneity of cancer, which makes popular targeted therapies ineffective. Methionine is an essential amino acid, and many studies have shown that it is involved in the development of gastric cancer. Our study aimed to review the literature on methionine and gastric cancer, describing its mechanism of action to show that tumor heterogeneity in gastric cancer does not hinder the effectiveness of methionine-restricted therapies. This research also aimed to provide insight into the inhibition of gastric cancer through metabolic reprogramming with methionine-restricted therapies, thereby demonstrating their potential as adjuvant treatments for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lin Xin
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang 330006, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Y.); (Q.Z.); (Z.Y.); (J.L.); (L.F.); (H.X.)
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Holtz AG, Lowe TL, Aoki Y, Kubota Y, Hoffman RM, Clarke SG. Asymmetric and symmetric protein arginine methylation in methionine-addicted human cancer cells. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0296291. [PMID: 38134182 PMCID: PMC10745221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The methionine addiction of cancer cells is known as the Hoffman effect. While non-cancer cells in culture can utilize homocysteine in place of methionine for cellular growth, most cancer cells require exogenous methionine for proliferation. It has been suggested that a biochemical basis of this effect is the increased utilization of methionine for S-adenosylmethionine, the major methyl donor for a variety of cellular methyltransferases. Recent studies have pointed to the role of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in cell proliferation and cancer. To further understand the biochemical basis of the methionine addiction of cancer cells, we compared protein arginine methylation in two previously described isogenic cell lines, a methionine-addicted 143B human osteosarcoma cell line and its less methionine-dependent revertant. Previous work showed that the revertant cells were significantly less malignant than the parental cells. In the present study, we utilized antibodies to detect the asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) products of PRMTs in polypeptides from cellular extracts and purified histone preparations of these cell lines fractionated by SDS-PAGE. Importantly, we observed little to no differences in the banding patterns of ADMA- and SDMA-containing species between the osteosarcoma parental and revertant cell lines. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays using S-adenosyl-ʟ-[methyl-3H] methionine, recombinantly purified PRMT enzymes, cell lysates, and specific PRMT inhibitors revealed no major differences in radiolabeled polypeptides on SDS-PAGE gels. Taken together, these results suggest that changes in protein arginine methylation may not be major contributors to the Hoffman effect and that other consequences of methionine addiction may be more important in the metastasis and malignancy of osteosarcoma and potentially other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley G Holtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Troy L Lowe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Yutaro Kubota
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven G Clarke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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Pokrovsky VS, Qoura LA, Demidova EA, Han Q, Hoffman RM. Targeting Methionine Addiction of Cancer Cells with Methioninase. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:944-952. [PMID: 37751865 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923070076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
All types of cancer cells are addicted to methionine, which is known as the Hoffman effect. Restricting methionine inhibits the growth and proliferation of all tested types of cancer cells, leaving normal cells unaffected. Targeting methionine addiction with methioninase (METase), either alone or in combination with common cancer chemotherapy drugs, has been shown as an effective and safe therapy in various types of cancer cells and animal cancer models. About six years ago, recombinant METase (rMETase) was found to be able to be taken orally as a supplement, resulting in anecdotal positive results in patients with advanced cancer. Currently, there are 8 published clinical studies on METase, including two from the 1990s and six more recent ones. This review focuses on the results of clinical studies on METase-mediated methionine restriction, in particular, on the dosage of oral rMETase taken alone as a supplement or in combination with common chemotherapeutic agents in patients with advanced cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim S Pokrovsky
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, 117198, Russia
- Department of Biotechnology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354340, Russia
| | - Louay Abo Qoura
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 115478, Russia.
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, 117198, Russia
| | - Elena A Demidova
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 115478, Russia
| | | | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA 92111, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037-7400, USA
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Miyake K, Han Q, Murakami T, Kiyuna T, Kawaguchi K, Igarashi K, Lwin TM, Miyake M, Yamamoto J, Bouvet M, Endo I, Hoffman RM. Colon-cancer liver metastasis is effectively targeted by recombinant methioninase (rMETase) in an orthotopic mouse model. Tissue Cell 2023; 83:102125. [PMID: 37320867 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CCLM) is the most frequent cause of death of colorectal cancer. Development of novel new effective therapy is needed for CCLM patients to improve outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant methioninase (rMETase) on a CCLM orthotopic mouse model of liver metastasis established using the human colon cancer cell line HT29 expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP). MATERIALS AND METHODS Orthotopic CCLM nude mouse models were randomized into two groups: control group (n = 6, PBS 200 µl, i.p., daily); rMETase group (n = 6, 100 units/200 µl, i.p., daily). Tumor volume was measured on day 0 and day 15. Body weight was measured twice a week. All mice were sacrificed on day 15. RESULTS rMETase significantly inhibited the increase of the liver metastasis as determined by RFP fluorescence area and intensity (p = 0.016 and 0.015, respectively). There was no significant difference of body weight between either group on any day. CONCLUSIONS The present study suggests that rMETase has future potential therapy for CCLM in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
| | | | - Takashi Murakami
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Thinzar M Lwin
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Itaru Endo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Miyake M, Miyake K, Han Q, Igarashi K, Kawaguchi K, Barangi M, Kiyuna T, Sugisawa N, Higuchi T, Oshiro H, Zhang Z, Razmjooei S, Bouvet M, Endo I, Hoffman RM. Synergy of oral recombinant methioninase (rMETase) and 5-fluorouracil on poorly differentiated gastric cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 643:48-54. [PMID: 36586158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Gastric cancer is highly malignant and recalcitrant to first line chemotherapies that include 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Cancer cells are addicted to methionine for their proliferation and survival. Methionine addiction of cancer is known as the Hoffman effect. Methionine restriction with recombinant methioninase (rMETase) has been shown to selectively starve cancer cells and has shown synergy with cytotoxic chemotherapy including 5-FU. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of rMETase alone and the combination with 5-FU on poorly differentiated human gastric cancer cell lines (MKN45, NUGC3, and NUGC4) in vitro and vivo. rMETase suppressed the tumor growth of 3 kinds of poorly differentiated gastric cancer cells in vitro. The fluorescence ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (FUCCI) demonstrated cancer cells treated with rMETase were selectively trapped in the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. In the present study, subcutaneous MKN45 gastric cancer models were randomized into four groups when the tumor volume reached 100 mm3: G1: untreated control; G2: 5-FU (i.p., 50 mg/kg, weekly, three weeks); G3: oral-rMETase (o-rMETase) (p.o., 100 units/body, daily, three weeks); G4: 5-FU with o-rMETase (5-FU; i.p., 50 mg/kg, weekly, three weeks o-rMETase; p.o., 100 units/body, daily, three weeks). All mice were sacrificed on day 22. Body weight and estimated tumor volume were measured twice a week. 5-FU and o-rMETase suppressed tumor growth as monotherapies on day 18 (p = 0.044 and p = 0.044). However, 5-FU combined with o-rMETase was significantly superior to each monotherapy (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and induced extensive necrosis compared to other groups. The combination of 5-FU and o-rMETase shows promise for transformative therapy for poorly differentiated gastric cancer in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masuyo Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
| | | | - Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hiromichi Oshiro
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Zhiying Zhang
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Itaru Endo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Superiority of [ 11C]methionine over [ 18F]deoxyglucose for PET Imaging of Multiple Cancer Types Due to the Methionine Addiction of Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031935. [PMID: 36768257 PMCID: PMC9915427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) is widely used to detect cancers. The usual isotope for PET imaging of cancer is [18F]deoxyglucose. The premise of using [18F]deoxyglucose is that cancers are addicted to glucose (The Warburg effect). However, cancers are more severely addicted to methionine (The Hoffman effect). [11C]methionine PET (MET-PET) has been effectively used for the detection of glioblastoma and other cancers in the brain, and in comparison, MET-PET has been shown to be more sensitive and accurate than [18F]deoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET). However, MET-PET has been limited to cancers in the brain. The present report describes the first applications of MET-PET to cancers of multiple organs, including rectal, bladder, lung, and kidney. The results in each case show that MET-PET is superior to FDG-PET due to the methionine addiction of cancer and suggest that the broad application of MET-PET should be undertaken for cancer detection.
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Phytoestrogens decorated nanocapsules for therapeutic methionine γ-lyase targeted delivery. Biochimie 2023; 209:1-9. [PMID: 36646203 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The main task of targeted therapy is the selective destruction of cancer cells without affecting normal ones. For these purposes, small molecules and antibodies are used that target specific receptors and proteins or block signaling pathways in tumor cells. The natural phytoestrogens daidzein (Dz) and genistein (Gn) possess binding capacity to estrogen receptors (ER). Methionine γ-lyase (MGL) is promising in two strategies of antitumor therapy: for the elimination of l-methionine, which is necessary for the proliferation of tumor cells, and for the production of cytotoxic dialkyl thiosulfinates in situ. For delivery of MGL-loaded nanocapsules (nanoreactors) to the surface of cancer cells a technique for Dz or Gn incorporation into the shell of polyionic vesicles (PICsomes) was developed. The nanoreactors were characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The enzyme retained its catalytic efficiency inside the decorated PICsomes. The binding of Dz/Gn-nanoreactors to the surface of ER + MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells was demonstrated. For the first time an influence of enzyme-loaded PICsomes and their individual components on embryos development was evaluated. The high rate of blastocysts formation (>80%) was observed for all tested components and nanoreactors themselves. A strong inhibitory effect on the early embryonic development of MGL-loaded PICsomes in the presence of S-alkyl-l-cysteine sulfoxide substrates was showed. This proves that the substrates can freely penetrate through the polymer shell of the polyionic vesicle and are cleaved by MGL to form cytotoxic thiosulfinates. The data obtained for phytoestrogens decorated PICsomes may be applied in enzyme therapy of malignant tumors.
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KUBOTA YUTARO, HAN QINGHONG, HAMADA KAZUYUKI, AOKI YUSUKE, MASAKI NORIYUKI, OBARA KOYA, BARANOV ANTON, BOUVET MICHAEL, TSUNODA TAKUYA, HOFFMAN ROBERTM. Oral Installation of Recombinant Methioninase-producing Escherichia coli into the Microbiome Inhibits Colon-cancer Growth in a Syngeneic Mouse Model. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2022; 19:683-691. [PMID: 36316039 PMCID: PMC9620449 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM All cancer types so far tested are methionine-addicted. Targeting the methionine addiction of cancer with recombinant methioninase (rMETase) has shown great progress in vitro, in mouse models, and in the clinic. However, administration of rMETase requires multiple doses per day. In the present study, we determined if rMETase-producing Escherichia coli JM109 (E. coli JM109-rMETase) might be an effective anticancer agent when installed into the microbiome. MATERIALS AND METHODS E. coli JM109-rMETase was administered to a syngeneic model of MC38 colon cancer growing subcutaneously in C57BL/6 mice. JM109-rMETase was administered orally by gavage to the mice twice per day. Tumor size was measured with calipers. RESULTS The administration of E. coli JM109-rMETase twice a day significantly inhibited MC38 colon-cancer growth. E. coli JM109-rMETase was found in the stool of treated mice, indicating it had entered the microbiome. CONCLUSION The present study indicates the potential of microbiome-based treatment of cancer targeting methionine addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- YUTARO KUBOTA
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - KAZUYUKI HAMADA
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - YUSUKE AOKI
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - NORIYUKI MASAKI
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - KOYA OBARA
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | | | - MICHAEL BOUVET
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - TAKUYA TSUNODA
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - ROBERT M. HOFFMAN
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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Aoki Y, Han Q, Tome Y, Yamamoto J, Kubota Y, Masaki N, Obara K, Hamada K, Wang JD, Inubushi S, Bouvet M, Clarke SG, Nishida K, Hoffman RM. Reversion of methionine addiction of osteosarcoma cells to methionine independence results in loss of malignancy, modulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype and alteration of histone-H3 lysine-methylation. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1009548. [PMID: 36408173 PMCID: PMC9671209 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1009548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Methionine addiction, a fundamental and general hallmark of cancer, known as the Hoffman Effect, is due to altered use of methionine for increased and aberrant transmethylation reactions. However, the linkage of methionine addiction and malignancy of cancer cells is incompletely understood. An isogenic pair of methionine-addicted parental osteosarcoma cells and their rare methionine-independent revertant cells enabled us to compare them for malignancy, their epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype, and pattern of histone-H3 lysine-methylation. Methionine-independent revertant 143B osteosarcoma cells (143B-R) were selected from methionine-addicted parental cells (143B-P) by their chronic growth in low-methionine culture medium for 4 passages, which was depleted of methionine by recombinant methioninase (rMETase). Cell-migration capacity was compared with a wound-healing assay and invasion capability was compared with a transwell assay in 143B-P and 143B-R cells in vitro. Tumor growth and metastatic potential were compared after orthotopic cell-injection into the tibia bone of nude mice in vivo. Epithelial-mesenchymal phenotypic expression and the status of H3 lysine-methylation were determined with western immunoblotting. 143B-P cells had an IC50 of 0.20 U/ml and 143B-R cells had an IC50 of 0.68 U/ml for treatment with rMETase, demonstrating that 143B-R cells had regained the ability to grow in low methionine conditions. 143B-R cells had reduced cell migration and invasion capability in vitro, formed much smaller tumors than 143B-P cells and lost metastatic potential in vivo, indicating loss of malignancy in 143B-R cells. 143B-R cells showed gain of the epithelial marker, ZO-1 and loss of mesenchymal markers, vimentin, Snail, and Slug and, an increase of histone H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 methylation and a decrease of H3K4me3, H3K36me3, and H3K79me3 methylation, along with their loss of malignancy. These results suggest that shifting the balance in histone methylases might be a way to decrease the malignant potential of cells. The present results demonstrate the rationale to target methionine addiction for improved sarcoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | | | - Yasunori Tome
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yutaro Kubota
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Noriyuki Masaki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Koya Obara
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Kazuyuki Hamada
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Justin D. Wang
- School of Medicine, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, CA, United States
| | | | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Steven G. Clarke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kotaro Nishida
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Robert M. Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Methionine Deprivation Reveals the Pivotal Roles of Cell Cycle Progression in Ferroptosis That Is Induced by Cysteine Starvation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101603. [PMID: 35626640 PMCID: PMC9139961 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis, a type of iron-dependent necrotic cell death, is triggered by the accumulation of excessive lipid peroxides in cells. Glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide redox molecule that contains a cysteine (Cys) unit in the center, plays a pivotal role in protection against ferroptosis. When the transsulfuration pathway is activated, the sulfur atom of methionine (Met) is utilized to generate Cys, which can then suppress Cys-starvation-induced ferroptosis. In the current study, we cultured HeLa cells in Met- and/or cystine (an oxidized Cys dimer)- deprived medium and investigated the roles of Met in ferroptosis execution. The results indicate that, in the absence of cystine or Met, ferroptosis or cell cycle arrest, respectively, occurred. Contrary to our expectations, however, the simultaneous deprivation of both Met and cystine failed to induce ferroptosis, although the intracellular levels of Cys and GSH were maintained at low levels. Supplementation with S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a methyl group donor that is produced during the metabolism of Met, caused the cell cycle progression to resume and lipid peroxidation and the subsequent induction of ferroptosis was also restored under conditions of Met/cystine double deprivation. DNA methylation appeared to be involved in the resumption in the SAM-mediated cell cycle because its downstream metabolite S-adenosylhomocysteine failed to cause either cell cycle progression or ferroptosis to be induced. Taken together, our results suggest that elevated lipid peroxidation products that are produced during cell cycle progression are involved in the execution of ferroptosis under conditions of Cys starvation.
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12
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Aoki Y, Tome Y, Han Q, Yamamoto J, Hamada K, Masaki N, Kubota Y, Bouvet M, Nishida K, Hoffman RM. Deletion of MTAP Highly Sensitizes Osteosarcoma Cells to Methionine Restriction With Recombinant Methioninase. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2022; 19:299-304. [PMID: 35430564 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Methionine addiction is a fundamental and general hallmark of cancer cells, which require exogenous methionine, despite large amounts of methionine synthesized endogenously. 5-Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) plays a principal role as an enzyme in the methionine-salvage pathway, which produces methionine and adenine from methylthioadenosine and is deleted in 27.5% to 37.5% of osteosarcoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human osteosarcoma cell lines U2OS, SaOS2, MNNG/HOS (HOS) and 143B, were used. The MTAP gene was knocked out in U2OS with CRISPR/Cas9. 143B and HOS have an MTAP deletion and SaOS2 is positive for MTAP. MTAP was determined by western blotting. The four cell lines were compared for sensitivity to recombinant methioninase (rMETase). RESULTS MTAP-deleted osteosarcoma cell lines MNNG/HOS and 143B were significantly more sensitive to rMETase than MTAP-positive osteosarcoma cell lines U2OS and SaOS2. In addition, MTAP knock-out U2OS cells were more sensitive to rMETase than the parental MTAP-positive U2OS cells. CONCLUSION The present results demonstrated that the absence of MTAP sensitizes osteosarcoma cells to methionine restriction by rMETase, a promising clinical strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yasunori Tome
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Kazuyuki Hamada
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Noriyuki Masaki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Yutaro Kubota
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Kotaro Nishida
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.; .,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
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13
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Yamamoto J, Inubushi S, Han Q, Tashiro Y, Sugisawa N, Hamada K, Aoki Y, Miyake K, Matsuyama R, Bouvet M, Clarke SG, Endo I, Hoffman RM. Linkage of methionine addiction, histone lysine hypermethylation, and malignancy. iScience 2022; 25:104162. [PMID: 35434545 PMCID: PMC9010622 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine addiction, found in all types of cancer investigated, is because of the overuse of methionine by cancer cells for excess transmethylation reactions. In the present study, we compared the histone H3 lysine-methylation status and degree of malignancy between methionine-addicted cancer cells and their isogenic methionine-independent revertants, selected by their growth in low concentration of methionine. The methionine-independent revertans can grow on low levels of methionine or independently of exogenous methionine using methionine precursors, as do normal cells. In the methionine-independent revertants, the excess levels of trimethylated histone H3 lysine marks found in the methionine-addicted parental cancer cells were reduced or lost, and their tumorigenicity and experimental metastatic potential in nude mice were also highly reduced. Methionine addiction of cancer is linked with malignancy and hypermethylation of histone H3 lysines. The results of the present study thus provide a unique framework to further understand a fundamental basis of malignancy. Methionine(MET)-independent revertants were selected from MET-addicted cancer cells MET-independent revertants had greatly reduced malignancy MET-independent revertants have lost or reduced methylation of H3 lysine marks MET addiction, malignancy, and hypermethylated H3 lysine marks are linked
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA.,Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Sachiko Inubushi
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
| | - Qinghong Han
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA
| | - Yoshihiko Tashiro
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
| | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
| | - Kazuyuki Hamada
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
| | - Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Ryusei Matsuyama
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
| | - Steven G Clarke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA
| | - Itaru Endo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9 Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, 7917 Ostrow St, San Diego, CA 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Drive #7220, La Jolla, CA 92037-7220, USA
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14
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Korimerla N, Wahl DR. Interactions between Radiation and One-Carbon Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1919. [PMID: 35163841 PMCID: PMC8836916 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer cells rewire one-carbon metabolism, a central metabolic pathway, to turn nutritional inputs into essential biomolecules required for cancer cell growth and maintenance. Radiation therapy, a common cancer therapy, also interacts and alters one-carbon metabolism. This review discusses the interactions between radiation therapy, one-carbon metabolism and its component metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navyateja Korimerla
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Daniel R. Wahl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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15
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Histone H3 lysine-trimethylation markers are decreased by recombinant methioninase and increased by methotrexate at concentrations which inhibit methionine-addicted osteosarcoma cell proliferation. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 28:101177. [PMID: 34877414 PMCID: PMC8633566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine addiction is a fundamental and general hallmark of cancer cells, which require exogenous methionine, despite their ability to synthesize normal amounts of methionine from homocysteine. In contrast, methionine-independent normal cells do not require exogenous methionine in the presence of a methionine precursor. The methionine addiction of cancer cells is due to excess transmethylation reactions. We have previously shown that histone H3 lysine marks are over-methylated in cancer cells and the over-methylation is unstable when the cancer cells are restricted of methionine. In the present study, we show that methionine-addicted osteosarcoma cells are sensitive to both methotrexate (MTX) and recombinant methioninase (rMETase), but they affect histone H3 lysine-methylation in the opposite direction. Concentrations of MTX and rMETase, which inhibit osteosarcoma cells viability to 20%, had opposing effects on the status of histone methylation of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. rMETase significantly decreased the amount of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. In contrast, MTX significantly increased the amount of H3K9me and H3K27me3. The results suggest that increase or decrease in these methylated histone lysine marks is associated with proliferation arrest of methionine-addicted osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma cells are sensitive to both methotrexate and recombinant methioninase. MTX increased the amount of H3K9me and H3K27me3. RMETase decreased the amount of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. Increase/decrease in H3K9me3 and H3K27me3 is associated with proliferation arrest.
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16
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Xin L, Lu H, Liu C, Zeng F, Yuan YW, Wu Y, Wang JL, Wu DZ, Zhou LQ. Methionine deficiency promoted mitophagy via lncRNA PVT1-mediated promoter demethylation of BNIP3 in gastric cancer. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 141:106100. [PMID: 34678458 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The occurrence of recurrence and metastasis after treatment is a major challenge in the treatment of gastric cancer. This study was based on the methionine (Met)-dependent characteristics of gastric cancer cells to explore the effect of Met deficiency on the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. METHODS Human gastric cancer cell lines MKN45 and AGS and nude mice model were used to explore how Met affects gastric cancer by regulating lncRNA PVT1. RESULTS The levels of lncRNA PVT1 in gastric cancer cells and human gastric cancer xenografts of nude mice were down-regulated under the condition of Met deficiency. The cell viability and cell proliferation were declined after MKN45 and SGC-790 cells were cultured in Met-deficient medium. LncRNA PVT1 could affect BNIP3 promoter DNA methylation level through its interaction with DNMT1. Moreover, the silence of lncRNA PVT1 and the up-regulation of BNIP3 level inhibited the gastric cancer cell proliferation. Met deficiency could up-regulate BNIP3 expression by inhibiting the binding of lncRNA PVT1 to DNMT1, and activate mitophagy, thus inhibiting gastric cancer cell proliferation. CONCLUSION Our study suggested that Met deficiency could down-regulate the expression of lncRNA PVT1, further demethylated the promoter of BNIP3, thus inhibiting the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by activating mitophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xin
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Fei Zeng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yi-Wu Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - You Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jin-Liang Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Deng-Zhong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Li-Qiang Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
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17
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Aoki Y, Yamamoto J, Tome Y, Hamada K, Masaki N, Inubushi S, Tashiro Y, Bouvet M, Endo I, Nishida K, Hoffman RM. Over-methylation of Histone H3 Lysines Is a Common Molecular Change Among the Three Major Types of Soft-tissue Sarcoma in Patient-derived Xenograft (PDX) Mouse Models. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 18:715-721. [PMID: 34697064 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Sarcomas are considered a heterogeneous disease with incomplete understanding of its molecular basis. In the present study, to further understand general molecular changes in sarcoma, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of the three most common soft-tissue sarcomas: myxofibrosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and liposarcoma were established and the methylation status of histone H3 lysine marks was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to quantify the extent of methylation of histone H3K4me3 and histone H3K9me3. RESULTS In all 3 sarcoma types in PDX models, histone H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 were found highly over-methylated compared to normal muscle tissue. CONCLUSION Histone H3 lysine over-methylation may be a general basis of malignancy of the major sarcoma types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Aoki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yasunori Tome
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan;
| | - Kazuyuki Hamada
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Noriyuki Masaki
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Sachiko Inubushi
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan
| | | | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
| | - Itaru Endo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kotaro Nishida
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.; .,Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
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18
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Raboni S, Montalbano S, Stransky S, Garcia BA, Buschini A, Bettati S, Sidoli S, Mozzarelli A. A Key Silencing Histone Mark on Chromatin Is Lost When Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells Are Depleted of Methionine by Methionine γ-Lyase. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:735303. [PMID: 34660696 PMCID: PMC8517235 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.735303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Methionine is an essential amino acid used, beyond protein synthesis, for polyamine formation and DNA/RNA/protein methylation. Cancer cells require particularly high methionine supply for their homeostasis. A successful approach for decreasing methionine concentration is based on the systemic delivery of methionine γ-lyase (MGL), with in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating its efficacy in cancer therapy. However, the mechanisms explaining how cancer cells suffer from the absence of methionine more significantly than non-malignant cells are still unclear. We analyzed the outcome of the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cell line HT29 to the exposure of MGL for up to 72 h by monitoring cell viability, proteome expression, histone post-translational modifications, and presence of spurious transcription. The rationale of this study was to verify whether reduced methionine supply would affect chromatin decondensation by changing the levels of histone methylation and therefore increasing genomic instability. MGL treatment showed a time-dependent cytotoxic effect on HT29 cancer cells, with an IC50 of 30 µg/ml, while Hs27 normal cells were less affected, with an IC50 of >460 µg/ml. Although the levels of total histone methylation were not altered, a loss of the silencing histone mark H3K9me2 was observed, as well as a decrease in H4K20me3. Since H3K9me2/3 decorate repetitive DNA elements, we proved by qRT-PCR that MGL treatment leads to an increased expression of major satellite units. Our data indicate that selected histone methylation marks may play major roles in the mechanism of methionine starvation in cancer cells, proving that MGL treatment directly impacts chromatin homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Raboni
- Interdepartmental Center SITEIA.PARMA, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Institute of Biophysics, National Research Center, Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Montalbano
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stephanie Stransky
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Annamaria Buschini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Interdepartmental Centre for Molecular and Translational Oncology COMT, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Interdepartmental Center SITEIA.PARMA, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Institute of Biophysics, National Research Center, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Center, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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19
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Lim HI, Sun YU, Han Q, Yamamoto J, Hoffman RM. Efficacy of Oral Recombinant Methioninase and Eribulin on a PDOX Model of Triple-negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Liver Metastasis. In Vivo 2021; 35:2531-2534. [PMID: 34410939 PMCID: PMC8408690 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of the present study was to identify effective drugs for a highly-aggressive liver-metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model. Drugs tested were oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase), low-dose eribulin and their combination. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patient-derived TNBC was implanted in the liver of nude mice by surgical hepatic implantation. Two weeks after transplantation, 32 mice were randomized (n=8 per group) into a phosphate-buffered saline vehicle-control group; o-rMETase-treatment group (100 units, o-rMETase, oral, daily for 2 weeks); eribulin-treatment group (0.05 mg/kg intraperitoneally once per week for 2 weeks); or combination-treatment group (100 units r-METase, oral, daily for 2 weeks + 0.05 mg/kg eribulin intraperitoneally once per week for 2 weeks). RESULTS After 2 weeks, the three treatment groups exhibited significantly-inhibited TNBC growth in the liver compared to the vehicle-control group (p≤0.05). CONCLUSION o-rMETase and low-dose eribulin monotherapy and their combination were efficacious against the highly-aggressive TNBC PDOX growing in the liver. The TNBC PDOX model can be used to identify highly-effective drugs for therapy of TNBC with liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye In Lim
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.;
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Surgery, Chinjujeil Hospital, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Y U Sun
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | | | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.;
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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20
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Endicott M, Jones M, Hull J. Amino acid metabolism as a therapeutic target in cancer: a review. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1169-1179. [PMID: 34292410 PMCID: PMC8325646 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03052-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Malignant cells often demonstrate a proliferative advantage when compared to non-malignant cells. However, the rapid growth and metabolism required for survival can also highlight vulnerabilities specific to these malignant cells. One such vulnerability exhibited by cancer is an increased demand for amino acids (AAs), which often results in a dependency on exogenous sources of AAs or requires upregulation of de novo synthesis. These metabolic alterations can be exploited by therapy, which aims to improve treatment outcome and decrease relapse and reoccurrence. One clinically utilised strategy targeting AA dependency is the use of asparaginase in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), which results in a depletion of exogenous asparagine and subsequent cancer cell death. Examples of other successful strategies include the exploitation of arginine deiminase and methioninase, nutrient restriction of methionine and the inhibition of glutaminase. In this review, we summarise these treatment strategies into three promising avenues: AA restriction, enzymatic depletion and inhibition of metabolism. This review provides an insight into the complexity of metabolism in cancer, whilst highlighting these three current research avenues that have support in both preclinical and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Endicott
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Michael Jones
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Jonathon Hull
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK.
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21
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Han Q, Hoffman RM. Chronic Treatment of an Advanced Prostate-cancer Patient With Oral Methioninase Resulted in Long-term Stabilization of Rapidly Rising PSA Levels. In Vivo 2021; 35:2171-2176. [PMID: 34182494 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Advanced prostate cancer is a recalcitrant disease with very limited treatment options. Our laboratory discovered methionine addiction, presumably a characteristic of all cancer types, including prostate cancer, which can be targeted by methionine restriction (MR), through treatment with oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase). PATIENTS AND METHODS o-rMETase was produced by fermentation of recombinant E. coli containing the Pseudomonas putida methioninase gene, and purified by column chromatography. An advanced prostate cancer patient received o-rMETase as a supplement, 500 units per day, divided into two oral doses of 250 units each. RESULTS Before treatment, the patient had a rapid rise in PSA levels, from 39 to 56 ng/ml, within 6 weeks. At the 15th week of o-rMETase administration, the PSA levels stabilized at 62 ng/ml. No overt side effects were observed. CONCLUSION o-rMETase single treatment can be beneficial for advanced prostate cancer patients.
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22
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Sugisawa N, Higuchi T, Han Q, Hozumi C, Yamamoto J, Tashiro Y, Nishino H, Kawaguchi K, Bouvet M, Murata T, Unno M, Hoffman RM. Oral recombinant methioninase combined with paclitaxel arrests recalcitrant ovarian clear cell carcinoma growth in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse model. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:61-67. [PMID: 33768300 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04261-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Advanced ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a recalcitrant disease, often resistant to the first-line platinum-based therapy. Using a novel patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse model of OCCC, we tested whether oral-recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) could enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel (PTX). METHODS The OCCC PDOX model was established and passaged in nude mice. The OCCC PDOX models were randomized into 5 groups. G1: untreated control; G2: paclitaxel (PTX) (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, weekly); G3: o-rMETase (100 units, oral, daily); G4: PTX (20 mg/kg, i.p. injection, weekly) + carboplatinum (CBDCA) (40 mg/kg, i.p. injection weekly); G5: PTX (20 mg/kg, i.p. injection, weekly) + o-rMETase (100 units, oral, daily). The treatment period was 2 weeks. RESULTS The combination of PTX and o-rMETase arrested OCCC tumor growth (relative tumor volume: 1.09 ± 0.63 (mean ± SD)) compared with the untreated control (relative tumor volume: 3.92 ± 1.04 (mean ± SD)) (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in relative tumor volume between PTX plus o-rMETase and PTX plus CBDCA (relative tumor volume: 1.39 ± 0.37 (mean ± SD)) (p = 0.93). CONCLUSION PTX plus o-rMETase arrested the OCCC tumor growth. o-rMETase is readily administered and can greatly enhance first-line therapy of a recalcitrant cancer. The novel and effective treatment strategy in the present report has future clinical potential for patients with OCCC, especially for patients who cannot well tolerate platinum-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Qinghong Han
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA
| | - Chihiro Hozumi
- AntiCancer Japan, Inc, 2-23-5 Ryukakujidai, Sakae-cho, Imba-gun, Chiba, 270-1505, Japan
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Yoshihiko Tashiro
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Hiroto Nishino
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Kei Kawaguchi
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA
| | - Takuya Murata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, 701-0192, Japan
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan.
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, 92111, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive 0987, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA.
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Higuchi T, Han Q, Sugisawa N, Yamamoto J, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Igarashi K, Bouvet M, Singh SR, Tsuchiya H, Hoffman RM. Combination Methionine-methylation-axis Blockade: A Novel Approach to Target the Methionine Addiction of Cancer. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 18:113-120. [PMID: 33608308 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Cancers are selectively sensitive to methionine (MET) restriction (MR) due to their addiction to MET which is overused for elevated methylation reactions. MET addiction of cancer was discovered by us 45 years ago. MR of cancer results in depletion of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) for transmethylation reactions, resulting in selective cancer-growth arrest in the late S/G2-phase of the cell cycle. The aim of the present study was to determine if blockade of the MET-methylation axis is a highly-effective strategy for cancer chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study, we demonstrated the efficacy of MET-methylation-axis blockade using MR by oral-recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) combined with decitabine (DAC), an inhibitor of DNA methylation, and an inhibitor of SAM synthesis, cycloleucine (CL). We determined a proof-of-concept of the efficacy of the MET-methylation-axis blockade on a recalcitrant undifferentiated/unclassified soft-tissue sarcoma (USTS) patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model. RESULTS The o-rMETase-CL-DAC combination regressed the USTS PDOX with extensive cancer necrosis. CONCLUSION The new concept of combination MET-methylation-axis blockade is effective and can now be tested on many types of recalcitrant cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | | | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Shree Ram Singh
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan;
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, U.S.A.; .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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Sugisawa N, Yamamoto J, Han Q, Tan Y, Tashiro Y, Nishino H, Inubushi S, Hamada K, Kawaguchi K, Unno M, Bouvet M, Hoffman RM. Triple-Methyl Blockade With Recombinant Methioninase, Cycloleucine, and Azacitidine Arrests a Pancreatic Cancer Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Model. Pancreas 2021; 50:93-98. [PMID: 33370029 DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000001709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Methionine addiction is a fundamental and general hallmark of cancer caused by enhanced methyl flux. In the present study, we effected a novel methionine-methylation blockade to target a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft model of pancreatic cancer. METHODS The pancreatic cancer patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse models were randomized into 6 groups of 8 mice each and treated for 2 weeks: untreated control; azacitidine; oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase); o-rMETase plus cycloleucine; o-rMETase plus cycloleucine plus azacitidine (triple-methyl blockade therapy); and gemcitabine (positive control). RESULTS Triple-methyl blockade therapy arrested tumor growth (mean relative tumor volume, 1.03 [standard deviation, 0.36]) and was significantly more effective compared with azacitidine (P = 0.0001); o-rMETase (P = 0.007); or o-rMETase plus cycloleucine (P = 0.04). Gemcitabine alone also inhibited but did not arrest tumor growth (mean relative tumor volume, 1.50 [standard deviation, 0.30]). The percentage of cancer cells that were negative for 5-methylcytosine staining in immunohistochemistry, indicating reduction of DNA methylation, increased with triple-methyl blockade therapy (37.5%), compared with gemcitabine (1.8%); o-rMETase (2.8%); azacitidine (9.0%); or o-rMETase plus cycloleucine (10.6%). CONCLUSIONS This new concept of triple-methyl blockade therapy has clinical potential for pancreatic cancer, which is currently a recalcitrant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kei Kawaguchi
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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25
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Lim HI, Yamamoto J, Han Q, Sun YU, Nishino H, Tashiro Y, Sugisawa N, Tan Y, Choi HJ, Nam SJ, Bouvet M, Hoffman RM. Response of Triple-negative Breast Cancer Liver Metastasis to Oral Recombinant Methioninase in a Patient-derived Orthotopic Xenograft (PDOX) Model. In Vivo 2020; 34:3163-3169. [PMID: 33144420 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of this study was to establish a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model of liver metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and examine the efficacy of oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) on the liver metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS TNBC from a patient was implanted in the left hepatic lobe of nude mice to simulate liver metastasis in a PDOX model. Ten days later, all mice underwent laparotomy to measure tumor size and were randomized to three groups: control; o-rMETase 100 U once daily (qd); and o-rMETase 200 U qd. After 9 days of treatment, all mice were sacrificed. RESULTS At the end of the treatment period for the liver metastasis, the size of liver metastases was 372.6 mm3 in the control group; 160.0 mm3 in the o-rMETase 100 U group; and 245.3 mm3 in the o-rMETase 200 U group. All mice had ascites and 12 out of 14 mice in all groups had mesenteric lymph-node metastasis, as re-metastasis. The mean body-condition score was 1.5 in the control group; 2.4 in the o-rMETase 100 U group; and 2.6 in the o-rMETase 200 U group (control group vs. o-rMETase 200 U group, p<0.05). CONCLUSION The TNBC liver metastasis was highly aggressive resulting in re-metastasis and ascites. o-rMETase tended to inhibit the liver metastasis and significantly improved the mouse body-condition score. This new PDOX model of TNBC liver metastasis will be useful for identifying effective agents for this recalcitrant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye In Lim
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, Chinjujeil Hospital, Jinju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | | | - Y U Sun
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Hiroto Nishino
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Yoshihiko Tashiro
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | | | - Hee Jun Choi
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Jin Nam
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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Shen S, Zeng L, Huang H. Effect of Methionine on AMD1 Gene Expression in Prostate Cancer Cells. Nutr Cancer 2020; 73:1804-1815. [PMID: 33054431 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1803931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of AMD1 gene expression on prostate cancer cells (PC-3M), explore the mechanism of AMD1 action in cancer cells, and examine the regulation of AMD1 gene expression by methionine (MET). METHODS Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and western blot analysis (WB) approaches were used to detect and measure gene expression. The cell apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometric (FCM) analysis. RESULTS qPCR and WB assays showed that both AMD1 gene expression and cell apoptotic rate were associated with MET. CONCLUSION MET has a significant regulatory effect on the expression of the AMD1 gene and a certain amount of MET can promote the expression of the AMD1 gene. This provides a health guideline for a low-methionine diet for prostate cancer patients and scientific evidence for prostate cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaochen Shen
- Health Management Center, The Second Affiliate Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Linhong Zeng
- Health Management Center, The First Affiliate Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Hongwei Huang
- Health Management Center, The Second Affiliate Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
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27
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Lim HI, Hamada K, Yamamoto J, Han Q, Tan Y, Choi HJ, Nam SJ, Bouvet M, Hoffman RM. Oral Methioninase Inhibits Recurrence in a PDOX Mouse Model of Aggressive Triple-negative Breast Cancer. In Vivo 2020; 34:2281-2286. [PMID: 32871751 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of the study was to use a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model to examine the efficacy of oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) against this recalcitrant disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS The TNBC tumor from a patient was implanted in the right 4th inguinal mammary fat pad of nude mice. Two weeks later, the mice underwent tumorectomy with grossly-negative surgical margins. Two days after tumorectomy the mice were divided in two groups: one control and one treated with o-rMETase. RESULTS Tumors recurred in all mice. On day 11, the mean recurrent tumor volumes were 936.7 mm3 in the control group and 450.9 mm3 in the o-rMETase group (p<0.05). On day 15, the mean recurrent tumor volumes were 3392.5 mm3 in the control group and 1603.5 mm3 in the o-rMETase group. The mean recurrent tumor weights were 2.1 g in the control group and 1.1 g in the o-rMETase group on day 15. CONCLUSION o-rMETase is an effective adjuvant treatment for aggressive TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye In Lim
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kazuyuki Hamada
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | | | | | - Hee Jun Choi
- Department of Surgery, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Jin Nam
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, U.S.A
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28
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Yamamoto J, Miyake K, Han Q, Tan Y, Inubushi S, Sugisawa N, Higuchi T, Tashiro Y, Nishino H, Homma Y, Matsuyama R, Chawla SP, Bouvet M, Singh SR, Endo I, Hoffman RM. Oral recombinant methioninase increases TRAIL receptor-2 expression to regress pancreatic cancer in combination with agonist tigatuzumab in an orthotopic mouse model. Cancer Lett 2020; 492:174-184. [PMID: 32739322 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Methionine addiction is a fundamental and general hallmark of cancer. Gene expression analysis showed that methionine restriction (MR) of methionine-addicted cancer cells increases TNF-related apoptosis-induced ligand receptor-2 (TRAIL-R2) expression. Here, we determined the effects of MR on TRAIL-R2 targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer by the TRAIL-R2 agonist tigatuzumab. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines were cultured in control or methionine-free medium. The effects of MR on TRAIL-R2 expression and sensitivity to tigatuzumab were evaluated in vitro. An orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model was established to evaluate the efficacy of MR using oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase), and the efficacy of tigatuzumab and their combination. MR enabled tigatuzumab-induced apoptosis, by increasing TRAIL-R2 expression in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. The protein expression level of the melanoma-associated antigen MAGED2, which reduces TRAIL-R2 expression, was decreased by MR. In the orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model, o-rMETase increased TRAIL-R2 expression level in the tumors and enabled the antitumor efficacy of tigatuzumab. MR, effected by o-rMETase, enabled the efficacy of the TRAIL-R2 agonist tigatuzumab by increasing TRAIL-R2 expression in pancreatic cancer. Our results suggest that o-rMETase has clinical potential for treating pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | | | - Sachiko Inubushi
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yoshihiko Tashiro
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hiroto Nishino
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yuki Homma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ryusei Matsuyama
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Shree Ram Singh
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Itaru Endo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Enzyme-mediated depletion of serum l-Met abrogates prostate cancer growth via multiple mechanisms without evidence of systemic toxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:13000-13011. [PMID: 32434918 PMCID: PMC7293657 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917362117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies in prostate cancer and other malignancies have revealed that l-methionine (l-Met) and its metabolites play a critical role in tumorigenesis. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that systemic restriction of serum l-Met, either via partial dietary restriction or with bacterial l-Met-degrading enzymes exerts potent antitumor effects. However, administration of bacterial l-Met-degrading enzymes has not proven practical for human therapy because of problems with immunogenicity. As the human genome does not encode l-Met-degrading enzymes, we engineered the human cystathionine-γ-lyase (hMGL-4.0) to catalyze the selective degradation of l-Met. At therapeutically relevant dosing, hMGL-4.0 reduces serum l-Met levels to >75% for >72 h and significantly inhibits the growth of multiple prostate cancer allografts/xenografts without weight loss or toxicity. We demonstrate that in vitro, hMGL-4.0 causes tumor cell death, associated with increased reactive oxygen species, S-adenosyl-methionine depletion, global hypomethylation, induction of autophagy, and robust poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage indicative of DNA damage and apoptosis.
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30
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Higuchi T, Sugisawa N, Yamamoto J, Oshiro H, Han Q, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Igarashi K, Tan Y, Kuchipudi S, Bouvet M, Singh SR, Tsuchiya H, Hoffman RM. The combination of oral-recombinant methioninase and azacitidine arrests a chemotherapy-resistant osteosarcoma patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2019; 85:285-291. [PMID: 31705268 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-019-03986-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancers are methionine (MET) and methylation addicted, causing them to be highly sensitive to MET restriction. The present study determined the efficacy of restricting MET with oral-recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) and the DNA methylation inhibitor, azacitidine (AZA) on a chemotherapy-resistant osteosarcoma patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model. METHODS The osteosarcoma PDOX models were randomized into five treatment groups of six mice: control; doxorubicin (DOX) alone; AZA alone; o-rMETase alone; o-rMETase-AZA combination. Tumor size and body weight were measured during the 14 days of treatment. RESULTS We found that tumor growth was arrested only by the o-rMETase-AZA combination treatment, as tumors with this treatment exhibited tumor necrosis with degenerative change. CONCLUSION This study suggests that o-rMETase-AZA combination has clinical potential for patients with chemoresistant osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hiromichi Oshiro
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Qinghong Han
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan
| | - Yuying Tan
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA
| | - Shreya Kuchipudi
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Shree Ram Singh
- Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA.
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, 920-8641, Japan.
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc, 7917 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA, 92111, USA. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Park JH, Han Q, Zhao M, Tan Y, Higuchi T, Yoon SN, Sugisawa N, Yamamoto J, Bouvet M, Clary B, Singh SR, Hoffman RM. Oral recombinant methioninase combined with oxaliplatinum and 5-fluorouracil regressed a colon cancer growing on the peritoneal surface in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Tissue Cell 2019; 61:109-114. [PMID: 31759402 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) on a model of colon cancer growing on the peritoneal surface using a patients-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude mouse model. Forty PDOX mouse models with colon cancer growing on the peritoneum were divided into 4 groups of 10 mice each by measuring the tumor size and fluorescence intensity: untreated control; 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (50 mg/kg, once a week for two weeks, ip) and oxaliplatinum (OXA) (6 mg/kg, once a week for two weeks, ip); o-rMETase (100 units/day, oral 14 consecutive days); combination 5-FU + OXA and o-rMETase. All treatments inhibited tumor growth compared to the untreated control. The combination of 5-FU + OXA plus o-rMETase was significantly more efficacious than the control and each drug alone and was the only treatment that caused tumor regression. The present study is the first demonstrating the efficacy of o-rMETase combination therapy on a PDOX model of peritoneal colon cancer, suggesting potential clinical development of o-rMETase in a recalcitrant cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ho Park
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Norihiko Sugisawa
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jun Yamamoto
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Bryan Clary
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Shree Ram Singh
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Folate can promote the methionine-dependent reprogramming of glioblastoma cells towards pluripotency. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:596. [PMID: 31395852 PMCID: PMC6687714 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1836-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Methionine dependency of tumor growth, although not well-understood, is detectable by 11C-methionine positron emission tomography and may contribute to the aggressivity of glioblastomas (GBM) and meningiomas. Cytosolic folate cycle is required for methionine synthesis. Its dysregulation may influence cell reprogramming towards pluripotency. We evaluated methionine-dependent growth of monolayer (ML) cells and stem cell-like tumor spheres (TS) derived from 4 GBM (U251, U87, LN299, T98G) and 1 meningioma (IOMM-LEE) cell lines. Our data showed that for all cell lines studied, exogenous methionine is required for TS formation but not for ML cells proliferation. Furthermore, for GBM cell lines, regardless of the addition of folate cycle substrates (folic acid and formate), the level of 3 folate isoforms, 5-methytetrahydrofolate, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate, and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate, were all downregulated in TS relative to ML cells. Unlike GBM cell lines, in IOMM-LEE cells, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was actually more elevated in TS than ML, and only 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate were downregulated. The functional significance of this variation in folate cycle repression was revealed by the finding that Folic Acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate promote the growth of U251 TS but not IOMM-LEE TS. Transcriptome-wide sequencing of U251 cells revealed that DHFR, SHMT1, and MTHFD1 were downregulated in TS vs ML, in concordance with the low activity cytosolic folate cycle observed in U251 TS. In conclusion, we found that a repressed cytosolic folate cycle underlies the methionine dependency of GBM and meningioma cell lines and that 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is a key metabolic switch for glioblastoma TS formation. The finding that folic acid facilitates TS formation, although requiring further validation in diseased human tissues, incites to investigate whether excessive folate intake could promote cancer stem cells formation in GBM patients.
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Linkage of Methionine Dependence and Other Features of Malignancy. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 30725405 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8796-2_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
Cancer cells have an elevated methionine (MET) requirement compared to normal cells and are termed MET dependent. Cancer cells were isolated in MET-restricted (MR) medium that reverted from MET dependence to MET independence. Increased MET biosynthesis was not a prerequisite for reversion to MET independence, indicating that MET dependence was not due to reduced endogenous MET synthesis. MET-independent revertants of cancer cells concomitantly reverted for some of the other properties associated with malignancy: Of the 13 MET-independent revertants isolated 5 showed increased anchorage dependence as reflected by reduced cloning efficiencies in methylcellulose; 8 showed an increased serum requirement for optimal growth; 8 showed decreased cell density in medium containing high serum; and 3 altered their cell morphology significantly. Eight of the 13 revertants have increased chromosome numbers. Thus, by selecting for MET independence, it is possible to obtain heterogeneous reduced-malignancy revertants, indicating further a relationship between altered MET metabolism and other fundamental properties of oncogenic transformation.
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Methioninase Cell-Cycle Trap Cancer Chemotherapy. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1866:133-148. [PMID: 30725413 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8796-2_11] [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: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells are methionine (MET) dependent compared to normal cells as they have an elevated requirement for MET in order to proliferate. MET restriction selectively traps cancer cells in the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. The cell cycle phase can be visualized by color coding with the fluorescence ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator (FUCCI). Recombinant methioninase (rMETase) is an enzyme that effectively degrades MET. rMETase induces S/G2-phase blockage of cancer cells which is identified by the cancer cells' green fluorescence with FUCCI imaging. Cancer cells in G1/G0 are the majority of the cells in solid tumors and are resistant to the chemotherapy. Treatment of cancer cells with standard chemotherapy drugs only led to the majority of the cancer cell population being arrested in G0/G1 phase, identified by the cancer cells' red fluorescence in the FUCCI system. The G0/G1-phase cancer cells are chemo-resistant. Tumor targeting Salmonella typhimurium A1-R (S. typhimurium A1-R) was used to decoy quiescent G0/G1 stomach cancer cells growing in nude mice to cycle, with subsequent rMETase treatment to selectively trap the decoyed cancer cells in S/G2 phase, which made them highly sensitive to chemotherapy. Subsequent cisplatinum (CDDP) or paclitaxel (PTX) chemotherapy was then administered to kill the decoyed and trapped cancer cells, which completely prevented or regressed tumor growth. In a subsequent experiment, a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model of recurrent CDDP-resistant metastatic osteosarcoma was eradicated by the combination of Salmonella typhimurium A1-R decoy, rMETase S/G2-phase cell cycle trap, and CDDP cell kill. Salmonella typhimurium A1-R and rMETase pre-treatment thereby overcame CDDP resistance. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the new chemotherapy paradigm of "decoy, trap, and kill" chemotherapy.
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35
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Recombinant Methioninase as a DNA Demethylation Agent. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 30725424 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8796-2_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
This chapter reviews the effect of methionine (MET) restriction, via treatment with recombinant methioninase (rMETase), on DNA methylation of cancer cells. CCRF-CEM human cancer cells were treated with rMETase under subcytotoxic conditions. The rMETase-treated cells contained significantly lower levels of genomic methylated DNA than did untreated control cells. DNA methylation was measured by incorporation of the methyl group of [3H]methyl-S-adenosylmethionine into DNA and by methylation-sensitive arbitrarily-primed PCR. DNA hypomethylation effected by rMETase was of similar extent to that effected by treatment of the cells with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine.
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36
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Hoffman RM, Murakami T, Kawaguchi K, Igarashi K, Tan Y, Li S, Han Q. High Efficacy of Recombinant Methioninase on Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft (PDOX) Mouse Models of Cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1866:149-161. [PMID: 30725414 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8796-2_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Takashi Murakami
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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37
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Hoffman RM, Han Q, Kawaguchi K, Li S, Tan Y. Afterword: Oral Methioninase-Answer to Cancer and Fountain of Youth? Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1866:311-322. [PMID: 30725426 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8796-2_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The elevated methionine (MET) requirement of cancer cells is termed MET dependence and is possibly the only known general metabolic defect in cancer. Targeting MET by recombinant methioninase (rMETase) can arrest the growth of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo due to their elevated requirement for MET. rMETase can also potentiate chemotherapy drugs active in S phase due to the selective arrest of cancer cells in S/G2 phase during MET restriction (MR). We previously reported that rMETase, administrated by intraperitoneal injection (ip-rMETase), could inhibit tumor growth in mouse models of cancer including patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models. We subsequently compared ip-rMETase and oral rMETase (o-rMETase) on a melanoma PDOX mouse model. o-rMETase was significantly more effective than ip-rMETase to inhibit tumor growth without overt toxicity. The combination of o-rMETase+ip-rMETase was significantly more effective than either monotherapy and completely arrested tumor growth. Thus, o-rMETase is effective as an anticancer agent with the potential of clinical development for chronic cancer therapy as well as for cancer prevention. o-rMETase may also have potential as an antiaging agent for healthy people, since MR has been shown to extend the life span of a variety of different organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | | | - Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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38
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Hoffman RM, Stern PH, Coalson DW, Douglas Wallace C, Erbe RW. Altered Methionine Metabolism in Cancer Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1866:13-26. [PMID: 30725404 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8796-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Many different types of cancer cells have been shown to be methionine (MET) dependent. Cancer cells, unlike normal cells, grow poorly or not at all when MET is restricted. Cancer cells have an elevated requirement for exogenous MET for growth, despite high levels of endogenous synthesis. This requirement reflects increased utilization of MET by cancer cells, analogous to increased utilization glucose by cancer cells (Warburg effect). To answer the critical question of whether MET-dependent cancer cells synthesize normal amounts of MET, we determined the levels of MET, S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMET), and S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHCY) that were synthesized by MET-dependent cancer cells under conditions of MET restriction. We demonstrated that MET-dependent cells synthesize a normal amount of endogenously synthesized MET but are still deficient in AdoMET. In contrast, exogenously supplied MET results in normal AdoMET levels. The ratio of AdoMET to AdoHCY is low in MET-dependent cells growing in MET-restricted medium but is normal when MET is supplied. Under conditions of MET restriction, the low AdoMET/AdoHCY ratio probably limits proliferation of MET-dependent cancer cells. The amount of free MET is also low in MET-dependent cancer cells under MET restriction. The elevated MET requirement for cancer cells may be due to enhanced overall rates of transmethylation compared to normal human cells. Thus, MET-dependent cancer cells have low levels of free MET, low levels of AdoMET, and elevated levels of AdoHCY under conditions of MET restriction probably due to overuse of MET for transmethylation reactions ("Hoffman effect"), thereby blocking cellular proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | | | - Dennis W Coalson
- Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Richard W Erbe
- Pediatrics and Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Division of Genetics, The Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
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39
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Abstract
Methionine (MET) dependence is the elevated requirement of cancer cells for MET. Cancer cells are arrested when MET is restricted in late S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. MET dependence may be the only known general metabolic defect in cancer. This chapter reviews the in vivo efficacy of dietary MET restriction (MR) to arrest human-cancer cell-line tumors and mouse tumors in nude mice. Human cancer xenografts in nude mice, when fed a MET-free diet, had greatly inhibited tumor growth. The body weight of mice on the MET-free diet was found to be maintainable by once-per-week administration of MET. These results suggested that MET dependence can be an important target for human cancer treatment. Yoshida sarcoma in nude mice on a MET-depleted diet regressed. MET depletion resulted in the extended survival of the tumor-bearing mice. These experiments are a prelude to further clinical studies of the efficacy of MR diets on cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA. .,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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40
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Kawaguchi K, Miyake K, Han Q, Li S, Tan Y, Igarashi K, Lwin TM, Higuchi T, Kiyuna T, Miyake M, Oshiro H, Bouvet M, Unno M, Hoffman RM. Targeting altered cancer methionine metabolism with recombinant methioninase (rMETase) overcomes partial gemcitabine-resistance and regresses a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:868-873. [PMID: 29623758 PMCID: PMC6056209 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1445907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a recalcitrant disease. Gemcitabine (GEM) is the most widely-used first-line therapy for pancreatic cancer, but most patients eventually fail. Transformative therapy is necessary to significantly improve the outcome of pancreatic cancer patients. Tumors have an elevated requirement for methionine and are susceptible to methionine restriction. The present study used a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude mouse model of pancreatic cancer to determine the efficacy of recombinant methioninase (rMETase) to effect methionine restriction and thereby overcome GEM-resistance. A pancreatic cancer obtained from a patient was grown orthotopically in the pancreatic tail of nude mice to establish the PDOX model. Five weeks after implantation, 40 pancreatic cancer PDOX mouse models were randomized into four groups of 10 mice each: untreated control (n = 10); GEM (100 mg/kg, i.p., once a week for 5 weeks, n = 10); rMETase (100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days, n = 10); GEM+rMETase (GEM: 100 mg/kg, i.p., once a week for 5 weeks, rMETase: 100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days, n = 10). Although GEM partially inhibited PDOX tumor growth, combination therapy (GEM+rMETase) was significantly more effective than mono therapy (GEM: p = 0.0025, rMETase: p = 0.0010). The present study is the first demonstrating the efficacy of rMETase combination therapy in a pancreatic cancer PDOX model to overcome first-line therapy resistance in this recalcitrant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | | | | | | | - Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | | | - Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Hiromichi Oshiro
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Michael Bouvet
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Robert M. Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA
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41
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Chaturvedi S, Hoffman RM, Bertino JR. Exploiting methionine restriction for cancer treatment. Biochem Pharmacol 2018; 154:170-173. [PMID: 29733806 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Normal cells can synthesize sufficient methionine for growth requirements from homocysteine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and vitamin B12. However, many cancer-cell types require exogenous methionine for survival and therefore methionine restriction is a promising avenue for treatment. While the lack of the methionine salvage enzyme methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deficiency is associated with methionine dependence in cancer cells, there are other causes for tumors to require exogenous methionine. In this review we describe studies that show restricting methionine to certain cancers by diet or by enzyme depletion, alone or in combination with certain chemotherapeutics is a promising antitumor strategy. The basis for methionine dependence in tumor cells is also briefly reviewed.
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42
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Thibault A, Figg WD, Bergan RC, Lush RM, Myers CE, Tompkins A, Reed E, Samid D. A Phase II Study of 5-AZA-2'Deoxycytidine (Decitabine) in Hormone Independent Metastatic (D2) Prostate Cancer. TUMORI JOURNAL 2018; 84:87-9. [PMID: 9619724 DOI: 10.1177/030089169808400120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aims and Background Decitabine (5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine) is an S-phase-specific pyrimidine analog with hypomethylation properties. In laboratory models of prostate cancer (PC-3 and DU-145), decitabine induces cellular differentiation and enhanced expression of genes involved in tumor suppression, immunogenicity, and programmed cell death. Methods We conducted a phase II study of decitabine in 14 men with progressive, metastatic prostate cancer recurrent after total androgen blockade and flutamide withdrawal. Decitabine was administered at a dose of 75 mg/m2/dose IV as a 1 hour infusion every 8 hours for three doses. Cycles of therapy were repeated every 5 to 8 weeks to allow for resolution of toxicity. Results Two of 12 patients evaluable for response had stable disease with a time to progression of more than 10 weeks. This activity was seen in 2 of 3 African-American patients. Toxicity was similar to previously reported experience. No significant changes in urinary concentrations of the angiogenic factor bFGF, a potential biomarker of tumor activity, were identified over time in 7 unselected patients with progressive disease. Conclusions We conclude that decitabine is a well tolerated regimen with modest clinical activity against hormone-independent prostate cancer. Further investigations in patients of African-American origin may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Thibault
- Medicine Branch, Division of Clinical Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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43
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Igarashi K, Kawaguchi K, Li S, Han Q, Tan Y, Gainor E, Kiyuna T, Miyake K, Miyake M, Higuchi T, Oshiro H, Singh AS, Eckardt MA, Nelson SD, Russell TA, Dry SM, Li Y, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Tsuchiya H, Eilber FC, Hoffman RM. Recombinant methioninase combined with doxorubicin (DOX) regresses a DOX-resistant synovial sarcoma in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model. Oncotarget 2018; 9:19263-19272. [PMID: 29721200 PMCID: PMC5922394 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a recalcitrant subgroup of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). A tumor from a patient with high grade SS from a lower extremity was grown orthotopically in the right biceps femoris muscle of nude mice to establish a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model. The PDOX mice were randomized into the following groups when tumor volume reached approximately 100 mm3: G1, control without treatment; G2, doxorubicin (DOX) (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [i.p.] injection, weekly, for 2 weeks; G3, rMETase (100 unit/mouse, i.p., daily, for 2 weeks); G4 DOX (3mg/kg), i.p. weekly, for 2 weeks) combined with rMETase (100 unit/mouse, i.p., daily, for 2 weeks). On day 14 after treatment initiation, all therapies significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to untreated control, except DOX: (DOX: p = 0.48; rMETase: p < 0.005; DOX combined with rMETase < 0.0001). DOX combined with rMETase was significantly more effective than both DOX alone (p < 0.001) and rMETase alone (p < 0.05). The relative body weight on day 14 compared with day 0 did not significantly differ between any treatment group or untreated control. The results indicate that r-METase can overcome DOX-resistance in this recalcitrant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Shukuan Li
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Yuying Tan
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Takashi Higuchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Hiromichi Oshiro
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Arun S Singh
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mark A Eckardt
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Scott D Nelson
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tara A Russell
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M Dry
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yunfeng Li
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Fritz C Eilber
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
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44
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Igarashi K, Kawaguchi K, Kiyuna T, Miyake K, Miyake M, Li S, Han Q, Tan Y, Zhao M, Li Y, Nelson SD, Dry SM, Singh AS, Elliott IA, Russell TA, Eckardt MA, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Tsuchiya H, Eilber FC, Hoffman RM. Tumor-targeting Salmonella typhimurium A1-R combined with recombinant methioninase and cisplatinum eradicates an osteosarcoma cisplatinum-resistant lung metastasis in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model: decoy, trap and kill chemotherapy moves toward the clinic. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:801-809. [PMID: 29374999 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1431596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model of recurrent cisplatinum (CDDP)-resistant metastatic osteosarcoma was treated with Salmonella typhimurium A1-R (S. typhimurium A1-R), which decoys chemoresistant quiescent cancer cells to cycle, and recombinant methioninase (rMETase), which selectively traps cancer cells in late S/G2, and chemotherapy. The PDOX models were randomized into the following groups 14 days after implantation: G1, control without treatment; G2, CDDP (6 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, weekly, for 2 weeks); G3, rMETase (100 unit/mouse, i.p., daily, for 2 weeks). G4, S. typhimurium A1-R (5 × 107 CFU/100 μl, i.v., weekly, for 2 weeks); G5, S. typhimurium A1-R (5 × 107 CFU/100 μl, i.v., weekly, for 2 weeks) combined with rMETase (100 unit/mouse, i.p., daily, for 2 weeks); G6, S. typhimurium A1-R (5 × 107 CFU/100 μl, i.v., weekly, for 2 weeks) combined with rMETase (100 unit/mouse, i.p., daily, for 2 weeks) and CDDP (6 mg/kg, i.p. injection, weekly, for 2 weeks). On day 14 after initiation, all treatments except CDDP alone, significantly inhibited tumor growth compared to untreated control: (CDDP: p = 0.586; rMETase: p = 0.002; S. typhimurium A1-R: p = 0.002; S. typhimurium A1-R combined with rMETase: p = 0.0004; rMETase combined with both S. typhimurium A1-R and CDDP: p = 0.0001). The decoy, trap and kill combination of S. typhimurium A1-R, rMETase and CDDP was the most effective of all therapies and was able to eradicate the metastatic osteosarcoma PDOX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Igarashi
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA.,b Department of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA, USA.,c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan
| | - Kei Kawaguchi
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA.,b Department of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA, USA
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA.,b Department of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA, USA
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA.,b Department of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA, USA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA.,b Department of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA, USA
| | - Shukuan Li
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA
| | | | - Yuying Tan
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA
| | - Ming Zhao
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA
| | - Yunfeng Li
- d Dept. of Pathology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Scott D Nelson
- d Dept. of Pathology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Sarah M Dry
- d Dept. of Pathology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Arun S Singh
- e Division of Hematology-Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Irmina A Elliott
- f Division of Surgical Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Tara A Russell
- f Division of Surgical Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Mark A Eckardt
- g Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine , New Haven , CT, USA
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- c Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Kanazawa University , Kanazawa , Japan
| | - Fritz C Eilber
- f Division of Surgical Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- a AntiCancer, Inc. , San Diego , CA, USA.,b Department of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA, USA
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Recombinant methioninase effectively targets a Ewing's sarcoma in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse model. Oncotarget 2018; 8:35630-35638. [PMID: 28404944 PMCID: PMC5482604 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Methionine dependence is due to the overuse of methionine for aberrant transmethylation reactions in cancer. Methionine dependence may be the only general metabolic defect in cancer. In order to exploit methionine dependence for therapy, our laboratory previously cloned L-methionine α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane lyase [EC 4.4.1.11]). The cloned methioninase, termed recombinant methioninase, or rMETase, has been tested in mouse models of human cancer cell lines. Ewing's sarcoma is recalcitrant disease even though development of multimodal therapy has improved patients'outcome. Here we report efficacy of rMETase against Ewing's sarcoma in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model. The Ewing's sarcoma was implanted in the right chest wall of nude mice to establish a PDOX model. Eight Ewing's sarcoma PDOX mice were randomized into untreated control group (n = 4) and rMETase treatment group (n = 4). rMETase (100 units) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) every 24 hours for 14 consecutive days. All mice were sacrificed on day-15, 24 hours after the last rMETase administration. rMETase effectively reduced tumor growth compared to untreated control. The methionine level both of plasma and supernatants derived from sonicated tumors was lower in the rMETase group. Body weight did not significantly differ at any time points between the 2 groups. The present study is the first demonstrating rMETase efficacy in a PDOX model, suggesting potential clinical development, especially in recalcitrant cancers such as Ewing's sarcoma.
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46
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Kawaguchi K, Han Q, Li S, Tan Y, Igarashi K, Kiyuna T, Miyake K, Miyake M, Chmielowski B, Nelson SD, Russell TA, Dry SM, Li Y, Singh AS, Eckardt MA, Unno M, Eilber FC, Hoffman RM. Targeting methionine with oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) arrests a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model of BRAF-V600E mutant melanoma: implications for chronic clinical cancer therapy and prevention. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:356-361. [PMID: 29187018 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1405195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The elevated methionine (MET) use by cancer cells is termed MET dependence and may be the only known general metabolic defect in cancer. Targeting MET by recombinant methioninase (rMETase) can arrest the growth of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We previously reported that rMETase, administrated by intra-peritoneal injection (ip-rMETase), could inhibit tumor growth in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model of a BRAF-V600E mutant melanoma. In the present study, we compared ip-rMETase and oral rMETase (o-rMETase) for efficacy on the melanoma PDOX. Melanoma PDOX nude mice were randomized into four groups of 5 mice each: untreated control; ip-rMETase (100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days); o-rMETase (100 units, p.o., 14 consecutive days); o-rMETase+ip-rMETase (100 units, p.o.+100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days). All treatments inhibited tumor growth on day 14 after treatment initiation, compared to untreated control (ip-rMETase, p<0.0001; o-rMETase, p<0.0001; o-rMETase+ip-rMETase, p<0.0001). o-rMETase was significantly more effective than ip-rMETase (p = 0.0086). o-rMETase+ip-rMETase was significantly more effective than either mono-therapy: ip-rMETase, p = 0.0005; or o-rMETase, p = 0.0367. The present study is the first demonstrating that o-rMETase is effective as an anticancer agent. The results of the present study indicate the potential of clinical development of o-rMETase as an agent for chronic cancer therapy and for cancer prevention and possibly for life extension since dietary MET reduction extends life span in many animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Kawaguchi
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA.,b Dept. of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA.,c Dept. of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | | | - Shukuan Li
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Yuying Tan
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA.,b Dept. of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA.,b Dept. of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA.,b Dept. of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA.,b Dept. of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA
| | - Bartosz Chmielowski
- d Div. of Hematology-Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Scott D Nelson
- e Dept. of Pathology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Tara A Russell
- f Div. of Surgical Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Sarah M Dry
- e Dept. of Pathology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Yunfeng Li
- e Dept. of Pathology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Arun S Singh
- d Div. of Hematology-Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Mark A Eckardt
- g Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA
| | - Michiaki Unno
- c Dept. of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine , Tohoku University , Sendai , Japan
| | - Fritz C Eilber
- f Div. of Surgical Oncology , University of California , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- a AntiCancer , Inc. , San Diego , CA , USA.,b Dept. of Surgery , University of California , San Diego , CA , USA.,g Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA
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47
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Kawaguchi K, Han Q, Li S, Tan Y, Igarashi K, Miyake K, Kiyuna T, Miyake M, Chemielwski B, Nelson SD, Russell TA, Dry SM, Li Y, Singh AS, Eckardt MA, Unno M, Eilber FC, Hoffman RM. Intra-tumor L-methionine level highly correlates with tumor size in both pancreatic cancer and melanoma patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse models. Oncotarget 2018. [PMID: 29541401 PMCID: PMC5834286 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An excessive requirement for methionine (MET) for growth, termed MET dependence, appears to be a general metabolic defect in cancer. We have previously shown that cancer-cell growth can be selectively arrested by MET restriction such as with recombinant methioninase (rMETase). In the present study, we utilized patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude mouse models with pancreatic cancer or melanoma to determine the relationship between intra-tumor MET level and tumor size. After the tumors grew to 100 mm3, the PDOX nude mice were divided into two groups: untreated control and treated with rMETase (100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days). On day 14 from initiation of treatment, intra-tumor MET levels were measured and found to highly correlate with tumor volume, both in the pancreatic cancer PDOX (p<0.0001, R2=0.89016) and melanoma PDOX (p<0.0001, R2=0.88114). Tumors with low concentration of MET were smaller. The present results demonstrates that patient tumors are highly dependent on MET for growth and that rMETase effectively lowers tumor MET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Bartosz Chemielwski
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Scott D Nelson
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tara A Russell
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M Dry
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yunfeng Li
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Arun S Singh
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mark A Eckardt
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fritz C Eilber
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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48
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Igarashi K, Li S, Han Q, Tan Y, Kawaguchi K, Murakami T, Kiyuna T, Miyake K, Li Y, Nelson SD, Dry SM, Singh AS, Elliott IA, Russell TA, Eckardt MA, Yamamoto N, Hayashi K, Kimura H, Miwa S, Tsuchiya H, Eilber FC, Hoffman RM. Growth of doxorubicin-resistant undifferentiated spindle-cell sarcoma PDOX is arrested by metabolic targeting with recombinant methioninase. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:3537-3544. [PMID: 29143983 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Undifferentiated spindle-cell sarcoma (USCS) is a recalcitrant -cancer in need of individualized therapy. A high-grade USCS from a striated muscle of a patient was grown orthotopically in the right biceps femoris muscle of nude mice to establish a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model. In a previous study, we evaluated the efficacy of standard first-line chemotherapy of doxorubicin (DOX), gemcitabine (GEM) combined with docetaxel (DOC), compared to pazopanib (PAZ), a multi-targeting tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, in an USCS PDOX model. In the present study, mice-bearing the USCS PDOX tumors were randomized into the following groups when tumor volume reached 100 mm3 : G1, untreated control without treatment; G2, DOX (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, weekly, for 2 weeks); G3, L-methionine α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane lyase (recombinant methioninase [rMETase]) (100 U/mouse, i.p., daily, for 2 weeks). Tumor size and body weight were measured with calipers and a digital balance twice a week. The methionine level of supernatants derived from sonicated tumors was also measured. rMETase inhibited tumor growth, measured by tumor volume, compared to untreated controls and the DOX-treated group on day 14 after initiation of treatment: control (G1): 347.6 ± 88 mm3 ; DOX (G2): 329.5 ± 79 mm3 , P = 0.670; rMETase (G3): 162.6 ± 51 mm3 , P = 0.0003. The mouse body weight of the treated mice was not significantly different from the untreated controls. Tumor L-methionine levels were reduced after the rMETase-treatment compared to untreated control and pre-rMETase treatment. We previously reported efficacy of rMETase against Ewing's sarcoma and melanoma in a PDOX models. These studies suggest clinical development of rMETase, especially in recalcitrant cancers such as sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Takashi Murakami
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Yunfeng Li
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Scott D Nelson
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sarah M Dry
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Arun S Singh
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Irmina A Elliott
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tara A Russell
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Mark A Eckardt
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Norio Yamamoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Hayashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Fritz C Eilber
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, California.,Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
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49
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Kawaguchi K, Igarashi K, Li S, Han Q, Tan Y, Miyake K, Kiyuna T, Miyake M, Murakami T, Chmielowski B, Nelson SD, Russell TA, Dry SM, Li Y, Unno M, Eilber FC, Hoffman RM. Recombinant methioninase (rMETase) is an effective therapeutic for BRAF-V600E-negative as well as -positive melanoma in patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models. Oncotarget 2018; 9:915-923. [PMID: 29416666 PMCID: PMC5787523 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a recalcitrant disease. Melanoma patients with the BRAF-V600E mutation have been treated with the drug vemurafenib (VEM) which targets this mutation. However, we previously showed that VEM is not very effective against a BRAF-V600E melanoma mutant in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model. In contrast, we demonstrated that recombinant methioninase (rMETase) which targets the general metabolic defect in cancer of methionine dependence, was effective against the BRAF-V600E mutant melanoma PDOX model. In the present study, we demonstrate that rMETase is effective against a BRAF-V600E-negative melanoma PDOX which we established. Forty BRAF-V600E-negative melanoma PDOX mouse models were randomized into four groups of 10 mice each: untreated control (n = 10); temozolomide (TEM) (25 mg/kg, p.o., 14 consecutive days, n = 10); rMETase (100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days, n = 10); TEM + rMETase (TEM: 25 mg/kg, p.o., rMETase: 100 units, i.p., 14 consecutive days, n = 10). All treatments inhibited tumor growth compared to untreated control (TEM: p = 0.0003, rMETase: p = 0.0006, TEM/rMETase: p = 0.0002) on day 14 after initiation. Combination therapy of TEM and rMETase was significantly more effective than either mono-therapy (TEM: p = 0.0113, rMETase: p = 0.0173). The present study shows that TEM combined with rMETase is effective for BRAF-V600E-negative melanoma PDOX similar to the BRAF-V600E-positive mutation melanoma. These results suggest rMETase in combination with first-line chemotherapy can be highly effective in both BRAF-V600E-negative as well as BRAF-V600E-positive melanoma and has clinical potential for this recalcitrant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Kawaguchi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kentaro Igarashi
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kentaro Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tasuku Kiyuna
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Masuyo Miyake
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Takashi Murakami
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Bartosz Chmielowski
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Scott D. Nelson
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tara A. Russell
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M. Dry
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yunfeng Li
- Department of Pathology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fritz C. Eilber
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Robert M. Hoffman
- AntiCancer, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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50
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Abstract
The elevated requirement of methionine by cancer cells (methionine dependence) is a general metabolic abnormality in cancer. Methionine-dependent cancer cells are unable to proliferate and arrest in the late S/G2 phase of the cell cycle when methionine is restricted in vitro or in vivo. Cell-cycle arrest in late S/G2 was used as a biomarker of methionine dependence for patient tumors in Gelfoam® histoculture. Human cancer patient tumors, including tumors of the colon, breast, ovary, prostate, and a melanoma, were observed to be methionine dependent in Gelfoam® histoculture based on cell cycle analysis. This simple method can be used to screen patient tumors for methionine dependence and then subsequently apply appropriate chemotherapy for these patients to target this cancer-specific metabolic abnormality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
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