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D'Aguanno S, Mallone F, Marenco M, Del Bufalo D, Moramarco A. Hypoxia-dependent drivers of melanoma progression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:159. [PMID: 33964953 PMCID: PMC8106186 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a condition of low oxygen availability, is a hallmark of tumour microenvironment and promotes cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Many studies reported the essential role of hypoxia in regulating invasiveness, angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry and response to therapy in melanoma. Melanoma is an aggressive cancer originating from melanocytes located in the skin (cutaneous melanoma), in the uveal tract of the eye (uveal melanoma) or in mucosal membranes (mucosal melanoma). These three subtypes of melanoma represent distinct neoplasms in terms of biology, epidemiology, aetiology, molecular profile and clinical features.In this review, the latest progress in hypoxia-regulated pathways involved in the development and progression of all melanoma subtypes were discussed. We also summarized current knowledge on preclinical studies with drugs targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1, angiogenesis or vasculogenic mimicry. Finally, we described available evidence on clinical studies investigating the use of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 inhibitors or antiangiogenic drugs, alone or in combination with other strategies, in metastatic and adjuvant settings of cutaneous, uveal and mucosal melanoma.Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-independent pathways have been also reported to regulate melanoma progression, but this issue is beyond the scope of this review.As evident from the numerous studies discussed in this review, the increasing knowledge of hypoxia-regulated pathways in melanoma progression and the promising results obtained from novel antiangiogenic therapies, could offer new perspectives in clinical practice in order to improve survival outcomes of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Mallone
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Marenco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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Radiobiological Studies of Microvascular Damage through In Vitro Models: A Methodological Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051182. [PMID: 33803333 PMCID: PMC7967181 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) is used in radiotherapy as a treatment to destroy cancer. Such treatment also affects other tissues, resulting in the so-called normal tissue complications. Endothelial cells (ECs) composing the microvasculature have essential roles in the microenvironment's homeostasis (ME). Thus, detrimental effects induced by irradiation on ECs can influence both the tumor and healthy tissue. In-vitro models can be advantageous to study these phenomena. In this systematic review, we analyzed in-vitro models of ECs subjected to IR. We highlighted the critical issues involved in the production, irradiation, and analysis of such radiobiological in-vitro models to study microvascular endothelial cells damage. For each step, we analyzed common methodologies and critical points required to obtain a reliable model. We identified the generation of a 3D environment for model production and the inclusion of heterogeneous cell populations for a reliable ME recapitulation. Additionally, we highlighted how essential information on the irradiation scheme, crucial to correlate better observed in vitro effects to the clinical scenario, are often neglected in the analyzed studies, limiting the translation of achieved results.
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Neoadjuvant intravitreal ranibizumab treatment in high-risk ocular melanoma patients: a two-stage single-centre phase II single-arm study. Melanoma Res 2020; 30:102-106. [PMID: 31425478 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite an established history of intraocular antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents therapy in a variety of ocular pathologies as well as other cancer forms, use in the primary treatment of uveal melanoma has not been well assessed. This was a two-stage therapeutic and exploratory phase II, non-randomised, single centre trial involving intraocular treatment with 0.5 mg in 0.05 ml of ranibizumab via six intravitreous injections over 6 months in patients with primary ocular melanoma that otherwise required radical surgery because of tumour size. Seven patients were recruited with a median age of 66 years. At baseline, the longest basal diameter was 15.1 mm (mean, range 10-20.4 mm) with a height measured by ultrasonography of 9.2 mm (mean, range 6.6-12.7 mm). No patients achieved complete or partial response at any visit. All required enucleation. Histopathological analysis revealed mixed cell melanoma in 5/7 (71%) and spindle cell morphology in 2/7 (29%) with ciliary body involvement in 4/7 (57%) and the presence of closed loops also in 4/7 (57%). Genetic analysis demonstrated loss of chromosome 3 in 5/7 (71%) but abnormalities in chromosome 1,6 or 8 in all cases. Our study was terminated early as alternative treatments were clearly superior for local tumour control. There continues to be a role of intravitreal anti-VEGF for the treatment of the sequelae of local radiotherapy in the form of radiation retinopathy and so these agents may be used as adjuncts in the treatment of uveal melanoma rather than as a primary treatment.
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Castet F, Garcia-Mulero S, Sanz-Pamplona R, Cuellar A, Casanovas O, Caminal JM, Piulats JM. Uveal Melanoma, Angiogenesis and Immunotherapy, Is There Any Hope? Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E834. [PMID: 31212986 PMCID: PMC6627065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is considered a rare disease but it is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Local treatments are effective, but the systemic recurrence rate is unacceptably high. Moreover, once metastasis have developed the prognosis is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%, and systemic therapies, including immunotherapy, have rendered poor results. The tumour biology is complex, but angiogenesis is a highly important pathway in these tumours. Vasculogenic mimicry, the ability of melanomas to generate vascular channels independently of endothelial cells, could play an important role, but no effective therapy targeting this process has been developed so far. Angiogenesis modulates the tumour microenvironment of melanomas, and a close interplay is established between them. Therefore, combining immune strategies with drugs targeting angiogenesis offers a new therapeutic paradigm. In preclinical studies, these approaches effectively target these tumours, and a phase I clinical study has shown encouraging results in cutaneous melanomas. In this review, we will discuss the importance of angiogenesis in uveal melanoma, with a special focus on vasculogenic mimicry, and describe the interplay between angiogenesis and the tumour microenvironment. In addition, we will suggest future therapeutic approaches based on these observations and mention ways in which to potentially enhance current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Castet
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sandra Garcia-Mulero
- Clinical Research in Solid Tumors Group (CREST), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Unit of Biomarkers and Susceptibility, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rebeca Sanz-Pamplona
- Unit of Biomarkers and Susceptibility, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Andres Cuellar
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Oriol Casanovas
- Tumor Angiogenesis Group, ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL-OncoBell, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Josep Maria Caminal
- Ophthalmology Department; University Hospital of Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Josep Maria Piulats
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Clinical Research in Solid Tumors Group (CREST), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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Walcher L, Budde C, Böhm A, Reinach PS, Dhandapani P, Ljubojevic N, Schweiger MW, von der Waydbrink H, Reimers I, Köhrle J, Mergler S. TRPM8 Activation via 3-Iodothyronamine Blunts VEGF-Induced Transactivation of TRPV1 in Human Uveal Melanoma Cells. Front Pharmacol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01234 ecollection 2018.pmid: 30483120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2022] Open
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Walcher L, Budde C, Böhm A, Reinach PS, Dhandapani P, Ljubojevic N, Schweiger MW, von der Waydbrink H, Reimers I, Köhrle J, Mergler S. TRPM8 Activation via 3-Iodothyronamine Blunts VEGF-Induced Transactivation of TRPV1 in Human Uveal Melanoma Cells. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1234. [PMID: 30483120 PMCID: PMC6243059 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In human uveal melanoma (UM), tumor enlargement is associated with increases in aqueous humor vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) content that induce neovascularization. 3-Iodothyronamine (3-T1AM), an endogenous thyroid hormone metabolite, activates TRP melastatin 8 (TRPM8), which blunts TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) activation by capsaicin (CAP) in human corneal, conjunctival epithelial cells, and stromal cells. We compare here the effects of TRPM8 activation on VEGF-induced transactivation of TRPV1 in an UM cell line (92.1) with those in normal primary porcine melanocytes (PM) since TRPM8 is upregulated in melanoma. Fluorescence Ca2+-imaging and planar patch-clamping characterized functional channel activities. CAP (20 μM) induced Ca2+ transients and increased whole-cell currents in both the UM cell line and PM whereas TRPM8 agonists, 100 μM menthol and 20 μM icilin, blunted such responses in the UM cells. VEGF (10 ng/ml) elicited Ca2+ transients and augmented whole-cell currents, which were blocked by capsazepine (CPZ; 20 μM) but not by a highly selective TRPM8 blocker, AMTB (20 μM). The VEGF-induced current increases were not augmented by CAP. Both 3-T1AM (1 μM) and menthol (100 μM) increased the whole-cell currents, whereas 20 μM AMTB blocked them. 3-T1AM exposure suppressed both VEGF-induced Ca2+ transients and increases in underlying whole-cell currents. Taken together, functional TRPM8 upregulation in UM 92.1 cells suggests that TRPM8 is a potential drug target for suppressing VEGF induced increases in neovascularization and UM tumor growth since TRPM8 activation blocked VEGF transactivation of TRPV1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Walcher
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Clara Budde
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arina Böhm
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter S Reinach
- School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | | | - Nina Ljubojevic
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus W Schweiger
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Henriette von der Waydbrink
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilka Reimers
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josef Köhrle
- Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Mergler
- Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Perifosine enhances bevacizumab-induced apoptosis and therapeutic efficacy by targeting PI3K/AKT pathway in a glioblastoma heterotopic model. Apoptosis 2017; 22:1025-1034. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-017-1382-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Breazzano MP, Milam RW, Batson SA, Johnson DB, Daniels AB. Immunotherapy for Uveal Melanoma. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2017; 57:29-39. [PMID: 27898611 DOI: 10.1097/iio.0000000000000148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
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Cerne JZ, Hartig SM, Hamilton MP, Chew SA, Mitsiades N, Poulaki V, McGuire SE. Protein kinase C inhibitors sensitize GNAQ mutant uveal melanoma cells to ionizing radiation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:2130-9. [PMID: 24595385 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-13468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Uveal melanoma (UM) tumors require large doses of radiation therapy (RT) to achieve tumor ablation, which frequently results in damage to adjacent normal tissues, leading to vision-threatening complications. Approximately 50% of UM patients present with activating somatic mutations in the gene encoding for G protein αq-subunit (GNAQ), which lead to constitutive activation of downstream pathways, including protein kinase C (PKC). In this study, we investigated the impact of small-molecule PKC inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM) and sotrastaurin (AEB071), combined with ionizing radiation (IR), on survival in melanoma cell lines. METHODS Cellular radiosensitivity was determined by using a combination of proliferation, viability, and clonogenic assays. Cell-cycle effects were measured by flow cytometry. Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling were performed by quantitative real-time PCR, reverse-phase protein array analysis, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS We found that the PKC inhibitors combined with IR significantly decreased the viability, proliferation, and clonogenic potential of GNAQ(mt), but not GNAQ(wt)/BRAF(mt) cells, compared with IR alone. Combined treatment increased the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of IR in GNAQ(mt) cells through delayed DNA-damage resolution and enhanced induction of proteins involved in cell-cycle arrest, cell-growth arrest, and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our preclinical results suggest that combined modality treatment may allow for reductions in the total RT dose and/or fraction size, which may lead to better functional organ preservation in the treatment of primary GNAQ(mt) UM. These findings suggest future clinical trials combining PKC inhibitors with RT in GNAQ(mt) UM warrant consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmina Ziva Cerne
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
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Lattanzio L, Tonissi F, Torta I, Gianello L, Russi E, Milano G, Merlano M, Lo Nigro C. Role of IL-8 induced angiogenesis in uveal melanoma. Invest New Drugs 2013; 31:1107-14. [PMID: 23912257 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-013-0005-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly vascularised tumour generally treated with radiotherapy (RT). A recent preclinical study from our group [1] demonstrated that RT-associated anti-angiogenic therapy has more than additive effects on cell growth, by modulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. The pro-angiogenic interleukin-8 (IL-8) is highly expressed in both tumour and endothelial cells and is associated with resistance to VEGF-targeted therapies in various tumour types. The aim of this study is to investigate IL-8 release in response to the anti-angiogenic drug bevacizumab (AV) and RT given alone and in combination. Material and methods The human ocular melanoma cells (OCM-1) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were grown in transwell plates. AV was administered at a 2,500 μg/ml dose and cells were irradiated with a 6 Gy dose. IL-8 concentrations were determined by ELISA assay. Protein expression was detected by western blot. Results AV alone or in combination with RT reduces VEGF levels in both cell lines when co-cultured; unexpectedly, RT alone did not increase VEGF levels. In transwell plate AV alone lowered IL-8 secretion in both cell lines. This inhibitory effect was reduced when co-cultured cells are treated with AV + RT, suggesting that RT-induced VEGF may reactivate IL-8 secretion, enhancing an alternative pathway to sustain tumour angiogenesis. Conclusions These data indicate that the UM microenvironment, beside VEGF, can activate IL-8 signalling as an alternative pro-angiogenic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lattanzio
- Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Translational Oncology, S. Croce General Hospital, Cuneo, Italy
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Fang HY, Huang XY, Chien HT, Chang JTC, Liao CT, Huang JJ, Wei FC, Wang HM, Chen IH, Kang CJ, Huang SF. Refining the role of preoperative C-reactive protein by neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope 2013; 123:2690-9. [PMID: 23619955 DOI: 10.1002/lary.24105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2012] [Revised: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Yeh Fang
- Department of Otolaryngology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Xin Yong Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery; Changi General Hospital; Singapore
| | - Huei-Tzu Chien
- Department of Epidemiology; Chang Gung University; Tao-Yuan Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Joseph Tung-Chieh Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Chun-Ta Liao
- Department of Otolaryngology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Jung-Ju Huang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Fu-Chan Wei
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Hung-Ming Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - I-How Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Chung-Jan Kang
- Department of Otolaryngology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
| | - Shiang-Fu Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology; Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University; Taiwan Republic of China
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