1
|
Elghawy O, Patel R, Xu J, Sussman J, Horton B, Kaur V. Enrollment Trends Among Patients with Melanoma Brain Metastasis in Active Clinical Trials. Cancer Invest 2024; 42:400-407. [PMID: 38773947 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2024.2354809] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
The CNS is a common site for distant metastasis and treatment failure in melanoma patients. This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion rate of patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBM) in prospective clinical trials. 69.3% of trials excluded MBM patients based on their CNS disease. In univariate analysis, trials not employing immunotherapy (p = 0.0174), inclusion of leptomeningeal disease (p < 0.0001) and non-pharmaceutical sponsor trials (p = 0.0461) were more likely to enroll patients with MBM. Thoughtful reconsideration of clinical trial designs is needed to give patients with MBMs access to promising investigational agents and improve outcomes for patients with MBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omar Elghawy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Reema Patel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jason Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jonathan Sussman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bethany Horton
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Varinder Kaur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Provance OK, Oria VO, Tran TT, Caulfield JI, Zito CR, Aguirre-Ducler A, Schalper KA, Kluger HM, Jilaveanu LB. Vascular mimicry as a facilitator of melanoma brain metastasis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:188. [PMID: 38635031 PMCID: PMC11026261 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05217-z] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma has the highest propensity among solid tumors to metastasize to the brain. Melanoma brain metastases (MBM) are a leading cause of death in melanoma and affect 40-60% of patients with late-stage disease. Therefore, uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind MBM is necessary to enhance therapeutic interventions. Vascular mimicry (VM) is a form of neovascularization linked to invasion, increased risk of metastasis, and poor prognosis in many tumor types, but its significance in MBM remains poorly understood. We found that VM density is elevated in MBM compared to paired extracranial specimens and is associated with tumor volume and CNS edema. In addition, our studies indicate a relevant role of YAP and TAZ, two transcriptional co-factors scarcely studied in melanoma, in tumor cell-vasculogenesis and in brain metastasis. We recently demonstrated activation of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway and increased degradation of its downstream targets YAP and TAZ in a metastasis impaired cell line model. In the current study we establish the utility of anti-YAP/TAZ therapy in mouse models of metastatic melanoma whereby treatment effectively inhibits VM and prolongs survival of mice with MBM. The data presented herein suggest that VM may be an important and targetable mechanism in melanoma and that VM inhibition might be useful for treating MBM, an area of high unmet clinical need, thus having important implications for future treatment regimens for these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K Provance
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM234E, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Victor O Oria
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thuy T Tran
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM234E, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Jasmine I Caulfield
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM234E, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Christopher R Zito
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM234E, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Biology, School of Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education, University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Adam Aguirre-Ducler
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kurt A Schalper
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Harriet M Kluger
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM234E, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Lucia B Jilaveanu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, SHM234E, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yuan P, Teng D, de Groot E, Li M, Trousil S, Shen CH, Roszik J, Davies MA, Gopal YV, Zheng B. Loss of AMPKα2 promotes melanoma tumor growth and brain metastasis. iScience 2023; 26:106791. [PMID: 37213225 PMCID: PMC10197146 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a critical cellular energy sensor at the interface of metabolism and cancer. However, the role of AMPK in carcinogenesis remains unclear. Here, through analysis of the TCGA melanoma dataset, we found that PRKAA2 gene that encodes the α2 subunit of AMPK is mutated in ∼9% of cutaneous melanomas, and these mutations tend to co-occur with NF1 mutations. Knockout of AMPKα2 promoted anchorage-independent growth of NF1-mutant melanoma cells, whereas ectopic expression of AMPKα2 inhibited their growth in soft agar assays. Moreover, loss of AMPKα2 accelerated tumor growth of NF1-mutant melanoma and enhanced their brain metastasis in immune-deficient mice. Our findings support that AMPKα2 serves as a tumor suppressor in NF1-mutant melanoma and suggest that AMPK could be a therapeutic target for treating melanoma brain metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yuan
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Da Teng
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Evelyn de Groot
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Man Li
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sebastian Trousil
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Che-Hung Shen
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jason Roszik
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael A. Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y.N. Vashisht Gopal
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bin Zheng
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Park S, Chien AL, Brown ID, Chen J. Characterizing viscoelastic properties of human melanoma tissue using Prony series. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1162880. [PMID: 37091343 PMCID: PMC10117758 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1162880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most invasive and deadly skin cancer, which causes most of the deaths from skin cancer. It has been demonstrated that the mechanical properties of tumor tissue are significantly altered. However, data about characterizing the mechanical properties of in vivo melanoma tissue are extremely scarce. In addition, the viscoelastic or viscous properties of melanoma tissue are rarely reported. In this study, we measured and quantitated the viscoelastic properties of human melanoma tissues based on the stress relaxation test, using the indentation-based mechanical analyzer that we developed previously. The melanoma tissues from eight patients of different ages (57–95), genders (male and female patients), races (White and Asian), and sites (nose, arm, shoulder, and chest) were excised and tested. The results showed that the elastic property (i.e., shear modulus) of melanoma tissue was elevated compared to normal tissue, while the viscous property (i.e., relaxation time) was reduced. Moreover, the tissue thickness had a significant impact on the viscoelastic properties, probably due to the amount of the adipose layer. Our findings provide new insights into the role of the viscous and elastic properties of melanoma cell mechanics, which may be implicated in the disease state and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seungman Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute for NanoBio Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Seungman Park,
| | - Anna L. Chien
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Isabelle D. Brown
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jingchun Chen
- Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Diaz MJ, Mark I, Rodriguez D, Gelman B, Tran JT, Kleinberg G, Levin A, Beneke A, Root KT, Tran AXV, Lucke-Wold B. Melanoma Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review of Opportunities for Earlier Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030828. [PMID: 36983983 PMCID: PMC10053844 DOI: 10.3390/life13030828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Melanoma continues to represent the most serious skin cancer worldwide. However, few attempts have been made to connect the body of research on advanced melanoma. In the present review, we report on strides made in the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial metastatic melanoma. Methods: Relevant Cochrane reviews and randomized-controlled trials published by November 2022 were systematically retrieved from the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases (N = 27). Search and screening methods adhered to the 2020 revision of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: Although the research surrounding the earlier detection of melanoma brain metastasis is scarce, several studies have highlighted specific markers associated with MBM. Such factors include elevated BRAFV600 mutant ctDNA, high LDH concentration, and high IGF-1R. The approach to treating MBM is moving away from surgery and toward nonsurgical management, namely, a combination of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and immunotherapeutic agents. There is an abundance of emerging research seeking to identify and improve both novel and established treatment options and diagnostic approaches for MBM, however, more research is still needed to maximize the clinical efficacy, especially for new immunotherapeutics. Conclusions: Early detection is optimal for the efficacy of treatment and MBM prognosis. Current treatment utilizes chemotherapies and targeted therapies. Emerging approaches emphasize biomarkers and joint treatments. Further exploration toward preliminary identification, the timing of therapies, and methods to ameliorate adverse treatment effects are needed to advance MBM patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabella Mark
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Daphnee Rodriguez
- College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Beata Gelman
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Jasmine Thuy Tran
- School of Medicine, University of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Giona Kleinberg
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anna Levin
- School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Alice Beneke
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kevin Thomas Root
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Andrew Xuan Vinh Tran
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Brandon Lucke-Wold
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hegde M, Naliyadhara N, Unnikrishnan J, Alqahtani MS, Abbas M, Girisa S, Sethi G, Kunnumakkara AB. Nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer metastases: Current and future perspectives. Cancer Lett 2023; 556:216066. [PMID: 36649823 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis accounts for greater than 90% of cancer-related deaths. Despite recent advancements in conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and their rational combinations, metastatic cancers remain essentially untreatable. The distinct obstacles to treat metastases include their small size, high multiplicity, redundancy, therapeutic resistance, and dissemination to multiple organs. Recent advancements in nanotechnology provide the numerous applications in the diagnosis and prophylaxis of metastatic diseases, including the small particle size to penetrate cell membrane and blood vessels and their capacity to transport complex molecular 'cargo' particles to various metastatic regions such as bones, brain, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. Indeed, nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated a significant ability to target specific cells within these organs. In this regard, the purpose of this review is to summarize the present state of nanotechnology in terms of its application in the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic cancer. We intensively reviewed applications of NPs in fluorescent imaging, PET scanning, MRI, and photoacoustic imaging to detect metastasis in various cancer models. The use of targeted NPs for cancer ablation in conjunction with chemotherapy, photothermal treatment, immuno therapy, and combination therapy is thoroughly discussed. The current review also highlights the research opportunities and challenges of leveraging engineering technologies with cancer cell biology and pharmacology to fabricate nanoscience-based tools for treating metastases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mangala Hegde
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Nikunj Naliyadhara
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Jyothsna Unnikrishnan
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Mohammed S Alqahtani
- Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia; BioImaging Unit, Space Research Centre, Michael Atiyah Building, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Mohamed Abbas
- Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia; Computers and Communications Department, College of Engineering, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, 35712, Egypt
| | - Sosmitha Girisa
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
| | - Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
| |
Collapse
|