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Chen Z, Hu T, Zhou J, Gu X, Chen S, Qi Q, Wang L. Overview of tumor immunotherapy based on approved drugs. Life Sci 2024; 340:122419. [PMID: 38242494 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122419] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy has become a new hotspot for cancer treatment. Various immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses (OVs), cytokines, and cancer vaccines, have been used to treat tumors. They operate through different mechanisms, along with certain toxicities and side effects. Understanding the mechanisms by which immunotherapy modulates the immune system is essential for improving the efficacy and managing these adverse effects. This article discusses various currently approved cancer immunotherapy mechanisms and related agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, and the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency. We also review the latest progress in immune drugs approved by the National Medical Products Administration, including monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, OVs, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy, to help understand the clinical application of tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqin Chen
- College of Chinese Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430061, China
| | - Tiantian Hu
- Clinical Base of Qingpu Traditional Medicine Hospital, the Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Xiaolei Gu
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430061, China
| | - Song Chen
- College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430061, China
| | - Qing Qi
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China.
| | - Ling Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; The Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China.
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Corti A, Calimeri T, Curnis F, Ferreri AJM. Targeting the Blood–Brain Tumor Barrier with Tumor Necrosis Factor-α. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14071414. [PMID: 35890309 PMCID: PMC9315592 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood–brain tumor barrier represents a major obstacle for anticancer drug delivery to brain tumors. Thus, novel strategies aimed at targeting and breaching this structure are of great experimental and clinical interest. This review is primarily focused on the development and use of a derivative of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) that can target and alter the blood–brain-tumor-barrier. This drug, called NGR-TNF, consists of a TNF molecule fused to the Cys-Asn-Gly-Arg-Cys-Gly (CNGRCG) peptide (called NGR), a ligand of aminopeptidase N (CD13)-positive tumor blood vessels. Results of preclinical studies suggest that this peptide-cytokine fusion product represents a valuable strategy for delivering TNF to tumor vessels in an amount sufficient to break the biological barriers that restrict drug penetration in cancer lesions. Moreover, clinical studies performed in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma, have shown that an extremely low dose of NGR-TNF (0.8 µg/m2) is sufficient to promote selective blood–brain-tumor-barrier alteration, increase the efficacy of R-CHOP (a chemo-immunotherapy regimen) and improve patient survival. Besides reviewing these findings, we discuss the potential problems related to the instability and molecular heterogeneity of NGR-TNF and review the various approaches so far developed to obtain more robust and homogeneous TNF derivatives, as well as the pharmacological properties of other peptide/antibody-TNF fusion products, muteins and nanoparticles that are potentially useful for targeting the blood–brain tumor barrier. Compared to other TNF-related drugs, the administration of extremely low-doses of NGR-TNF or its derivatives appear as promising non-immunogenic approaches to overcome TNF counter-regulatory mechanism and systemic toxicity, thereby enabling safe breaking of the BBTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Corti
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (A.J.M.F.); Tel.: +39-02-2643-4802 (A.C.); +39-02-2643-7649 (A.J.M.F.); Fax: +39-02-2643-7534 (A.J.M.F.)
| | - Teresa Calimeri
- Lymphoma Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Flavio Curnis
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Andres J. M. Ferreri
- Lymphoma Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (A.J.M.F.); Tel.: +39-02-2643-4802 (A.C.); +39-02-2643-7649 (A.J.M.F.); Fax: +39-02-2643-7534 (A.J.M.F.)
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3
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Verhulst E, Garnier D, De Meester I, Bauvois B. Validating Cell Surface Proteases as Drug Targets for Cancer Therapy: What Do We Know, and Where Do We Go? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030624. [PMID: 35158891 PMCID: PMC8833564 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cell surface proteases (so-called ectoproteases) are associated with cancer, and their targeting may confer valuable options for the improvement of cancer treatment outcome. Over the past 20 years, the permanent development of a multitude of inhibitors against several ectoproteases (including DPP4, FAP, APN, ADAM17, MMP2, and MMP9) has made it into clinical evaluation in haematological and solid tumours. Among them, a few show some efficacy, albeit limited, to cure cancer in the near future. This Review summarizes the efforts thus far undertaken in the development of ectoprotease inhibitors and highlights new directions for targeting ectoproteases as an additional weapon in the fight against cancer. Abstract Cell surface proteases (also known as ectoproteases) are transmembrane and membrane-bound enzymes involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Several members, most notably dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4/CD26) and its related family member fibroblast activation protein (FAP), aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17/TACE), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP2 and MMP9, are often overexpressed in cancers and have been associated with tumour dysfunction. With multifaceted actions, these ectoproteases have been validated as therapeutic targets for cancer. Numerous inhibitors have been developed to target these enzymes, attempting to control their enzymatic activity. Even though clinical trials with these compounds did not show the expected results in most cases, the field of ectoprotease inhibitors is growing. This review summarizes the current knowledge on this subject and highlights the recent development of more effective and selective drugs targeting ectoproteases among which small molecular weight inhibitors, peptide conjugates, prodrugs, or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and derivatives. These promising avenues have the potential to deliver novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emile Verhulst
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.V.); (I.D.M.)
| | - Delphine Garnier
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Cell Death and Drug Resistance in Lymphoproliferative Disorders Team, F-75006 Paris, France;
| | - Ingrid De Meester
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.V.); (I.D.M.)
| | - Brigitte Bauvois
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Cell Death and Drug Resistance in Lymphoproliferative Disorders Team, F-75006 Paris, France;
- Correspondence:
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Du Y, Xu J. Engineered Bifunctional Proteins for Targeted Cancer Therapy: Prospects and Challenges. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2103114. [PMID: 34585802 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202103114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bifunctional proteins (BFPs) are a class of therapeutic agents produced through genetic engineering and protein engineering, and are increasingly used to treat various human diseases, including cancer. These proteins usually have two or more biological functions-specifically recognizing different molecular targets to regulate the related signaling pathways, or mediating effector molecules/cells to kill tumor cells. Unlike conventional small-molecule or single-target drugs, BFPs possess stronger biological activity but lower systemic toxicity. Hence, BFPs are considered to offer many benefits for the treatment of heterogeneous tumors. In this review, the authors briefly describe the unique structural feature of BFP molecules and innovatively divide them into bispecific antibodies, cytokine-based BFPs (immunocytokines), and protein toxin-based BFPs (immunotoxins) according to their mode of action. In addition, the latest advances in the development of BFPs are discussed and the potential limitations or problems in clinical applications are outlined. Taken together, future studies need to be centered on understanding the characteristics of BFPs for optimizing and designing more effective such drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Argenziano M, Arpicco S, Brusa P, Cavalli R, Chirio D, Dosio F, Gallarate M, Peira E, Stella B, Ugazio E. Developing Actively Targeted Nanoparticles to Fight Cancer: Focus on Italian Research. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13101538. [PMID: 34683830 PMCID: PMC8540327 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101538] [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: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Active targeting is a valuable and promising approach with which to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of nanodelivery systems, and the development of tumor-targeted nanoparticles has therefore attracted much research attention. In this field, the research carried out in Italian Pharmaceutical Technology academic groups has been focused on the development of actively targeted nanosystems using a multidisciplinary approach. To highlight these efforts, this review reports a thorough description of the last 10 years of Italian research results on the development of actively targeted nanoparticles to direct drugs towards different receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells or in the tumor microenvironment. In particular, the review discusses polymeric nanocarriers, liposomes, lipoplexes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoassemblies and nanobubbles. For each nanocarrier, the main ligands, conjugation strategies and target receptors are described. The literature indicates that polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes stand out as key tools for improving specific drug delivery to the site of action. In addition, solid lipid nanoparticles, squalene nanoparticles and nanobubbles have also been successfully proposed. Taken together, these strategies all offer many platforms for the design of nanocarriers that are suitable for future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Arpicco
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (M.G.); Tel.: +39-011-670-6668 (S.A.); +39-011-670-7194 (M.G.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Marina Gallarate
- Correspondence: (S.A.); (M.G.); Tel.: +39-011-670-6668 (S.A.); +39-011-670-7194 (M.G.)
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6
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Wang M, Qu Y, Hu D, Niu T, Qian Z. Nanomedicine Applications in Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Current State of the Art. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2021; 17:1459-1485. [PMID: 34544527 DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2021.3133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare but highly aggressive subtype of extra nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), which is confined in the central nervous system (CNS). Despite recent advancements in treatment options, the overall prognosis of PCNSL remains poor. Among many unfavorable factors affecting efficacy, inadequate drug delivery into the CNS is still the thorniest challenge. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a significant impediment, restricting entry of most therapeutics to the brain. Nanotechnology has offered great promise for brain diseases, as various nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) have been developed for delivery of theranostic agents in to the CNS. These drug delivery systems possess significant advantages, including good feasibility, reliable safety profile, excellent BBB penetration and potent antitumor effects. As for treatment of PCNSL, numerous well-developed BBB-crossing nano-based strategies can be applied with proper modifications and improvements. Some exquisitely designed NDDSs specific for PCNSL have shown great potential. In this review, we provide a summary on current status of diagnosis and treatment of PCNSL, followed by an overview of BBB-crossing strategies applied in management of PCNSL, both novel and wellestablished. Finally, challenges and future perspectives in this field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Wang
- Department of Hematology and Research Laboratory of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China
| | - Ying Qu
- Department of Hematology and Research Laboratory of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China
| | - Danrong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China
| | - Ting Niu
- Department of Hematology and Research Laboratory of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, P. R. China
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Pires IS, Hammond PT, Irvine DJ. Engineering Strategies for Immunomodulatory Cytokine Therapies - Challenges and Clinical Progress. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2021; 4:2100035. [PMID: 34734110 PMCID: PMC8562465 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202100035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines are immunoregulatory proteins involved in many pathological states with promising potential as therapeutic agents. A diverse array of cytokines have been studied in preclinical disease models since the 1950s, some of which became successful biopharmaceutical products with the advancement of recombinant protein technology in the 1980s. However, following these early approvals, clinical translation of these natural immune signaling molecules has been limited due to their pleiotropic action in many cell types, and the fact that they have evolved to act primarily locally in tissues. These characteristics, combined with poor pharmacokinetics, have hindered the delivery of cytokines via systemic administration routes due to dose-limiting toxicities. However, given their clinical potential and recent clinical successes in cancer immunotherapy, cytokines continue to be extensively pursued in preclinical and clinical studies, and a range of molecular and formulation engineering strategies are being applied to reduce treatment toxicity while maintaining or enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a brief background on the characteristics of cytokines and their history as clinical therapeutics, followed by a deeper discussion on the engineering strategies developed for cytokine therapies with a focus on the translational relevance of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan S Pires
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Paula T Hammond
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Darrell J Irvine
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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Zhu L, Ding Z, Li X, Wei H, Chen Y. Research Progress of Radiolabeled Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) Peptides for Imaging and Therapy. Mol Imaging 2021; 19:1536012120934957. [PMID: 32862776 PMCID: PMC7466889 DOI: 10.1177/1536012120934957] [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] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) motifs have vasculature-homing properties via interactions with the aminopeptidase N (CD13) expressed on tumor neovasculature. Numerous NGR peptides with different molecular scaffolds have been exploited for targeted delivery of different compounds for imaging and therapy. When conjugated with NGR, complexes recognize the CD13 receptor expressed on the tumor vasculature, which improves the specificity to tumor and avoids systematic toxic reactions. Both preclinical and clinical studies performed with these products suggest that NGR-mediated vascular targeting is an effective strategy for delivering bioactive amounts of cytokines to tumor endothelial cells. For molecular imaging, radiolabeled peptides have been the most successful approach and have been translated into clinic. This review describes current data on radiolabeled tumor vasculature-homing NGR peptides for imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, 556508The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhikai Ding
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, 556508The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingliang Li
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyuan Wei
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, 556508The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, 556508The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
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Targeting Tissue Factor to Tumor Vasculature to Induce Tumor Infarction. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112841. [PMID: 34200318 PMCID: PMC8201357 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Among multiple other functional roles of tissue factor (TF) and other coagulation proteins in the development and targeting of malignant disease, some scientific groups are attempting to modify TF and target the molecule or truncated forms of the molecule to tumor vasculature to selectively induce local blood vessel thromboembolic occlusion resulting in tumor infarction. This review briefly describes the characteristics and development of some of these proteins and structures, including tTF-NGR, which as the first drug candidate from this class has entered clinical trials in cancer patients. Abstract Besides its central functional role in coagulation, TF has been described as being operational in the development of malignancies and is currently being studied as a possible therapeutic tool against cancer. One of the avenues being explored is retargeting TF or its truncated extracellular part (tTF) to the tumor vasculature to induce tumor vessel occlusion and tumor infarction. To this end, multiple structures on tumor vascular wall cells have been studied at which tTF has been aimed via antibodies, derivatives, or as bifunctional fusion protein through targeting peptides. Among these targets were vascular adhesion molecules, oncofetal variants of fibronectin, prostate-specific membrane antigens, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and co-receptors, integrins, fibroblast activation proteins, NG2 proteoglycan, microthrombus-associated fibrin-fibronectin, and aminopeptidase N. Targeting was also attempted toward cellular membranes within an acidic milieu or toward necrotic tumor areas. tTF-NGR, targeting tTF primarily at aminopeptidase N on angiogenic endothelial cells, was the first drug candidate from this emerging class of coaguligands translated to clinical studies in cancer patients. Upon completion of a phase I study, tTF-NGR entered randomized studies in oncology to test the therapeutic impact of this novel therapeutic modality.
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Marcucci F, Corti A, Ferreri AJM. Breaching the Blood-Brain Tumor Barrier for Tumor Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102391. [PMID: 34063335 PMCID: PMC8156088 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors affecting the central nervous system (CNS), either primary or secondary, are highly prevalent and represent an unmet medical need. Prognosis of these tumors remains poor, mostly due to the low intrinsic chemo/radio-sensitivity of tumor cells, a meagerly known role of the microenvironment and the poor CNS bioavailability of most used anti-cancer agents. The BBTB is the main obstacle for anticancer drugs to achieve therapeutic concentrations in the tumor tissues. During the last decades, many efforts have been devoted to the identification of modalities allowing to increase drug delivery into brain tumors. Until recently, success has been modest, as few of these approaches reached clinical testing and even less gained regulatory approval. In recent years, the scenario has changed, as various conjugates and drug delivery technologies have advanced into clinical testing, with encouraging results and without being burdened by a heavy adverse event profile. In this article, we review the different approaches aimed at increasing drug delivery to brain tumors, with particular attention to new, promising approaches that increase the permeability of the BBTB or exploit physiological transport mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Marcucci
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Angelo Corti
- Division of Experimental Oncology, Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (A.C.)
| | - Andrés J. M. Ferreri
- Lymphoma Unit, Department of Onco-Hematology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
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Improving the antitumor activity of R-CHOP with NGR-hTNF in primary CNS lymphoma: final results of a phase 2 trial. Blood Adv 2021; 4:3648-3658. [PMID: 32766857 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) is the standard treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Primary DLBCL of the central nervous system (CNS) (primary central nervous system lymphoma [PCNSL]) is an exception because of the low CNS bioavailability of related drugs. NGR-human tumor necrosis factor (NGR-hTNF) targets CD13+ vessels, enhances vascular permeability and CNS access of anticancer drugs, and provides the rationale for the treatment of PCNSL with R-CHOP. Herein, we report activity and safety of R-CHOP preceded by NGR-hTNF in patients with PCNSL relapsed/refractory to high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy enrolled in a phase 2 trial. Overall response rate (ORR) was the primary endpoint. A sample size of 28 patients was considered necessary to demonstrate improvement from 30% to 50% ORR. NGR-hTNF/R-CHOP would be declared active if ≥12 responses were recorded. Treatment was well tolerated; there were no cases of unexpected toxicities, dose reductions or interruptions. NGR-hTNF/R-CHOP was active, with confirmed tumor response in 21 patients (75%; 95% confidence interval, 59%-91%), which was complete in 11. Seventeen of the 21 patients with response to treatment received consolidation (ASCT, WBRT, and/or lenalidomide maintenance). At a median follow-up of 21 (range, 14-31) months, 5 patients remained relapse-free and 6 were alive. The activity of NGR-hTNF/R-CHOP is in line with the expression of CD13 in both pericytes and endothelial cells of tumor vessels. High plasma levels of chromogranin A, an NGR-hTNF inhibitor, were associated with proton pump inhibitor use and a lower remission rate, suggesting that these drugs should be avoided during TNF-based therapy. Further research on this innovative approach to CNS lymphomas is warranted. The trial was registered as EudraCT: 2014-001532-11.
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Corti A, Sacchi A, Gasparri AM, Monieri M, Anderluzzi G, Colombo B, Gori A, Mondino A, Curnis F. Enhancement of doxorubicin anti-cancer activity by vascular targeting using IsoDGR/cytokine-coated nanogold. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:128. [PMID: 33952242 PMCID: PMC8097910 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00871-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gold nanospheres tagged with peptides containing isoDGR (isoAsp-Gly-Arg), an αvβ3 integrin binding motif, represent efficient carriers for delivering pro-inflammatory cytokines to the tumor vasculature. We prepared bi- or trifunctional nanoparticles bearing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) and/or interleukin-12 (IL12) plus a peptide containing isoDGR, and we tested their anti-cancer effects, alone or in combination with doxorubicin, in tumor-bearing mice. Results In vitro biochemical studies showed that both nanodrugs were monodispersed and functional in terms of binding to TNF and IL12 receptors and to αvβ3. In vivo studies performed in a murine model of fibrosarcoma showed that low doses of bifunctional nanoparticles bearing isoDGR and TNF (corresponding to few nanoparticles per cell) delayed tumor growth and increased the efficacy of doxorubicin without worsening its toxicity. Similar effects were obtained using trifunctional nanoparticles loaded with isoDGR, TNF and IL12. Mechanistic studies showed that nanoparticles bearing isoDGR and TNF could increase doxorubicin penetration in tumors a few hours after injection and caused vascular damage at later time points. Conclusion IsoDGR-coated gold nanospheres can be exploited as a versatile platform for single- or multi-cytokine delivery to cells of the tumor vasculature. Extremely low doses of isoDGR-coated nanodrugs functionalized with TNF or TNF plus IL12 can enhance doxorubicin anti-tumor activity. Graphic Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-021-00871-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Corti
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy. .,Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
| | - Angelina Sacchi
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gasparri
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Barbara Colombo
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gori
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, C.N.R., Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Mondino
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Flavio Curnis
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.
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13
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Verhoeven J, Baelen J, Agrawal M, Agostinis P. Endothelial cell autophagy in homeostasis and cancer. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:1497-1511. [PMID: 33837545 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy, the major lysosomal pathway for the degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic materials, is increasingly recognized as a major player in endothelial cell (EC) biology and vascular pathology. Particularly in solid tumors, tumor microenvironmental stress such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, inflammatory mediators, and metabolic aberrations stimulates autophagy in tumor-associated blood vessels. Increased autophagy in ECs may serve as a mechanism to alleviate stress and restrict exacerbated inflammatory responses. However, increased autophagy in tumor-associated ECs can re-model metabolic pathways and affect the trafficking and surface availability of key mediators and regulators of the interplay between EC and immune cells. In line with this, heightened EC autophagy is involved in pathological angiogenesis, inflammatory, and immune responses. Here, we review major cellular and molecular mechanisms regulated by autophagy in ECs under physiological conditions and discuss recent evidence implicating EC autophagy in tumor angiogenesis and immunosurveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Verhoeven
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Group, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Cancer Biology Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jef Baelen
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Group, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Cancer Biology Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Madhur Agrawal
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Group, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Cancer Biology Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Cell Death Research and Therapy Group, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium.,VIB Center for Cancer Biology Research, Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Depleting Tumor Cells Expressing Immune Checkpoint Ligands-A New Approach to Combat Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040872. [PMID: 33921301 PMCID: PMC8069236 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies against inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules (ICPMs), referred to as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have gained a prominent place in cancer therapy. Several ICIs in clinical use have been engineered to be devoid of effector functions because of the fear that ICIs with preserved effector functions could deplete immune cells, thereby curtailing antitumor immune responses. ICPM ligands (ICPMLs), however, are often overexpressed on a sizeable fraction of tumor cells of many tumor types and these tumor cells display an aggressive phenotype with changes typical of tumor cells undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, immune cells expressing ICPMLs are often endowed with immunosuppressive or immune-deviated functionalities. Taken together, these observations suggest that compounds with the potential of depleting cells expressing ICPMLs may become useful tools for tumor therapy. In this article, we summarize the current state of the art of these compounds, including avelumab, which is the only ICI targeting an ICPML with preserved effector functions that has gained approval so far. We also discuss approaches allowing to obtain compounds with enhanced tumor cell-depleting potential compared to native antibodies. Eventually, we propose treatment protocols that may be applied in order to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of compounds that deplete cells expressing ICPMLs.
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15
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Grigonyte AM, Hapeshi A, Constantinidou C, Millard A. Modification of Bacteriophages to Increase Their Association with Lung Epithelium Cells In Vitro. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:308. [PMID: 33915737 PMCID: PMC8067280 DOI: 10.3390/ph14040308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is currently a renaissance in research on bacteriophages as alternatives to antibiotics. Phage specificity to their bacterial host, in addition to a plethora of other advantages, makes them ideal candidates for a broad range of applications, including bacterial detection, drug delivery, and phage therapy in particular. One issue obstructing phage efficiency in phage therapy settings is their poor localization to the site of infection in the human body. Here, we engineered phage T7 with lung tissue targeting homing peptides. We then used in vitro studies to demonstrate that the engineered T7 phages had a more significant association with the lung epithelium cells than wild-type T7. In addition, we showed that, in general, there was a trend of increased association of engineered phages with the lung epithelium cells but not mouse fibroblast cells, allowing for targeted tissue specificity. These results indicate that appending phages with homing peptides would potentially allow for greater phage concentrations and greater efficacy at the infection site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelija M. Grigonyte
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre (WISB) and School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK;
| | - Alexia Hapeshi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK;
| | | | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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16
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She T, Shi Q, Li Z, Feng Y, Yang H, Tao Z, Li H, Chen J, Wang S, Liang Y, Cheng J, Lu X. Combination of long-acting TRAIL and tumor cell-targeted photodynamic therapy as a novel strategy to overcome chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance and TRAIL resistance of colorectal cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4281-4297. [PMID: 33754061 PMCID: PMC7977453 DOI: 10.7150/thno.51193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major hindrance for clinical therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) with selective cytotoxicity might overcome MDR of CRC cells. Unfortunately, cross-resistance to TRAIL has been detected in many CRC cells, suggesting the need to combine TRAIL with sensitizers to combat refractory CRC. Our purpose is to explore the potential of combination therapy of TRAIL and tumor-cell targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) in combating CRC with both chemotherapeutic MDR and TRAIL resistance. Methods: Tumor cell-targeted PDT was performed using a Ze-IR700 photosensitizer with high affinity for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The impact of PDT on the gene expression of CRC cells was revealed by RNA sequencing. The synergistic antitumor effect of long-acting TRAIL and PDT was evaluated in mice bearing tumor grafts of CRC cells with both chemotherapeutic MDR and TRAIL resistance. Results: Chemotherapeutic MDR and TRAIL resistance are common in CRC cells. Pretreatment of CRC cells with tumor cell-targeted PDT significantly (10-60 times) increased the sensitivity of these CRC cells to TRAIL by upregulating death receptors. Combination therapy, but not monotherapy, of long-acting TRAIL and PDT greatly induced apoptosis of CRC cells, thus efficiently eradicated large (~150 mm3) CRC tumor xenografts in mice. Conclusions: Tumor cell-targeted PDT extensively sensitizes CRC cells to TRAIL. Combination therapy of long-acting TRAIL and PDT is promising to combat CRC with both chemotherapeutic MDR and TRAIL resistance, which might be developed as a novel strategy for precision therapy of refractory CRC.
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17
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A single nucleotide mutation drastically increases the expression of tumor-homing NGR-TNFα in the E. coli M15-pQE30 system by improving gene transcription. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:1447-1460. [PMID: 33528691 PMCID: PMC7852052 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11136-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Due to their potent immune stimulation, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) variants with tumor-homing activity are attractive as novel antitumor drugs. The promising antitumor effect of NGR-TNFα in clinical trials triggered extensive interest in developing novel tumor-homing TNFα variants in recent years. Owing to its promising antitumor effect, NGR-TNFα is usually used as a control for newly developed tumor-homing TNFα variants. In our previous works, we produced a pericyte-targeting Z-TNFα at high levels using the Escherichia coli (E. coli) M15-pQE30 system. To further compare Z-TNFα and NGR-TNFα, we attempted to express NGR-TNFα using the same system. Surprisingly, native NGR-TNFα was expressed at a low (~ 0.2 mg/L) level in E. coli M15 containing the pQE30 plasmid. However, a single nucleotide mutation of C to G, resulting in a substitution of leucine (L) with valine (V) at the start of TNFα, increased the expression of NGR-TNFα by ~ 100 times through improving transcription. In addition, the amino acid substitution showed a little impact on the receptor binding, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo antitumor effect of NGR-TNFα. As fusing NGR to the N-terminus of TNFα with a valine substitution did not reduce the protein yield, the TNFα gene with a C > G mutation might be used to prepare novel tumor-homing TNFα when the native TNFα-based variant is expressed at an extremely low level in E. coli. Notably, in addition to the mutated valine, the impact of N-terminal additional amino acids provided by pQE30 vector on the function of TNFα variant must be carefully evaluated. KEY POINTS : • A single nucleotide mutation increased the expression of NGR-TNFα by two orders. • Nucleotide mutation-induced amino acid substitution did not reduce NGR-TNFα activity.
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18
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Corti A, Gasparri AM, Sacchi A, Colombo B, Monieri M, Rrapaj E, Ferreri AJM, Curnis F. NGR-TNF Engineering with an N-Terminal Serine Reduces Degradation and Post-Translational Modifications and Improves Its Tumor-Targeting Activity. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:3813-3824. [PMID: 32805112 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The therapeutic index of cytokines in cancer therapy can be increased by targeting strategies based on protein engineering with peptides containing the CNGRC (NGR) motif, a ligand that recognizes CD13-positive tumor vessels. We show here that the targeting domain of recombinant CNGRC-cytokine fusion proteins, such as NGR-TNF (a CNGRC-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) conjugate used in clinical studies) and NGR-EMAP-II, undergoes various post-translational modification and degradation reactions that lead to the formation of markedly heterogeneous products. These modifications include N-terminal cysteine acetylation or the formation of various asparagine degradation products, the latter owing to intramolecular interactions of the cysteine α-amino group with asparagine and/or its succinimide derivative. Blocking the cysteine α-amino group with a serine (SCNGRC) reduced both post-translational and degradation reactions. Furthermore, the serine residue reduced the asparagine deamidation rate to isoaspartate (another degradation product) and improved the affinity of NGR for CD13. Accordingly, genetic engineering of NGR-TNF with the N-terminal serine produced a more stable and homogeneous drug (called S-NGR-TNF) with improved antitumor activity in tumor-bearing mice, either when used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. In conclusion, the targeting domain of NGR-cytokine conjugates can undergo various untoward modification and degradation reactions, which can be markedly reduced by fusing a serine to the N-terminus. The SCNGRC peptide may represent a ligand for cytokine delivery to tumors more robust than conventional CNGRC. The S-NGR-TNF conjugate (more stable, homogeneous, and active than NGR-TNF) could be rapidly developed for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Corti
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan 20132, Italy.,Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gasparri
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Angelina Sacchi
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Barbara Colombo
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Matteo Monieri
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Eltjona Rrapaj
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Andrés J M Ferreri
- Lymphoma Unit, Department of Onco-hematology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Flavio Curnis
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
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19
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Momin N, Mehta NK, Bennett NR, Ma L, Palmeri JR, Chinn MM, Lutz EA, Kang B, Irvine DJ, Spranger S, Wittrup KD. Anchoring of intratumorally administered cytokines to collagen safely potentiates systemic cancer immunotherapy. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/498/eaaw2614. [PMID: 31243150 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw2614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The clinical application of cytokine therapies for cancer treatment remains limited due to severe adverse reactions and insufficient therapeutic effects. Although cytokine localization by intratumoral administration could address both issues, the rapid escape of soluble cytokines from the tumor invariably subverts this effort. We find that intratumoral administration of a cytokine fused to the collagen-binding protein lumican prolongs local retention and markedly reduces systemic exposure. Combining local administration of lumican-cytokine fusions with systemic immunotherapies (tumor-targeting antibody, checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccine, or T cell therapy) improves efficacy without exacerbating toxicity in syngeneic tumor models and the BrafV600E /Ptenfl/fl genetically engineered melanoma model. Curative abscopal effects on noncytokine-injected tumors were also observed as a result of a protective and systemic CD8+ T cell response primed by local therapy. Cytokine collagen-anchoring constitutes a facile, tumor-agnostic strategy to safely potentiate otherwise marginally effective systemic immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor Momin
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Naveen K Mehta
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nitasha R Bennett
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Leyuan Ma
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Joseph R Palmeri
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Magnolia M Chinn
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Emi A Lutz
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Byong Kang
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Darrell J Irvine
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.,Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stefani Spranger
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - K Dane Wittrup
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. .,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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20
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Fu T, Lin Y, Zeng Q, Yao W, Han L. Thoracic perfusion of recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor (rmhTNF) can be considered as a good adjunct in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer. BMC Pulm Med 2020; 20:175. [PMID: 32552897 PMCID: PMC7301477 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-020-01210-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been investigated to be correlated with the occurrence and progression of lung cancer. This investigation was to assess the efficacy and safety of recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor (rmhTNF) for controlling malignant pleural effusion (MPE) through thoracic perfusion. METHODS Through searching from MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrance Library, OVID and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), a total of 12 studies with 694 patients were included in this study. A series of meta-analysis methods were used to analyze the extracted data. RESULTS Thoracic perfusion of rmhTNF combined with cisplatin promoted the objective response rate (ORR) (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 4.49) and the quality of life (QOL) of patients with MPE (P < 0.001; odds ratio = 10.33), as compared with cisplatin alone. Although the participation of rmhTNF increased the incidence of fever (P < 0.001), it seemed to relieve the adverse reactions in the digestive tract (P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS Thoracic perfusion of rmhTNF contributes to the treatment of MPE and improves the QOL of MPE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Fu
- Department of Respiration, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, Jining, 272011, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yong Lin
- Department of Respiration, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, Jining, 272011, Shandong Province, China
| | - Qingdi Zeng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, Jining, 272011, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wei Yao
- General surgery, Zoucheng Kanzhuang Township Health Center, Zoucheng, 273502, Shandong Province, China
| | - Liping Han
- Department of Respiration, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, Jining, 272011, Shandong Province, China.
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21
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First-In-Class CD13-Targeted Tissue Factor tTF-NGR in Patients with Recurrent or Refractory Malignant Tumors: Results of a Phase I Dose-Escalation Study. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061488. [PMID: 32517329 PMCID: PMC7352358 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is present on tumor vasculature cells and some tumor cells. Truncated tissue factor (tTF) with a C-terminal NGR-peptide (tTF-NGR) binds to CD13 and causes tumor vascular thrombosis with infarction. Methods: We treated 17 patients with advanced cancer beyond standard therapies in a phase I study with tTF-NGR (1-h infusion, central venous access, 5 consecutive days, and rest periods of 2 weeks). The study allowed intraindividual dose escalations between cycles and established Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) and Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT) by verification cohorts. Results: MTD was 3 mg/m2 tTF-NGR/day × 5, q day 22. DLT was an isolated and reversible elevation of high sensitivity (hs) Troponin T hs without clinical sequelae. Three thromboembolic events (grade 2), tTF-NGR-related besides other relevant risk factors, were reversible upon anticoagulation. Imaging by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed major tumor-specific reduction of blood flow in all measurable lesions as proof of principle for the mode of action of tTF-NGR. There were no responses as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), although some lesions showed intratumoral hemorrhage and necrosis after tTF-NGR application. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed a t1/2(terminal) of 8 to 9 h without accumulation in daily administrations. Conclusion: tTF-NGR is safely applicable with this regimen. Imaging showed selective reduction of tumor blood flow and intratumoral hemorrhage and necrosis.
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22
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Rastegari M, Shiri A, Behzad-Behbahani A, Rasoolian M, Zare F, Rafiei G, Mortazavi M, Sharifzadeh S, Hosseini SY. The Evaluation of tLyP-1-Bound Mda-7/IL-24 Killing Activity on a Liver Tumor Cell Line. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2020; 36:827-836. [PMID: 32493109 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2019.3080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (Mda-7)/interleukin-24 (IL-24) is a tumor killing cytokine, the bystander effect of which can be enhanced through tethering to tumor homing peptides (THPs). Materials and Methods: After fusing tLyP-1, RGR, and buforin as THPs to Mda-7/IL-24, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the secretion potency of the recombinant proteins. The killing potency of plasmids expressing IL-24, IL-24.tLyP1, IL-24.RGR, and buf.IL-24 were assessed, using MTT, Annexin/PI staining assays as well as measuring the expression level of GADD-153 and BCL2-associated X (BAX) on Huh-7 cells. Three-dimensional structural analysis and protein-receptor interaction were also evaluated by modeling. Results: The ELISA result showed that contrary to IL-24.RGR and buf.IL-24, IL-24.tLyP-1 retained the secretion potency, similar to the native form. The viability assessments showed that IL-24 and IL-24.tLyP-1 had the most growth suppressive effects in comparison with the control group (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, IL-24 and IL-24.tLyP-1 had the highest apoptotic activity and significant upregulatory effect on the GADD-153 and BAX genes (p < 0.0003). The modeling showed that peptide modifications left no detrimental effect on IL-24 attachment to the cognate receptor. Conclusion: IL-24 can tolerate tLyP-1 peptide modification by retaining its secretion potency. Tethering tLyP-1 to IL-24 can induce more apoptosis than its modified versions by RGR or buforin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahroo Rastegari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Alireza Shiri
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Abbas Behzad-Behbahani
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rasoolian
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farahnaz Zare
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Rafiei
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Mortazavi
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sedigheh Sharifzadeh
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Younes Hosseini
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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23
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Brand C, Greve B, Bölling T, Eich HT, Willich N, Harrach S, Hintelmann H, Lenz G, Mesters RM, Kessler T, Schliemann C, Berdel WE, Schwöppe C. Radiation synergizes with antitumor activity of CD13-targeted tissue factor in a HT1080 xenograft model of human soft tissue sarcoma. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229271. [PMID: 32084238 PMCID: PMC7034830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Truncated tissue factor (tTF) retargeted by NGR-peptides to aminopeptidase N (CD13) in tumor vasculature is effective in experimental tumor therapy. tTF-NGR induces tumor growth inhibition in a variety of human tumor xenografts of different histology. To improve on the therapeutic efficacy we have combined tTF-NGR with radiotherapy. METHODS Serum-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human HT1080 sarcoma cells were irradiated in vitro, and upregulated early-apoptotic phosphatidylserine (PS) on the cell surface was measured by standard flow cytometry. Increase of cellular procoagulant function in relation to irradiation and PS cell surface concentration was measured in a tTF-NGR-dependent Factor X activation assay. In vivo experiments with CD-1 athymic mice bearing human HT1080 sarcoma xenotransplants were performed to test the systemic therapeutic effects of tTF-NGR on tumor growth alone or in combination with regional tumor ionizing radiotherapy. RESULTS As shown by flow cytometry with HUVEC and HT1080 sarcoma cells in vitro, irradiation with 4 and 6 Gy in the process of apoptosis induced upregulation of PS presence on the outer surface of both cell types. Proapoptotic HUVEC and HT1080 cells both showed significantly higher procoagulant efficacy on the basis of equimolar concentrations of tTF-NGR as measured by FX activation. This effect can be reverted by masking of PS with Annexin V. HT1080 human sarcoma xenografted tumors showed shrinkage induced by combined regional radiotherapy and systemic tTF-NGR as compared to growth inhibition achieved by either of the treatment modalities alone. CONCLUSIONS Irradiation renders tumor and tumor vascular cells procoagulant by PS upregulation on their outer surface and radiotherapy can significantly improve the therapeutic antitumor efficacy of tTF-NGR in the xenograft model used. This synergistic effect will influence design of future clinical combination studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Brand
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Burkhard Greve
- Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation-Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Tobias Bölling
- Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation-Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Hans T. Eich
- Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation-Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Normann Willich
- Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation-Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Saliha Harrach
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Heike Hintelmann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Georg Lenz
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Rolf M. Mesters
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Torsten Kessler
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christoph Schliemann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang E. Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- * E-mail: (CSch); (WEB)
| | - Christian Schwöppe
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- * E-mail: (CSch); (WEB)
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Al-Mansoori L, Bashraheel SS, Qahtani ADA, O'Connor CD, Elsinga P, Goda SK. In vitro studies on CNGRC-CPG2 fusion proteins for ligand-directed enzyme prodrug therapy for targeted cancer therapy. Oncotarget 2020; 11:619-633. [PMID: 32110281 PMCID: PMC7021235 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequence asparagine-glycine arginine (NGR), flanked by Cysteine (Cys) residues so as to form a disulfide-bridge (CNGRC), has previously been found to target and bind specifically to aminopeptidase N (APN), which is highly expressed on the surface of tumor cells. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate the potential of fusion proteins carrying the CNGRC sequence linked to the enzyme carboxypeptidase G2 (CPG2) for targeted cancer therapy. We refer to this strategy as ligand-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (LDEPT). We constructed two forms of the CNGRC-CPG2 fusions, containing one or two copies of the cyclic NGR motif and designated CNGRC-CPG2 (X-CPG2) and CNGRC-CPG2-CNGRC (X-CPG2-X), respectively. In vitro binding assays of the purified constructs showed that both X-CPG2 and X-CPG2-X bound with high affinity to cancer cells expressing high levels of APN, compared to their binding to cells expressing low levels of APN. Further in vitro studies of the constructs to assess the therapeutic potential of LDEPT were carried out using cells expressing high and low levels of APN. Using methotrexate, it was demonstrated that cancer cell survival was significantly higher in the presence of the fusion proteins, due to the hydrolysis of this cytotoxic drug by CPG2. Conversely, when the prodrug ZD2767P was used, cancer cell killing was higher in the presence of the fused CPG2 constructs than in their absence, which is consistent with CPG2-mediated release of the cytotoxic drug from the prodrug. Furthermore, the doubly-fused CPG2 construct (X-CPG2-X) was significantly more effective than the singly-fused construct (X-CPG2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Al-Mansoori
- Qatar University, Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara S Bashraheel
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alanod D Al Qahtani
- Protein Engineering Unit, Life and Science Research Department, Anti-Doping Lab-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - C David O'Connor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Science and Education Innovation District, Suzhou, China
| | - Philip Elsinga
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sayed K Goda
- Cairo University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Giza, Egypt
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25
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Kammertoens T, Kemna J, Leisegang M. "Designer cytokines" targeting the tumor vasculature-think global and act local. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e11801. [PMID: 31916677 PMCID: PMC7005528 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201911801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was discovered in 1975 as a lipopolysaccharide‐induced serum factor that causes necrosis of tumors (Carswell et al, 1975). It was later found that TNF and cachectin, a factor causing wasting disease, were one and the same molecule (Beutler et al, 1985). Studies on the inflammatory activity of TNF have been translated into clinical success, namely blocking antibodies used to suppress autoimmune diseases. Research on TNF anti‐tumor activity, in contrast, has not yet resulted in a therapeutic breakthrough. This may change, based on a study by Huyghe et al (2020) describing novel “designer cytokines” (TNF and interferon‐γ) that increase local activity by targeting the CD13‐positive tumor vasculature, while simultaneously lowering the binding affinity to the respective cytokine receptor, thereby reducing off‐target effects on normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kammertoens
- Institute of Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Leisegang
- Institute of Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Buch, Berlin, Germany
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26
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Tripodi AAP, Ranđelović I, Biri-Kovács B, Szeder B, Mező G, Tóvári J. In Vivo Tumor Growth Inhibition and Antiangiogenic Effect of Cyclic NGR Peptide-Daunorubicin Conjugates Developed for Targeted Drug Delivery. Pathol Oncol Res 2019; 26:1879-1892. [PMID: 31820302 PMCID: PMC7297862 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-019-00773-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Among various homing devices, peptides containing the NGR tripeptide sequence represent a promising approach to selectively recognize CD13 receptor isoforms on the surface of tumor cells. They have been successfully used for the delivery of various chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor vessels. Here, we report on the murine plasma stability, in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of our recently described bioconjugates containing daunorubicin as payload. Furthermore, CD13 expression of KS Kaposi’s Sarcoma cell line and HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line was investigated. Flow cytometry studies confirm the fast cellular uptake resulting in the rapid delivery of the active metabolite Dau = Aoa-Gly-OH to tumor cells. The increased in vitro antitumor effect might be explained by the faster rearrangement from NGR to isoDGR in case of conjugate 2 (Dau = Aoa-GFLGK(c[NleNGRE]-GG)-NH2) in comparison with conjugate 1 (Dau = Aoa-GFLGK(c[KNGRE]-GG)-NH2). Nevertheless, results indicated that both conjugates showed significant effect on inhibition of proliferation in the primary tumor and also on blood vessel formation making them a potential candidate for targeting angiogenesis processes in tumors where CD13 and integrins are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Angelo Pierluigi Tripodi
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Faculty of Science, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ivan Ranđelović
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Beáta Biri-Kovács
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Faculty of Science, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bálint Szeder
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Mező
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Faculty of Science, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Tóvári
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary.
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27
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Mahata SK, Corti A. Chromogranin A and its fragments in cardiovascular, immunometabolic, and cancer regulation. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1455:34-58. [PMID: 31588572 PMCID: PMC6899468 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chromogranin A (CgA)-the index member of the chromogranin/secretogranin secretory protein family-is ubiquitously distributed in endocrine, neuroendocrine, and immune cells. Elevated levels of CgA-related polypeptides, consisting of full-length molecules and fragments, are detected in the blood of patients suffering from neuroendocrine tumors, heart failure, renal failure, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Full-length CgA and various CgA-derived peptides, including vasostatin-1, pancreastatin, catestatin, and serpinin, are expressed at different relative levels in normal and pathological conditions and exert diverse, and sometime opposite, biological functions. For example, CgA is overexpressed in genetic hypertension, whereas catestatin is diminished. In rodents, the administration of catestatin decreases hypertension, cardiac contractility, obesity, atherosclerosis, and inflammation, and it improves insulin sensitivity. By contrast, pancreastatin is elevated in diabetic patients, and the administration of this peptide to obese mice decreases insulin sensitivity and increases inflammation. CgA and the N-terminal fragment of vasostatin-1 can enhance the endothelial barrier function, exert antiangiogenic effects, and inhibit tumor growth in animal models, whereas CgA fragments lacking the CgA C-terminal region promote angiogenesis and tumor growth. Overall, the CgA system, consisting of full-length CgA and its fragments, is emerging as an important and complex player in cardiovascular, immunometabolic, and cancer regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil K Mahata
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California.,Metabolic Physiology & Ultrastructural Biology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Angelo Corti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
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28
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Mechanism of Action of the Tumor Vessel Targeting Agent NGR-hTNF: Role of Both NGR Peptide and hTNF in Cell Binding and Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184511. [PMID: 31547231 PMCID: PMC6769691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
NGR-hTNF is a therapeutic agent for a solid tumor that specifically targets angiogenic tumor blood vessels, through the NGR motif. Its activity has been assessed in several clinical studies encompassing tumors of different histological types. The drug’s activity is based on an improved permeabilization of newly formed tumor vasculature, which favors intratumor penetration of chemotherapeutic agents and leukocyte trafficking. This work investigated the binding and the signaling properties of the NGR-hTNF, to elucidate its mechanism of action. The crystal structure of NGR-hTNF and modeling of its interaction with TNFR suggested that the NGR region is available for binding to a specific receptor. Using 2D TR-NOESY experiments, this study confirmed that the NGR-peptides binds to a specific CD13 isoform, whose expression is restricted to tumor vasculature cells, and to some tumor cell lines. The interaction between hTNF or NGR-hTNF with immobilized TNFRs showed similar kinetic parameters, whereas the competition experiments performed on the cells expressing both TNFR and CD13 showed that NGR-hTNF had a higher binding affinity than hTNF. The analysis of the NGR-hTNF-triggered signal transduction events showed a specific impairment in the activation of pro-survival pathways (Ras, Erk and Akt), compared to hTNF. Since a signaling pattern identical to NGR-hTNF was obtained with hTNF and NGR-sequence given as distinct molecules, the inhibition observed on the survival pathways was presumably due to a direct effect of the NGR-CD13 engagement on the TNFR signaling pathway. The reduced activation of the pro survival pathways induced by NGR-hTNF correlated with the increased caspases activation and reduced cell survival. This study demonstrates that the binding of the NGR-motif to CD13 determines not only the homing of NGR-hTNF to tumor vessels, but also the increase in its antiangiogenic activity.
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29
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R-CHOP preceded by blood-brain barrier permeabilization with engineered tumor necrosis factor-α in primary CNS lymphoma. Blood 2019; 134:252-262. [PMID: 31118164 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) are treated with high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy, which requires hospitalization and extensive expertise to manage related toxicity. The use of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) could overcome these difficulties, but blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration of related drugs is poor. Tumor necrosis factor-α coupled with NGR (NGR-hTNF), a peptide targeting CD13+ vessels, induces endothelial permeabilization and improves tumor access of cytostatics. We tested the hypothesis that NGR-hTNF can break the BBB, thereby improving penetration and activity of R-CHOP in patients with relapsed/refractory PCNSL (NCT03536039). Patients received six R-CHOP21 courses, alone at the first course and preceded by NGR-hTNF (0.8 μg/m2) afterward. This trial included 2 phases: an "explorative phase" addressing the effect of NGR-hTNF on drug pharmacokinetic parameters and on vessel permeability, assessed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and 99mTc-diethylene-triamine-pentacetic acid-single-photon emission computed tomography, and the expression of CD13 on tumor tissue; and an "expansion phase" with overall response rate as the primary end point, in which the 2-stage Simon Minimax design was used. At the first stage, if ≥4 responses were observed among 12 patients, the study accrual would have continued (sample size, 28). Herein, we report results of the explorative phase and the first-stage analysis (n = 12). CD13 was expressed in tumor vessels of all cases. NGR-hTNF selectively increased vascular permeability in tumoral/peritumoral areas, without interfering with drug plasma/cerebrospinal fluid concentrations. The NGR-hTNF/R-CHOP combination was well tolerated: there were only 2 serious adverse events, and grade 4 toxicity was almost exclusively hematological, which were resolved without dose reductions or interruptions. NGR-hTNF/R-CHOP was active, with 9 confirmed responses (75%; 95% confidence interval, 51-99), 8 of which were complete. In conclusion, NGR-hTNF/R-CHOP was safe in these heavily pretreated patients. NGR-hTNF enhanced vascular permeability specifically in tumoral/peritumoral areas, which resulted in fast and sustained responses.
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30
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Fan Q, Tao Z, Yang H, Shi Q, Wang H, Jia D, Wan L, Zhang J, Cheng J, Lu X. Modulation of pericytes by a fusion protein comprising of a PDGFRβ-antagonistic affibody and TNFα induces tumor vessel normalization and improves chemotherapy. J Control Release 2019; 302:63-78. [PMID: 30930215 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The delivery of anticancer drugs is hampered by tumor vessels with abnormal structure and function, which requires that vessel normalization be mediated by pharmaceutics. The current strategies for vessel normalization focus on direct modulation of endothelial cells (ECs), which frequently affect vessels in normal tissues. Modulating EC-supporting cells, such as pericytes (PCs), is a new direction. Here, we produced a fusion protein, Z-TNFα, by fusing the platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ)- antagonistic affibody ZPDGFRβ to tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Owing to the affinity of fused ZPDGFRβ for PDGFRβ, Z-TNFα binds PDGFRβ+ PCs but not PDGFRβ- ECs. Low-dose (1 μg/mouse) Z-TNFα treatment remodeled the tumor vessels, thus reducing vessel permeability and increasing vessel perfusion. As a result, the Z-TNFα treatment improved the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and enhanced its antitumor effect, indicating that Z-TNFα induced normalization of tumor vessels. Mechanically, the tumor vessel normalization mediated by Z-TNFα might be attributed to the reduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by PCs and the elevated expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in PCs, which might suppress the proliferation and migration of ECs and simultaneously trigger interaction between perivascular macrophages and PCs. These results demonstrated that tumor-associated PCs could be considered novel target cells for vessel normalization, and Z-TNFα might be developed as a potential tool for antitumor combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Fan
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ze Tao
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiuxiao Shi
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dianlong Jia
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lin Wan
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jingqiu Cheng
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Lu
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, Regenerative Medical Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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31
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Pastorino F, Brignole C, Di Paolo D, Perri P, Curnis F, Corti A, Ponzoni M. Overcoming Biological Barriers in Neuroblastoma Therapy: The Vascular Targeting Approach with Liposomal Drug Nanocarriers. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1804591. [PMID: 30706636 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a rare pediatric cancer characterized by a wide clinical behavior and adverse outcome despite aggressive therapies. New approaches based on targeted drug delivery may improve efficacy and decrease toxicity of cancer therapy. Furthermore, nanotechnology offers additional potential developments for cancer imaging, diagnosis, and treatment. Following these lines, in the past years, innovative therapies based on the use of liposomes loaded with anticancer agents and functionalized with peptides capable of recognizing neuroblastoma cells and/or tumor-associated endothelial cells have been developed. Studies performed in experimental orthotopic models of human neuroblastoma have shown that targeted nanocarriers can be exploited for not only decreasing the systemic toxicity of the encapsulated anticancer drugs, but also increasing their tumor homing properties, enhancing tumor vascular permeability and perfusion (and, consequently, drug penetration), inducing tumor apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and reducing tumor glucose consumption. Furthermore, peptide-tagged liposomal formulations are proved to be more efficacious in inhibiting tumor growth and metastatic spreading of neuroblastoma than nontargeted liposomes. These findings, herein reviewed, pave the way for the design of novel targeted liposomal nanocarriers useful for multitargeting treatment of neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Pastorino
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Chiara Brignole
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Daniela Di Paolo
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Patrizia Perri
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Flavio Curnis
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 16132, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Corti
- Tumor Biology and Vascular Targeting Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 16132, Milan, Italy
- Vita Salute San Raffaele University, 16132, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirco Ponzoni
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
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Rasoolian M, Kheirollahi M, Hosseini SY. MDA-7/interleukin 24 (IL-24) in tumor gene therapy: application of tumor penetrating/homing peptides for improvement of the effects. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:211-223. [PMID: 30612497 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1566453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION MDA-7/Interleukin-24 (IL-24), as a pleiotropic cytokine, exhibits a specific tumor suppression property that has attracted a great deal of attention. While its anti-tumor induction is mostly attributed to endogenous gene expression, attachment of secreted MDA-7/IL-24 to cognate receptors also triggers the death of cancerous cell via different pathways. Therefore, precise targeting of secreted MDA-7/IL-24 to tumor cells would render it more efficacy and specificity. AREAS COVERED In order to target soluble cytokines, particularly MDA-7/IL-24 to the neighbor tumor sites and enhance their therapeutic efficiency, fusing with cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) or Tumor homing peptides (THPs) seems logical due to the improvement of their bystander effects. Although the detailed anti-tumor mechanisms of endogenous mda-7/IL-24 have been largely investigated, the significance of the secreted form in these activities and methods of its improving by CPPs or THPs need more discussion. EXPERT OPINION While the employment of CPPs/THPs for the improvement of cytokine gene therapy is desirable, to create fusions of CPPs/THPs with MDA-7/IL-24, some hurdles are not avoidable. Regarding our expertise, herein, the importance of CPPs/THPs, needs for their elegant designing in a fusion structure, and their applications in cytokine gene therapy are discussed with a special focus on mda-7/IL-24.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Rasoolian
- a Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran
| | - Majid Kheirollahi
- a Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.,b Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Pediatrics Inherited Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease School of Medicine , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran
| | - Seyed Younes Hosseini
- c Bacteriology and Virology Department, School of Medicine , Shiraz University of Medical Sciences , Shiraz , Iran
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Wu Y, Zhang J, Wang M, Yang L, Wang Y, Hu T, Liu A, Cheng Q, Fu Z, Zhang P, Cao L. Proteomics analysis indicated the protein expression pattern related to the development of fetal conotruncal defects. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:13544-13556. [PMID: 30635921 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal development of embryonic conus arteriosus could lead to conotruncal defects in fetal heart, and increase the incidence of fetal congenital heart disease. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most common forms of congenital heart disease. It may be helpful for us to solve this clinical problem through exploring the molecular mechanisms of development in embryonic congenital heart disease. Proteomics has attracted much attention in understanding the development of human diseases during the past decades. However, there is still little information about the relationship between protein expression pattern and TOF. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential linkage of proteomics and TOF development. Briefly, 121 differentially expressed proteins were identified from a TOF group, compared with a control group. The expression levels of 34 of these proteins were significantly different (>1.5 absolute fold change, p < 0.05) between the two groups. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis showed that these proteins were mainly associated with carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of antibodies, positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, nucleus, ATP binding, and so on. The ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) results indicated that 435 of upstream regulators were identified of these differentially expressed proteins, which might be involved in the development of TOF. Data of string analysis showed the protein-protein interaction network among the differentially expressed proteins and regulators, which are related to TOF. In conclusion, our study explored the protein expression pattern of TOF, which might provide new insights into understanding the mechanism of TOF development and afford potential targets for TOF diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wu
- Department of Echocardiography, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Mei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Yongmei Wang
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Tao Hu
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - An Liu
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Cheng
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Ziyi Fu
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
| | - Pingyang Zhang
- Department of Echocardiography, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Ultrasonography, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing, China
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Biaoxue R, Min L, Tian F, Wenlong G, Hua L. Elevated Hsp90-beta contributes to differential diagnosis of pleural effusion caused by lung cancer and correlates with malignant biological behavior of lung cancer. BMC Pulm Med 2018; 18:188. [PMID: 30522463 PMCID: PMC6282391 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-018-0752-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hsp90-beta has been investigated to be correlated with the occurrence and development of tumor. The intention of this research was to test the level of Hsp90-beta in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) of patients with lung cancer and disclose the clinical significance of Hsp90-beta as a potential tumor marker for differential diagnosis of pleural effusion caused by lung cancer. Methods The level of Hsp90-beta was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Calculations of the Hsp90-beta threshold, the sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing MPE from benign pleural effusion were performed using receiver operator characteristic curve. Results The level of Hsp90-beta in MPE of lung cancer patients was higher than that in control individuals (P < 0.05) and increased MPE Hsp90-beta was correlated with the pathological differentiation, tumor size and lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05). The cutoff value of Hsp90-beta produced by receiver operator characteristic curve for distinguishing lung cancer from control individuals were 1.659 ng/mL and the sensitivity and specificity were 93.46 and 79%. Conclusions Increased Hsp90-beta in MPE was correlated with malignant biological behavior of lung cancer patients, indicating that the level of Hsp90-beta could be a tool of referential value for differential diagnosis of pleural effusion caused by lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Biaoxue
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Medical University, 48 Fenghao West Road, Xi'an, 710077, China.
| | - Li Min
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shenmu Hospital, Shenmu, China
| | - Fu Tian
- Department of respiratory Medicine, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, Jining, China
| | - Gao Wenlong
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liu Hua
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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Kessler T, Baumeier A, Brand C, Grau M, Angenendt L, Harrach S, Stalmann U, Schmidt LH, Gosheger G, Hardes J, Andreou D, Dreischalück J, Lenz G, Wardelmann E, Mesters RM, Schwöppe C, Berdel WE, Hartmann W, Schliemann C. Aminopeptidase N (CD13): Expression, Prognostic Impact, and Use as Therapeutic Target for Tissue Factor Induced Tumor Vascular Infarction in Soft Tissue Sarcoma. Transl Oncol 2018; 11:1271-1282. [PMID: 30125801 PMCID: PMC6113655 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminopeptidase N (CD13) is expressed on tumor vasculature and tumor cells. It represents a candidate for targeted therapy, e.g., by truncated tissue factor (tTF)-NGR, binding to CD13, and causing tumor vascular thrombosis. We analyzed CD13 expression by immunohistochemistry in 97 patients with STS who were treated by wide resection and uniform chemo-radio-chemotherapy. Using a semiquantitative score with four intensity levels, CD13 was expressed by tumor vasculature, or tumor cells, or both (composite value, intensity scores 1-3) in 93.9% of the STS. In 49.5% tumor cells, in 48.5% vascular/perivascular cells, and in 58.8%, composite value showed strong intensity score 3 staining. Leiomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma showed low expression; fibrosarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma showed high expression. We found a significant prognostic impact of CD13, as high expression in tumor cells or vascular/perivascular cells correlated with better relapse-free survival and overall survival. CD13 retained prognostic significance in multivariable analyses. Systemic tTF-NGR resulted in significant growth reduction of CD13-positive human HT1080 sarcoma cell line xenografts. Our results recommend further investigation of tTF-NGR in STS patients. CD13 might be a suitable predictive biomarker for patient selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Kessler
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
| | - Ariane Baumeier
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Caroline Brand
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Michael Grau
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Linus Angenendt
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Saliha Harrach
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Ursula Stalmann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lars Henning Schmidt
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Georg Gosheger
- Department of Orthopedics and Tumor-Orthopedics, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- Department of Orthopedics and Tumor-Orthopedics, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Dimosthenis Andreou
- Department of Orthopedics and Tumor-Orthopedics, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
| | - Johannes Dreischalück
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Sankt Elisabeth Hospital Guetersloh, Guetersloh
| | - Georg Lenz
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Translational Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Cluster of Excellence EXC 1003, Cells in Motion, Muenster, Germany
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Rolf M Mesters
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Schwöppe
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Wolfgang E Berdel
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Cluster of Excellence EXC 1003, Cells in Motion, Muenster, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christoph Schliemann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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Kirikoshi R, Manabe N, Takahashi O. Phosphate-Catalyzed Succinimide Formation from an NGR-Containing Cyclic Peptide: A Novel Mechanism for Deammoniation of the Tetrahedral Intermediate. Molecules 2018; 23:E2217. [PMID: 30200364 PMCID: PMC6225186 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23092217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous deamidation in the Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) motif that yields an isoAsp-Gly-Arg (isoDGR) sequence has recently attracted considerable attention because of the possibility of application to dual tumor targeting. It is well known that Asn deamidation reactions in peptide chains occur via the five-membered ring succinimide intermediate. Recently, we computationally showed by the B3LYP density functional theory method, that inorganic phosphate and the Arg side chain can catalyze the NGR deamidation using a cyclic peptide, c[CH₂CO⁻NGRC]⁻NH₂. In this previous study, the tetrahedral intermediate of the succinimide formation was assumed to be readily protonated at the nitrogen originating from the Asn side chain by the solvent water before the release of an NH₃ molecule. In the present study, we found a new mechanism for the decomposition of the tetrahedral intermediate that does not require the protonation by an external proton source. The computational method is the same as in the previous study. In the new mechanism, the release of an NH₃ molecule occurs after a proton exchange between the peptide and the phosphate and conformational changes. The rate-determining step of the overall reaction course is the previously reported first step, i.e., the cyclization to form the tetrahedral intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Kirikoshi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8558, Japan.
| | - Noriyoshi Manabe
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8558, Japan.
| | - Ohgi Takahashi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8558, Japan.
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Mohammadi-Farsani A, Habibi-Roudkenar M, Golkar M, Shokrgozar MA, Jahanian-Najafabadi A, KhanAhmad H, Valiyari S, Bouzari S. A-NGR fusion protein induces apoptosis in human cancer cells. EXCLI JOURNAL 2018; 17:590-597. [PMID: 30108463 PMCID: PMC6088213 DOI: 10.17179/excli2018-1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The NGR peptide is one of the well-known peptides for targeting tumor cells. It has the ability to target aminopeptidase N (CD13) on tumor cells or the tumor vascular endothelium. In this study, the NGR peptide was used for targeting A subunit of the Shiga toxin to cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of the A-NGR fusion protein was assessed on HT1080, U937, HT29 cancer cells and MRC-5 normal cells. For this purpose, cells were treated with different concentrations of A-NGR (0.5-40 µg/ml). The evaluation of cell viability was achieved by MTT assay. Apoptosis was determined by annexin-V/PI double staining flow cytometry. Alterations in the mRNA expression of apoptosis - related genes were assessed by real time RT- PCR. The results showed that A-NGR fusion protein effectively inhibited the growth of HT1080 and U937 cancer cells in comparison to negative control (PBS) but for CD13-negative HT-29 cancer cells, only at high concentrations of fusion protein was inhibited growth recorded. On the other hand, A-NGR had little cytotoxic effect on MRC-5 normal cells. The flow cytometry results showed that A-NGR induces apoptosis. Furthermore, the results of real time RT-PCR revealed that A-NGR significantly increases the mRNA expression of caspase 3 and caspase 9. Conclusively, A-NGR fusion protein has the ability of targeting CD13-positive cancer cells, the cytotoxic effect on CD13-positive cancer cells as well as has low cytotoxic effect on normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mehryar Habibi-Roudkenar
- Medical Biotechnology Department, Paramedicine Faculty, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Majid Golkar
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Ali Jahanian-Najafabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein KhanAhmad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Samira Valiyari
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Bouzari
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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38
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Shi W, Yin Y, Wang Y, Zhang B, Tan P, Jiang T, Mei H, Deng J, Wang H, Guo T, Pang Z, Hu Y. A tissue factor-cascade-targeted strategy to tumor vasculature: a combination of EGFP-EGF1 conjugation nanoparticles with photodynamic therapy. Oncotarget 2018; 8:32212-32227. [PMID: 27793028 PMCID: PMC5458279 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor requires tumor vasculature to supply oxygen and nutrients so as to support its continued growth, as well as provide a main route for metastatic spread. In this study, a TF-cascade-targeted strategy aiming to disrupt tumor blood vessels was developed by combination of TF-targeted HMME-loaded drug delivery system and PDT. PDT is a promising new modality in the treatment of cancers, which employs the interaction between a tumor-localizing photosensitizer and light of an appropriate wavelength to bring about ROS-induced cell death. In vitro results showed that protein EGFP-EGF1modification could significantly contribute to the uptake of nanoparticles by TF over-expressed BCECs. In vivo multispectral fluorescent imaging, the EGFP-EGF1 conjugated nanoparticles showed significantly higher accumulation in tumor tissues than non-conjugated ones. Tumor tissue slides further presented that EGFP-EGF1 conjugated nanoparticles showed significantly higher accumulation in tumor vasculature than non-conjugated ones. In vitro study demonstrated that PDT increased TF expression of BCECs. In vivo imaging, ex vivo imaging and tumor tissue slides showed that PDT further contribute EGFP-EGF1-NP accumulation in tumor. These promising results indicated that PDT enhanced EGFP-EGF1modified PEG-PLGA nanoparticle accumulation in tumor vaculature. Considering that EGFP-EGF1 conjugation enhanced nanoparticles uptake by TF over-expressed endothelium and PDT increased endothelium TF expression. We conclude that PDT triggered a TF cascade targeted effect. A combination of both EGFP-EGF1 modification and PDT provided a positive feed-back target effect to tumor vessels and might have a great potential for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shi
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yanxue Yin
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Pei Tan
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Heng Mei
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huafang Wang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiqing Pang
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Targeted Biotherapy Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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39
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Elia AR, Grioni M, Basso V, Curnis F, Freschi M, Corti A, Mondino A, Bellone M. Targeting Tumor Vasculature with TNF Leads Effector T Cells to the Tumor and Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Blockers in Combination with Adoptive Cell Therapy. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:2171-2181. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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40
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Li C, Zhang N, Zhou J, Ding C, Jin Y, Cui X, Pu K, Zhu Y. Peptide Blocking of PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 6:178-188. [PMID: 29217732 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a promising alternative therapeutic approach for cancer patients. Interruption of immune checkpoints, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1, has been verified to be a successful means for cancer therapy in clinical trials. mAb targeting PD-L1 has been approved to treat urothelial carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, or Merkel cell carcinoma by the FDA. However, the high cost of the antibody can limit its application. In our study, targeting PD-L1 peptide (TPP-1), which specifically binds to PD-L1 with high affinity, was identified through bacterial surface display methods. Using a T-cell activation assay and mixed lymphocyte reaction, TPP-1 was verified to interfere with the interaction of PD-1/PD-L1. To examine the inhibitory effect of TPP-1 on tumor growth in vivo, a xenograft mouse model using H460 cells was established. The growth rate of tumor masses in TPP-1 or PD-L1 antibody-treated mice was 56% or 71% lower than that in control peptide-treated mice, respectively, indicating that TPP-1 inhibits, or at least retards, tumor growth. IHC of the tumors showed that IFNγ and granzyme B expression increased in the TPP-1 or PD-L1 antibody-treated groups, indicating that TPP-1 attenuates the inhibitory effect of PD-L1 on T cells and that T cells may get reactivated. On the basis of our data, TPP-1 peptide could work as an alternative to antibodies for tumor immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(2); 178-88. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nengpan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Jundong Zhou
- Nanjing Medical University, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Department Radio Oncology, Suzhou, China
| | - Chen Ding
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yaqing Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyuan Cui
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.,Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kefeng Pu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
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Bouchet S, Tang R, Fava F, Legrand O, Bauvois B. The CNGRC-GG-D(KLAKLAK)2 peptide induces a caspase-independent, Ca2+-dependent death in human leukemic myeloid cells by targeting surface aminopeptidase N/CD13. Oncotarget 2017; 7:19445-67. [PMID: 26655501 PMCID: PMC4991394 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The CD13 antigen's binding site for the Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) motif enables NGR-containing chemotherapeutic drugs to be delivered to CD13-positive tumours. Human CD13-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells proliferate abnormally and escape death. Here, we show that the CNGRC-GG-D(KLAKLAK)2 peptide induces death in AML cell lines (U937, THP-1, NB4, HL-60) and primary blood cells from AML patients. Cell death was characterized as a caspase-independent mechanism, without DNA fragmentation, but phosphatidylserine externalization and membrane disruption. Our results demonstrate in U937 cells that (i) the NGR-peptide triggers the loss of mitochondrial potential(ΔΨm) and generates superoxide anion (O2-), (ii) N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and extra/intracellular Ca2+ chelators (BAPTA) prevent both O2- production and cell death, (iii) the Ca2+-channel blocker nifedipine prevents cell death (indicating that Ca2+ influx is the initial death trigger), and (iv) BAPTA, but not NAC, prevents ΔΨm loss (suggesting O2- is a mitochondrial downstream effector). AML cell lines and primary blasts responding to the lethal action of NGR-peptide express promatrix metalloproteinase-12 (proMMP-12) and its substrate progranulin (an 88 kDa cell survival factor). A cell-free assay highlighted proMMP-12 activation by O2-. Accordingly, NGR-peptide's downregulation of 88 kDa progranulin protein was prevented by BAPTA and NAC. Conversely, AML blast resistance to NGR-peptide is associated with the expression of a distinct, 105 kDa progranulin isoform. These results indicate that CNGRC-GG-D(KLAKLAK)2 induces death in AML cells through the Ca2+-mitochondria-O2.-pathway, and support the link between proMMP-12 activation and progranulin cleavage during cell death. Our findings may have implications for the understanding of tumour biology and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Bouchet
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS1138, Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ruoping Tang
- Centre de Recherche de Saint-Antoine, INSERM UMRS 938, Service d'Hématologie, Hôpital St Antoine, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Fava
- Centre de Recherche de Saint-Antoine, INSERM UMRS 938, Service d'Hématologie, Hôpital St Antoine, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Ollivier Legrand
- Centre de Recherche de Saint-Antoine, INSERM UMRS 938, Service d'Hématologie, Hôpital St Antoine, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, Paris, France
| | - Brigitte Bauvois
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS1138, Sorbonne Universités UPMC Paris 06, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Corti A, Gasparri AM, Ghitti M, Sacchi A, Sudati F, Fiocchi M, Buttiglione V, Perani L, Gori A, Valtorta S, Moresco RM, Pastorino F, Ponzoni M, Musco G, Curnis F. Glycine N-methylation in NGR-Tagged Nanocarriers Prevents Isoaspartate formation and Integrin Binding without Impairing CD13 Recognition and Tumor Homing. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2017; 27:1701245. [PMID: 28979182 PMCID: PMC5624507 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201701245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
NGR (asparagine-glycine-arginine) is a tumor vasculature-homing peptide motif widely used for the functionalization of drugs, nanomaterials and imaging compounds for cancer treatment and diagnosis. Unfortunately, this motif has a strong propensity to undergo rapid deamidation. This reaction, which converts NGR into isoDGR, is associated with receptor switching from CD13 to integrins, with potentially important manufacturing, pharmacological and toxicological implications. It is found that glycine N-methylation of NGR-tagged nanocarriers completely prevents asparagine deamidation without impairing CD13 recognition. Studies in animal models have shown that the methylated NGR motif can be exploited for delivering radiolabeled compounds and nanocarriers, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-bearing nanogold and liposomal doxorubicin, to tumors with improved selectivity. These findings suggest that this NGR derivative is a stable and efficient tumor-homing ligand that can be used for delivering functional nanomaterials to tumor vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Corti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gasparri
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Ghitti
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelina Sacchi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Francesco Sudati
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Fiocchi
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Laura Perani
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gori
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, C.N.R., Via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Valtorta
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore 48, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | | | - Mirco Ponzoni
- Istituto G. Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Musco
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Flavio Curnis
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
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43
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CD13 as target for tissue factor induced tumor vascular infarction in small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2017; 113:121-127. [PMID: 29110838 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Zinc-binding protease aminopeptidase N (CD13) is expressed on tumor vascular cells and tumor cells. It represents a potential candidate for molecular targeted therapy, e.g. employing truncated tissue factor (tTF)-NGR, which can bind CD13 and thereby induce tumor vascular infarction. We performed a comprehensive analysis of CD13 expression in a clinically well characterized cohort of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) to evaluate its potential use for targeted therapies in this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS CD13 expression was analyzed immunohistochemically in 27 SCLC patients and correlated with clinical course and outcome. In CD-1 nude mice bearing human HTB119 SCLC xenotransplants, the systemic effects of the CD13-targeting fusion protein tTF-NGR on tumor growth were tested. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION In 52% of the investigated SCLC tissue samples, CD13 was expressed in tumor stroma cells, while the tumor cells were negative for CD13. No prognostic effect was found in the investigated SCLC study collective with regard to overall survival (p>0.05). In CD-1 nude mice, xenografts of CD13 negative HTB119 SCLC cells showed CD13 expression in the intratumoral vascular and perivascular cells, and the systemic application of CD13-targeted tissue factor tTF-NGR led to a significant reduction of tumor growth. We here present first data on the expression of CD13 in SCLC tumor samples. Our results strongly recommend the further investigation of tTF-NGR and other molecules targeted by NGR-peptides in SCLC patients. Considering the differential expression of CD13 in SCLC samples pre-therapeutic CD13 analysis is proposed for testing as investigational predictive biomarker for patient selection.
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44
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The Effect of RGD/NGR Peptide Modification of Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene-7/Interleukin-24 on Its Receptor Attachment, an In Silico Analysis. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2017; 32:205-214. [DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2017.2195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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45
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Vats K, Satpati D, Sharma R, Kumar C, Sarma HD, Dash A. 99m
Tc-labeled NGR-chlorambucil conjugate, 99m
Tc-HYNIC-CLB-c(NGR) for targeted chemotherapy and molecular imaging. J Labelled Comp Radiopharm 2017; 60:431-438. [DOI: 10.1002/jlcr.3522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kusum Vats
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Mumbai India
| | - Drishty Satpati
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Mumbai India
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Mumbai India
| | - Chandan Kumar
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Mumbai India
| | - Haladhar D. Sarma
- Radiation Biology and Health Science Division; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Mumbai India
| | - Ashutosh Dash
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre; Mumbai India
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46
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Wang X, Qiao X, Shang Y, Zhang S, Li Y, He H, Chen SZ. RGD and NGR modified TRAIL protein exhibited potent anti-metastasis effects on TRAIL-insensitive cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Amino Acids 2017; 49:931-941. [PMID: 28236246 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-017-2395-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been considered to be a promising anti-tumor agent since the discovery of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis specifically on cancer cells. However, TRAIL resistance of tumor cells and patients remains to be an insurmountable obstacle for its clinical application. Here, we expressed TRAIL-related recombinant protein RGD-TRAIL, TRAIL-NGR, and RGD-TRAIL-NGR by fusing tumor targeting peptides RGD and (or) NGR at the N-terminus and C-terminus, respectively, to not only induce apoptosis of cancer cells but also inhibit metastasis. The fusion proteins possessed potent cytotoxicity with approximative IC50 in H460 and A549 cells, while TRAIL-NGR and RGD-TRAIL-NGR appeared to be more effective in HT1080 and PANC-1 cells which were relatively insensitive to TRAIL. A low concentration of fusion proteins, especially RGD-TRAIL-NGR, could inhibit migration of A549 and HT1080 cells in vitro and lung metastasis in HT1080LUC experimental model in vivo, indicating that the recombinant protein maintained the function of both TRAIL and targeting peptide RGD and NGR, which improved the sensitivity of tumor cells to TRAIL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xinran Qiao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yue Shang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Shenghua Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yi Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hongwei He
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Shu-Zhen Chen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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47
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Succinimide Formation from an NGR-Containing Cyclic Peptide: Computational Evidence for Catalytic Roles of Phosphate Buffer and the Arginine Side Chain. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18020429. [PMID: 28212316 PMCID: PMC5343963 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) motif and its deamidation product isoAsp-Gly-Arg (isoDGR) have recently attracted considerable attention as tumor-targeting ligands. Because an NGR-containing peptide and the corresponding isoDGR-containing peptide target different receptors, the spontaneous NGR deamidation can be used in dual targeting strategies. It is well known that the Asn deamidation proceeds via a succinimide derivative. In the present study, we computationally investigated the mechanism of succinimide formation from a cyclic peptide, c[CH2CO-NGRC]-NH2, which has recently been shown to undergo rapid deamidation in a phosphate buffer. An H2PO4− ion was explicitly included in the calculations. We employed the density functional theory using the B3LYP functional. While geometry optimizations were performed in the gas phase, hydration Gibbs energies were calculated by the SM8 (solvation model 8) continuum model. We have found a pathway leading to the five-membered ring tetrahedral intermediate in which both the H2PO4− ion and the Arg side chain act as catalyst. This intermediate, once protonated at the NH2 group on the five-membered ring, was shown to easily undergo NH3 elimination leading to the succinimide formation. This study is the first to propose a possible catalytic role for the Arg side chain in the NGR deamidation.
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48
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Bäumer
- Deparment of Medicine A, Hematology and
Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Muenster, DE 48149, Germany
| | - Wolfgang E. Berdel
- Deparment of Medicine A, Hematology and
Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Muenster, DE 48149, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bäumer
- Deparment of Medicine A, Hematology and
Oncology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, Muenster, DE 48149, Germany
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49
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de Marinis F, Bria E, Ciardiello F, Crinò L, Douillard JY, Griesinger F, Lambrechts D, Perol M, Ramalingam SS, Smit EF, Gridelli C. International Experts Panel Meeting of the Italian Association of Thoracic Oncology on Antiangiogenetic Drugs for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Realities and Hopes. J Thorac Oncol 2016; 11:1153-69. [PMID: 27063293 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis, one of the hallmarks of cancer, occurs when new blood vessels feed malignant cells, providing oxygen and nutrients, promoting tumor growth, and allowing tumor cells to escape into the circulation, thus leading to metastases. To date, a series of antiangiogenic drugs (either monoclonal antibodies or small molecules) have been approved by regulatory agencies for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, and they are currently available for both first- and second-line therapy. The overall benefit of these drugs seems modest (although clearly significant), especially when administered as a single agent, and there is no clear consensus with regard to which patients should be candidates to receive these drugs across the different disease settings. From the biological perspective, angiogenesis represents a difficult and complex process to explore, given the interference with other key pathways and the dynamic evolution during the disease's history. Indeed, this process is complicated by the presence of multiple targets to hit, polymorphisms, hypoxia-dependent modifications, and epigenetics. These difficulties do not allow capture of which specific key pathways can be identified as biomarkers of efficacy so as to maximize to overall benefit of such drugs. An International Experts Panel Meeting was inspired by the absence of clear recommendations to address which patients should receive antiangiogenic drugs in the context of advanced non-small cell lung cancer so as to support decisions for clinical practice on a daily basis and determine priorities for future research. After a literature review and panelists consensus, a series of recommendations were defined to support decisions for the daily clinical practice and to indicate a potential road map for translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo de Marinis
- Thoracic Oncology Division, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Bria
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Medical Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine 'F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucio Crinò
- Medical Oncology Division, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Frank Griesinger
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Division, Internal Medicine-Oncology, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, University of Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- VIB Vesalius Research Center, Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maurice Perol
- Department of Medical Oncology, Léon Bérard Cancer Center, Lyon, France
| | | | - Egbert F Smit
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cesare Gridelli
- Medical Oncology, A.O. 'S.G. Moscati' Hospital, Avellino, Italy.
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50
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Curnis F, Fiocchi M, Sacchi A, Gori A, Gasparri A, Corti A. NGR-tagged nano-gold: A new CD13-selective carrier for cytokine delivery to tumors. NANO RESEARCH 2016; 9:1393-1408. [PMID: 27226823 PMCID: PMC4876925 DOI: 10.1007/s12274-016-1035-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal gold (Au), a well-tolerated nanomaterial, is currently exploited for several applications in nanomedicine. We show that gold nanoparticles tagged with a novel tumor-homing peptide containing Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR), a ligand of CD13 expressed by the tumor neovasculature, can be exploited as carriers for cytokine delivery to tumors. Biochemical and functional studies showed that the NGR molecular scaffold/linker used for gold functionalization is critical for CD13 recognition. Using fibrosarcoma-bearing mice, NGR-tagged nanodrugs could deliver extremely low, yet pharmacologically active doses of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), an anticancer cytokine, to tumors with no evidence of toxicity. Mechanistic studies confirmed that CD13 targeting was a primary mechanism of drug delivery and excluded a major role of integrin targeting consequent to NGR deamidation, a degradation reaction that generates the isoAsp-Gly-Arg (isoDGR) integrin ligand. NGR-tagged gold nanoparticles can be used, in principle, as a novel platform for single- or multi-cytokine delivery to tumor endothelial cells for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Curnis
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
- Address correspondence to Flavio Curnis, ; Angelo Corti,
| | - Martina Fiocchi
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Angelina Sacchi
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gori
- Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR, Milan 20131, Italy
| | - Anna Gasparri
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Angelo Corti
- Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
- Vita Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan
- Address correspondence to Flavio Curnis, ; Angelo Corti,
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