Expression of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 8 and endostatin in human osteosarcoma: Implication in tumor progression and prognosis

A Novel Class of Human ADAM8 Inhibitory Antibodies for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

New targeted treatments are urgently needed to improve triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient survival. Previously, we identified the cell surface protein A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 8 (ADAM8) as a driver of TNBC tumor growth and spread via its metalloproteinase and disintegrin (MP and DI) domains. In proof-of-concept studies, we demonstrated that a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that simultaneously inhibits both domains represents a promising therapeutic approach. Here, we screened a hybridoma library using a multistep selection strategy, including flow cytometry for Ab binding to native conformation protein and in vitro cell-based functional assays to isolate a novel panel of highly specific human ADAM8 dual MP and DI inhibitory mAbs, called ADPs. The screening of four top candidates for in vivo anti-cancer activity in an orthotopic MDA-MB-231 TNBC model of ADAM8-driven primary growth identified two lead mAbs, ADP2 and ADP13. Flow cytometry, hydrogen/deuterium exchange-mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) and alanine (ALA) scanning mutagenesis revealed that dual MP and DI inhibition was mediated via binding to the DI. Further testing in mice showed ADP2 and ADP13 reduce aggressive TNBC characteristics, including locoregional regrowth and metastasis, and improve survival, demonstrating strong therapeutic potential. The continued development of these mAbs into an ADAM8-targeted therapy could revolutionize TNBC treatment.

ADAM8 is expressed widely in breast cancer and predicts poor outcome in hormone receptor positive, HER-2 negative patients

BACKGROUND

Breast malignancies are the predominant cancer-related cause of death in women. New methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment are necessary. Previously, we identified the breast cancer cell surface protein ADAM8 as a marker of poor survival, and a driver of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) growth and spread. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a research-only anti-ADAM8 antibody revealed 34.0% of TNBCs (17/50) expressed ADAM8. To identify those patients who could benefit from future ADAM8-based interventions, new clinical tests are needed. Here, we report on the preclinical development of a highly specific IHC assay for detection of ADAM8-positive breast tumors.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of ADAM8-positive breast cell lines and patient-derived xenograft tumors were used in IHC to identify a lead antibody, appropriate staining conditions and controls. Patient breast cancer samples (n = 490) were used to validate the assay. Cox proportional hazards models assessed association between survival and ADAM8 expression.

RESULTS

ADAM8 staining conditions were optimized, a lead anti-human ADAM8 monoclonal IHC antibody (ADP2) identified, and a breast staining/scoring control cell line microarray (CCM) generated expressing a range of ADAM8 levels. Assay specificity, reproducibility, and appropriateness of the CCM for scoring tumor samples were demonstrated. Consistent with earlier findings, 36.1% (22/61) of patient TNBCs expressed ADAM8. Overall, 33.9% (166/490) of the breast cancer population was ADAM8-positive, including Hormone Receptor (HR) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-2 (HER2) positive cancers, which were tested for the first time. For the most prevalent HR-positive/HER2-negative subtype, high ADAM8 expression identified patients at risk of poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies show ADAM8 is widely expressed in breast cancer and provide support for both a diagnostic and prognostic value of the ADP2 IHC assay. As ADAM8 has been implicated in multiple solid malignancies, continued development of this assay may have broad impact on cancer management.

Anti-tumor Activity of Propofol: A Focus on MicroRNAs

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs are endogenous, short, non-coding RNAs with the length as low as 20 to 25 nucleotides. These RNAs are able to negatively affect the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. It has been demonstrated that microRNAs play a significant role in cell proliferation, cell migration, cell death, cell differentiation, infection, immune response, and metabolism. Besides, the dysfunction of microRNAs has been observed in a variety of cancers. So, modulation of microRNAs is of interest in the treatment of disorders.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current review is to investigate the modulatory effect of propofol on microRNAs in cancer therapy.

METHODS

This review was performed at PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science data-bases using keywords "propofol', "microRNA", "cancer therapy", "propofol + microRNA" and "propofol + miR".

RESULTS

It was found that propofol dually down-regulates/upregulates microRNAs to exert its antitumor activity. In terms of oncogenesis microRNAs, propofol exert an inhibitory effect, while propofol significantly enhances the expression of oncosuppressor microRNAs.

CONCLUSION

It seems that propofol is a potential modulator of microRNAs and this capability can be used in the treatment of various cancers.

The role of extracelluar matrix in osteosarcoma progression and metastasis

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone malignancy and responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality due to its high rates of pulmonary metastasis. Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy has improved 5-year survival rates for patients with localized OS from 20% to over 65%, outcomes for those with metastasis remain dismal. In addition, therapeutic regimens have not significantly improved patient outcomes over the past four decades, and metastases remains a primary cause of death and obstacle in curative therapy. These limitations in care have given rise to numerous works focused on mechanisms and novel targets of OS pathogenesis, including tumor niche factors. OS is notable for its hallmark production of rich extracellular matrix (ECM) of osteoid that goes beyond simple physiological growth support. The aberrant signaling and structural components of the ECM are rich promoters of OS development, and very recent works have shown the specific pathogenic phenotypes induced by these macromolecules. Here we summarize the current developments outlining how the ECM contributes to OS progression and metastasis with supporting mechanisms. We also illustrate the potential of tumorigenic ECM elements as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the evolving clinical management of OS.

Prognostic factors in osteosarcoma: A study level meta-analysis and systematic review of current practice

Background

A consensus has not yet been reached regarding the abilities of gender, age, tumor size, tumor location, histologic subtypes, and surgery in the prediction of survival in osteosarcoma. We aimed to disclose their prognostic significance by conducting a meta-analysis of all the published data from the last decade.

Materials and Methods

Electronic database searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant articles published within the last ten years. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained to evaluate the prognostic values of the target factors.

Results

A total of 18,126 patients from 40 studies were eventually included. Results indicated that gender (male vs. female: 1.21, 95% CI, 1.11–1.32; female vs. male: 0.85, 95% CI, 0.75–0.98), age (12–20 vs. ≤12: 1.37, 95% CI, 1.13–1.65; ≥20 vs. <20: 1.29, 95% CI, 1.08–1.55; ≥40 vs. <40: 1.63, 95% CI, 1.21–2.20; ≥50 vs. <25: 2.60, 95% CI, 1.92–3.53; ≥60 vs. <60: 1.11, 95% CI, 1.06–1.18), tumor location (non-extremities vs. extremities: 2.10, 95% CI, 1.76–2.51; proximal vs. distal femur: 3.68, 95% CI: 1.51–8.96; proximal vs. distal humerus: 3.15, 95% CI: 1.53–6.49), tumor size (≥5 vs. <5: 1.42, 95% CI, 1.09–1.86; >8 vs. ≤8: 1.55, 95% CI, 1.07–2.24; >9 vs. ≤9: 1.44, 95% CI, 1.05–1.96), chemotherapy response (poor vs. good: 2.45, 95% CI, 2.02–2.97; good vs. poor: 0.41, 95% CI, 0.34–0.48), and surgery (yes vs. no: 0.45, 95% CI, 0.36–0.57; amputation vs. salvage: 2.34, 95% CI, 1.47–3.74) were significantly associated with overall survival in osteosarcoma patients.

Conclusion

The meta-analysis demonstrated that male patients, older age, large tumor size, non-extremity osteosarcoma, proximal osteosarcoma, poor chemotherapy response, no surgical treatment, and amputation surgery were correlated with a poor prognosis in osteosarcoma patients.

Extracellular Nanovesicles Secreted by Human Osteosarcoma Cells Promote Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis involves a number of different players among which extracellular nanovesicles (EVs) have recently been proposed as an efficient cargo of pro-angiogenic mediators. Angiogenesis plays a key role in osteosarcoma (OS) development and progression. Acidity is a hallmark of malignancy in a variety of cancers, including sarcomas, as a result of an increased energetic metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of EVs derived from osteosarcoma cells on angiogenesis and whether extracellular acidity, generated by tumor metabolism, could influence EVs activity. For this purpose, we purified and characterized EVs from OS cells maintained at either acidic or neutral pH. The ability of EVs to induce angiogenesis was assessed in vitro by endothelial cell tube formation and in vivo using chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Our findings demonstrated that EVs derived from osteosarcoma cells maintained either in acidic or neutral conditions induced angiogenesis. The results showed that miRNA and protein content of EVs cargo are correlated with pro-angiogenic activity and this activity is increased by the acidity of tumor microenvironment. This study provides evidence that EVs released by human osteosarcoma cells act as carriers of active angiogenic stimuli that are able to promote endothelial cell functions relevant to angiogenesis.

Expression of microRNA-150 and its Target Gene IGF2BP1 in Human Osteosarcoma and their Clinical Implications

Previous study revealed that microRNA (miR)-150 might function as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma partially by targeting Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 mRNA-Binding Protein 1 (IGF2BP1). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of miR-150-IGF2BP1 axis in human osteosarcoma which remains unclear. At first, expression levels of miR-150, and IGF2BP1 mRNA and protein in 20 osteosarcoma and matched adjacent noncancerous tissues were respectively detected by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analyses. Then, subcellular localization and expression pattern of IGF2BP1 protein in 100 osteosarcoma tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. Associations of miR-150/IGF2BP1 expression with various clinicopathological features and patients’ prognosis were also statistically evaluated. As a result, miR-150 expression was significantly decreased, while IGF2BP1 mRNA and protein expression were dramatically increased in osteosarcoma tissues compared to matched adjacent noncancerous tissues (all P < 0.001). Immunostaining of IGF2BP1 protein was localized in cytoplasm of tumor cells in osteosarcoma tissues. Statistically, low miR-150 expression and/or high IGF2BP1 protein immunoreactive score were all significantly associated with high tumor grade, presence of metastasis and recurrence, as well as poor response to chemotherapy (all P < 0.05). Moreover, miR-150, IGF2BP1 and combined miR-150/IGF2BP1 expressions were all identified as independent prognostic factors for overall and disease-free survivals of osteosarcoma patients (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data suggest that miR-150 and its downstream target IGF2BP1 may be a crucial axis for the development, progression and patients’ prognosis of ostesarcoma. The newly identified miR-150/IGF2BP1 axis might be a novel potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma treatment.

Prognostic implications of Kindlin proteins in human osteosarcoma

The Kindlin protein family, comprising Kindlin-1, Kindlin-2 and Kindlin-3, play important roles in various human cancers. Here, to explore the clinical significance of Kindlins in human osteosarcomas, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to detect the expression of Kindlin-1, Kindlin-2 and Kindlin-3 mRNAs and proteins in 20 self-pairs of osteosarcoma and adjacent noncancerous tissues. Then, immunohistochemistry was performed to examine subcellular localizations and expression patterns of Kindlin proteins in 100 osteosarcoma and matched adjacent noncancerous tissues. Kindlin-1, Kindlin-2 and Kindlin-3 protein immunostainings were localized in the cytoplasm, nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively, of tumor cells in primary osteosarcoma tissues. Statistically, the expression levels of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 mRNAs and proteins in osteosarcoma tissues were all significantly higher (both P<0.01), but those of Kindlin-3 mRNA and protein were both dramatically lower (both P<0.05), than in matched adjacent noncancerous tissues. In addition, the overexpressions of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 proteins were both significantly associated with high tumor grade (both P=0.01), presence of metastasis (both P=0.006), recurrence (both P=0.006) and poor response to chemotherapy (both P=0.02). Moreover, Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 expressions were both identified as independent prognostic factors for overall (both P=0.01) and disease-free (P=0.02 and 0.01, respectively) survivals of osteosarcoma patients. However, no associations were observed between Kindlin-3 expression and various clinicopathologic features and patients’ prognosis. In conclusion, aberrant expression of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 may function as reliable markers for progression and prognosis in osteosarcoma patients, especially for tumor recurrence.