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Alberti G, Amico MD, Caruso Bavisotto C, Rappa F, Marino Gammazza A, Bucchieri F, Cappello F, Scalia F, Szychlinska MA. Speeding up Glioblastoma Cancer Research: Highlighting the Zebrafish Xenograft Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5394. [PMID: 38791432 PMCID: PMC11121320 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105394] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a very aggressive and lethal primary brain cancer in adults. The multifaceted nature of GBM pathogenesis, rising from complex interactions between cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME), has posed great treatment challenges. Despite significant scientific efforts, the prognosis for GBM remains very poor, even after intensive treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Efficient GBM management still requires the invention of innovative treatment strategies. There is a strong necessity to complete cancer in vitro studies and in vivo studies to properly evaluate the mechanisms of tumor progression within the complex TME. In recent years, the animal models used to study GBM tumors have evolved, achieving highly invasive GBM models able to provide key information on the molecular mechanisms of GBM onset. At present, the most commonly used animal models in GBM research are represented by mammalian models, such as mouse and canine ones. However, the latter present several limitations, such as high cost and time-consuming management, making them inappropriate for large-scale anticancer drug evaluation. In recent years, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model has emerged as a valuable tool for studying GBM. It has shown great promise in preclinical studies due to numerous advantages, such as its small size, its ability to generate a large cohort of genetically identical offspring, and its rapid development, permitting more time- and cost-effective management and high-throughput drug screening when compared to mammalian models. Moreover, due to its transparent nature in early developmental stages and genetic and anatomical similarities with humans, it allows for translatable brain cancer research and related genetic screening and drug discovery. For this reason, the aim of the present review is to highlight the potential of relevant transgenic and xenograft zebrafish models and to compare them to the traditionally used animal models in GBM research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusi Alberti
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Maria Denise Amico
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Celeste Caruso Bavisotto
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Rappa
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
- The Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonella Marino Gammazza
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Fabio Bucchieri
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Francesco Cappello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), 90139 Palermo, Italy
| | - Federica Scalia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.A.); (M.D.A.); (C.C.B.); (F.R.); (A.M.G.); (F.B.); (F.C.); (F.S.)
| | - Marta Anna Szychlinska
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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Pliakopanou A, Antonopoulos I, Darzenta N, Serifi I, Simos YV, Katsenos AP, Bellos S, Alexiou GA, Kyritsis AP, Leonardos I, Vezyraki P, Peschos D, Tsamis KI. Glioblastoma research on zebrafish xenograft models: a systematic review. Clin Transl Oncol 2024; 26:311-325. [PMID: 37400666 PMCID: PMC10810942 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03258-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) constitutes the most common primary brain tumor in adults. The challenges in GBM therapeutics have shed light on zebrafish used as a promising animal model for preclinical GBM xenograft studies without a standardized methodology. This systematic review aims to summarize the advances in zebrafish GBM xenografting, compare research protocols to pinpoint advantages and underlying limitations, and designate the predominant xenografting parameters. Based on the PRISMA checklist, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and ZFIN using the keywords "glioblastoma," "xenotransplantation," and "zebrafish" for papers published from 2005 to 2022, available in English. 46 articles meeting the review criteria were examined for the zebrafish strain, cancer cell line, cell labeling technique, injected cell number, time and site of injection, and maintenance temperature. Our review designated that AB wild-type zebrafish, Casper transparent mutants, transgenic Tg(fli1:EGFP), or crossbreeding of these predominate among the zebrafish strains. Orthotopic transplantation is more commonly employed. A number of 50-100 cells injected at 48 h post-fertilization in high density and low infusion volume is considered as an effective xenografting approach. U87 cells are used for GBM angiogenesis studies, U251 for GBM proliferation studies, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) to achieve clinical relevance. Gradual acclimatization to 32-33 °C can partly address the temperature differential between the zebrafish and the GBM cells. Zebrafish xenograft models constitute valuable tools for preclinical studies with clinical relevance regarding PDX. The GBM xenografting research requires modification based on the objective of each research team. Automation and further optimization of the protocol parameters could scale up the anticancer drug trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pliakopanou
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ilias Antonopoulos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nikolia Darzenta
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Iliana Serifi
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Yannis Vasilios Simos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Andreas Panagiotis Katsenos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Stefanos Bellos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | | | | | - Ioannis Leonardos
- Zoology Laboratory, Department of Biological Application and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Patra Vezyraki
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Peschos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Ioannis Tsamis
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
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Al-Gizawiy MM, Wujek RT, Alhajala HS, Cobb JM, Prah MA, Doan NB, Connelly JM, Chitambar CR, Schmainda KM. Potent in vivo efficacy of oral gallium maltolate in treatment-resistant glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1278157. [PMID: 38288102 PMCID: PMC10822938 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1278157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment-resistant glioblastoma (trGBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with a dismal prognosis, underscoring the need for better treatment options. Emerging data indicate that trGBM iron metabolism is an attractive therapeutic target. The novel iron mimetic, gallium maltolate (GaM), inhibits mitochondrial function via iron-dependent and -independent pathways. Methods In vitro irradiated adult GBM U-87 MG cells were tested for cell viability and allowed to reach confluence prior to stereotactic implantation into the right striatum of male and female athymic rats. Advanced MRI at 9.4T was carried out weekly starting two weeks after implantation. Daily oral GaM (50mg/kg) or vehicle were provided on tumor confirmation. Longitudinal MRI parameters were processed for enhancing tumor ROIs in OsiriX 8.5.1 (lite) with Imaging Biometrics Software (Imaging Biometrics LLC). Statistical analyses included Cox proportional hazards regression models, Kaplan-Meier survival plots, linear mixed model comparisons, and t-statistic for slopes comparison as indicator of tumor growth rate. Results In this study we demonstrate non-invasively, using longitudinal MRI surveillance, the potent antineoplastic effects of GaM in a novel rat xenograft model of trGBM, as evidenced by extended suppression of tumor growth (23.56 mm3/week untreated, 5.76 mm3/week treated, P < 0.001), a blunting of tumor perfusion, and a significant survival benefit (median overall survival: 30 days untreated, 56 days treated; P < 0.001). The therapeutic effect was confirmed histologically by the presence of abundant cytotoxic cellular swelling, a significant reduction in proliferation markers (P < 0.01), and vessel normalization characterized by prominent vessel pruning, loss of branching, and uniformity of vessel lumina. Xenograft tumors in the treatment group were further characterized by an absence of an invasive edge and a significant reduction in both, MIB-1% and mitotic index (P < 0.01 each). Transferrin receptor and ferroportin expression in GaM-treated tumors illustrated cellular iron deprivation. Additionally, treatment with GaM decreased the expression of pro-angiogenic markers (von Willebrand Factor and VEGF) and increased the expression of anti-angiogenic markers, such as Angiopoietin-2. Conclusion Monotherapy with the iron-mimetic GaM profoundly inhibits trGBM growth and significantly extends disease-specific survival in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona M. Al-Gizawiy
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Robert T. Wujek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Hisham S. Alhajala
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jonathan M. Cobb
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Melissa A. Prah
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Ninh B. Doan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jennifer M. Connelly
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Christopher R. Chitambar
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Schmainda
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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Anti-Vimentin Nanobody Decreases Glioblastoma Cell Invasion In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030573. [PMID: 36765531 PMCID: PMC9913279 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumour and one of the deadliest cancers. In addition to late diagnosis and inadequate treatment, the extremely low survival rate is also due to the lack of appropriate therapeutic biomarkers and corresponding therapeutic agents. One of the potential therapeutic biomarkers is the intermediate filament vimentin, which is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of the anti-vimentin nanobody Nb79 on cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. To further our understanding of the mechanism of action, we investigated the association between Nb79 and EMT in GBM and GBM stem cells by analysing the expression levels of key EMT-related proteins. METHODS The expression of vimentin in glioma tissues and cells was determined by RT-qPCR. An invasion assay was performed on differentiated glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG and stem cell line NCH421k in vitro as well as in vivo in zebrafish embryos. The effect of Nb79 on expression of EMT biomarkers beta-catenin, vimentin, ZEB-1 and ZO1 was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS Our study shows that vimentin is upregulated in glioblastoma tissue compared to lower grade glioma and non-tumour brain tissue. We demonstrated that treatment with Nb79 reduced glioblastoma cell invasion by up to 64% in vitro and up to 21% in vivo. In addition, we found that the tight junction protein ZO-1 had higher expression on the cell membrane, when treated with inhibitory anti-vimentin Nb79 compared to control. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our results suggest that anti-vimentin nanobody Nb79 is a promising tool to target glioblastoma cell invasion.
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Di Franco G, Usai A, Piccardi M, Cateni P, Palmeri M, Pollina LE, Gaeta R, Marmorino F, Cremolini C, Dente L, Massolo A, Raffa V, Morelli L. Zebrafish Patient-Derived Xenograft Model to Predict Treatment Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer Patients. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071474. [PMID: 35884780 PMCID: PMC9313122 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of zebrafish embryos for personalized medicine has become increasingly popular. We present a co-clinical trial aiming to evaluate the use of zPDX (zebrafish Patient-Derived Xenografts) in predicting the response to chemotherapy regimens used for colorectal cancer patients. zPDXs are generated by xenografting tumor tissues in two days post-fertilization zebrafish embryos. zPDXs were exposed to chemotherapy regimens (5-FU, FOLFIRI, FOLFOX, FOLFOXIRI) for 48 h. We used a linear mixed effect model to evaluate the zPDX-specific response to treatments showing for 4/36 zPDXs (11%), a statistically significant reduction of tumor size compared to controls. We used the RECIST criteria to compare the outcome of each patient after chemotherapy with the objective response of its own zPDX model. Of the 36 patients enrolled, 8 metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), response rate after first-line therapy, and the zPDX chemosensitivity profile were available. Of eight mCRC patients, five achieved a partial response and three had a stable disease. In 6/8 (75%) we registered a concordance between the response of the patient and the outcomes reported in the corresponding zPDX. Our results provide evidence that the zPDX model can reflect the outcome in mCRC patients, opening a new frontier to personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Di Franco
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.D.F.); (M.P.)
| | - Alice Usai
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.U.); (M.P.); (P.C.); (L.D.); (A.M.); (V.R.)
| | - Margherita Piccardi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.U.); (M.P.); (P.C.); (L.D.); (A.M.); (V.R.)
| | - Perla Cateni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.U.); (M.P.); (P.C.); (L.D.); (A.M.); (V.R.)
| | - Matteo Palmeri
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.D.F.); (M.P.)
| | - Luca Emanuele Pollina
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, Division of Surgical Pathology, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.E.P.); (R.G.)
| | - Raffaele Gaeta
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, Division of Surgical Pathology, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (L.E.P.); (R.G.)
| | - Federica Marmorino
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.M.); (C.C.)
- Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Cremolini
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.M.); (C.C.)
- Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luciana Dente
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.U.); (M.P.); (P.C.); (L.D.); (A.M.); (V.R.)
| | - Alessandro Massolo
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.U.); (M.P.); (P.C.); (L.D.); (A.M.); (V.R.)
| | - Vittoria Raffa
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, S.S. 12 Abetone e Brennero 4, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (A.U.); (M.P.); (P.C.); (L.D.); (A.M.); (V.R.)
| | - Luca Morelli
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.D.F.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-996820
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Larsson S, Kettunen P, Carén H. Orthotopic Transplantation of Human Paediatric High-Grade Glioma in Zebrafish Larvae. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050625. [PMID: 35625011 PMCID: PMC9139401 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain tumours are the most common cause of death among children with solid tumours, and high-grade gliomas (HGG) are among the most devastating forms with very poor outcomes. In the search for more effective treatments for paediatric HGG, there is a need for better experimental models. To date, there are no xenograft zebrafish models developed for human paediatric HGG; existing models rely on adult cells. The use of paediatric models is of great importance since it is well known that the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms behind adult and paediatric disease differ greatly. In this study, we present a clinically relevant in vivo model based on paediatric primary glioma stem cell (GSC) cultures, which after orthotopic injection into the zebrafish larvae, can be monitored using confocal imaging over time. We show that cells invade the brain tissue and can be followed up to 8 days post-injection while they establish in the fore/mid brain. This model offers an in vivo system where tumour invasion can be monitored and drug treatments quickly be evaluated. The possibility to monitor patient-specific cells has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of cellular behaviour and personalised treatments in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Larsson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Petronella Kettunen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden;
- Department of Neuropathology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Helena Carén
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-31-786-3838
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Ai X, Ye Z, Xiao C, Zhong J, Lancman JJ, Chen X, Pan X, Yang Y, Zhou L, Wang X, Shi H, Zhang D, Yao Y, Cao D, Zhao C. Clinically relevant orthotopic xenograft models of patient-derived glioblastoma in zebrafish. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:274520. [PMID: 35199829 PMCID: PMC9066514 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An accurate prediction of the intracranial infiltration tendency and drug response of individual glioblastoma (GBM) cells is essential for personalized prognosis and treatment for this disease. However, the clinical utility of mouse patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) models remains limited given current technical constraints, including difficulty in generating sufficient sample numbers from small tissue samples and a long latency period for results. To overcome these issues, we established zebrafish GBM xenografts of diverse origin, which can tolerate intracranial engraftment and maintain their unique histological features. Subsequent single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis confirmed significant transcriptional identity to that of invading GBM microtumors observed in the proportionally larger brains of model animals and humans. Endothelial scRNA-seq confirmed that the zebrafish blood–brain barrier is homologous to the mammalian blood–brain barrier. Finally, we established a rapid and efficient zebrafish PDOX (zPDOX) model, which can predict long-term outcomes of GBM patients within 20 days. The zPDOX model provides a novel avenue for precision medicine of GBM, especially for the evaluation of intracranial infiltration tendency and prediction of individual drug sensitivity. Editor's choice: We established zebrafish glioblastoma (GBM) xenograft models that can be used to perform genetic and biological analysis of GBMs, identify blood–brain barrier-penetrating drugs and predict clinical sensitivity to temozolomide in GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zengpanpan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Chaoxin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jian Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Joseph J Lancman
- Human Genetics Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Xuelan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiangyu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Huashan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuqin Yao
- West China School of Public Health, No. 4 West China Teaching Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Chengjian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
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8
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Ferrarese R, Carro MS. Neural networks help zebrafish to step up as a model for efficient drug screening in glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:739-740. [PMID: 35182417 PMCID: PMC9071326 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ferrarese
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maria Stella Carro
- Corresponding Author: Maria Stella Carro, PhD, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Germany, Breisacherstraße 64, 79106 Freiburg, Germany ()
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Naz F, Shi M, Sajid S, Yang Z, Yu C. Cancer stem cells: a major culprit of intra-tumor heterogeneity. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5782-5811. [PMID: 35018226 PMCID: PMC8727794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is recognized as a preeminent factor of the world's mortality. Although various modalities have been designed to cure this life-threatening ailment, a significant impediment in the effective output of cancer treatment is heterogeneity. Cancer is characterized as a heterogeneous health disorder that comprises a distinct group of transformed cells to assist anomalous proliferation of affected cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a leading cause of cancer heterogeneity that is continually transformed by cellular extrinsic and intrinsic factors. They intensify neoplastic cells aggressiveness by strengthening their dissemination, relapse and therapy resistance. Considering this viewpoint, in this review article we have discussed some intrinsic (transcription factors, cell signaling pathways, genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and epitranscriptomics) and extrinsic factors (tumor microenvironment (TME)) that contribute to CSC heterogeneity and plasticity, which may help scientists to meddle these processes and eventually improve cancer research and management. Besides, the potential role of CSCs heterogeneity in establishing metastasis and therapy resistance has been articulated which signifies the importance of developing novel anticancer therapies to target CSCs along with targeting bulk tumor mass to achieve an effective output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Naz
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
| | - Mengran Shi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
| | - Salvia Sajid
- Department of Biotechnology, Jinnah University for WomenKarachi 74600, Pakistan
| | - Zhao Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
- College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Tarim UniversityAlar 843300, Xinjiang, China
| | - Changyuan Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
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10
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Porčnik A, Novak M, Breznik B, Majc B, Hrastar B, Šamec N, Zottel A, Jovčevska I, Vittori M, Rotter A, Komel R, Lah Turnšek T. TRIM28 Selective Nanobody Reduces Glioblastoma Stem Cell Invasion. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175141. [PMID: 34500575 PMCID: PMC8434287 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB), is the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumour in adults. Intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity, infiltrative GB cell invasion and presence of therapy-resistant GB stem cells (GSCs) represent major obstacles to favourable prognosis and poor therapy response. Identifying the biomarkers of the most aggressive tumour cells and their more efficient targeting strategies are; therefore, crucial. Recently, transcription factor TRIM28 has been identified as a GB biomarker and, in this study, we have shown high expression of TRIM28 in GB and in low grade gliomas as well as higher expression in GSCs vs. differentiated GB cells, although in both cases not significant. We demonstrated significant in vitro inhibition of GB cells and GSCs invasiveness and spread in zebrafish brains in vivo by anti-TRIM28 selective nanobody NB237. TRIM28 was also enriched in GB (tumour) core and associated with the expression of stem cell genes, but was not prognostic for overall survival. However, based on the above results, we conclude that TRIM28 nanobody NB237 offers a new opportunity as a GB therapeutic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Porčnik
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Metka Novak
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.N.); (B.B.); (B.M.); (B.H.); (A.R.)
| | - Barbara Breznik
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.N.); (B.B.); (B.M.); (B.H.); (A.R.)
| | - Bernarda Majc
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.N.); (B.B.); (B.M.); (B.H.); (A.R.)
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Hrastar
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.N.); (B.B.); (B.M.); (B.H.); (A.R.)
| | - Neja Šamec
- Medical Centre for Molecular Biology, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.Š.); (A.Z.); (I.J.)
| | - Alja Zottel
- Medical Centre for Molecular Biology, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.Š.); (A.Z.); (I.J.)
| | - Ivana Jovčevska
- Medical Centre for Molecular Biology, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.Š.); (A.Z.); (I.J.)
| | - Miloš Vittori
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Ana Rotter
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.N.); (B.B.); (B.M.); (B.H.); (A.R.)
| | - Radovan Komel
- Medical Centre for Molecular Biology, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.Š.); (A.Z.); (I.J.)
- Correspondence: (R.K.); (T.L.T.)
| | - Tamara Lah Turnšek
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.N.); (B.B.); (B.M.); (B.H.); (A.R.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence: (R.K.); (T.L.T.)
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11
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Reimunde P, Pensado-López A, Carreira Crende M, Lombao Iglesias V, Sánchez L, Torrecilla-Parra M, Ramírez CM, Anfray C, Torres Andón F. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Glioblastoma and Zebrafish Models for the Discovery of New Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1087. [PMID: 33802571 PMCID: PMC7961726 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common of all brain malignant tumors; it displays a median survival of 14.6 months with current complete standard treatment. High heterogeneity, aggressive and invasive behavior, the impossibility of completing tumor resection, limitations for drug administration and therapeutic resistance to current treatments are the main problems presented by this pathology. In recent years, our knowledge of GBM physiopathology has advanced significantly, generating relevant information on the cellular heterogeneity of GBM tumors, including cancer and immune cells such as macrophages/microglia, genetic, epigenetic and metabolic alterations, comprising changes in miRNA expression. In this scenario, the zebrafish has arisen as a promising animal model to progress further due to its unique characteristics, such as transparency, ease of genetic manipulation, ethical and economic advantages and also conservation of the major brain regions and blood-brain-barrier (BBB) which are similar to a human structure. A few papers described in this review, using genetic and xenotransplantation zebrafish models have been used to study GBM as well as to test the anti-tumoral efficacy of new drugs, their ability to interact with target cells, modulate the tumor microenvironment, cross the BBB and/or their toxicity. Prospective studies following these lines of research may lead to a better diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Reimunde
- Department of Medicine, Campus de Oza, Universidade da Coruña, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, 27003 Lugo, Spain
| | - Alba Pensado-López
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martín Carreira Crende
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Vanesa Lombao Iglesias
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Marta Torrecilla-Parra
- IMDEA Research Institute of Food and Health Sciences, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (M.T.-P.); (C.M.R.)
| | - Cristina M. Ramírez
- IMDEA Research Institute of Food and Health Sciences, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (M.T.-P.); (C.M.R.)
| | - Clément Anfray
- IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via A. Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy;
| | - Fernando Torres Andón
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via A. Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy;
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12
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Antiangiogenic molecules from marine actinomycetes and the importance of using zebrafish model in cancer research. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05662. [PMID: 33319107 PMCID: PMC7725737 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessel sprouting from pre-existing vessels or angiogenesis plays a significant role in tumour progression. Development of novel biomolecules from marine natural sources has a promising role in drug discovery specifically in the area of antiangiogenic chemotherapeutics. Symbiotic actinomycetes from marine origin proved to be potent and valuable sources of antiangiogenic compounds. Zebrafish represent a well-established model for small molecular screening and employed to study tumour angiogenesis over the last decade. Use of zebrafish has increased in the laboratory due to its various advantages like rapid embryo development, optically transparent embryos, large clutch size of embryos and most importantly high genetic conservation comparable to humans. Zebrafish also shares similar physiopathology of tumour angiogenesis with humans and with these advantages, zebrafish has become a popular model in the past decade to study on angiogenesis related disorders like diabetic retinopathy and cancer. This review focuses on the importance of antiangiogenic compounds from marine actinomycetes and utility of zebrafish in cancer angiogenesis research.
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13
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Targen S, Kaya T, Avci ME, Gunes D, Keskus AG, Konu O. ZenoFishDb v1.1: A Database for Xenotransplantation Studies in Zebrafish. Zebrafish 2020; 17:305-318. [PMID: 32931381 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2020.1869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly accumulating literature has proven feasibility of the zebrafish xenograft models in cancer research. Nevertheless, online databases for searching the current zebrafish xenograft literature are in great demand. Herein, we have developed a manually curated database, called ZenoFishDb v1.1 (https://konulab.shinyapps.io/zenofishdb), based on R Shiny platform aiming to provide searchable information on ever increasing collection of zebrafish studies for cancer cell line transplantation and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). ZenoFishDb v1.1 user interface contains four modules: DataTable, Visualization, PDX Details, and PDX Charts. The DataTable and Visualization pages represent xenograft study details, including injected cell lines, PDX injections, molecular modifications of cell lines, zebrafish strains, as well as technical aspects of the xenotransplantation procedures in table, bar, and/or pie chart formats. The PDX Details module provides comprehensive information on the patient details in table format and can be searched and visualized. Overall, ZenoFishDb v1.1 enables researchers to effectively search, list, and visualize different technical and biological attributes of zebrafish xenotransplantation studies particularly focusing on the new trends that make use of reporters, RNA interference, overexpression, or mutant gene constructs of transplanted cancer cells, stem cells, and PDXs, as well as distinguished host modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seniye Targen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Tuğberk Kaya
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M Ender Avci
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Damla Gunes
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ayse Gokce Keskus
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ozlen Konu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.,UNAM-Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
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14
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Yan C, Do D, Yang Q, Brunson DC, JF R, Langenau DM. Single-cell imaging of human cancer xenografts using adult immunodeficient zebrafish. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:3105-3128. [PMID: 32826993 PMCID: PMC8097243 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0372-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish are an ideal cell transplantation model. They are highly fecund, optically clear and an excellent platform for preclinical drug discovery studies. Traditionally, xenotransplantation has been carried out using larval zebrafish that have not yet developed adaptive immunity. Larval engraftment is a powerful short-term transplant platform amenable to high-throughput drug screening studies, yet animals eventually reject tumors and cannot be raised at 37 °C. To address these limitations, we have recently developed adult casper-strain prkdc-/-, il2rgα-/- immunocompromised zebrafish that robustly engraft human cancer cells for in excess of 28 d. Because the adult zebrafish can be administered drugs by oral gavage or i.p. injection, our model is suitable for achieving accurate, preclinical drug dosing. Our platform also allows facile visualization of drug effects in vivo at single-cell resolution over days. Here, we describe the procedures for xenograft cell transplantation into the prkdc-/-, il2rgα-/- model, including refined husbandry protocols for optimal growth and rearing of immunosuppressed zebrafish at 37 °C; optimized intraperitoneal and periocular muscle cell transplantation; and epifluorescence and confocal imaging approaches to visualize the effects of administering clinically relevant drug dosing at single-cell resolution in vivo. After identification of adult homozygous animals, this procedure takes 35 d to complete. 7 days are required to acclimate adult fish to 37 °C, and 28 d are required for engraftment studies. Our protocol provides a comprehensive guide for using immunocompromised zebrafish for xenograft cell transplantation and credentials the model as a new preclinical drug discovery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Yan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Mass General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129,Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Daniel Do
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Mass General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129,Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Qiqi Yang
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Mass General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129,Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Dalton C. Brunson
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Mass General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129,Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Rawls JF
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David M. Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Mass General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129,Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129,Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139,Lead contact
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15
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Herbener VJ, Burster T, Goreth A, Pruss M, von Bandemer H, Baisch T, Fitzel R, Siegelin MD, Karpel-Massler G, Debatin KM, Westhoff MA, Strobel H. Considering the Experimental use of Temozolomide in Glioblastoma Research. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E151. [PMID: 32512726 PMCID: PMC7344626 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8060151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) currently remains the only chemotherapeutic component in the approved treatment scheme for Glioblastoma (GB), the most common primary brain tumour with a dismal patient's survival prognosis of only ~15 months. While frequently described as an alkylating agent that causes DNA damage and thus-ultimately-cell death, a recent debate has been initiated to re-evaluate the therapeutic role of TMZ in GB. Here, we discuss the experimental use of TMZ and highlight how it differs from its clinical role. Four areas could be identified in which the experimental data is particularly limited in its translational potential: 1. transferring clinical dosing and scheduling to an experimental system and vice versa; 2. the different use of (non-inert) solvent in clinic and laboratory; 3. the limitations of established GB cell lines which only poorly mimic GB tumours; and 4. the limitations of animal models lacking an immune response. Discussing these limitations in a broader biomedical context, we offer suggestions as to how to improve transferability of data. Finally, we highlight an underexplored function of TMZ in modulating the immune system, as an example of where the aforementioned limitations impede the progression of our knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena J. Herbener
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Timo Burster
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan;
| | - Alicia Goreth
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Maximilian Pruss
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, D-40225 Duesseldorf, Germany;
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Hélène von Bandemer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Tim Baisch
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Rahel Fitzel
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Markus D. Siegelin
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Georg Karpel-Massler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Klaus-Michael Debatin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Mike-Andrew Westhoff
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
| | - Hannah Strobel
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, D-89075 Ulm, Germany; (V.J.H.); (A.G.); (H.v.B.); (T.B.); (R.F.); (K.-M.D.); (H.S.)
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16
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Fanelli GN, Naccarato AG, Scatena C. Recent Advances in Cancer Plasticity: Cellular Mechanisms, Surveillance Strategies, and Therapeutic Optimization. Front Oncol 2020; 10:569. [PMID: 32391266 PMCID: PMC7188928 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The processes of recurrence and metastasis, through which cancer relapses locally or spreads to distant sites in the body, accounts for more than 90% of cancer-related deaths. At present there are very few treatment options for patients at this stage of their disease. The main obstacle to successfully treat advanced cancer is the cells' ability to change in ways that make them resistant to treatment. Understanding the cellular mechanisms that mediate this cancer cell plasticity may lead to improved patient survival. Epigenetic reprogramming, together with tumor microenvironment, drives such dynamic mechanisms favoring tumor heterogeneity, and cancer cell plasticity. In addition, the development of new approaches that can report on cancer plasticity in their native environment have profound implications for studying cancer biology and monitoring tumor progression. We herein provide an overview of recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms regulating cell plasticity and current strategies for their monitoring and therapy management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Nicolò Fanelli
- Division of Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Giuseppe Naccarato
- Division of Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristian Scatena
- Division of Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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17
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Xiao J, Glasgow E, Agarwal S. Zebrafish Xenografts for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine. Trends Cancer 2020; 6:569-579. [PMID: 32312681 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Given that cancer is a highly individualized disease, predicting the best chemotherapeutic treatment for individual patients can be difficult. Ex vivo models such as mouse patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and organoids are being developed to predict patient-specific chemosensitivity profiles before treatment in the clinic. Although promising, these models have significant disadvantages including long growth times that introduce genetic and epigenetic changes to the tumor. The zebrafish xenograft assay is ideal for personalized medicine. Imaging of the small, transparent fry is unparalleled among vertebrate organisms. In addition, the speed (5-7 days) and small patient tissue requirements (100-200 cells per animal) are unique features of the zebrafish xenograft model that enable patient-specific chemosensitivity analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Xiao
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Eric Glasgow
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
| | - Seema Agarwal
- Department of Pathology, Center for Cell Reprogramming, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
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18
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La transplantation de cellules tumorales chez le poisson zèbre : de la recherche translationnelle à la médecine personnalisée. Bull Cancer 2020; 107:30-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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19
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Tiek DM, Khatib SA, Trepicchio CJ, Heckler MM, Divekar SD, Sarkaria JN, Glasgow E, Riggins RB. Estrogen-related receptor β activation and isoform shifting by cdc2-like kinase inhibition restricts migration and intracranial tumor growth in glioblastoma. FASEB J 2019; 33:13476-13491. [PMID: 31570001 PMCID: PMC6894094 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901075r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM; grade 4 glioma) is a highly aggressive and incurable tumor. GBM has recently been characterized as highly dependent on alternative splicing, a critical driver of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity. Estrogen-related receptor β (ERR-β) is an orphan nuclear receptor expressed in the brain, where alternative splicing of the 3' end of the pre-mRNA leads to the production of 3 validated ERR-β protein products: ERR-β short form (ERR-βsf), ERR-β2, and ERR-β exon 10 deleted. Our prior studies have shown the ERR-β2 isoform to play a role in G2/M cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis, in contrast to the function of the shorter ERR-βsf isoform in senescence and G1 cell cycle arrest. In this study, we sought to better define the role of the proapoptotic ERR-β2 isoform in GBM. We show that the ERR-β2 isoform is located not only in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm. ERR-β2 suppresses GBM cell migration and interacts with the actin nucleation-promoting factor cortactin, and an ERR-β agonist is able to remodel the actin cytoskeleton and similarly suppress GBM cell migration. We further show that inhibition of the splicing regulatory cdc2-like kinases in combination with an ERR-β agonist shifts isoform expression in favor of ERR-β2 and potentiates inhibition of growth and migration in GBM cells and intracranial tumors.-Tiek, D. M., Khatib, S. A., Trepicchio, C. J., Heckler, M. M., Divekar, S. D., Sarkaria, J. N., Glasgow, E., Riggins, R. B. Estrogen-related receptor β activation and isoform shifting by cdc2-like kinase inhibition restricts migration and intracranial tumor growth in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna M. Tiek
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Subreen A. Khatib
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; and
| | - Colin J. Trepicchio
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Mary M. Heckler
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shailaja D. Divekar
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jann N. Sarkaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Eric Glasgow
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rebecca B. Riggins
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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20
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Hason M, Bartůněk P. Zebrafish Models of Cancer-New Insights on Modeling Human Cancer in a Non-Mammalian Vertebrate. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10110935. [PMID: 31731811 PMCID: PMC6896156 DOI: 10.3390/genes10110935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a valuable non-mammalian vertebrate model widely used to study development and disease, including more recently cancer. The evolutionary conservation of cancer-related programs between human and zebrafish is striking and allows extrapolation of research outcomes obtained in fish back to humans. Zebrafish has gained attention as a robust model for cancer research mainly because of its high fecundity, cost-effective maintenance, dynamic visualization of tumor growth in vivo, and the possibility of chemical screening in large numbers of animals at reasonable costs. Novel approaches in modeling tumor growth, such as using transgene electroporation in adult zebrafish, could improve our knowledge about the spatial and temporal control of cancer formation and progression in vivo. Looking at genetic as well as epigenetic alterations could be important to explain the pathogenesis of a disease as complex as cancer. In this review, we highlight classic genetic and transplantation models of cancer in zebrafish as well as provide new insights on advances in cancer modeling. Recent progress in zebrafish xenotransplantation studies and drug screening has shown that zebrafish is a reliable model to study human cancer and could be suitable for evaluating patient-derived xenograft cell invasiveness. Rapid, large-scale evaluation of in vivo drug responses and kinetics in zebrafish could undoubtedly lead to new applications in personalized medicine and combination therapy. For all of the above-mentioned reasons, zebrafish is approaching a future of being a pre-clinical cancer model, alongside the mouse. However, the mouse will continue to be valuable in the last steps of pre-clinical drug screening, mostly because of the highly conserved mammalian genome and biological processes.
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Yan C, Brunson DC, Tang Q, Do D, Iftimia NA, Moore JC, Hayes MN, Welker AM, Garcia EG, Dubash TD, Hong X, Drapkin BJ, Myers DT, Phat S, Volorio A, Marvin DL, Ligorio M, Dershowitz L, McCarthy KM, Karabacak MN, Fletcher JA, Sgroi DC, Iafrate JA, Maheswaran S, Dyson NJ, Haber DA, Rawls JF, Langenau DM. Visualizing Engrafted Human Cancer and Therapy Responses in Immunodeficient Zebrafish. Cell 2019; 177:1903-1914.e14. [PMID: 31031007 PMCID: PMC6570580 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Xenograft cell transplantation into immunodeficient mice has become the gold standard for assessing pre-clinical efficacy of cancer drugs, yet direct visualization of single-cell phenotypes is difficult. Here, we report an optically-clear prkdc-/-, il2rga-/- zebrafish that lacks adaptive and natural killer immune cells, can engraft a wide array of human cancers at 37°C, and permits the dynamic visualization of single engrafted cells. For example, photoconversion cell-lineage tracing identified migratory and proliferative cell states in human rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric cancer of muscle. Additional experiments identified the preclinical efficacy of combination olaparib PARP inhibitor and temozolomide DNA-damaging agent as an effective therapy for rhabdomyosarcoma and visualized therapeutic responses using a four-color FUCCI cell-cycle fluorescent reporter. These experiments identified that combination treatment arrested rhabdomyosarcoma cells in the G2 cell cycle prior to induction of apoptosis. Finally, patient-derived xenografts could be engrafted into our model, opening new avenues for developing personalized therapeutic approaches in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Yan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Dalton C Brunson
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - Qin Tang
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - Daniel Do
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - Nicolae A Iftimia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - John C Moore
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alessandra M Welker
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elaine G Garcia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Taronish D Dubash
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Xin Hong
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Benjamin J Drapkin
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - David T Myers
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sarah Phat
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Angela Volorio
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Dieuwke L Marvin
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Matteo Ligorio
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Lyle Dershowitz
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Karin M McCarthy
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Murat N Karabacak
- Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan A Fletcher
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dennis C Sgroi
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - John A Iafrate
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Shyamala Maheswaran
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Nick J Dyson
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Daniel A Haber
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - John F Rawls
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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van Bodegraven EJ, van Asperen JV, Robe PAJ, Hol EM. Importance of GFAP isoform-specific analyses in astrocytoma. Glia 2019; 67:1417-1433. [PMID: 30667110 PMCID: PMC6617972 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gliomas are a heterogenous group of malignant primary brain tumors that arise from glia cells or their progenitors and rely on accurate diagnosis for prognosis and treatment strategies. Although recent developments in the molecular biology of glioma have improved diagnosis, classical histological methods and biomarkers are still being used. The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a classical marker of astrocytoma, both in clinical and experimental settings. GFAP is used to determine glial differentiation, which is associated with a less malignant tumor. However, since GFAP is not only expressed by mature astrocytes but also by radial glia during development and neural stem cells in the adult brain, we hypothesized that GFAP expression in astrocytoma might not be a direct indication of glial differentiation and a less malignant phenotype. Therefore, we here review all existing literature from 1972 up to 2018 on GFAP expression in astrocytoma patient material to revisit GFAP as a marker of lower grade, more differentiated astrocytoma. We conclude that GFAP is heterogeneously expressed in astrocytoma, which most likely masks a consistent correlation of GFAP expression to astrocytoma malignancy grade. The GFAP positive cell population contains cells with differences in morphology, function, and differentiation state showing that GFAP is not merely a marker of less malignant and more differentiated astrocytoma. We suggest that discriminating between the GFAP isoforms GFAPδ and GFAPα will improve the accuracy of assessing the differentiation state of astrocytoma in clinical and experimental settings and will benefit glioma classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J van Bodegraven
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jessy V van Asperen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pierre A J Robe
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105, BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Multilayered Heterogeneity of Glioblastoma Stem Cells: Biological and Clinical Significance. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1139:1-21. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-14366-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Alamir H, Alomari M, Salwati AAA, Saka M, Bangash M, Baeesa S, Alghamdi F, Carracedo A, Schulten HJ, Chaudhary A, Abuzenadah A, Hussein D. In situ characterization of stem cells-like biomarkers in meningiomas. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:77. [PMID: 29849507 PMCID: PMC5970464 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0571-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Meningioma cancer stem cells (MCSCs) contribute to tumor aggressiveness and drug resistance. Successful therapies developed for inoperable, recurrent, or metastatic tumors must target these cells and restrict their contribution to tumor progression. Unfortunately, the identity of MCSCs remains elusive, and MSCSs’ in situ spatial distribution, heterogeneity, and relationship with tumor grade, remain unclear. Methods Seven tumors classified as grade II or grade III, including one case of metastatic grade III, and eight grade I meningioma tumors, were analyzed for combinations of ten stem cell (SC)-related markers using immunofluorescence of consecutive sections. The correlation of expression for all markers were investigated. Three dimensional spatial distribution of markers were qualitatively analyzed using a grid, designed as a repository of information for positive staining. All statistical analyses were completed using Statistical Analysis Software Package. Results The patterns of expression for SC-related markers were determined in the context of two dimensional distribution and cellular features. All markers could be detected in all tumors, however, Frizzled 9 and GFAP had differential expression in grade II/III compared with grade I meningioma tissues. Correlation analysis showed significant relationships between the expression of GFAP and CD133 as well as SSEA4 and Vimentin. Data from three dimensional analysis showed a complex distribution of SC markers, with increased gene hetero-expression being associated with grade II/III tumors. Sub regions that showed multiple co-staining of markers including CD133, Frizzled 9, GFAP, Vimentin, and SSEA4, but not necessarily the proliferation marker Ki67, were highly associated with grade II/III meningiomas. Conclusion The distribution and level of expression of CSCs markers in meningiomas are variable and show hetero-expression patterns that have a complex spatial nature, particularly in grade II/III meningiomas. Thus, results strongly support the notion of heterogeneous populations of CSCs, even in grade I meningiomas, and call for the use of multiple markers for the accurate identification of individual CSC subgroups. Such identification will lead to practical clinical diagnostic protocols that can quantitate CSCs, predict tumor recurrence, assist in guiding treatment selection for inoperable tumors, and improve follow up of therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12935-018-0571-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanin Alamir
- 1Centre of Innovation for Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona Alomari
- 2King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box. 80216, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulla Ahmed A Salwati
- 2King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box. 80216, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamad Saka
- 2King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box. 80216, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Bangash
- 3Division of Neurosurgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Baeesa
- 3Division of Neurosurgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Alghamdi
- 4Pathology Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Angel Carracedo
- 5Galician Foundation of Genomic Medicine-SERGAS, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,6Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Hans-Juergen Schulten
- 6Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Adeel Chaudhary
- 1Centre of Innovation for Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia.,6Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia.,7Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel Abuzenadah
- 1Centre of Innovation for Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia.,2King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box. 80216, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia.,7Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
| | - Deema Hussein
- 2King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box. 80216, Jeddah, 21589 Saudi Arabia
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Zebrafish in Translational Cancer Research: Insight into Leukemia, Melanoma, Glioma and Endocrine Tumor Biology. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8090236. [PMID: 28930163 PMCID: PMC5615369 DOI: 10.3390/genes8090236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, zebrafish have emerged as a powerful tool for studying human cancers. Transgenic techniques have been employed to model different types of tumors, including leukemia, melanoma, glioblastoma and endocrine tumors. These models present histopathological and molecular conservation with their human cancer counterparts and have been fundamental for understanding mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression. Moreover, xenotransplantation of human cancer cells in embryos or adult zebrafish offers the advantage of studying the behavior of human cancer cells in a live organism. Chemical-genetic screens using zebrafish embryos have uncovered novel druggable pathways and new therapeutic strategies, some of which are now tested in clinical trials. In this review, we will report on recent advances in using zebrafish as a model in cancer studies—with specific focus on four cancer types—where zebrafish has contributed to novel discoveries or approaches to novel therapies.
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