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Sun H, Li H, Guan Y, Yuan Y, Xu C, Fu D, Xie P, Li J, Zhao T, Wang X, Feng Y, Wang H, Gao S, Yang S, Shi Y, Liu J, Chang A, Huang C, Hao J. BICC1 drives pancreatic cancer stemness and chemoresistance by facilitating tryptophan metabolism. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj8650. [PMID: 38896624 PMCID: PMC11186499 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj8650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of malignancy-related deaths, with rapid development of drug resistance driven by pancreatic cancer stem cells. However, the mechanisms sustaining stemness and chemotherapy resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Bicaudal C homolog 1 (BICC1), an RNA binding protein regulating numerous cytoplasmic mRNAs, facilitates chemoresistance and stemness in PDAC. Mechanistically, BICC1 activated tryptophan catabolism in PDAC by up-regulating indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) expression, a tryptophan-catabolizing enzyme. Increased levels of tryptophan metabolites contribute to NAD+ synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, leading to a stem cell-like phenotype. Blocking BICC1/IDO1/tryptophan metabolism signaling greatly improves the gemcitabine (GEM) efficacy in several PDAC models with high BICC1 level. These findings indicate that BICC1 is a critical tryptophan metabolism regulator that drives the stemness and chemoresistance of PDAC and thus a potential target for combinatorial therapeutic strategy against chemoresistance.
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MESH Headings
- Tryptophan/metabolism
- Humans
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Animals
- Mice
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics
- Gemcitabine
- Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives
- Deoxycytidine/pharmacology
- RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism
- Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhi Sun
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yuqi Guan
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yudong Yuan
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Chao Xu
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Danqi Fu
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Peng Xie
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Jianming Li
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Tiansuo Zhao
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Xiuchao Wang
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Yukuan Feng
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Song Gao
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Shengyu Yang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Yi Shi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Neurovascular Regulation, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Antao Chang
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Chongbiao Huang
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Jihui Hao
- Pancreas Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer, Tianjin, P. R. China
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Uehara M, Domoto T, Takenaka S, Takeuchi O, Shimasaki T, Miyashita T, Minamoto T. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β: the nexus of chemoresistance, invasive capacity, and cancer stemness in pancreatic cancer. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2024; 7:4. [PMID: 38318525 PMCID: PMC10838383 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The treatment of pancreatic cancer remains a significant clinical challenge due to the limited number of patients eligible for curative (R0) surgery, failures in the clinical development of targeted and immune therapies, and the pervasive acquisition of chemotherapeutic resistance. Refractory pancreatic cancer is typified by high invasiveness and resistance to therapy, with both attributes related to tumor cell stemness. These malignant characteristics mutually enhance each other, leading to rapid cancer progression. Over the past two decades, numerous studies have produced evidence of the pivotal role of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3β in the progression of over 25 different cancer types, including pancreatic cancer. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge on the pathological roles of aberrant GSK3β in supporting tumor cell proliferation and invasion, as well as its contribution to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. Importantly, we discuss the central role of GSK3β as a molecular hub that mechanistically connects chemoresistance, tumor cell invasion, and stemness in pancreatic cancer. We also discuss the involvement of GSK3β in the formation of desmoplastic tumor stroma and in promoting anti-cancer immune evasion, both of which constitute major obstacles to successful cancer treatment. Overall, GSK3β has characteristics of a promising therapeutic target to overcome chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Uehara
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Takahiro Domoto
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Satoshi Takenaka
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama 939-8511, Japan
| | - Osamu Takeuchi
- Biomedical Laboratory, Department of Research, Kitasato University Kitasato Institute Hospital, Tokyo 108-8642, Japan
| | - Takeo Shimasaki
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, Japan
| | - Tomoharu Miyashita
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama 939-8511, Japan
| | - Toshinari Minamoto
- Division of Translational and Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0934, Japan
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3
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Alcalá S, Villarino L, Ruiz-Cañas L, Couceiro JR, Martínez-Calvo M, Palencia-Campos A, Navarro D, Cabezas-Sainz P, Rodriguez-Arabaolaza I, Cordero-Barreal A, Trilla-Fuertes L, Rubiolo JA, Batres-Ramos S, Vallespinos M, González-Páramos C, Rodríguez J, Gámez-Pozo A, Vara JÁF, Fernández SF, Berlinches AB, Moreno-Mata N, Redondo AMT, Carrato A, Hermann PC, Sánchez L, Torrente S, Fernández-Moreno MÁ, Mascareñas JL, Sainz B. Targeting cancer stem cell OXPHOS with tailored ruthenium complexes as a new anti-cancer strategy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:33. [PMID: 38281027 PMCID: PMC10821268 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02931-7] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies by our group have shown that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is the main pathway by which pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) meet their energetic requirements; therefore, OXPHOS represents an Achille's heel of these highly tumorigenic cells. Unfortunately, therapies that target OXPHOS in CSCs are lacking. METHODS The safety and anti-CSC activity of a ruthenium complex featuring bipyridine and terpyridine ligands and one coordination labile position (Ru1) were evaluated across primary pancreatic cancer cultures and in vivo, using 8 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). RNAseq analysis followed by mitochondria-specific molecular assays were used to determine the mechanism of action. RESULTS We show that Ru1 is capable of inhibiting CSC OXPHOS function in vitro, and more importantly, it presents excellent anti-cancer activity, with low toxicity, across a large panel of human pancreatic PDXs, as well as in colorectal cancer and osteosarcoma PDXs. Mechanistic studies suggest that this activity stems from Ru1 binding to the D-loop region of the mitochondrial DNA of CSCs, inhibiting OXPHOS complex-associated transcription, leading to reduced mitochondrial oxygen consumption, membrane potential, and ATP production, all of which are necessary for CSCs, which heavily depend on mitochondrial respiration. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the coordination complex Ru1 represents not only an exciting new anti-cancer agent, but also a molecular tool to dissect the role of OXPHOS in CSCs. Results indicating that the compound is safe, non-toxic and highly effective in vivo are extremely exciting, and have allowed us to uncover unprecedented mechanistic possibilities to fight different cancer types based on targeting CSC OXPHOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Alcalá
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lara Villarino
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Laura Ruiz-Cañas
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - José R Couceiro
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel Martínez-Calvo
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Adrián Palencia-Campos
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Navarro
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Cabezas-Sainz
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Veterinary Faculty, USC, Lugo, Spain
| | - Iker Rodriguez-Arabaolaza
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencia y Técnología, Universidad del País Vasco, 48940, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Alfonso Cordero-Barreal
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Trilla-Fuertes
- Molecular Oncology and Pathology Lab, Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular-INGEMM, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedica Molecular Medicine SL, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A Rubiolo
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Veterinary Faculty, USC, Lugo, Spain
| | - Sandra Batres-Ramos
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mireia Vallespinos
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina González-Páramos
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jéssica Rodríguez
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Angelo Gámez-Pozo
- Molecular Oncology and Pathology Lab, Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular-INGEMM, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedica Molecular Medicine SL, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Ángel Fresno Vara
- Molecular Oncology and Pathology Lab, Instituto de Genética Médica y Molecular-INGEMM, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz-IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área Cáncer, CIBERONC, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Fra Fernández
- Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amparo Benito Berlinches
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicolás Moreno-Mata
- Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Alfredo Carrato
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área Cáncer, CIBERONC, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
- Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE) Chairperson, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Veterinary Faculty, USC, Lugo, Spain
| | - Susana Torrente
- Valuation, Transfer and Entrepreneurship Area, USC, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Fernández-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Rare Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Mascareñas
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Bruno Sainz
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, School of Medicine and Department of Cancer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) Sols-Morreale (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain.
- Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3 Cancer, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Área Cáncer, CIBERONC, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
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Microbiota-Derived Natural Products Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Inside the Gut Pharma Factory. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054997. [PMID: 36902427 PMCID: PMC10003410 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have drawn much attention as important tumour-initiating cells that may also be crucial for recurrence after chemotherapy. Although the activity of CSCs in various forms of cancer is complex and yet to be fully elucidated, opportunities for therapies targeting CSCs exist. CSCs are molecularly distinct from bulk tumour cells, so they can be targeted by exploiting their signature molecular pathways. Inhibiting stemness has the potential to reduce the risk posed by CSCs by limiting or eliminating their capacity for tumorigenesis, proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence. Here, we briefly described the role of CSCs in tumour biology, the mechanisms involved in CSC therapy resistance, and the role of the gut microbiota in cancer development and treatment, to then review and discuss the current advances in the discovery of microbiota-derived natural compounds targeting CSCs. Collectively, our overview suggests that dietary intervention, toward the production of those identified microbial metabolites capable of suppressing CSC properties, is a promising approach to support standard chemotherapy.
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Parejo-Alonso B, Royo-García A, Espiau-Romera P, Courtois S, Curiel-García Á, Zagorac S, Villaoslada I, Olive KP, Heeschen C, Sancho P. Pharmacological targeting of the receptor ALK inhibits tumorigenicity and overcomes chemoresistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114162. [PMID: 36571997 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely aggressive disease characterized by its metastatic potential and chemoresistance. These traits are partially attributable to the highly tumorigenic pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs). Interestingly, these cells show unique features in order to sustain their identity and functionality, some of them amenable for therapeutic intervention. Screening of phospho-receptor tyrosine kinases revealed that PaCSCs harbored increased activation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). We subsequently demonstrated that oncogenic ALK signaling contributes to tumorigenicity in PDAC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) by promoting stemness through ligand-dependent activation. Indeed, the ALK ligands midkine (MDK) or pleiotrophin (PTN) increased self-renewal, clonogenicity and CSC frequency in several in vitro local and metastatic PDX models. Conversely, treatment with the clinically-approved ALK inhibitors Crizotinib and Ensartinib decreased PaCSC content and functionality in vitro and in vivo, by inducing cell death. Strikingly, ALK inhibitors sensitized chemoresistant PaCSCs to Gemcitabine, as the most used chemotherapeutic agent for PDAC treatment. Consequently, ALK inhibition delayed tumor relapse after chemotherapy in vivo by effectively decreasing the content of PaCSCs. In summary, our results demonstrate that targeting the MDK/PTN-ALK axis with clinically-approved inhibitors impairs in vivo tumorigenicity and chemoresistance in PDAC suggesting a new treatment approach to improve the long-term survival of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Parejo-Alonso
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alba Royo-García
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar Espiau-Romera
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sarah Courtois
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Álvaro Curiel-García
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Liver Diseases and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sladjana Zagorac
- Center for Stem Cells in Cancer & Ageing (Barts Cancer Institute), London, UK
| | - Isabel Villaoslada
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Institute of Engineering Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Kenneth P Olive
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Liver Diseases and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China; Pancreatic Cancer Heterogeneity, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo (Torino), Italy
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain.
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6
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Wei W, Wang J, Hu Y, Chen S, Liu J. Emodin reverses resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer by suppressing stemness through regulation of the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition. Exp Ther Med 2022; 25:7. [PMID: 36545274 PMCID: PMC9748633 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of emodin (Emo) on gemcitabine (GEM)-resistant pancreatic cancer. GEM-resistant SW1990 cells (SW1990/GZ) were established by successively doubling the concentration of GEM. Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis. Cell migration was assessed using a Transwell assay. Sphere and colony-formation assays were used to evaluate cell self-renewal. The expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stem cell biomarkers were determined using western blotting. Snail family transcriptional repressor 1 gene (Snail) was overexpressed by transfecting cells with pcDNA3.1-Snail plasmids. A xenograft model was established in nude mice by using SW1990/GZ and Snail-overexpressing SW1990/GZ cells. Proliferation, migration, self-renewal and EMT progression of GEM-treated SW1990/GZ cells were significantly suppressed in vitro by Emo treatment, whereas the overexpression of Snail abolished the aforementioned effects. In in vivo, the antitumor activity of GEM and the inhibitory effect of GEM against EMT progression and stem-like characteristics were enhanced by treatment with Emo, whilst overexpression of Snail reversed these effects. In conclusion, Emo reversed GEM resistance in pancreatic cancer by suppressing stemness and regulating EMT progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weitian Wei
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Jiangfeng Wang
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Yuqian Hu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Sheng Chen
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Jinshi Liu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China,Correspondence to: Dr Jinshi Liu, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
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Martín-Rubio P, Espiau-Romera P, Royo-García A, Caja L, Sancho P. Metabolic determinants of stemness in medulloblastoma. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:587-598. [PMID: 36157911 PMCID: PMC9453267 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i8.587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastomas (MBs) are the most prevalent brain tumours in children. They are classified as grade IV, the highest in malignancy, with about 30% metastatic tumours at the time of diagnosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of tumour cells that can initiate and support tumour growth. In MB, CSCs contribute to tumour initiation, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Metabolic differences among the different MB groups have started to emerge. Sonic hedgehog tumours show enriched lipid and nucleic acid metabolism pathways, whereas Group 3 MBs upregulate glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glutamine anabolism, and glutathione-mediated anti-oxidant pathways. Such differences impact the clinical behaviour of MB tumours and can be exploited therapeutically. In this review, we summarise the existing knowledge about metabolic rewiring in MB, with a particular focus on MB-CSCs. Finally, we highlight some of the emerging metabolism-based therapeutic strategies for MB.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alba Royo-García
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Laia Caja
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751, Sweden
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
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8
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Zuzčák M, Trnka J. Cellular metabolism in pancreatic cancer as a tool for prognosis and treatment (Review). Int J Oncol 2022; 61:93. [PMID: 35730611 PMCID: PMC9256076 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) has one of the highest fatality rates and the currently available therapeutic options are not sufficient to improve its overall poor prognosis. In addition to insufficient effectiveness of anticancer treatments, the lack of clear early symptoms and early metastatic spread maintain the PC survival rates at a low level. Metabolic reprogramming is among the hallmarks of cancer and could be exploited for the diagnosis and treatment of PC. PC is characterized by its heterogeneity and, apart from molecular subtypes, the identification of metabolic subtypes in PC could aid in the development of more individualized therapeutic approaches and may lead to improved clinical outcomes. In addition to the deregulated utilization of glucose in aerobic glycolysis, PC cells can use a wide range of substrates, including branched‑chain amino acids, glutamine and lipids to fulfil their energy requirements, as well as biosynthetic needs. The tumor microenvironment in PC supports tumor growth, metastatic spread, treatment resistance and the suppression of the host immune response. Moreover, reciprocal interactions between cancer and stromal cells enhance their metabolic reprogramming. PC stem cells (PCSCs) with an increased resistance and distinct metabolic properties are associated with disease relapses and cancer spread, and represent another significant candidate for therapeutic targeting. The present review discusses the metabolic signatures observed in PC, a disease with a multifaceted and often transient metabolic landscape. In addition, the metabolic pathways utilized by PC cells, as well as stromal cells are discussed, providing examples of how they could present novel targets for therapeutic interventions and elaborating on how interactions between the various cell types affect their metabolism. Furthermore, the importance of PCSCs is discussed, focusing specifically on their metabolic adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zuzčák
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 10000 Prague, Czech Republic
- Center for Research on Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 10000 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Trnka
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 10000 Prague, Czech Republic
- Center for Research on Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 10000 Prague, Czech Republic
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9
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3-Bromo-Isoxazoline Derivatives Inhibit GAPDH Enzyme in PDAC Cells Triggering Autophagy and Apoptotic Cell Death. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133153. [PMID: 35804925 PMCID: PMC9264795 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing interest in the study of aerobic glycolysis as a key pathway for cancer-cell energetic metabolism, favouring tumour progression and invasion, has led to consider GAPDH as an effective drug target to specifically hit cancer cells. In this study, we have investigated a panel of 3-bromo-isoxazoline derivatives based on previously identified inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum GAPDH (PfGAPDH). The compounds are active, to a different extent, as inhibitors of human-recombinant GAPDH. They showed an antiproliferative effect on pancreatic ductal-adenocarcinoma cells (PDAC) and pancreatic-cancer stem cells (CSCs), and among them two promising compounds were selected to be tested in vivo. Interestingly, these compounds were not effective in fibroblasts. The AXP-3019 derivative was able to block PDAC-cell growth in mice xenograft without apparent toxicity. The overall results support the assumption that selective inhibition of the glycolytic pathway, by targeting GAPDH, is an effective therapy for pancreatic cancer and that 3-bromo-isoxazoline derivatives represent a new class of anti-cancer compounds targeting glycolysis.
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10
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Gulla A, Andriusaityte U, Zdanys GT, Babonaite E, Strupas K, Kelly H. The Impact of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metformin on Pancreatic Cancer Chemoresistance: A Pathway towards Individualized Therapy. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:467. [PMID: 35454306 PMCID: PMC9032206 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Globally, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains among the most aggressive forms of neoplastic diseases, having a dismal prognostic outcome. Recent findings elucidated that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can play an important role in pancreatic tumorigenic processes, as it contributes to the manifestation of malignant proliferative masses, which impede adequate drug delivery. An organized literature search with PubMed, Scopus, Microsoft Academic and the Cochrane library was performed for articles published in English from 2011 to 2021 to review and summarize the latest updates and knowledge on the current understanding of EMT and its implications for tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. Furthermore, in the present paper, we investigate the recent findings on metformin as a possible neoadjuvant chemotherapy agent, which affects EMT progression and potentially provides superior oncological outcomes for PDAC patients. Our main conclusions indicate that selectively suppressing EMT in pancreatic cancer cells has a promising therapeutic utility by selectively targeting the chemotherapy-resistant sub-population of cancer stem cells, inhibiting tumor growth via EMT pathways and thereby improving remission in PDAC patients. Moreover, given that TGF-β1-driven EMT generates the migration of tumor-initiating cells by directly linking the acquisition of abnormal cellular motility with the maintenance of tumor initiating potency, the chemoprevention of TGF-β1-induced EMT may have promising clinical applications in the therapeutic management of PDAC outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiste Gulla
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Surgery, Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Santariskiu Str. 2, 08661 Vilnius, Lithuania;
- Center of Visceral Medicine and Translational Research, Department of Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road Northwest BLES Building 1st. Floor, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Urte Andriusaityte
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio Str. 21, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (U.A.); (G.T.Z.); (E.B.)
| | - Gabrielius Tomas Zdanys
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio Str. 21, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (U.A.); (G.T.Z.); (E.B.)
| | - Elena Babonaite
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio Str. 21, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (U.A.); (G.T.Z.); (E.B.)
| | - Kestutis Strupas
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Surgery, Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Santariskiu Str. 2, 08661 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Helena Kelly
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen’s Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland;
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11
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A New Stemness-Related Prognostic Model for Predicting the Prognosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:6669570. [PMID: 34671679 PMCID: PMC8523240 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6669570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective This study is aimed at identifying stemness-related genes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods The RNA-seq data of PADC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. The mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) and epigenetically regulated mRNAsi (EREG-mRNAsi) of PADC patients were evaluated. The mRNAsi-related gene sets in PADC were identified by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). The key genes were further analyzed using functional enrichment analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to evaluate the prognostic value of the key genes. Prognostic hub genes were used to establish nomograms. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, concordance index (C-index), and calibration curves were used to assess the discrimination and accuracy of the nomogram. Finally, these results were validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Results A total of 36 key genes related to mRNAsi were identified by WGCNA. A prognostic gene signature compromising seven genes (TPX2, ZWINT, UBE2C, CCNB2, CDK1, BUB1, and BIRC5) was established to predict the overall survival (OS) of PADC patients. The Cox regression analysis revealed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for PADC. Patients were then divided into the high-risk and low-risk groups. The ROC curves, C-index, and calibration curves indicated good performance of the prognostic signature in the TCGA and GEO datasets. Moreover, the nomogram incorporating clinical parameters showed better sensitivity and specificity for predicting the OS of PADC patients. Conclusion The stemness-related prognostic model successfully predicted the OS of PADC patients and could be used for the treatment of PADC.
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12
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Barman S, Fatima I, Singh AB, Dhawan P. Pancreatic Cancer and Therapy: Role and Regulation of Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094765. [PMID: 33946266 PMCID: PMC8124621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant improvements in clinical management, pancreatic cancer (PC) remains one of the deadliest cancer types, as it is prone to late detection with extreme metastatic properties. The recent findings that pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) contribute to the tumorigenesis, progression, and chemoresistance have offered significant insight into the cancer malignancy and development of precise therapies. However, the heterogeneity of cancer and signaling pathways that regulate PC have posed limitations in the effective targeting of the PaCSCs. In this regard, the role for K-RAS, TP53, Transforming Growth Factor-β, hedgehog, Wnt and Notch and other signaling pathways in PC progression is well documented. In this review, we discuss the role of PaCSCs, the underlying molecular and signaling pathways that help promote pancreatic cancer development and metastasis with a specific focus on the regulation of PaCSCs. We also discuss the therapeutic approaches that target different PaCSCs, intricate mechanisms, and therapeutic opportunities to eliminate heterogeneous PaCSCs populations in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Barman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.B.); (I.F.); (A.B.S.)
| | - Iram Fatima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.B.); (I.F.); (A.B.S.)
| | - Amar B. Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.B.); (I.F.); (A.B.S.)
- VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Punita Dhawan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.B.); (I.F.); (A.B.S.)
- VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Correspondence:
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13
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Raj D, Nikolaidi M, Garces I, Lorizio D, Castro NM, Caiafa SG, Moore K, Brown NF, Kocher HM, Duan X, Nelson BH, Lemoine NR, Marshall JF. CEACAM7 Is an Effective Target for CAR T-cell Therapy of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1538-1552. [PMID: 33479048 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether CEACAM7 represents a novel therapeutic target for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and to generate CEACAM7-targeting CAR T cells to test this hypothesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We identified CEACAM7 (CGM2), a member of the CEA family of proteins with expression restricted to the colon and pancreas, as a potential CAR T-cell target for PDAC. We probed a panel of PDAC tumor sections as well as patient-derived PDAC cell cultures for CEACAM7 expression. We generated CAR-targeting CEACAM7, and assessed antitumor efficacy of CEACAM7 CAR T cells using in vitro and in vivo models. RESULTS We show here that CEACAM7 is expressed in a large subset of PDAC tumors, with low to undetectable expression in all normal tissues tested. CEACAM7 is also expressed in primary PDAC cultures isolated from patient-derived tumors, with high expression within the cancer stem cell-enriched subset. CAR T cells targeting CEACAM7 are capable of targeting antigen-expressing tumor cells, and mediate remission in patient-derived xenograft tumors. CONCLUSIONS We identify CEACAM7 as a potential therapeutic target in PDAC and describe the development of CEACAM7-targeted CAR T cells with efficacy against PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Raj
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Nikolaidi
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Garces
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Lorizio
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia M Castro
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sabrina G Caiafa
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Moore
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas F Brown
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hemant M Kocher
- Director of the Barts Pancreatic Cancer Tissue Bank, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaobo Duan
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Victoria, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Brad H Nelson
- Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Victoria, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nicholas R Lemoine
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- Director, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence
| | - John F Marshall
- Centre for Tumor Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK Centre of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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14
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Courtois S, de Luxán-Delgado B, Penin-Peyta L, Royo-García A, Parejo-Alonso B, Jagust P, Alcalá S, Rubiolo JA, Sánchez L, Sainz B, Heeschen C, Sancho P. Inhibition of Mitochondrial Dynamics Preferentially Targets Pancreatic Cancer Cells with Enhanced Tumorigenic and Invasive Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:698. [PMID: 33572276 PMCID: PMC7914708 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest tumors, partly due to its intrinsic aggressiveness, metastatic potential, and chemoresistance of the contained cancer stem cells (CSCs). Pancreatic CSCs strongly rely on mitochondrial metabolism to maintain their stemness, therefore representing a putative target for their elimination. Since mitochondrial homeostasis depends on the tightly controlled balance between fusion and fission processes, namely mitochondrial dynamics, we aim to study this mechanism in the context of stemness. In human PDAC tissues, the mitochondrial fission gene DNM1L (DRP1) was overexpressed and positively correlated with the stemness signature. Moreover, we observe that primary human CSCs display smaller mitochondria and a higher DRP1/MFN2 expression ratio, indicating the activation of the mitochondrial fission. Interestingly, treatment with the DRP1 inhibitor mDivi-1 induced dose-dependent apoptosis, especially in CD133+ CSCs, due to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria and the subsequent energy crisis in this subpopulation. Mechanistically, mDivi-1 inhibited stemness-related features, such as self-renewal, tumorigenicity, and invasiveness and chemosensitized the cells to the cytotoxic effects of Gemcitabine. In summary, mitochondrial fission is an essential process for pancreatic CSCs and represents an attractive target for designing novel multimodal treatments that will more efficiently eliminate cells with high tumorigenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Courtois
- Translational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (S.C.); (A.R.-G.); (B.P.-A.)
| | - Beatriz de Luxán-Delgado
- Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer & Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (B.d.L.-D.); (L.P.-P.); (P.J.)
| | - Laure Penin-Peyta
- Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer & Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (B.d.L.-D.); (L.P.-P.); (P.J.)
| | - Alba Royo-García
- Translational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (S.C.); (A.R.-G.); (B.P.-A.)
| | - Beatriz Parejo-Alonso
- Translational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (S.C.); (A.R.-G.); (B.P.-A.)
| | - Petra Jagust
- Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer & Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK; (B.d.L.-D.); (L.P.-P.); (P.J.)
| | - Sonia Alcalá
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) “Alberto Sols” CSIC-UAM, Autónoma University of Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (S.A.); (B.S.J.)
- Chronic Diseases and Cancer, Area 3, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan A. Rubiolo
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (J.A.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (J.A.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Bruno Sainz
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (IIBm) “Alberto Sols” CSIC-UAM, Autónoma University of Madrid (UAM), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (S.A.); (B.S.J.)
- Chronic Diseases and Cancer, Area 3, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Center for Single-Cell Omics, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Translational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (S.C.); (A.R.-G.); (B.P.-A.)
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15
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Jagust P, Alcalá S, Jr BS, Heeschen C, Sancho P. Glutathione metabolism is essential for self-renewal and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer stem cells. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:1410-1428. [PMID: 33312407 PMCID: PMC7705467 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i11.1410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular metabolism regulates stemness in health and disease. A reduced redox state is essential for self-renewal of normal and cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, while stem cells rely on glycolysis, different CSCs, including pancreatic CSCs, favor mitochondrial metabolism as their dominant energy-producing pathway. This suggests that powerful antioxidant networks must be in place to detoxify mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and maintain stemness in oxidative CSCs. Since glutathione metabolism is critical for normal stem cell function and CSCs from breast, liver and gastric cancer show increased glutathione content, we hypothesized that pancreatic CSCs also rely on this pathway for ROS detoxification.
AIM To investigate the role of glutathione metabolism in pancreatic CSCs.
METHODS Primary pancreatic cancer cells of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were cultured in adherent or CSC-enriching sphere conditions to determine the role of glutathione metabolism in stemness. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to validate RNAseq results involving glutathione metabolism genes in adherent vs spheres, as well as the expression of pluripotency-related genes following treatment. Public TCGA and GTEx RNAseq data from pancreatic cancer vs normal tissue samples were analyzed using the webserver GEPIA2. The glutathione-sensitive fluorescent probe monochlorobimane was used to determine glutathione content by fluorimetry or flow cytometry. Pharmacological inhibitors of glutathione synthesis and recycling [buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO) and 6-Aminonicotinamide (6-AN), respectively] were used to investigate the impact of glutathione depletion on CSC-enriched cultures. Staining with propidium iodide (cell cycle), Annexin-V (apoptosis) and CD133 (CSC content) were determined by flow cytometry. Self-renewal was assessed by sphere formation assay and response to gemcitabine treatment was used as a readout for chemoresistance.
RESULTS Analysis of our previously published RNAseq dataset E-MTAB-3808 revealed up-regulation of genes involved in the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) Pathway Glutathione Metabolism in CSC-enriched cultures compared to their differentiated counterparts. Consistently, in pancreatic cancer patient samples the expression of most of these up-regulated genes positively correlated with a stemness signature defined by NANOG, KLF4, SOX2 and OCT4 expression (P < 10-5). Moreover, 3 of the upregulated genes (MGST1, GPX8, GCCT) were associated with reduced disease-free survival in patients [Hazard ratio (HR) 2.2-2.5; P = 0.03-0.0054], suggesting a critical role for this pathway in pancreatic cancer progression. CSC-enriched sphere cultures also showed increased expression of different glutathione metabolism-related genes, as well as enhanced glutathione content in its reduced form (GSH). Glutathione depletion with BSO induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in spheres, and diminished the expression of stemness genes. Moreover, treatment with either BSO or the glutathione recycling inhibitor 6-AN inhibited self-renewal and the expression of the CSC marker CD133. GSH content in spheres positively correlated with intrinsic resistance to gemcitabine treatment in different PDXs r = 0.96, P = 5.8 × 1011). Additionally, CD133+ cells accumulated GSH in response to gemcitabine, which was abrogated by BSO treatment (P < 0.05). Combined treatment with BSO and gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in CD133+ cells to levels comparable to CD133- cells and significantly diminished self-renewal (P < 0.05), suggesting that chemoresistance of CSCs is partially dependent on GSH metabolism.
CONCLUSION Our data suggest that pancreatic CSCs depend on glutathione metabolism. Pharmacological targeting of this pathway showed that high GSH content is essential to maintain CSC functionality in terms of self-renewal and chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Jagust
- Molecular Pathology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Sonia Alcalá
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" CSIC-UAM, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Bruno Sainz Jr
- Department of Biochemistry, Autónoma University of Madrid, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" CSIC-UAM, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Center for Single-Cell Omics & Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragon, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
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16
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Choi JI, Jang SI, Hong J, Kim CH, Kwon SS, Park JS, Lim JB. Cancer-initiating cells in human pancreatic cancer organoids are maintained by interactions with endothelial cells. Cancer Lett 2020; 498:42-53. [PMID: 33188841 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) shows poor prognosis and high malignancy due to the presence of cancer-initiating cells (CICs) and characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Organoids are useful for studying PDAC, and establishing organoids is dependent on stem cell growth factors, including Wnt signaling. Herein, using a conventional organoid culture system, we demonstrated that CD44(+)CD24(+) and CD44(+)CD24(+)EpCAM(+) CICs were enriched >65% in a PDAC patient-derived organoid. CICs expressing CD44 formed lumen structures by gathering into circles. Additionally, organoid-derived CD44(-) cancer cells were capable of organoid re-formation and could be re-programed as CD44-expressing CICs in the organoid culture system. To mimic a TME absent artificial stem cell growth factors, a PDAC organoid with vascular niche was established. CICs in the PDAC tumor organoid were maintained by paracrine effects and direct interactions with endothelial cells. Interestingly, CD44(+) cells in PDAC tumor tissue were detected primarily in the vascular niche. Inhibiting both Wnt and Notch signaling in endothelial cells suppressed organoid formation and the maintenance of CD24(+)CD44(+) CICs. Collectively, our results suggest that PDAC patient-derived organoids maintain CICs by interacting with endothelial cells via Wnt and Notch pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Il Choi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ill Jang
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehyun Hong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Sung Kwon
- Department of Pharmacology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Seong Park
- Pancreatobiliary Cancer Clinic, Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong-Baeck Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Ambrosini G, Dalla Pozza E, Fanelli G, Di Carlo C, Vettori A, Cannino G, Cavallini C, Carmona-Carmona CA, Brandi J, Rinalducci S, Scupoli MT, Rasola A, Cecconi D, Palmieri M, Dando I. Progressively De-Differentiated Pancreatic Cancer Cells Shift from Glycolysis to Oxidative Metabolism and Gain a Quiescent Stem State. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071572. [PMID: 32605166 PMCID: PMC7408749 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is typically characterized by high chemoresistance and metastatic spread, features mainly attributable to cancer stem cells (CSCs). It is of central interest the characterization of CSCs and, in particular, the study of their metabolic features in order to selectively identify their peculiarities for an efficient therapeutic approach. In this study, CSCs have been obtained by culturing different PDAC cell lines with a specific growth medium. Cells were characterized for the typical stem/mesenchymal properties at short-, medium-, and long-term culture. Metabolomics, proteomics, analysis of oxygen consumption rate in live cells, and the effect of the inhibition of lactate transporter on cell proliferation have been performed to delineate the metabolism of CSCs. We show that gradually de-differentiated pancreatic cancer cells progressively increase the expression of both stem and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers, shift their metabolism from a glycolytic to an oxidative one, and lastly gain a quiescent state. These quiescent stem cells are characterized by high chemo-resistance, clonogenic ability, and metastatic potential. Re-differentiation reverts these features, re-activating their proliferative capacity and glycolytic metabolism, which generally correlates with high aggressiveness. These observations add an important piece of knowledge to the comprehension of the biology of CSCs, whose metabolic plasticity could be exploited for the generation of promising and selective therapeutic approaches for PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ambrosini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (G.A.); (E.D.P.); (C.A.C.-C.); (M.T.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Elisa Dalla Pozza
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (G.A.); (E.D.P.); (C.A.C.-C.); (M.T.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (S.R.)
| | - Claudia Di Carlo
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.C.); (A.V.); (J.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Andrea Vettori
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.C.); (A.V.); (J.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Cannino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy; (G.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Chiara Cavallini
- Research Center LURM (Interdepartmental Laboratory of Medical Research), University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Cristian Andres Carmona-Carmona
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (G.A.); (E.D.P.); (C.A.C.-C.); (M.T.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Jessica Brandi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.C.); (A.V.); (J.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Sara Rinalducci
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (S.R.)
| | - Maria Teresa Scupoli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (G.A.); (E.D.P.); (C.A.C.-C.); (M.T.S.); (M.P.)
- Research Center LURM (Interdepartmental Laboratory of Medical Research), University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Andrea Rasola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy; (G.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Daniela Cecconi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.C.); (A.V.); (J.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Marta Palmieri
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (G.A.); (E.D.P.); (C.A.C.-C.); (M.T.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Ilaria Dando
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (G.A.); (E.D.P.); (C.A.C.-C.); (M.T.S.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-045-8027174
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18
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Arpalahti L, Haglund C, Holmberg CI. Proteostasis Dysregulation in Pancreatic Cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1233:101-115. [PMID: 32274754 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-38266-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
The most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), has a dismal 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Radical surgical resection, in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy, provides the best option for long-term patient survival. However, only approximately 20% of patients are resectable at the time of diagnosis, due to locally advanced or metastatic disease. There is an urgent need for the identification of new, specific, and more sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction to improve the treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients. Dysregulation of proteostasis is linked to many pathophysiological conditions, including various types of cancer. In this review, we report on findings relating to the main cellular protein degradation systems, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy, in pancreatic cancer. The expression of several components of the proteolytic network, including E3 ubiquitin-ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes, are dysregulated in PDAC, which accounts for approximately 90% of all pancreatic malignancies. In the future, a deeper understanding of the emerging role of proteostasis in pancreatic cancer has the potential to provide clinically relevant biomarkers and new strategies for combinatorial therapeutic options to better help treat the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Arpalahti
- Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Caj Haglund
- Research Programs Unit, Translational Cancer Medicine Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Carina I Holmberg
- Medicum, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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19
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The Anthrax Toxin Receptor 1 (ANTXR1) Is Enriched in Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells Derived from Primary Tumor Cultures. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:1378639. [PMID: 31191663 PMCID: PMC6525821 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1378639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been shown to be the drivers of pancreatic tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance, but our understanding of these cells is still limited by our inability to efficiently identify and isolate them. While a number of markers capable of identifying pancreatic CSCs (PaCSCs) have been discovered since 2007, there is no doubt that more markers are still needed. The anthrax toxin receptor 1 (ANTXR1) was identified as a functional biomarker of triple-negative breast CSCs, and PDAC patients stratified based on ANTXR1 expression levels showed increased mortality and enrichment of pathways known to be necessary for CSC biology, including TGF-β, NOTCH, Wnt/β-catenin, and IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling and epithelial to mesenchymal transition, suggesting that ANTXR1 may represent a putative PaCSC marker. In this study, we show that ANTXR1+ cells are not only detectable across a panel of 7 PDAC patient-derived xenograft primary cultures but ANTXR1 expression significantly increased in CSC-enriched 3D sphere cultures. Importantly, ANTXR1+ cells also coexpressed other known PaCSC markers such as CD44, CD133, and autofluorescence, and ANTXR1+ cells displayed enhanced CSC functional and molecular properties, including increased self-renewal and expression of pluripotency-associated genes, compared to ANTXR1− cells. Thus, this study validates ANTXR1 as a new PaCSC marker and we propose its use in identifying CSCs in this tumor type and its exploitation in the development of CSC-targeted therapies for PDAC.
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20
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Afify SM, Seno M. Conversion of Stem Cells to Cancer Stem Cells: Undercurrent of Cancer Initiation. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E345. [PMID: 30862050 PMCID: PMC6468812 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) also known as cancer-initiating cells (CIC), are responsible for the sustained and uncontrolled growth of malignant tumors and are proposed to play significant roles in metastasis and recurrence. Several hypotheses have proposed that the events in either stem and/or differentiated cells, such as genomic instability, inflammatory microenvironment, cell fusion, and lateral gene transfer, should be considered as the possible origin of CSCs. However, until now, the exact origin of CSC has been obscure. The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2007, by Yamanaka's group, has been met with much fervency and hailed as a breakthrough discovery by the scientific and research communities, especially in regeneration therapy. The studies on the development of CSC from iPSCs should also open a new page of cancer research, which will help in designing new therapies applicable to CSCs. Currently most reviews have focused on CSCs and CSC niches. However, the insight into the niche before the CSC niche should also be of keen interest. This review introduces the novel concept of cancer initiation introducing the conversion of iPSCs to CSCs and proposes a relationship between the inflammatory microenvironment and cancer initiation as the key concept of the cancer-inducing niche responsible for the development of CSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said M Afify
- Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
- Division of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Shebin El Koum-Menoufia 32511, Egypt.
| | - Masaharu Seno
- Department of Medical Bioengineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
- Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
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21
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Xu Z, Jia Y, Huang X, Feng N, Li Y. Rapid induction of pancreatic cancer cells to cancer stem cells via heterochromatin modulation. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:1487-1495. [PMID: 30045656 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1489180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence supports that CSCs (cancer stem cells) play a vital role in cancer recurrence. Therefore elimination of CSCs is currently considered to be an important therapeutic strategy for complete remission. A major obstacle in CSC research is the obtainment of sufficient numbers of functional CSC populations. Here, we established a method to induce bulk pancreatic cancer cells to CSCs via heterochromatin modulation. Two pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc1 and Bxpc3 were cultured for 4 days in inducing medium (mTeSR containing FBS, B27, MEK inhibitor, GSK3 inhibitor, and VPA), and another 2 days in sphere culture medium (mTeSR supplemented with B27). Then the induced cells were dissociated into single cells and cultured in suspension in sphere culture medium. It was found that the majority of induced cells formed spheres which could grow larger and be passaged serially. Characterization of Panc1 sphere cells demonstrated that the sphere cells expressed increased pancreatic cancer stem cell surface markers and stem cell genes, were more resistant to chemotherapy, and were more tumorigenic in vivo, indicating that the induced sphere cells acquired CSC properties. Thus, the inducing method we developed may be used to obtain a sufficient number of CSCs from cancer cells, and contribute to the research for CSC-targeting therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyan Xu
- a Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Yanjun Jia
- a Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Xiaoxi Huang
- a Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Nianhua Feng
- a Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Ying Li
- a Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
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22
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The Ever-Evolving Concept of the Cancer Stem Cell in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10020033. [PMID: 29373514 PMCID: PMC5836065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10020033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is the 4th most frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide, primarily due to the inherent chemoresistant nature and metastatic capacity of this tumor. The latter is believed to be mainly due to the existence of a subpopulation of highly plastic “stem”-like cells within the tumor, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which have been shown to have unique metabolic, autophagic, invasive, and chemoresistance properties that allow them to continuously self-renew and escape chemo-therapeutic elimination. As such, current treatments for the majority of PDAC patients are not effective and do not significantly impact overall patient survival (<7 months) as they do not affect the pancreatic CSC (PaCSC) population. In this context, it is important to highlight the need to better understand the characteristics of the PaCSC population in order to develop new therapies to target these cells. In this review, we will provide the latest updates and knowledge on the inherent characteristics of PaCSCs, particularly their unique biological properties including chemoresistance, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, plasticity, metabolism and autophagy.
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23
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Ruess DA, Görgülü K, Wörmann SM, Algül H. Pharmacotherapeutic Management of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Current and Emerging Concepts. Drugs Aging 2017; 34:331-357. [PMID: 28349415 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-017-0453-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a devastating malignancy, which is the result of late diagnosis, aggressive disease, and a lack of effective treatment options. Thus, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. This review summarizes recent developments of oncological therapy in the palliative setting of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. It further compiles novel targets and therapeutic approaches as well as promising treatment combinations, which are presently in preclinical evaluation, covering several aspects of the hallmarks of cancer. Finally, challenges to the implementation of an individualized therapy approach in the context of precision medicine are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dietrich A Ruess
- Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - Kivanc Görgülü
- Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja M Wörmann
- Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Hana Algül
- Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
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24
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Candelaria PV, Rampoldi A, Harbuzariu A, Gonzalez-Perez RR. Leptin signaling and cancer chemoresistance: Perspectives. World J Clin Oncol 2017; 8:106-119. [PMID: 28439492 PMCID: PMC5385432 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v8.i2.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a major health problem and currently is endemic around the world. Obesity is a risk factor for several different types of cancer, significantly promoting cancer incidence, progression, poor prognosis and resistance to anti-cancer therapies. The study of this resistance is critical as development of chemoresistance is a serious drawback for the successful and effective drug-based treatments of cancer. There is increasing evidence that augmented adiposity can impact on chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer and the development of resistance to these treatments, particularly through one of its signature mediators, the adipokine leptin. Leptin is a pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic and pro-tumorigenic adipokine that has been implicated in many cancers promoting processes such as angiogenesis, metastasis, tumorigenesis and survival/resistance to apoptosis. Several possible mechanisms that could potentially be developed by cancer cells to elicit drug resistance have been suggested in the literature. Here, we summarize and discuss the current state of the literature on the role of obesity and leptin on chemoresistance, particularly as it relates to breast and pancreatic cancers. We focus on the role of leptin and its significance in possibly driving these proposed chemoresistance mechanisms, and examine its effects on cancer cell survival signals and expansion of the cancer stem cell sub-populations.
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