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Senk A, Fazzari J, Djonov V. Vascular mimicry in zebrafish fin regeneration: how macrophages build new blood vessels. Angiogenesis 2024; 27:397-410. [PMID: 38546923 PMCID: PMC11303510 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-024-09914-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Vascular mimicry has been thoroughly investigated in tumor angiogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that a process closely resembling tumor vascular mimicry is present during physiological blood vessel formation in tissue regeneration using the zebrafish fin regeneration assay. At the fin-regenerating front, vasculature is formed by mosaic blood vessels with endothelial-like cells possessing the morphological phenotype of a macrophage and co-expressing both endothelial and macrophage markers within single cells. Our data demonstrate that the vascular segments of the regenerating tissue expand, in part, through the transformation of adjacent macrophages into endothelial-like cells, forming functional, perfused channels and contributing to the de novo formation of microvasculature. Inhibiting the formation of tubular vascular-like structures by CVM-1118 prevents vascular mimicry and network formation resulting in a 70% shorter regeneration area with 60% reduced vessel growth and a complete absence of any signs of regeneration in half of the fin area. Additionally, this is associated with a significant reduction in macrophages. Furthermore, depleting macrophages using macrophage inhibitor PLX-3397, results in impaired tissue regeneration and blood vessel formation, namely a reduction in the regeneration area and vessel network by 75% in comparison to controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Senk
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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2
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Li W, Wu J, Jia Q, Shi Y, Li F, Zhang L, Shi F, Wang X, Wu S. PD-L1 knockdown suppresses vasculogenic mimicry of non-small cell lung cancer by modulating ZEB1-triggered EMT. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:633. [PMID: 38783271 PMCID: PMC11118770 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12390-8] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PD-L1 overexpression is commonly observed in various malignancies and is strongly correlated with poor prognoses for cancer patients. Moreover, PD-L1 has been shown to play a significant role in promoting angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes across different cancer types. METHODS The relationship between PD-L1 and vasculogenic mimicry as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was explored by bioinformatics approach and immunohistochemistry. The functions of PD-L1 in regulating the expression of ZEB1 and the EMT process were assessed by Western blotting and q-PCR assays. The impact of PD-L1 on the migratory and proliferative capabilities of A549 and H1299 cells was evaluated through wound healing, cell invasion, and CCK8 assays following siRNA-mediated PD-L1 knockdown. Tube formation assay was utilized to evaluate the presence of VM structures. RESULTS In this study, increased PD-L1 expression was observed in A549 and H1299 cells compared to normal lung epithelial cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a higher prevalence of VM structures in the PD-L1-positive group compared to the PD-L1-negative group. Additionally, high PD-L1 expression was also found to be significantly associated with advanced TNM stage and increased metastasis. Following PD-L1 knockdown, NSCLC cells exhibited a notable reduction in their ability to form tube-like structures. Moreover, the levels of key EMT and VM-related markers, including N-cadherin, MMP9, VE-cadherin, and VEGFA, were significantly decreased, while E-cadherin expression was upregulated. In addition, the migration and proliferation capacities of both cell lines were significantly inhibited after PD-L1 or ZEB1 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS Knockdown PD-L1 can inhibit ZEB1-mediated EMT, thereby hindering the formation of VM in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiatao Wu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianhao Jia
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqi Shi
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Linxiang Zhang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Shi
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, Molecular Diagnosis Center, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China.
| | - Shiwu Wu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Pathology, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, 233030, Anhui, China.
- Department of Pathology, Anhui No.2 Provincial People's Hospital, Hefei, China.
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Wang Y, Zou L, Song M, Zong J, Wang S, Meng L, Jia Z, Zhao L, Han X, Lu M. Establishment of skin cutaneous melanoma prognosis model based on vascular mimicry risk score. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36679. [PMID: 38363903 PMCID: PMC10869071 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies have indicated that Vascular mimicry (VM) could contribute to the unfavorable prognosis of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Thus, the objective of this study was to identify therapeutic targets associated with VM in SKCM and develop a novel prognostic model. Gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) were utilized to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By intersecting these DEGs with VM genes, we acquired VM-related DEGs specific to SKCM, and then identified prognostic-related VM genes. A VM risk score system was established based on these prognosis-associated VM genes, and patients were then categorized into high- and low-score groups using the median score. Subsequently, differences in clinical characteristics, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and other analyses were further presented between the 2 groups of patients. Finally, a novel prognostic model for SKCM was established using the VM score and clinical characteristics. 26 VM-related DEGs were identified in SKCM, among the identified DEGs associated with VM in SKCM, 5 genes were found to be prognostic-related. The VM risk score system, comprised of these genes, is an independent prognostic risk factor. There were significant differences between the 2 patient groups in terms of age, pathological stage, and T stage. VM risk scores are associated with epithelial biological processes, angiogenesis, regulation of the SKCM immune microenvironment, and sensitivity to targeted drugs. The novel prognostic model demonstrates excellent predictive ability. Our study identified VM-related prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for SKCM, providing novel insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Wang
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Department of Trauma and Tissue Repair Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Linxuan Zou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Mingzhi Song
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Junwei Zong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shouyu Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lei Meng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua Medical University, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhuqiang Jia
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Naqu People’s Hospital, Tibet, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Department of Quality Management, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Xin Han
- Naqu People’s Hospital, Tibet, China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ming Lu
- Department of Trauma and Tissue Repair Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
- Department of Trauma and Tissue Repair Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Shalabi S, Belayachi A, Larrivée B. Involvement of neuronal factors in tumor angiogenesis and the shaping of the cancer microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1284629. [PMID: 38375479 PMCID: PMC10875004 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1284629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that nerves within the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in regulating angiogenesis. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides released by nerves can interact with nearby blood vessels and tumor cells, influencing their behavior and modulating the angiogenic response. Moreover, nerve-derived signals may activate signaling pathways that enhance the production of pro-angiogenic factors within the tumor microenvironment, further supporting blood vessel growth around tumors. The intricate network of communication between neural constituents and the vascular system accentuates the potential of therapeutically targeting neural-mediated pathways as an innovative strategy to modulate tumor angiogenesis and, consequently, neoplastic proliferation. Hereby, we review studies that evaluate the precise molecular interplay and the potential clinical ramifications of manipulating neural elements for the purpose of anti-angiogenic therapeutics within the scope of cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharif Shalabi
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Boulevard de l’Assomption, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ali Belayachi
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Boulevard de l’Assomption, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bruno Larrivée
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Boulevard de l’Assomption, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Ophthalmology, Université de Montréal, boul. Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Reis MBE, Maximo AI, Magno JM, de Lima Bellan D, Buzzo JLA, Simas FF, Rocha HAO, da Silva Trindade E, Camargo de Oliveira C. A Fucose-Containing Sulfated Polysaccharide from Spatoglossum schröederi Potentially Targets Tumor Growth Rather Than Cytotoxicity: Distinguishing Action on Human Melanoma Cell Lines. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 26:181-198. [PMID: 38273163 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Natural substances are strategic candidates for drug development in cancer research. Marine-derived molecules are of special interest due to their wide range of biological activities and sustainable large-scale production. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates from genetic mutations in melanocytes. BRAF, RAS, and NF1 mutations are described as the major melanoma drivers, but approximately 20% of patients lack these mutations and are included in the triple wild-type (tripleWT) classification. Recent advances in targeted therapy directed at driver mutations along with immunotherapy have only partially improved patients' overall survival, and consequently, melanoma remains deadly when in advanced stages. Fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSP) are potential candidates to treat melanoma; therefore, we investigated Fucan A, a FCSP from Spatoglossum schröederi brown seaweed, in vitro in human melanoma cell lines presenting different mutations. Up to 72 h Fucan A treatment was not cytotoxic either to normal melanocytes or melanoma cell lines. Interestingly, it was able to impair the tripleWT CHL-1 cell proliferation (57%), comparable to the chemotherapeutic cytotoxic drug cisplatin results, with the advantage of not causing cytotoxicity. Fucan A increased CHL-1 doubling time, an effect attributed to cell cycle arrest. Vascular mimicry, a close related angiogenesis process, was also impaired (73%). Fucan A mode of action could be related to gene expression modulation, in special β-catenin downregulation, a molecule with protagonist roles in important signaling pathways. Taken together, results indicate that Fucan A is a potential anticancer molecule and, therefore, deserves further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maíra Barbosa E Reis
- Cell Biology Department, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Jessica Maria Magno
- Cell Biology Department, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Daniel de Lima Bellan
- Cell Biology Department, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | - Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
- Biochemistry Department, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
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Azzman N, Anwar S, Syazani Mohamed WA, Ahemad N. Quinolone Derivatives as Anticancer Agents: Importance in Medicinal Chemistry. Curr Top Med Chem 2024; 24:1134-1157. [PMID: 38591202 DOI: 10.2174/0115680266300736240403075307] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Quinolone is a heterocyclic compound containing carbonyl at the C-2 or C-4 positions with nitrogen at the C-1 position. The scaffold was first identified for its antibacterial properties, and the derivatives were known to possess many pharmacological activities, including anticancer. In this review, the quinolin-2(H)-one and quinolin-4(H)-one derivatives were identified to inhibit several various proteins and enzymes involved in cancer cell growth, such as topoisomerase, microtubules, protein kinases, phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and histone deacetylase (HDAC). Hybrids of quinolone with curcumin or chalcone, 2-phenylpyrroloquinolin-4-one and 4-quinolone derivatives have demonstrated strong potency against cancer cell lines. Additionally, quinolones have been explored as inhibitors of protein kinases, including EGFR and VEGFR. Therefore, this review aims to consolidate the medicinal chemistry of quinolone derivatives in the pipeline and discuss their similarities in terms of their pharmacokinetic profiles and potential target sites to provide an understanding of the structural requirements of anticancer quinolones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nursyuhada Azzman
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pulau Pinang Kampus Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Sirajudheen Anwar
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wan Ahmad Syazani Mohamed
- Nutrition Unit, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Research Centre (NMCRC), Level 3, Block C, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health (NIH) Complex, Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), No.1, Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Seksyen U13, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nafees Ahemad
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
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7
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Yang Y, Guo J, Li M, Chu G, Jin H, Ma J, Jia Q. Cancer stem cells and angiogenesis. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 253:155064. [PMID: 38160481 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancer remains the primary cause of mortality in developed nations. Although localized tumors can be effectively addressed through surgery, radiotherapy, and other targeted methods, drug efficacy often wanes in the context of metastatic diseases. As a result, significant efforts are being made to develop drugs capable of not only inhibiting tumor growth but also impeding the metastasis of malignant tumors, with a focus on hindering their migration to adjacent organs. Cancer stem cells metastasize via blood and lymphatic vessels, exhibiting a high mutation rate, significant variability, and a predisposition to drug resistance. In contrast, endothelial cells, being less prone to mutation, are less likely to give rise to drug-resistant clones. Furthermore, the direct contact of circulating anti-angiogenic drugs with vascular endothelial cells expedites their therapeutic impact. Hence, anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy assumes a pivotal role in cancer treatment. This paper provides a succinct overview of the molecular mechanisms governing the interaction between cancer stem cells and angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingyu Guo
- Department of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Mingyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guangxin Chu
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Hai Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.
| | - Jing Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine and Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Qingge Jia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
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8
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Geng B, Liu W, Wang J, Zhang W, Li Z, Zhang N, Hou W, Zhao E, Li X, You B. The categorizations of vasculogenic mimicry in clear cell renal cell carcinoma unveil inherent connections with clinical and immune features. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1333507. [PMID: 38178861 PMCID: PMC10765515 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1333507] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) stands as the prevailing variant kidney cancer in humans. Unfortunately, patients with disseminated RCC at diagnosis often have a diminished prognosis. Rapid tumor growth necessitates efficient blood supply for oxygen and nutrients, involving the circulation of blood from vessels to tumor tissues, facilitating tumor cell entry into the extracellular matrix. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) significantly contributes to tumor growth and metastasis. Within this investigation, we identified vasculogenic mimicry-related genes (VMRGs) by analyzing data from 607 cases of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/). These findings offer insights into ccRCC progression and metastasis. Method: We identified VMRGs-related subtypes using consistent clustering methods. The signature of the VMRGs was created using univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analyses. To evaluate differences in immune cell infiltration, we employed ssGSEA. Afterwards, we created an innovative risk assessment model, known as the VM index, along with a nomogram to forecast the prognosis of ccRCC. Additionally, we verified the expression of an important gene related to VM, peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), in tissue samples. Furthermore, we assessed the sensitivity to drugs in various groups by utilizing the pRRophetic R package. Results: Significant predictors of survival rates in both high- and low-risk groups of KIRC patients were identified as VMRGs. The independent prognostic factors for RCC were confirmed by both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, validating VMRG risk signatures. Differences were observed in drug sensitivity, immune checkpoint expression, and responses to immune therapy between patients classified into high- and low-VMRG-risk groups. Our nomograms consistently demonstrated precise predictive capabilities. Finally, we experimentally verified PRDX2 expression levels and their impact on prognosis. Conclusion: The signature predicts patient prognosis and therapy response, laying the groundwork for future clinical strategies in treating ccRCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Enyang Zhao
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xuedong Li
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Bosen You
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Röss H, Aaldijk D, Vladymyrov M, Odriozola A, Djonov V. Transluminal Pillars-Their Origin and Role in the Remodelling of the Zebrafish Caudal Vein Plexus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16703. [PMID: 38069025 PMCID: PMC10706262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Intussusceptive pillars, regarded as a hallmark of intussusceptive angiogenesis, have been described in developing vasculature of many organs and organisms. The aim of this study was to resolve the question about pillar formation and their further maturation employing zebrafish caudal vein plexus (CVP). The CVP development was monitored by in vivo confocal microscopy in high spatio-temporal resolution using the transgenic zebrafish model Fli1a:eGPF//Gata1:dsRed. We tracked back the formation of pillars (diameter ≤ 4 µm) and intercapillary meshes (diameter > 4 µm) and analysed their morphology and behaviour. Transluminal pillars in the CVP arose via a combination of sprouting, lumen expansion, and/or the creation of intraluminal folds, and those mechanisms were not associated directly with blood flow. The follow-up of pillars indicated that one-third of them disappeared between 28 and 48 h post fertilisation (hpf), and of the remaining ones, only 1/17 changed their cross-section area by >50%. The majority of the bigger meshes (39/62) increased their cross-section area by >50%. Plexus simplification and the establishment of hierarchy were dominated by the dynamics of intercapillary meshes, which formed mainly via sprouting angiogenesis. These meshes were observed to grow, reshape, and merge with each other. Our observations suggested an alternative view on intussusceptive angiogenesis in the CVP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Röss
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
| | - Dea Aaldijk
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
| | | | - Adolfo Odriozola
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
| | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
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10
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Li Z, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Jin Q, Yue Q, Li N, Liu H, Fujimoto M, Jin G. Dihydroartemisinin inhibits melanoma migration and metastasis by affecting angiogenesis. Phytother Res 2023. [PMID: 37982352 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Tumor angiogenesis is critical for tumor metastasis by providing oxygen, nutrients, and metastatic pathways. As a potential anti-angiogenic agent, Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) can effectively inhibit tumor metastasis. However, the mechanism how it regulates angiogenesis to affect tumor metastasis has not been fully clarified. To investigate the mechanisms of how DHA regulates melanoma progression. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the correlation between angiogenesis and melanoma metastasis. Then, B16F10, A375, HUVECs and mouse metastasis models were adapted to clarify the inhibition of DHA in melanoma. GESA analysis revealed melanoma metastasis significantly positive correlated with angiogenesis. Meanwhile, DHA significantly decreased melanoma nodules and lung wet weight in metastatic tumor mice, and inhibited the expression of the angiogenic marker CD31 in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, DHA inhibited the expression of the angiogenic signal molecule VEGFR2 in A375 and B16F10 cells, and significantly suppressed the formation of their tubular structures. DHA-treated supernatants significantly inhibited the tubule-forming ability as well as lateral and longitudinal migration ability of HUVECs compared with untreated melanoma cell supernatants. Screening yielded the angiogenic pathways HIF-1α/VEGF, PI3K/ATK/mTOR associated with melanoma metastasis, and DHA may inhibit tumor metastasis by inhibiting these angiogenic pathways in melanoma cells to inhibit tumor metastasis. Further non-targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that DHA-treated model mice produced differential metabolites that were also associated with angiogenic pathways. DHA inhibits melanoma invasion and metastasis by mediating angiogenesis. These results have important implications for the potential use of DHA in treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxiang Li
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Quanxin Jin
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Qi Yue
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Manabu Fujimoto
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Laboratory of Cutaneous Immunology, Osaka UniversityImmunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Guihua Jin
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
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11
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Uceda-Castro R, Margarido AS, Song JY, de Gooijer MC, Messal HA, Chambers CR, Nobis M, Çitirikkaya CH, Hahn K, Seinstra D, Herrmann D, Timpson P, Wesseling P, van Tellingen O, Vennin C, van Rheenen J. BCRP drives intrinsic chemoresistance in chemotherapy-naïve breast cancer brain metastasis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eabp9530. [PMID: 37851804 PMCID: PMC10584345 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp9530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Although initially successful, treatments with chemotherapy often fail because of the recurrence of chemoresistant metastases. Since these tumors develop after treatment, resistance is generally thought to occur in response to chemotherapy. However, alternative mechanisms of intrinsic chemoresistance in the chemotherapy-naïve setting may exist but remain poorly understood. Here, we study drug-naïve murine breast cancer brain metastases (BCBMs) to identify how cancer cells growing in a secondary site can acquire intrinsic chemoresistance without cytotoxic agent exposure. We demonstrate that drug-naïve murine breast cancer cells that form cancer lesions in the brain undergo vascular mimicry and concomitantly express the adenosine 5'-triphosphate-binding cassette transporter breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a common marker of brain endothelial cells. We reveal that expression of BCRP by the BCBM tumor cells protects them against doxorubicin and topotecan. We conclude that BCRP overexpression can cause intrinsic chemoresistance in cancer cells growing in metastatic sites without prior chemotherapy exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Uceda-Castro
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andreia S. Margarido
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ji-Ying Song
- Division of Experimental Animal Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mark C. de Gooijer
- Division of Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Hendrik A. Messal
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cecilia R. Chambers
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Max Nobis
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ceren H. Çitirikkaya
- Division of Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kerstin Hahn
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Danielle Seinstra
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers/VUmc and Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - David Herrmann
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Timpson
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Pieter Wesseling
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers/VUmc and Brain Tumor Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Olaf van Tellingen
- Division of Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Mouse Cancer Clinic, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Claire Vennin
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jacco van Rheenen
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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12
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Wang L, Yang G, Guo P, Lv Y, Fu B, Bai Y, Xiong F, Zhao D, Li C, Zhang J, Bai S, Zeng F, Xu W. LncRNA PVT1 promotes strong stemness and endothelial progenitor cell characteristics in renal carcinoma stem cells. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23118. [PMID: 37531296 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201880r] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Renal cancer stem cells (RCSCs) derived from clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues with higher microvessel density (MVD) have strong stemness and endothelial progenitor cells-like (EPCs-like) characteristics. A high level of lncRNA PVT1 expression is essential for simultaneously retaining strong RCSC stemness and EPCs-like characteristics. PVT1 binds with TAZ protein and prevents its phosphorylation, which promotes RCSC stemness. Moreover, RCSCs support endothelial differentiation and angiogenesis, which are mediated via the PVT1/miR-15b/KDR axis. This report provides insight into the determinants of RCSC impact on stemness and highlights the critical role of RCSC in angiogenesis. The presented findings suggest that targeting RCSC through PVT1 expression may be a new treatment strategy for ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Urology (Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Scientific Research in Urology), The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Pengyu Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yulin Lv
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Bo Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yang Bai
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- Department of Urology (Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Scientific Research in Urology), The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Danfeng Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Cong Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jianji Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shiyu Bai
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Fanshu Zeng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wanhai Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Molecular Probes and Targeted Diagnosis and Therapy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Urology (Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Scientific Research in Urology), The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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13
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Shen L, Chen YL, Huang CC, Shyu YC, Seftor REB, Seftor EA, Hendrix MJC, Chien DS, Chu YW. CVM-1118 (foslinanib), a 2-phenyl-4-quinolone derivative, promotes apoptosis and inhibits vasculogenic mimicry via targeting TRAP1. Pathol Oncol Res 2023; 29:1611038. [PMID: 37351538 PMCID: PMC10283505 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2023.1611038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
CVM-1118 (foslinanib) is a phosphoric ester compound selected from 2-phenyl-4-quinolone derivatives. The NCI 60 cancer panel screening showed CVM-1125, the major active metabolite of CVM-1118, to exhibit growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects at nanomolar range. CVM-1118 possesses multiple bioactivities, including inducing cellular apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at G2/M, as well as inhibiting vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation. The TNF receptor associated protein 1 (TRAP1) was identified as the binding target of CVM-1125 using nematic protein organization technique (NPOT) interactome analysis. Further studies demonstrated CVM-1125 reduced the protein level of TRAP1 and impeded its downstream signaling by reduction of cellular succinate levels and destabilization of HIF-1α. The pharmacogenomic biomarkers associated with CVM-1118 were also examined by Whole Genome CRISPR Knock-Out Screening. Two hits (STK11 and NF2) were confirmed with higher sensitivity to the drug in cell knock-down experiments. Biological assays indicate that the mechanism of action of CVM-1118 is via targeting TRAP1 to induce mitochondrial apoptosis, suppress tumor cell growth, and inhibit vasculogenic mimicry formation. Most importantly, the loss-of-function mutations of STK11 and NF2 are potential biomarkers of CVM-1118 which can be applied in the selection of cancer patients for CVM-1118 treatment. CVM-1118 is currently in its Phase 2a clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yu-Chiau Shyu
- Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Keelung Branch, Keelung, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | | | - Elisabeth A. Seftor
- Department of Biology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, United States
| | - Mary J. C. Hendrix
- Department of Biology, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV, United States
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14
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Ferda J, Frölich M, Ferdová E, Heidenreich F, Charvát R, Mírka H. Neovascularization, vascular mimicry and molecular exchange: The imaging of tumorous tissue aggressiveness based on tissue perfusion. Eur J Radiol 2023; 163:110797. [PMID: 37018901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.110797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis in healthy tissue and within malignant tumors differs on many levels, which may partly be explained by vascular mimicry formation resulting in altered contrast material or different radiopharmaceuticals distributions. Failed remodulation results in changes in the molecular exchange through the capillary wall and those consequences affect the behavior of contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals. One of the most indicative signs of malignant tissue is the increased permeability and the faster molecular exchange that occurs between the extracellular and intravascular spaces. Dynamic imaging can help to assess the changed microenvironment. The fast-distribution of molecules reflects newly developed conditions in blood-flow redistribution inside a tumor and within the affected organ during the early stages of tumor formation. Tumor development, as well as aggressiveness, can be assessed based on the change to the vascular bed development, the level of molecular exchange within the tissue, and/or indicative distribution within the organ. The study of the vascular network organization and its impact on the distribution of molecules is important to our understanding of the image pattern in several imaging methods, which in turn influences our interpretation of the findings. A hybrid imaging approach (including PET/MRI) allows the quantification of vascularization and/or its pathophysiological impressions in structural and metabolic images. It might optimize the evaluation of the pretreatment imaging, as well as help assess the effect of therapy targeting neovascularization; antiVEGF drugs and embolization-based therapies, for example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Ferda
- Department of the Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen and Charles University Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Czech Republic.
| | - Matthias Frölich
- Department of the Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen and Charles University Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Czech Republic; Klinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Universitäts Klinikum Mannheim
| | - Eva Ferdová
- Department of the Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen and Charles University Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Heidenreich
- Department of the Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen and Charles University Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Charvát
- Department of the Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen and Charles University Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Hynek Mírka
- Department of the Imaging, University Hospital Pilsen and Charles University Medical Faculty in Pilsen, Czech Republic
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15
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Zhang J, Li W, Wang W, Chen Q, Xu Z, Deng M, Zhou L, He G. Dual roles of FAK in tumor angiogenesis: A review focused on pericyte FAK. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 947:175694. [PMID: 36967077 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), also known as protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2), is a ubiquitously expressed non-receptor tyrosine kinase, that plays a pivotal role in integrin-mediated signal transduction. Endothelial FAK is upregulated in many types of cancer and promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, recent studies have shown that pericyte FAK has the opposite effect. This review article dissects the mechanisms, by which endothelial cells (ECs) and pericyte FAK regulate angiogenesis, with an emphasis on the Gas6/Axl pathway. In particular, this article discusses the role of pericyte FAK loss on angiogenesis during tumorigenesis and metastasis. In addition, the existing challenges and future application of drug-based anti-FAK targeted therapies will be discussed to provide a theoretical basis for further development and use of FAK inhibitors.
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16
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Zhao N, Chen C, Guo Y, Liu T, Che N, Zhang D, Liang X, Zhang Y, Zhao X. LOXL2 serves as a prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma by mediating immune infiltration and vasculogenic mimicry. Dig Liver Dis 2023; 55:661-672. [PMID: 36192339 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multistep process that is accompanied by progressive changes in the liver microenvironment, including immune evasion and angiogenesis. Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) has been suggested to contribute to tumour progression and metastasis; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between LOXL2 and immune infiltration and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and to identify the role of LOXL2 in HCC diagnosis prognosis evaluation. METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), UALCAN, GEPIA and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases were used to analyse LOXL2 expression and perform survival analysis. The Tumour Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) was used to analyse immune cell infiltration, immune cell biomarkers and immune checkpoints. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of 201 HCC samples was used to confirm the expression of LOXL2 and its relationship with VM. Coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) and gain- and loss-of-function studies were performed to confirm the molecular mechanism of LOXL2 in VM. RESULTS The expression of LOXL2 in HCC was higher than that in normal tissues at both the mRNA and protein levels. High expression of LOXL2 was associated with a poorer prognosis of HCC. The genetic alteration rate of LOXL2 was 5%. LOXL2 was positively related to immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints (PD-1 and CTLA-4) in HCC. Co-IP showed that LOXL2 can interact directly with IQGAP1. Both gain- and loss-of-function studies showed that LOXL2 significantly induced cell migration, invasion and VM formation when IQGAP1 was upregulated. CONCLUSIONS LOXL2 is involved in immune cell infiltration and promotes VM by upregulating IQGAP1. LOXL2 can be used as a novel biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Yuhong Guo
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Tieju Liu
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Na Che
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Danfang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Xiaohui Liang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300052, China.
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17
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USP22 upregulates ZEB1-mediated VEGFA transcription in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:194. [PMID: 36906615 PMCID: PMC10008583 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05699-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common solid tumor with high rate of recurrence and mortality. Anti-angiogenesis drugs have been used for the therapy of HCC. However, anti-angiogenic drug resistance commonly occurs during HCC treatment. Thus, identification of a novel VEGFA regulator would be better understanding for HCC progression and anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Ubiquitin specific protease 22 (USP22) as a deubiquitinating enzyme, participates in a variety of biological processes in numerous tumors. While the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of USP22 on angiogenesis is still needed to be clarified. Here, our results demonstrated that USP22 acts as a co-activator of VEGFA transcription. Importantly, USP22 is involved in maintenance of ZEB1 stability via its deubiquitinase activity. USP22 was recruited to ZEB1-binding elements on the promoter of VEGFA, thereby altering histone H2Bub levels, to enhance ZEB1-mediated VEGFA transcription. USP22 depletion decreased cell proliferation, migration, Vascular Mimicry (VM) formation, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, we provided the evidence to show that knockdown of USP22 inhibited HCC growth in tumor-bearing nude mice. In addition, the expression of USP22 is positively correlated with that of ZEB1 in clinical HCC samples. Our findings suggest that USP22 participates in the promotion of HCC progression, if not all, at least partially via up-regulation of VEGFA transcription, providing a novel therapeutic target for anti-angiogenic drug resistance in HCC.
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18
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Poormolaie N, Mohammadi M, Mir A, Asadi M, Kararoudi AN, Vahedian V, Maroufi NF, Rashidi M. Xanthomicrol: Effective therapy for cancer treatment. Toxicol Rep 2023; 10:436-440. [PMID: 37102154 PMCID: PMC10123071 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment is one of the main challenges of global health. For decades, researchers have been trying to find anti-cancer compounds with minimal side effects. In recent years, flavonoids, as a group of polyphenolic compounds, have attracted the attention of researchers due to their beneficial effects on health. Xanthomicrol is one of the flavonoids that has the ability to inhibit growth, proliferation, survival and cell invasion and ultimately tumor progression. Xanthomicrol, as active anti-cancer compounds, can be effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Therefore, the use of flavonoids can be suggested as a treatment along with other medicinal agents. It is obvious that additional investigations in cellular levels and animal models are still needed. In this review article, the effects of xanthomicrol on various cancers have been reviewed.
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19
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Yu R, Zhao R, Sun X, Zhang Z, Wang S, Gao X, Sun Z, Xue H, Li G. MicroRNA-588 regulates the invasive, migratory and vasculogenic mimicry-forming abilities of hypoxic glioma cells by targeting ROBO1. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:1333-1347. [PMID: 36459288 PMCID: PMC9889532 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08063-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microenvironment of hypoxia is an important factor contributing to the development of glioblastoma (GBM). MicroRNA-588 and its potential target Roundabout-directed receptor 1 (ROBO1) have been reported to promote tumor invasion and proliferation in diseases such as gastric, pancreatic and hepatocellular carcinoma, while their function in GBM and response to hypoxic states remain elusive. METHODS A microarray was leveraged to identify differentially expressed microRNAs in U251 glioma cells cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The expression of miR-588 was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‒PCR). Gain- and loss-of-function studies were used to evaluate the role of miR-588 under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation experiments were performed. The relationship between miR-588 and ROBO1 was confirmed using western blot and luciferase reporter assays. Intracranial xenograft tumor mouse models were used to study the function of miR-588 in vivo. RESULTS The expression of miR-588 was significantly upregulated in hypoxic glioma cells relative to normoxic glioma cells. miR-588 inhibited the invasive, migratory and VM-forming abilities of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, roundabout guidance receptor 1 (ROBO1) is a direct, functionally relevant target of miR-588 in glioma. ROBO1 knockdown suppressed the expression of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), thereby inhibiting the invasive, migratory and VM-forming abilities of glioma. CONCLUSIONS MiR-588 regulated the behaviors of hypoxic glioma cells by targeting ROBO1. miR-588 can be used as a prognostic marker for glioma and has potential implications in glioma gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Rongrong Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaopeng Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, China
| | - Zongpu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shaobo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 324 Jingwu and Weiqi Street, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongzheng Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Xue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Qilu Hospital, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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20
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Kang R, Song M, Fang Z, Liu K. Nano-composite hydrogels of Cu-Apa micelles for anti-vasculogenic mimicry. J Drug Target 2023; 31:166-178. [PMID: 35993258 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2022.2115047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes the phenomenon whereby fluid-conducting vessels are formed by highly invasive tumour cells, which supply blood to tumours during their early growth stages. Single antiangiogenic agents have limited inhibitory effects on VM, therefore, a multi-pathway anti-VM strategy is required. In this study, Apatinib (Apa) was coordinated with Cu2+ to form a Cu-Apa copper complex. The latter was loaded into oligo-hyaluronic acid (HA) polymeric micelles (HA-Chol) and subsequently embedded in Astragalus polysaccharide-based in situ hydrogels (APsGels) to generate Cu-Apa/HA-Chol@APsGels. In this system, Cu-Apa exerts the combined effects of Cu2+ and Apa to inhibit VM; HA-Chol micelles achieve targeted drug delivery and enhance endocytosis efficiency; APsGels realise sustained release of the drugs to ensure an anti-VM effect. This system demonstrated improved VM inhibition with low cytotoxicity and high biocompatibility, wound healing, and transwell invasion in three-dimensional cell cultured VM. Moreover, this system significantly inhibited VM formation and melanoma growth in a mouse tumour transplantation model. This study provides an effective strategy for inhibiting VM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Kang
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Mengdi Song
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Zhou Fang
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Kehai Liu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
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21
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Lapkina EZ, Esimbekova AR, Ruksha TG. [Vasculogenic mimicry]. Arkh Patol 2023; 85:62-69. [PMID: 38010640 DOI: 10.17116/patol20238506162] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic drugs are used as an established approach of malignant neoplasms therapy. It has been established that the development of the phenomenon of vasculogenic mimicry - a specific variant of tumor neoangiogenesis, which is formed in highly aggressive solid tumors, is associated with a decrease in the effectiveness of antitumor therapy. This review highlights the mechanisms of development of vasculogenic mimicry in malignant neoplasms, which is one of the alternative options for tumor blood supply. In the formation of vasculogenic mimicry, an important role is assigned to the tumor microenvironment, primarily tumor-associated macrophages and fibroblasts. The signaling pathways that regulate the formation of vasculogenic mimicry channels in tumors have been characterized. The prospects for a targeted impact on molecular targets that initiate and promote vasculogenic mimicry, the impact on which can increase the effectiveness of antitumor therapy, are shown. The review discusses experimental studies of the mechanisms of vasculogenic mimicry formation in malignant neoplasms and the prospects for targeted action on molecules that are components of signaling cascades involved in the development of this model of neoangiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Z Lapkina
- Professor V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - A R Esimbekova
- Professor V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - T G Ruksha
- Professor V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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22
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Wang H, Tran TT, Duong KT, Nguyen T, Le UM. Options of Therapeutics and Novel Delivery Systems of Drugs for the Treatment of Melanoma. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:4487-4505. [PMID: 36305753 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most severe cancerous diseases. The cells employ multiple signaling pathways, such as ERK, HGF/c-MET, WNT, and COX-2 to cause the cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Treatment of melanoma, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy, is based on 4 major or 11 substages of the disease. Fourteen drugs, including dacarbazine, interferon α-2b, interleukin-12, ipilimumab, peginterferon α-2b, vemurafenib, trametinib, talimogene laherparepvec, cobimetinib, pembrolizumab, dabrafenib, binimetinib, encorafenib, and nivolumab, have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of melanoma. All of them are in conventional dosage forms of injection solutions, suspensions, oral tablets, or capsules. Major drawbacks of the treatment are side effects of the drugs and patients' incompliance to them. These are consequences of high doses and long-term treatments for the diseases. Currently more than 350 NCI-registered clinical trials are being carried out to treat advanced and/or metastatic melanoma using novel treatment methods, such as immune cell therapy, cancer vaccines, and new therapeutic targets. In addition, novel delivery systems using biomaterials of the approved drugs have been developed attempting to increase the drug delivery, targeting, stability, bioavailability, thus potentially reducing the toxicity and increasing the treatment effectiveness. Nanoparticles and liposomes have been emerging as advanced delivery systems which can improve drug stability and systemic circulation time. In this review, the most recent findings in the options for treatment and development of novel drug delivery systems for the treatment of melanoma are comprehensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Wang
- College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, California 95757, United States.,Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Graduate Study, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, California 95757, United States
| | - Tuan T Tran
- College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, California 95757, United States
| | - Katherine T Duong
- CVS Pharmacy, 18872 Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, California 92648, United States
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, California 95757, United States
| | - Uyen M Le
- College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, California 95757, United States
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23
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Kuo CH, Wu YF, Chang BI, Hsu CK, Lai CH, Wu HL. Interference in melanoma CD248 function reduces vascular mimicry and metastasis. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:98. [PMCID: PMC9673323 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00882-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tumor vascular mimicry is an emerging issue that affects patient survival while having no treatment at the current moment. Despite several factors implicated in vascular mimicry, little is known about stromal factors that modulate tumor microenvironment and shape malignant transformation. CD248, a type-I transmembrane protein dominantly expressed in stromal cells, mediates the interaction between cells and extracellular matrix proteins. CD248 protein expression is associated with the metastatic melanoma phenotype and promotes tumor progression in the stromal cells. This study aimed to explore the cell-autonomous effects of CD248 in melanoma vascular mimicry to aid cancer therapy development. Methods Loss-of-function approaches in B16F10 melanoma cells were used to study the cell-autonomous effects of CD248 on cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and vascular mimicry. A solid-phase binding assay was performed to identify the interaction between CD248 and fibronectin. Horizontal and vertical cell migration assays were performed to analyze cell migration activity, and cell-patterned network formation on Matrigel was used to evaluate vascular mimicry activity. Recombinant CD248 (rCD248) proteins were generated, and whether rCD248 interfered with melanoma CD248 functions was evaluated in vitro. An experimental lung metastasis mouse model was used to investigate the effect of rCD248 treatment in vivo. Results CD248 protein expression in melanoma cells was increased by a fibroblast-conditioned medium. Knockdown of CD248 expression significantly decreased cell adhesion to fibronectin, cell migration, and vascular mimicry in melanoma cells. The lectin domain of CD248 was directly involved in the interaction between CD248 and fibronectin. Furthermore, rCD248 proteins containing its lectin domain inhibited cell adhesion to fibronectin and slowed down cell migration and vascular mimicry. Treatment with rCD248 protein could reduce pulmonary tumor burden, accompanied by a reduction in vascular mimicry in mice with melanoma lung metastasis. Conclusion CD248 expression in melanoma cells promotes malignant transformation by increasing the activity of cell adhesion, migration, and vascular mimicry, whereas rCD248 protein functions as a molecular decoy interfering with tumor-promoting effects of CD248 in melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hsiang Kuo
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Fang Wu
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Bi-Ing Chang
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Kai Hsu
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Han Lai
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hua-Lin Wu
- grid.64523.360000 0004 0532 3255Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, 701 Tainan, Taiwan
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24
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Zhang J, Han H, Wang L, Wang W, Yang M, Qin Y. Overcoming the therapeutic resistance of hepatomas by targeting the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:988956. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.988956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Multifactorial drug resistance is regarded as the major cause of treatment failure in HCC. Accumulating evidence shows that the constituents of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor vasculature, immune cells, physical factors, cytokines, and exosomes may explain the therapeutic resistance mechanisms in HCC. In recent years, anti-angiogenic drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown satisfactory results in HCC patients. However, due to enhanced communication between the tumor and TME, the effect of heterogeneity of the microenvironment on therapeutic resistance is particularly complicated, which suggests a more challenging research direction. In addition, it has been reported that the three-dimensional (3D) organoid model derived from patient biopsies is more intuitive to fully understand the role of the TME in acquired resistance. Therefore, in this review, we have focused not only on the mechanisms and targets of therapeutic resistance related to the contents of the TME in HCC but also provide a comprehensive description of 3D models and how they contribute to the exploration of HCC therapies.
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25
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Metabolic Reprogramming in Tumor Endothelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911052. [PMID: 36232355 PMCID: PMC9570383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic crosstalk between the different components of the tumor microenvironment is critical to determine cancer progression, metastatic dissemination, tumor immunity, and therapeutic responses. Angiogenesis is critical for tumor growth, and abnormal blood vessels contribute to hypoxia and acidosis in the tumor microenvironment. In this hostile environment, cancer and stromal cells have the ability to alter their metabolism in order to support the high energetic demands and favor rapid tumor proliferation. Recent advances have shown that tumor endothelial cell metabolism is reprogrammed, and that targeting endothelial metabolic pathways impacts developmental and pathological vessel sprouting. Therefore, the use of metabolic antiangiogenic therapies to normalize the blood vasculature, in combination with immunotherapies, offers a clinical niche to treat cancer.
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26
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Singh MK, Altameemi S, Lares M, Newton MA, Setaluri V. Role of dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) in melanoma cellular plasticity and drug resistance. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14395. [PMID: 35999349 PMCID: PMC9399232 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18578-x] [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: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma cells exhibit phenotypic plasticity that allows transition from a proliferative and differentiated phenotype to a more invasive and undifferentiated or transdifferentiated phenotype often associated with drug resistance. The mechanisms that control melanoma phenotype plasticity and its role in drug resistance are not fully understood. We previously demonstrated that emergence of MAPK inhibitor (MAPKi)-resistance phenotype is associated with decreased expression of stem cell proliferation genes and increased expression of MAPK inactivation genes, including dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs). Several members of the DUSP family genes, specifically DUSP1, -3, -8 and -9, are expressed in primary and metastatic melanoma cell lines and pre-and post BRAFi treated melanoma cells. Here, we show that knockdown of DUSP1 or DUSP8 or treatment with BCI, a pharmacological inhibitor of DUSP1/6 decrease the survival of MAPKi-resistant cells and sensitizes them to BRAFi and MEKi. Pharmacological inhibition of DUSP1/6 upregulated nestin, a neural crest stem cell marker, in both MAPKi-sensitive cells and cells with acquired MAPKi-resistance. In contrast, treatment with BCI resulted in upregulation of MAP2, a neuronal differentiation marker, only in MAPKi-sensitive cells but caused downregulation of both MAP2 and GFAP, a glial marker, in all MAPKi-resistant cell lines. These data suggest that DUSP proteins are involved in the regulation of cellular plasticity cells and melanoma drug resistance and are potential targets for treatment of MAPKi-resistant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithalesh K Singh
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Sarah Altameemi
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Marcos Lares
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Michael A Newton
- Department of Statistics, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Vijayasaradhi Setaluri
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA. .,William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, 53705, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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27
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Wan F, Zhang H, Hu J, Chen L, Geng S, Kong L, Lu JJ. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits Migration and Vasculogenic Mimicry in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Via Exosomal MiR-125a. Front Oncol 2022; 12:781979. [PMID: 35251967 PMCID: PMC8892602 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.781979] [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: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a kind of tumor vasculature providing blood supply for tumor growth, and the formation of VM is independent of vascular endothelial cells. Instead, VM structures are formed by differentiated tumor cells such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Recently, studies have shown that anti-angiogenic therapy failed to improve the overall survival for patients, namely, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. The existence of VM structure is probably one of the reasons for resistance for anti-angiogenic therapy. Therefore, it is important to study the mechanism for VM formation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this study, the bioinformatic analysis revealed that microRNA-125a-3p (miR-125a) was highly expressed in normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue than in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. An in vitro study demonstrated that miR-125a plays an inhibitory role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell migration and VM formation, and further studies confirmed that TAZ is a direct downstream target for miR-125a. On this basis, we artificially engineered human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to generate exosomes with high miR-125a expression. Treatment with these miR-125a-over-expressing exosomes attenuated the migration and VM formation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. In addition, the inhibitory role of these exosomes on VM formation and migration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma was also confirmed in vivo. Overall, the current study shows that MSCs can be utilized to generate exosomes with high miR-125a level, which could be therapeutic nanoparticles targeting VM formation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and used as a complement to anti-angiogenic therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhu Wan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
| | - Haojiong Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, China
- Rui-jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiyi Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
| | - Shikai Geng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Fudan University Cancer Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jiade J. Lu, ; Lin Kong,
| | - Jiade J. Lu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology (20dz2261000), Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Therapy, Shanghai, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jiade J. Lu, ; Lin Kong,
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Del Bufalo D, Di Martile M, Valentini E, Manni I, Masi I, D'Amore A, Filippini A, Nicoletti C, Zaccarini M, Cota C, Castro MV, Quezada MJ, Rosanò L, Lopez-Bergami P, D'Aguanno S. Bcl-2-like protein-10 increases aggressive features of melanoma cells. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2022; 3:11-26. [PMID: 36046354 PMCID: PMC9400776 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2022.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-like protein-10 (Bcl2L10) is the less studied
member of Bcl-2 family proteins, with the controversial role in different
cancer histotypes. Very recently, Bcl2L10 expression in melanoma tumor
specimens and its role in melanoma response to therapy have been
demonstrated. Here, the involvement of Bcl2L10 on the in
vitro and in vivo properties associated with
melanoma aggressive features has been investigated. Methods: Endogenous Bcl2L10 protein expression was detected by western blotting
analysis in a panel of patient-derived and commercially available human
melanoma cells. In vitro assays to evaluate clonogenicity,
cell proliferation, cell migration, cell invasion, and in
vitro capillary-like structure formation [vasculogenic
mimicry (VM)] have been performed by using human melanoma cells
stably overexpressing Bcl2L10 or transiently transfected for loss/gain
function of Bcl2L10, grown under two- or three-dimensional (3D) conditions
Xenograft melanoma model was employed to evaluate in vivo
tumor growth and angiogenesis. Results: Results demonstrated that Bcl2L10 acts as an inducer of in
vitro cell migration, invasion, and VM, while in
vitro cell proliferation, in vivo tumor
growth, as well as colony formation properties were not affected. Dissecting
different signaling pathways, it was found that Bcl2L10 positively affects
the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the
expression of markers of cell invasion, such as urokinase plasminogen
activator receptor (uPAR) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Of note,
Bcl2L10-dependent in vitro migration, invasion, and VM are
linked to uPAR. Bcl2L10 also negatively regulates the intracellular calcium
level. Finally, reduced invasion capability in 3D spheroid invasion assay of
melanoma cells transiently overexpressing Bcl2L10 was observed after
treatment with inhibitors of MMPs and uPAR. Conclusions: Overall, data reported in this paper provide evidence supporting a positive
role of Bcl2L10 in melanoma aggressive features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Valentini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Manni
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilenia Masi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella D'Amore
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Filippini
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Zaccarini
- Genetic Research, Dermatological Molecular Biology and Dermatopathology Unit, IRCCS San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Cota
- Genetic Research, Dermatological Molecular Biology and Dermatopathology Unit, IRCCS San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Victoria Castro
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo, Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires C1405BCK, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires C1405BCK, Argentina
| | - María Josefina Quezada
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo, Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires C1405BCK, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires C1405BCK, Argentina
| | - Laura Rosanò
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy; Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Pablo Lopez-Bergami
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo, Universidad Maimónides, Buenos Aires C1405BCK, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires C1405BCK, Argentina
| | - Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
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Salem A, Salo T. Vasculogenic Mimicry in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Time to Take Notice. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2022; 2:666895. [PMID: 35048009 PMCID: PMC8757801 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2021.666895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a group of common cancers characterized by a swift growth pattern, early metastasis, and dismal 5-year survival rates. Despite the recent advances in cancer management, the multimodality approach is not effective in eradicating HNSCC. Moreover, the clinical response to the antiangiogenic therapy remains considerably limited in HNSCC patients, suggesting that tumor perfusion can take place through other non-angiogenic pathways. Tumor cell-induced angiogenesis is one of the main hallmarks of cancer. However, at the end of the previous millennium, a new paradigm of tumor cell-associated neovascularization has been reported in human melanoma cells. This new phenomenon, which was named "vasculogenic mimicry" or "vascular mimicry" (VM), describes the ability of aggressively growing tumor cells to form perfusable, matrix-rich, vessel-like networks in 3-dimensional matrices in vitro. Similar matrix-rich VM networks were also identified in tissue samples obtained from cancer patients. To date, myriad studies have reported intriguing features of VM in a wide variety of cancers including HNSCC. We aim in this mini-review to summarize the current evidence regarding the phenomenon of VM in HNSCC-from the available detection protocols and potentially involved mechanisms, to its prognostic value and the present limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhakim Salem
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuula Salo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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Yuan Y, Geng B, Xu X, Zhao H, Bai J, Dou Z, Jia S, Yu X, Luo W. Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppresses vasculogenic mimicry formation in choroidal melanoma cells via the Wnt5a/β-catenin/AKT signaling pathway. Acta Histochem 2022; 124:151842. [PMID: 34995928 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2021.151842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the effects of knocking down both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation in choroidal melanoma (CM) cells. METHODS Cell counting Kit (CCK)-8, monoclonal formation, wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry assays were used to observe the cell effects in CM cell line, ocular choroidal melanoma-1 cells (OCM-1) with respect to proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis. Three-dimensional (3D) cultures were also used to characterize VM tube structural effects in OCM-1 cells and western blotting was used to characterize protein expression changes in VM-related markers. RESULTS Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but promoted cell apoptosis. It also reduced VM tube structures in OCM-1 cells. VM associated markers including, VE-cadherin, EphA2 and MT1-MMP were also down-regulated in OCM-1 cells. Similarly, Wnt5a, β-catenin and phosphorylated-AKT levels were also down-regulated. Western blotting and 3D cultures further demonstrated that combined Wnt5a silencing with dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown significantly decreased VE-cadherin and EphA2 levels and reduced VM tube structures in OCM-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS Dual VEGF/PDGF knockdown suppressed cell growth and metastasis in OCM-1 cells, and blocked the Wnt5a/β-catenin/AKT signaling pathway thereby inhibiting VM formation.
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He W, Yang G, Liu S, Maghsoudloo M, Shasaltaneh MD, Kaboli PJ, Zhang C, Zhang J, Entezari M, Imani S, Wen Q. Comparative mRNA/micro-RNA co-expression network drives melanomagenesis by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and vasculogenic mimicry signaling. Transl Oncol 2021; 14:101237. [PMID: 34626953 PMCID: PMC8512639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify a novel disease-associated differentially co-expressed mRNA-microRNA (miRNA) that is associated with vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) network at different stages of melanoma. By applying weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we constructed a VM+EMT biological network with the available microarray dataset downloaded from a public database. Quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and CD31-periodic acid solution dual staining were performed to confirm the expression of genes associated with EMT and VM formation in subjects with malignant melanoma (n = 18) and primary melanoma (n = 13) and in healthy subjects (n = 10). Our findings suggested that phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1-alpha (PLA1A) and dermokine (DMKN) genes function as oncogenes that trigger VM and EMT processes during melanomagenesis on interaction with miR-370, miR-563, and miR-770-5p. PLA1A and DMKN genes can be considered potential VM+EMT network-based diagnostic biomarkers for distinguishing between melanoma patients. We postulate that a network with altered PLA1A/miR-563 and DMNK/miR-770-5p/miR-370 may contribute to melanomagenesis by triggering the EMT signaling pathway and VM formation. This study provides a potentially valuable approach for the early diagnosis and prognosis of melanoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- WenFeng He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; Department of Oncology, Anyue Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Ziyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ziyang, Sichuan, China
| | - Shuya Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; Department of Oncology, Chengdu Jinniu District People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mazaher Maghsoudloo
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Parham Jabbarzadeh Kaboli
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cuiwei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - JingHeng Zhang
- Oncology Department, Luzhou People's Hospital, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saber Imani
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
| | - QingLian Wen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
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Recapitulating the Angiogenic Switch in a Hydrogel-Based 3D In Vitro Tumor-Stroma Model. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:bioengineering8110186. [PMID: 34821752 PMCID: PMC8614676 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8110186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To ensure nutrient and oxygen supply, tumors beyond a size of 1–2 mm3 need a connection to the vascular system. Thus, tumor cells modify physiological tissue homeostasis by secreting inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines. This leads to the activation of the tumor microenvironment and the turning of the angiogenic switch, resulting in tumor vascularization and growth. To inhibit tumor growth by developing efficient anti-angiogenic therapies, an in depth understanding of the molecular mechanism initiating angiogenesis is essential. Yet so far, predominantly 2D cell cultures or animal models have been used to clarify the interactions within the tumor stroma, resulting in poor transferability of the data obtained to the in vivo situation. Consequently, there is an abundant need for complex, humanized, 3D models in vitro. We established a dextran-hydrogel-based 3D organotypic in vitro model containing microtumor spheroids, macrophages, neutrophils, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, allowing for the analysis of tumor–stroma interactions in a controlled and modifiable environment. During the cultivation period of 21 days, the microtumor spheroids in the model grew in size and endothelial cells formed elongated tubular structures resembling capillary vessels, that appeared to extend towards the tumor spheroids. The tubular structures exhibited complex bifurcations and expanded without adding external angiogenic factors such as VEGF to the culture. To allow high-throughput screening of therapeutic candidates, the 3D cell culture model was successfully miniaturized to a 96-well format, while still maintaining the same level of tumor spheroid growth and vascular sprouting. The quantification of VEGF in the conditioned medium of these cultures showed a continuous increase during the cultivation period, suggesting the contribution of endogenous VEGF to the induction of the angiogenic switch and vascular sprouting. Thus, this model is highly suitable as a testing platform for novel anticancer therapeutics targeting the tumor as well as the vascular compartment.
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Matias M, Pinho JO, Penetra MJ, Campos G, Reis CP, Gaspar MM. The Challenging Melanoma Landscape: From Early Drug Discovery to Clinical Approval. Cells 2021; 10:3088. [PMID: 34831311 PMCID: PMC8621991 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is recognized as the most dangerous type of skin cancer, with high mortality and resistance to currently used treatments. To overcome the limitations of the available therapeutic options, the discovery and development of new, more effective, and safer therapies is required. In this review, the different research steps involved in the process of antimelanoma drug evaluation and selection are explored, including information regarding in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, as well as clinical trial phases. Details are given about the most used cell lines and assays to perform both two- and three-dimensional in vitro screening of drug candidates towards melanoma. For in vivo studies, murine models are, undoubtedly, the most widely used for assessing the therapeutic potential of new compounds and to study the underlying mechanisms of action. Here, the main melanoma murine models are described as well as other animal species. A section is dedicated to ongoing clinical studies, demonstrating the wide interest and successful efforts devoted to melanoma therapy, in particular at advanced stages of the disease, and a final section includes some considerations regarding approval for marketing by regulatory agencies. Overall, considerable commitment is being directed to the continuous development of optimized experimental models, important for the understanding of melanoma biology and for the evaluation and validation of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Matias
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jacinta O Pinho
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Penetra
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Campos
- CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
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Collagen fibers provide guidance cues for capillary regrowth during regenerative angiogenesis in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19520. [PMID: 34593884 PMCID: PMC8484481 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98852-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although well investigated, the importance of collagen fibers in supporting angiogenesis is not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate that extracellular collagen fibers provide guidance cues for endothelial cell migration during regenerative angiogenesis in the caudal zebrafish fin. Inhibition of collagen cross-linking by β-Aminopropionitrile results in a 70% shorter regeneration area with 50% reduced vessel growth and disintegrated collagen fibers. The disrupted collagen scaffold impedes endothelial cell migration and induces formation of abnormal angioma-like blood vessels. Treatment of the Fli//colRN zebrafish line with the prodrug Nifurpirinol, which selectively damages the active collagen-producing 1α2 cells, reduced the regeneration area and vascular growth by 50% with wider, but less inter-connected, capillary segments. The regenerated area contained larger vessels partially covered by endothelial cells embedded in atypical extracellular matrix containing cell debris and apoptotic bodies, macrophages and granulocytes. Similar experiments performed in early embryonic zebrafish suggested that collagens are important also during embryonic angiogenesis. In vitro assays revealed that collagen I allows for the most efficient endothelial cell migration, followed by collagen IV relative to the complete absence of exogenous matrix support. Our data demonstrates severe vascular defects and restricted fin regeneration when collagens are impaired. Collagen I therefore, provides support and guidance for endothelial cell migration while collagen IV is responsible for proper lumen formation and vascular integrity.
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Kaczmarczyk JA, Roberts RR, Luke BT, Chan KC, Van Wagoner CM, Felder RA, Saul RG, Simona C, Blonder J. Comparative microsomal proteomics of a model lung cancer cell line NCI-H23 reveals distinct differences between molecular profiles of 3D and 2D cultured cells. Oncotarget 2021; 12:2022-2038. [PMID: 34611477 PMCID: PMC8487723 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the USA and worldwide. Yet, about 95% of new drug candidates validated in preclinical phase eventually fail in clinical trials. Such a high attrition rate is attributed mostly to the inability of conventional two-dimensionally (2D) cultured cancer cells to mimic native three-dimensional (3D) growth of malignant cells in human tumors. To ascertain phenotypical differences between these two distinct culture conditions, we carried out a comparative proteomic analysis of a membrane fraction obtained from 3D- and 2D-cultured NSCLC model cell line NCI-H23. This analysis revealed a map of 1,166 (24%) protein species regulated in culture dependent manner, including differential regulation of a subset of cell surface-based CD molecules. We confirmed exclusive expression of CD99, CD146 and CD239 in 3D culture. Furthermore, label-free quantitation, targeting KRas proteoform-specific peptides, revealed upregulation of both wild type and monoallelic KRas4BG12C mutant at the surface of 3D cultured cells. In order to reduce the high attrition rate of new drug candidates, the results of this study strongly suggests exploiting base-line molecular profiling of a large number of patient-derived NSCLC cell lines grown in 2D and 3D culture, prior to actual drug candidate testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan A. Kaczmarczyk
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Rhonda R. Roberts
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Brian T. Luke
- Advanced Biomedical Computational Science, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - King C. Chan
- Protein Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
- Current address: The Center for Cell Clearance, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Carly M. Van Wagoner
- Protein Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
- Current address: The Center for Cell Clearance, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Robin A. Felder
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Richard G. Saul
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Colantonio Simona
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Josip Blonder
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
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Hujanen R, Almahmoudi R, Salo T, Salem A. Comparative Analysis of Vascular Mimicry in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4747. [PMID: 34638234 PMCID: PMC8507545 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue vasculature provides the main conduit for metastasis in solid tumours including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Vascular mimicry (VM) is an endothelial cell (EC)-independent neovascularization pattern, whereby tumour cells generate a perfusable vessel-like meshwork. Yet, despite its promising clinical utility, there are limited approaches to better identify VM in HNSCC and what factors may influence such a phenomenon in vitro. Therefore, we employed different staining procedures to assess their utility in identifying VM in tumour sections, wherein mosaic vessels may also be adopted to further assess the VM-competent cell phenotype. Using 13 primary and metastatic HNSCC cell lines in addition to murine- and human-derived matrices, we elucidated the impact of the extracellular matrix, tumour cell type, and density on the formation and morphology of cell-derived tubulogenesis in HNSCC. We then delineated the optimal cell numbers needed to obtain a VM meshwork in vitro, which revealed cell-specific variations and yet consistent expression of the EC marker CD31. Finally, we proposed the zebrafish larvae as a simple and cost-effective model to evaluate VM development in vivo. Taken together, our findings offer a valuable resource for designing future studies that may facilitate the therapeutic exploitation of VM in HNSCC and other tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roosa Hujanen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (R.H.); (R.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Rabeia Almahmoudi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (R.H.); (R.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Tuula Salo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (R.H.); (R.A.); (T.S.)
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), 00029 Helsinki, Finland
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Abdelhakim Salem
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (R.H.); (R.A.); (T.S.)
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), 00029 Helsinki, Finland
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Abstract
The growth of solid tumours relies on an ever-increasing supply of oxygen and nutrients that are delivered via vascular networks. Tumour vasculature includes endothelial cell lined angiogenesis and the less common cancer cell lined vasculogenic mimicry (VM). To study and compare the development of vascular networks formed during angiogenesis and VM (represented here by breast cancer and pancreatic cancer cell lines) a number of in vitro assays were utilised. From live cell imaging, we performed a large-scale automated extraction of network parameters and identified properties not previously reported. We show that for both angiogenesis and VM, the characteristic network path length reduces over time; however, only endothelial cells increase network clustering coefficients thus maintaining small-world network properties as they develop. When compared to angiogenesis, the VM network efficiency is improved by decreasing the number of edges and vertices, and also by increasing edge length. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that angiogenic and VM networks appear to display similar properties to road traffic networks and are also subject to the well-known Braess paradox. This quantitative measurement framework opens up new avenues to potentially evaluate the impact of anti-cancer drugs and anti-vascular therapies. Fouladzadeh, Dorraki and colleagues investigate the development of angiogenic networks for in vitro cancer cell lines. They demonstrate that during the growth stages of vasculogenic mimicry, the number of edges and vertices decreases but the edge length increases resulting in improved network efficiency.
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Xie J, Kong X, Wang W, Li Y, Lin M, Li H, Chen J, Zhou W, He J, Wu H. Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation Predicts Tumor Progression in Oligodendroglioma. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:1609844. [PMID: 34483751 PMCID: PMC8408314 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.1609844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) has been identified as an important vasculogenic mechanism in malignant tumors, but little is known about its clinical meanings and mechanisms in oligodendroglioma. In this study, VM-positive cases were detected in 28 (20.6%) out of 136 oligodendroglioma samples, significantly associated with higher WHO grade, lower Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, and recurrent tumor (p < 0.001, p = 0.040, and p = 0.020 respectively). Patients with VM-positive oligodendroglioma had a shorter progress-free survival (PFS) compared with those with VM-negative tumor (p < 0.001), whereas no significant difference was detected in overall survival (OS) between these patients. High levels of phosphorylate serine/threonine kinases Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (pATM) and phosphorylate Ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-Related (pATR) were detected in 31 (22.8%) and 34 (25.0%), respectively out of 136 oligodendroglioma samples. Higher expressions of pATM and pATR were both associated with a shorter PFS (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). VM-positive oligodendroglioma specimens tended to exhibit higher pATM and pATR staining than VM-negative specimens (rs = 0.435, p < 0.001 and rs = 0.317, p < 0.001). Besides, Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) expression was detected in 14(10.3%) samples, correlated with higher WHO grade and non-frontal lobe (p = 0.010 and p = 0.029). However, no obvious connection was detected between HIF1α expression and VM formation (p = 0.537). Finally, either univariate or multivariate analysis suggested that VM was an independent unfavorable predictor for oligodendroglioma patients (p < 0.001, HR = 7.928, 95%CI: 3.382-18.584, and p = 0.007, HR = 4.534, 95%CI: 1.504-13.675, respectively). VM is a potential prognosticator for tumor progression in oligodendroglioma patients. Phosphorylation of ATM and ATR linked to treatment-resistance may be associated with VM formation. The role of VM in tumor progression and the implication of pATM/pATR in VM formation may provide potential therapeutic targets for oligodendroglioma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xie
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Pathology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Hefei, China.,Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xue Kong
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Mengyu Lin
- Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Heng Li
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wenchao Zhou
- Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jie He
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Pathology, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Hefei, China.,Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Haibo Wu
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Intelligent Pathology Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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CD36 promotes vasculogenic mimicry in melanoma by mediating adhesion to the extracellular matrix. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:765. [PMID: 34215227 PMCID: PMC8254274 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08482-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The formation of blood vessels within solid tumors directly contributes to cancer growth and metastasis. Until recently, tumor vasculature was thought to occur exclusively via endothelial cell (EC) lined structures (i.e. angiogenesis), but a second source of tumor vasculature arises from the cancer cells themselves, a process known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM). While it is generally understood that the function of VM vessels is the same as that of EC-lined vessels (i.e. to supply oxygen and nutrients to the proliferating cancer cells), the molecular mechanisms underpinning VM are yet to be fully elucidated. Methods Human VM-competent melanoma cell lines were examined for their VM potential using the in vitro angiogenesis assays (Matrigel), together with inhibition studies using small interfering RNA and blocking monoclonal antibodies. Invasion assays and adhesion assays were used to examine cancer cell function. Results Herein we demonstrate that CD36, a cell surface glycoprotein known to promote angiogenesis by ECs, also supports VM formation by human melanoma cancer cells. In silico analysis of CD36 expression within the melanoma cohort of The Cancer Genome Atlas suggests that melanoma patients with high expression of CD36 have a poorer clinical outcome. Using in vitro ‘angiogenesis’ assays and CD36-knockdown approaches, we reveal that CD36 supports VM formation by human melanoma cells as well as adhesion to, and invasion through, a cancer derived extracellular matrix substrate. Interestingly, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), a ligand for CD36 on ECs that inhibits angiogenesis, has no effect on VM formation. Further investigation revealed a role for laminin, but not collagen or fibronectin, as ligands for CD36 expressing melanoma cells. Conclusions Taken together, this study suggests that CD36 is a novel regulator of VM by melanoma cancer cells that is facilitated, at least in part, via integrin-α3 and laminin. Unlike angiogenesis, VM is not perturbed by the presence of TSP-1, thus providing new information on differences between these two processes of tumor vascularization which may be exploited to combat cancer progression.
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Jeethy Ram T, Lekshmi A, Somanathan T, Sujathan K. Galectin-3: A factotum in carcinogenesis bestowing an archery for prevention. Tumour Biol 2021; 43:77-96. [PMID: 33998569 DOI: 10.3233/tub-200051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer metastasis and therapy resistance are the foremost hurdles in oncology at the moment. This review aims to pinpoint the functional aspects of a unique multifaceted glycosylated molecule in both intracellular and extracellular compartments of a cell namely galectin-3 along with its metastatic potential in different types of cancer. All materials reviewed here were collected through the search engines PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar. Among the 15 galectins identified, the chimeric gal-3 plays an indispensable role in the differentiation, transformation, and multi-step process of tumor metastasis. It has been implicated in the molecular mechanisms that allow the cancer cells to survive in the intravascular milieu and promote tumor cell extravasation, ultimately leading to metastasis. Gal-3 has also been found to have a pivotal role in immune surveillance and pro-angiogenesis and several studies have pointed out the importance of gal-3 in establishing a resistant phenotype, particularly through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Additionally, some recent findings suggest the use of gal-3 inhibitors in overcoming therapeutic resistance. All these reports suggest that the deregulation of these specific lectins at the cellular level could inhibit cancer progression and metastasis. A more systematic study of glycosylation in clinical samples along with the development of selective gal-3 antagonists inhibiting the activity of these molecules at the cellular level offers an innovative strategy for primary cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Jeethy Ram
- Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Asha Lekshmi
- Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Thara Somanathan
- Division of Pathology, Regional Cancer Centre, Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - K Sujathan
- Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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Nisar MA, Zheng Q, Saleem MZ, Ahmmed B, Ramzan MN, Ud Din SR, Tahir N, Liu S, Yan Q. IL-1β Promotes Vasculogenic Mimicry of Breast Cancer Cells Through p38/MAPK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways. Front Oncol 2021; 11:618839. [PMID: 34055597 PMCID: PMC8160375 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.618839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a micro vessel-like structure formed by the cancer cells, plays a pivotal role in cancer malignancy and progression. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is an active pro-inflammatory cytokine and elevated in many tumor types, including breast cancer. However, the effect of IL-1β on the VM of breast cancer has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were used to study the effect of IL-1β on the changes that can promote VM. The evidence for VM stimulated by IL-1β was acquired by analyzing the expression of VM-associated biomarkers (VE-cadherin, VEGFR-1, MMP-9, MMP-2, c-Fos, and c-Jun) via western blot, immunofluorescent staining, and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Additionally, morphological evidence was collected via Matrigel-based cord formation assay under normoxic/hypoxic conditions and microvessel examination through Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E). Furthermore, the STRING and Gene Ontology database was also used to analyze the VM-associated interacting molecules stimulated by IL-β. The results showed that the expression of VM biomarkers was increased in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells after IL-1β treatment. The increase in VM response was observed in IL-1β treated cells under both normoxia and hypoxia. IL-1β also increased the activation of transcription factor AP-1 complex (c-Fos/c-Jun). The bioinformatics data indicated that p38/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were involved in the IL-1β stimulation. It was further confirmed by the downregulated expression of VM biomarkers and reduced formation of the intersections upon the addition of the signaling pathway inhibitors. The study suggests that IL-1β stimulates the VM and its associated events in breast cancer cells via p38/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Aiming the VM-associated molecular targets promoted by IL-1β may offer a novel anti-angiogenic therapeutic strategy to control the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azhar Nisar
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qin Zheng
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Muhammad Zubair Saleem
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Bulbul Ahmmed
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Muhammad Noman Ramzan
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Syed Riaz Ud Din
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Naeem Tahir
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qiu Yan
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Zhou H, Yuan Y, Qian H. Expression of STAT3 and vasculogenic mimicry in gallbladder carcinoma promotes invasion and metastasis. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:738. [PMID: 34055055 PMCID: PMC8138270 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical treatment of gallbladder carcinoma remains challenging, while targeted therapy has been demonstrated to have potential. In the present study, the effect of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) on the occurrence and development of gallbladder carcinoma was evaluated. A total of 72 patients with gallbladder carcinoma and 10 patients with chronic cholecystitis were examined. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the positive expression rates of STAT3. Periodic acid Schiff CD34 double staining was performed to detect VM in the gallbladder carcinoma group. STAT3 expression and VM in gallbladder carcinoma tissues was compared among patients with different clinical characteristics. In postoperative patients with gallbladder cancer, the relationship of the postoperative recurrence time with STAT3 expression and VM was assessed. STAT3 expression in gallbladder carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than that in cholecystitis tissue (P<0.05). STAT3 expression levels and VM were positively correlated in gallbladder carcinoma tissue. STAT3 protein expression in gallbladder carcinoma tissues differed significantly among patients with different degrees of differentiation and clinical stages (P<0.05). Among the 51 patients who completed the 3-year follow-up, the mean time to relapse was 17.353 and 35.647 months in those with high and low STAT3 expression, respectively, with significant differences (P<0.05). The VM structure was detected in 47 cases (92.15%) and not detected in four cases (7.84%), which exhibited no immediate recurrence after surgery, and the difference in the mean postoperative recurrence time was significant (22.38 vs. 36.00 months, respectively; P<0.05). In gallbladder carcinoma tissues, a lower degree of differentiation, higher malignancy degree and higher clinical stage were associated with higher expression of STAT3 and VM. Thus, STAT3 may promote VM formation in the process of tumor occurrence, development and metastasis. Therefore, STAT3 as a regulatory target, may inhibit the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells and block the development of VM, thereby representing a suitable target for antitumor angiogenesis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of The Medical School of Nantong University, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, P.R. China
| | - Yin Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of The Medical School of Nantong University, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, P.R. China
| | - Haixin Qian
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, P.R. China
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D'Aguanno S, Mallone F, Marenco M, Del Bufalo D, Moramarco A. Hypoxia-dependent drivers of melanoma progression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:159. [PMID: 33964953 PMCID: PMC8106186 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a condition of low oxygen availability, is a hallmark of tumour microenvironment and promotes cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Many studies reported the essential role of hypoxia in regulating invasiveness, angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry and response to therapy in melanoma. Melanoma is an aggressive cancer originating from melanocytes located in the skin (cutaneous melanoma), in the uveal tract of the eye (uveal melanoma) or in mucosal membranes (mucosal melanoma). These three subtypes of melanoma represent distinct neoplasms in terms of biology, epidemiology, aetiology, molecular profile and clinical features.In this review, the latest progress in hypoxia-regulated pathways involved in the development and progression of all melanoma subtypes were discussed. We also summarized current knowledge on preclinical studies with drugs targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1, angiogenesis or vasculogenic mimicry. Finally, we described available evidence on clinical studies investigating the use of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 inhibitors or antiangiogenic drugs, alone or in combination with other strategies, in metastatic and adjuvant settings of cutaneous, uveal and mucosal melanoma.Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-independent pathways have been also reported to regulate melanoma progression, but this issue is beyond the scope of this review.As evident from the numerous studies discussed in this review, the increasing knowledge of hypoxia-regulated pathways in melanoma progression and the promising results obtained from novel antiangiogenic therapies, could offer new perspectives in clinical practice in order to improve survival outcomes of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Mallone
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Marenco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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Alternative Vascularization Mechanisms in Tumor Resistance to Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081912. [PMID: 33921099 PMCID: PMC8071410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumors rely on blood vessels to grow and metastasize. Malignant tumors can employ different strategies to create a functional vascular network. Tumor cells can use normal processes of vessel formation but can also employ cancer-specific mechanisms, by co-opting normal vessels present in tissues or by turning themselves into vascular cells. These different types of tumor vessels have specific molecular and functional characteristics that profoundly affect tumor behavior and response to therapies, including drugs targeting the tumor vasculature (antiangiogenic therapies). In this review, we discuss how vessels formed by different mechanisms affect the intrinsic sensitivity of tumors to therapy and, on the other hand, how therapies can affect tumor vessel formation, leading to resistance to drugs, cancer recurrence, and treatment failure. Potential strategies to avoid vessel-mediated resistance to antineoplastic therapies will be discussed. Abstract Blood vessels in tumors are formed through a variety of different mechanisms, each generating vessels with peculiar structural, molecular, and functional properties. This heterogeneity has a major impact on tumor response or resistance to antineoplastic therapies and is now emerging as a promising target for strategies to prevent drug resistance and improve the distribution and efficacy of antineoplastic treatments. This review presents evidence of how different mechanisms of tumor vessel formation (vasculogenesis, glomeruloid proliferation, intussusceptive angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry, and vessel co-option) affect tumor responses to antiangiogenic and antineoplastic therapies, but also how therapies can promote alternative mechanisms of vessel formation, contributing to tumor recurrence, malignant progression, and acquired drug resistance. We discuss the possibility of tailoring treatment strategies to overcome vasculature-mediated drug resistance or to improve drug distribution and efficacy.
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45
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Fu R, Du W, Ding Z, Wang Y, Li Y, Zhu J, Zeng Y, Zheng Y, Liu Z, Huang JA. HIF-1α promoted vasculogenic mimicry formation in lung adenocarcinoma through NRP1 upregulation in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:394. [PMID: 33850110 PMCID: PMC8044151 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03682-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neovascularization is a key factor that contributes to tumor metastasis, and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an important form of neovascularization found in highly invasive tumors, including lung cancer. Despite the increasing number of studies focusing on VM, the mechanisms underlying VM formation remain unclear. Herein, our study explored the role of the HIF-1α/NRP1 axis in mediating lung adenocarcinoma metastasis and VM formation. HIF-1α, NRP1 expression, and VM in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patient samples were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative real-time (qRT-PCR), western blot, transwell assay, wound healing assay, and tube formation assay were performed to verify the role of HIF-1α/NRP1 axis in LUAD metastasis and VM formation. ChIP and luciferase reporter assay were used to confirm whether NRP1 is a direct target of HIF-1α. In LUAD tissues, we confirmed a positive relationship between HIF-1α and NRP1 expression. Importantly, high HIF-1α and NRP1 expression and the presence of VM were correlated with poor prognosis. We also found that HIF-1α could induce LUAD cell migration, invasion, and VM formation by regulating NRP1. Moreover, we demonstrated that HIF-1α can directly bind to the NRP1 promoter located between −2009 and −2017 of the promoter. Mechanistically, MMP2, VE-cadherin, and Vimentin expression were affected. HIF-1α plays an important role in inducing lung adenocarcinoma cell metastasis and VM formation via upregulation of NRP1. This study highlights the potential therapeutic value of targeting NRP1 for suppressing lung adenocarcinoma metastasis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Fu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, 223002, China
| | - Wenwen Du
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Zongli Ding
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, 223002, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, 223002, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Jianjie Zhu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zeng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China.,Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Yulong Zheng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, 223002, China
| | - Zeyi Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Jian-An Huang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Suzhou Key Laboratory for Respiratory Diseases, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
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Karinen S, Juurikka K, Hujanen R, Wahbi W, Hadler-Olsen E, Svineng G, Eklund KK, Salo T, Åström P, Salem A. Tumour cells express functional lymphatic endothelium-specific hyaluronan receptor in vitro and in vivo: Lymphatic mimicry promotes oral oncogenesis? Oncogenesis 2021; 10:23. [PMID: 33674563 PMCID: PMC7977063 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic metastasis represents the main route of tumour cell dissemination in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Yet, there are no FDA-approved therapeutics targeting cancer-related lymphangiogenesis to date. The lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronic acid receptor 1 (LYVE-1), a specific lymphatic marker, is associated with poor survival in OSCC patients. In this study, we present a potential novel mechanism of lymphatic metastasis in OSCC-lymphatic mimicry (LM), a process whereby tumour cells form cytokeratin+/LYVE-1+, but podoplanin-negative, mosaic endothelial-like vessels. LM was detected in one-third (20/57; 35.08%) of randomly selected OSCC patients. The LM-positive patients had shorter overall survival (OS) compared to LM-negative group albeit not statistically significant. Highly-metastatic tumour cells formed distinct LM structures in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the siRNA-mediated knockdown of LYVE-1 not only impaired tumour cell migration but also blunted their capacity to form LM-vessels in vitro and reduced tumour metastasis in vivo. Together, our findings uncovered, to our knowledge, a previously unknown expression and function of LYVE-1 in OSCC, whereby tumour cells could induce LM formation and promote lymphatic metastasis. Finally, more detailed studies on LM are warranted to better define this phenomenon in the future. These studies could benefit the development of targeted therapeutics for blocking tumour-related lymphangiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sini Karinen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Krista Juurikka
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, 90220, Oulu, Finland
| | - Roosa Hujanen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Wafa Wahbi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elin Hadler-Olsen
- Department of medical biology, Faculty of Health sciences, Arctic university of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway.,The Public Dental Health Competence Center of Northern Norway, 9271, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gunbjørg Svineng
- Department of medical biology, Faculty of Health sciences, Arctic university of Norway, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kari K Eklund
- Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Rheumatology, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital, and Orton Orthopedic Hospital and Research Institute, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuula Salo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland.,Medical Research Centre Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, 90220, Oulu, Finland.,Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirjo Åström
- The Research Unit of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Abdelhakim Salem
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. .,Translational Immunology Research Program (TRIMM), Research Program Unit (RPU), University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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47
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Zheng N, Zhang S, Wu W, Zhang N, Wang J. Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targeting of vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Res 2021; 166:105507. [PMID: 33610718 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hyper-vascular solid tumor; aberrantly rich in tumor vascular network contributes to its malignancy. Conventional anti-angiogenic therapies seem promising but transitory and incomplete efficacy on HCC. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is one of functional microcirculation patterns independent of endothelial vessels which describes the plasticity of highly aggressive tumor cells to form vasculogenic-like networks providing sufficient blood supply for tumor growth and metastasis. As a pivotal alternative mechanism for tumor vascularization when tumor cells undergo lack of oxygen and nutrients, VM has an association with the malignant phenotype and poor clinical outcome for HCC, and may challenge the classic anti-angiogenic treatment of HCC. Current studies have contributed numerous findings illustrating the underlying molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways supporting VM in HCC. In this review, we summarize the correlation between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cells (CSCs) and VM, the role of hypoxia and extracellular matrix remodeling in VM, the involvement of adjacent non-cancerous cells, cytokines and growth factors in VM, as well as the regulatory influence of non-coding RNAs on VM in HCC. Moreover, we discuss the clinical significance of VM in practice and the potential therapeutic strategies targeting VM for HCC. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying VM formation in HCC may optimize anti-angiogenic treatment modalities for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine Pharmacology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Shaoqin Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Wenda Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Jichuang Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China.
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Androgen receptor promotes renal cell carcinoma (RCC) vasculogenic mimicry (VM) via altering TWIST1 nonsense-mediated decay through lncRNA-TANAR. Oncogene 2021; 40:1674-1689. [PMID: 33510354 PMCID: PMC7932923 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01616-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
While the androgen receptor (AR) may influence the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), its role to impact vasculogenic mimicry (VM) to alter the ccRCC progression and metastasis remains obscure. Here, we demonstrated that elevated AR expression was positively correlated with tumor-originated vasculogenesis in ccRCC patients. Consistently, in vitro research revealed AR promoted VM formation in ccRCC cell lines via modulating lncRNA-TANAR/TWIST1 signals. Mechanism dissection showed that AR could increase lncRNA-TANAR (TANAR) expression through binding to the androgen response elements (AREs) located in its promoter region. Moreover, we found that TANAR could impede nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) of TWIST1 mRNA by direct interaction with TWIST1 5'UTR. A preclinical study using in vivo mouse model with orthotopic xenografts of ccRCC cells further confirmed the in vitro data. Together, these results illustrated that AR-mediated TANAR signals might play a crucial role in ccRCC VM formation and metastasis, and targeting this newly identified AR/TANAR/TWIST1 signaling may help in the development of a novel anti-angiogenesis therapy to better suppress the ccRCC progression.
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Yang N, Liu Z, Pang S, Wu J, Liang J, Sun L. Predicative value of IFITM2 in renal clear cell carcinoma: IFITM2 is associated with lymphatic metastasis and poor clinical outcome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 534:157-164. [PMID: 33308825 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.11.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC), is an inflammation-related malignancy with poor therapeutic outcome. Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 2 (IFITM2), an inflammation related gene, is reported to promote tumor progression via inducing cytokine release and lymphatic metastasis. However, IFITM2's role in ccRCC remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of IFITM2 in ccRCC. In vitro studies displayed overexpressed IFITM2 level in tumor tissues, while analysis of 538 cases from TCGA unveiled the correlation of upregulated-IFITM2 with shorter survival. Migration and invasion of ccRCC were inhibited following the downregulation of IFITM2. Cocultured with IFITM2-silenced ccRCC cells, human lymphatic endothelial cells were inhibited in proliferation, migration and tube formation, indicating that lymphangiognesis was contributed by IFITM2 expression. Taken together, IFITM2 promotes ccRCC progression by inducing malignant characteristics and lymphatic metastasis. Therefore, IFITM2 represents a promising novel target for therapy and effective prediction of malignancy of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanyan Yang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shiyu Pang
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jingjing Wu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Junguang Liang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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50
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Gong FL, Wang L, Yu LG, Dang YF, Jiang XN, Zhao L, Guo XL. DHPAC, a novel microtubule depolymerizing agent, suppresses angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry formation of human non-small cell lung cancer. J Cell Biochem 2020; 121:4756-4771. [PMID: 32056279 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) are the main causes of tumor metastasis and recurrence. In this study, we investigated the antiangiogenesis and anti-VM formation of a novel microtubule depolymerizing agent, DHPAC, as well as combretastatin A4 (CA4, a combretastatin derivate) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), subsequently elucidating the underlying mechanisms. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), DHPAC could enter cells and inhibit proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in the presence and absence of conditioned medium from H1299 cells. Interestingly, the inhibition was enhanced under the stimulation of the conditioned medium. Under hypoxia or normoxia, DHPAC suppressed signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation and reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and secretion from HUVECs, thus impeding the activation of the downstream signal transduction pathway of VEGF/VEGFR2. However, JNK inhibitors reversed the inhibitory effect of DHPAC on the angiogenesis, suggesting that DHPAC regulated angiogenesis through activating JNK. In H1299 cells, DHPAC could inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, and the formation of VM. In addition, DHPAC inhibited the phosphorylation of FAK and AKT and decreased the expressions of VEGF, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9 and Laminin 5, suggesting that DHPAC inhibited VM formation via the FAK/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, CA4 showed a similar effect as DHPAC against angiogenesis and VM formation. These new findings support the use of microtubule destabilizing agents as a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Lian Gong
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lu-Gang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Yi-Fan Dang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao-Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiu-Li Guo
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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