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Beadle EP, Bennett NE, Rhoades JA. Bioinformatics Screen Reveals Gli-Mediated Hedgehog Signaling as an Associated Pathway to Poor Immune Infiltration of Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3360. [PMID: 37444470 PMCID: PMC10341348 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133360] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Liposarcomas are the most diagnosed soft tissue sarcoma, with most cases consisting of well-differentiated (WDLPS) or dedifferentiated (DDLPS) histological subtypes. While both tumor subtypes can have clinical recurrence due to incomplete resections, DDLPS often has worse prognosis due to a higher likelihood of metastasis compared to its well-differentiated counterpart. Unfortunately, targeted therapeutic interventions have lagged in sarcoma oncology, making the need for molecular targeted therapies a promising future area of research for this family of malignancies. In this work, previously published data were analyzed to identify differential pathways that may contribute to the dedifferentiation process in liposarcoma. Interestingly, Gli-mediated Hedgehog signaling appeared to be enriched in dedifferentiated adipose progenitor cells and DDLPS tumors, and coincidentally Gli1 is often co-amplified with MDM2 and CDK4, given its genomic proximity along chromosome 12q13-12q15. However, we find that Gli2, but not Gli1, is differentially expressed between WDLPS and DDLPS, with a noticeable co-expression signature between Gli2 and genes involved in ECM remodeling. Additionally, Gli2 co-expression had a noticeable transcriptional signature that could suggest Gli-mediated Hedgehog signaling as an associated pathway contributing to poor immune infiltration in these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik P. Beadle
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Natalie E. Bennett
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Julie A. Rhoades
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Health Care, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
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Abstract
Here we argue in support of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) supergene as a tumor suppressor. HLA is a recurring mutational target in a large and diverse group of malignancies. The tumor suppressor function of HLA is linked to an embryonic/stemness and drug resistance phenotype. A deeper understanding of the distinct roles of HLA, including immunosurveillance, stemness, and tumor suppressor functions, could illuminate the limited responses in cancer patients. Furthermore, it would provide guidelines for the design of new therapeutic strategies, including the potential of modulating HLA expression in the tumor stem cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Pujadas
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carlos Cordon-Cardo
- Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Zolghadr F, Bakhshinejad B, Davuchbabny S, Sarrafpour B, Seyedasli N. Critical regulatory levels in tumor differentiation: Signaling pathways, epigenetics and non-coding transcripts. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2000190. [PMID: 33644880 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Approaches to induce tumor differentiation often result in manageable and therapy-naïve cellular states in cancer cells. This transformation is achieved by activating pathways that drive tumor cells away from plasticity, a state that commonly correlates with enhanced aggression, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Here, we discuss signaling pathways, epigenetics and non-coding RNAs as three main regulatory levels with the potential to drive tumor differentiation and hence as potential targets in differentiation therapy approaches. The success of an effective therapeutic regimen in one cancer, however, does not necessarily sustain across cancer types; a phenomenon largely resulting from heterogeneity in the genetic and physiological landscapes of tumor types necessitating an approach designed for each cancer's unique genetic and phenotypic build-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Zolghadr
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Babak Bakhshinejad
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sapir Davuchbabny
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Babak Sarrafpour
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Naisana Seyedasli
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,The Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
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Cancer Stem Cells in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061449. [PMID: 32532153 PMCID: PMC7349510 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare group of mesenchymal solid tumors with heterogeneous genetic profiles and clinical features. Systemic chemotherapy is the backbone treatment for advanced STS; however, STS frequently acquire resistance to standard therapies, which highlights the need to improve treatments and identify novel therapeutic targets. Increases in the knowledge of the molecular pathways that drive sarcomas have brought to light different molecular alterations that cause tumor initiation and progression. These findings have triggered a breakthrough of targeted therapies that are being assessed in clinical trials. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) features and represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that play an important role in tumor progression, chemotherapy resistance, recurrence and metastasis. In fact, CSCs phenotypes have been identified in sarcomas, allied to drug resistance and tumorigenesis. Herein, we will review the published evidence of CSCs in STS, discussing the molecular characteristic of CSCs, the commonly used isolation techniques and the new possibilities of targeting CSCs as a way to improve STS treatment and consequently patient outcome.
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Dawson LE, D'Agostino L, Hakim AA, Lackman RD, Brown SA, Sensenig RB, Antonello ZA, Kuzin II. Induction of Myogenic Differentiation Improves Chemosensitivity of Chemoresistant Cells in Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Cell Lines. Sarcoma 2020; 2020:8647981. [PMID: 32300280 PMCID: PMC7136814 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8647981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and rhabdoid tumors (RT) are rare soft-tissue malignancies with the highest incidence in infants, children, and adolescents. Advanced, recurrent, and/or metastatic RMS and RT exhibit poor response to treatment. One of the main mechanisms behind resistance to treatment is believed to be intratumoral heterogeneity. In this study, we investigated the myogenic determination factor 1 (MYOD1) and Noggin (NOG) markers in an embryonal RMS (ERMS) cell line and an RT cell line and the differential response of the MYOD1 and NOG expressing subpopulations to chemotherapy. Importantly, we found that these markers together identify a subpopulation of cells (MYOD1+ NOG+ cells) with primary resistance to Vincristine and Doxorubicin, two commonly used chemotherapies for ERMS and RT. The chemoresistant MYOD1+ NOG+ cells express markers of undifferentiated cells such as myogenin and ID1. Combination of Vincristine with TPA/GSK126, a drug combination shown to induce differentiation of RMS cell lines, is able to partially overcome MYOD1/NOG cells chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Richard D. Lackman
- Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Zeus A. Antonello
- Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Igor I. Kuzin
- Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
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Han D, Rodriguez-Bravo V, Izadmehr S, Domingo-Domenech J, Cordon-Cardo C. Isolation and Characterization of Tumor-initiating Cells from Sarcoma Patient-derived Xenografts. J Vis Exp 2019. [PMID: 31259909 PMCID: PMC7247278 DOI: 10.3791/57011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The existence and importance of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) have been supported by increasing evidence during the past decade. These TICs have been shown to be responsible for tumor initiation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Therefore, it is important to develop specific TIC-targeting therapy in addition to current chemotherapy strategies, which mostly focus on the bulk of non-TICs. In order to further understand the mechanism behind the malignancy of TICs, we describe a method to isolate and to characterize TICs in human sarcomas. Herein, we show a detailed protocol to generate patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of human sarcomas and to isolate TICs by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-1) as a negative marker. Also, we describe how to functionally characterize these TICs, including a sphere formation assay and a tumor formation assay, and to induce differentiation along mesenchymal pathways. The isolation and characterization of PDX TICs provide clues for the discovery of potential targeting therapy reagents. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that this protocol may be further extended to isolate and characterize TICs from other types of human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Han
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | | | - Sudeh Izadmehr
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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Chen X, Zhang Z, Yang S, Chen H, Wang D, Li J. All-trans retinoic acid-encapsulated, CD20 antibody-conjugated poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles effectively target and eliminate melanoma-initiating cells in vitro. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:6177-6187. [PMID: 30288053 PMCID: PMC6163018 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s169957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Melanoma, which is initiated from melanocytes, is the most fatal type of skin cancer. Melanoma-initiating cells significantly contribute to the initiation, metastasis, and recurrence of melanoma, and CD20 is a marker of melanoma-initiating cells. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been demonstrated to induce differentiation, inhibit proliferation, and promote the apoptosis of cancer cells and cancer-initiating cells (CICs). However, there has been no report on ATRA activity against melanoma-initiating cells. In this study, we examined the activity of ATRA against melanoma-initiating cells and developed ATRA-encapsulated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, which were conjugated with a CD20 antibody (ATRA-PNP-CD20) for targeted delivery of ATRA to CD20+ melanoma-initiating cells. Materials and methods The effects of ATRA and ATRA-PNP-CD20 against melanoma-initiating cells were investigated using a cytotoxicity assay, tumorsphere formation assay, and flow cytometry. Results ATRA-PNP-CD20 had a size of 126.9 nm and a negative zeta potential. The drug-loading capacity of ATRA-PNP-CD20 was 8.7%, and ATRA-PNP-CD20 displayed a sustained release of ATRA for 144 hours. The results showed that ATRA-PNP-CD20 could effectively and specifically deliver ATRA to CD20+ melanoma-initiating cells, achieving superior inhibitory effects against CD20+ melanoma-initiating cells compared with those of free ATRA and nontargeted nanoparticles. To the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time a potent activity of ATRA against CD20+ melanoma-initiating cells, targeted drug delivery of ATRA via nanoparticles to melanoma-initiating cells, and the achievement of a superior inhibitory effect against melanoma-initiating cells by using a CD20 antibody. Conclusion ATRA-PNP-CD20 represents a promising tool for eliminating melanoma-initiating cells and shows a potential for the therapy of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Chen
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250000, China, .,Department of Dermatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266011, China,
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Shengfeng Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Qingdao Center Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266011, China
| | - Hairong Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266011, China,
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Pharmacy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China,
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Zhang Y, Zhao J, Sun J, Huang L, Li Q. Targeting lung cancer initiating cells by all-trans retinoic acid-loaded lipid-PLGA nanoparticles with CD133 aptamers. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:4639-4649. [PMID: 30542415 PMCID: PMC6257334 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer initiating cells represent a specific subpopulation of lung cancer cells, which significantly contribute to the initiation, metastasis and recurrence of lung cancer. CD133, initially considered a marker of stem cells, is now considered as a marker for lung cancer initiating cells. All-trans retinoic acid (RA) has been demonstrated to cause the differentiation, inhibition of proliferation, and apoptosis of cancer cells and cancer initiating cells. However, there have been no reports on the activity of RA against lung cancer initiating cells. In the present study, the activity of RA against lung cancer initiating cells was investigated by determining the cytotoxicity, and performing a tumorsphere assay and flow cytometry-based analysis. In addition, to promote the therapeutic effect of RA in CD133+ lung cancer initiating cells, RA-loaded lipid poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles with CD133 aptamers (RA-LPNPs-CD133) were developed. The activity of RA and RA-LPNPs-CD133 against lung cancer initiating cells was also investigated. RA-LPNPs-CD133 had a size of 129.9 nm, and exhibited sustained release of RA during the 144-h period. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the present study demonstrated that RA exerted potent activity towards CD133+ lung cancer initiating cells. The results also showed that RA-LPNPs-CD133 efficiently and specifically promoted the delivery of RA to CD133+ lung cancer initiating cells, exhibiting superior inhibitory effects against CD133+ lung cancer initiating cells compared with non-targeted nanoparticles and RA. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report the promotion of RA delivery via nanoparticles to lung cancer initiating cells and achievement of a superior inhibitory effect against lung cancer initiating cells by the utilization of CD133 aptamers. Therefore, RA-LPNPs-CD133 represents a promising tool for the elimination of lung cancer initiating cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China
| | - Juan Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Lu Huang
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China
| | - Qingfeng Li
- Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, Hubei 441000, P.R. China
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