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Yu Y, Zhou T, Cao L. Use and application of organ-on-a-chip platforms in cancer research. J Cell Commun Signal 2023:10.1007/s12079-023-00790-7. [PMID: 38032444 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00790-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors are a major cause of death worldwide, and much effort has been made to develop appropriate anti-tumor therapies. Existing in vitro and in vivo tumor models cannot reflect the critical features of cancer. The development of organ-on-a-chip models has enabled the integration of organoids, microfluidics, tissue engineering, biomaterials research, and microfabrication, offering conditions that mimic tumor physiology. Three-dimensional in vitro human tumor models that have been established as organ-on-a-chip models contain multiple cell types and a structure that is similar to the primary tumor. These models can be applied to various foci of oncology research. Moreover, the high-throughput features of microfluidic organ-on-a-chip models offer new opportunities for achieving large-scale drug screening and developing more personalized treatments. In this review of the literature, we explore the development of organ-on-a-chip technology and discuss its use as an innovative tool in basic and clinical applications and summarize its advancement of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - TingTing Zhou
- The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, Liaoning Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Aging Related Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Prevention, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Liu Cao
- The College of Basic Medical Science, Health Sciences Institute, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, Liaoning Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Aging Related Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Prevention, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China.
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Yuzhalin AE, Yu D. Critical functions of extracellular matrix in brain metastasis seeding. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:297. [PMID: 37728789 PMCID: PMC10511571 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04944-z] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Human brain is characterized by extremely sparse extracellular matrix (ECM). Despite its low abundance, the significance of brain ECM in both physiological and pathological conditions should not be underestimated. Brain metastasis is a serious complication of cancer, and recent findings highlighted the contribution of ECM in brain metastasis development. In this review, we provide a comprehensive outlook on how ECM proteins promote brain metastasis seeding. In particular, we discuss (1) disruption of the blood-brain barrier in brain metastasis; (2) role of ECM in modulating brain metastasis dormancy; (3) regulation of brain metastasis seeding by ECM-activated integrin signaling; (4) functions of brain-specific ECM protein reelin in brain metastasis. Lastly, we consider the possibility of targeting ECM for brain metastasis management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arseniy E Yuzhalin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd, Unit 108, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dihua Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd, Unit 108, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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de Almeida Roque A, da Luz JZ, Santurio MTK, Neto FF, de Oliveira Ribeiro CA. Complex mixtures of pesticides and metabolites modulate the malignant phenotype of murine melanoma B16-F1 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:47366-47380. [PMID: 36738412 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25603-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides use increased worldwide with a record in Brazil. Although several works addressed the effects of pesticides on living organisms, only a few considered their mixture, and even fewer tried to unravel their role in tumoral progression. Due to the relevance of cancer, in the present study, the effects of the mixture of pesticides widely used in Brazil (Glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, Mancozeb, Atrazine, Acephate, and Paraquat) and their main metabolites (Aminomethylphosphonic Acid, 2,4-diclorophenol, Ethylenethiourea, Desethylatrazine, Methamidophos, and Paraquat) were investigated on the malignancy phenotype of murine melanoma B16-F1 cells after acute (24 h) and chronic (15 days) exposures. The tested concentrations were based on the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) value established by Brazilian legislation. The set of results showed that these chemicals modulate important parameters of tumor progression, affecting the expression of genes related to tumor aggressiveness (Mmp14 and Cd44) and multidrug resistance (Abcb1, Abcc1, and Abcc4), as well as tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (Timp1, Timp2, and Timp3). These findings revealed an absence of cytotoxicity but showed modulation of migration, invasion, and colonization capacity of B16-F1 cells. Together, the results point to some negative ways that exposure to pesticides can affect the progression of melanoma and raise a concern related to the increasing trend in pesticide use in Brazil, as the country is one of the major world food suppliers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliciane de Almeida Roque
- Laboratory of Cell Toxicology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box: 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP: 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Jessica Zablocki da Luz
- Laboratory of Cell Toxicology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box: 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP: 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Michelle Thays Khun Santurio
- Laboratory of Cell Toxicology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box: 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP: 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Francisco Filipak Neto
- Laboratory of Cell Toxicology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box: 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP: 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Ciro Alberto de Oliveira Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Cell Toxicology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, PO Box: 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP: 81531-980, Brazil.
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Targeting Tumor Microenvironment Akt Signaling Represents a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Aggressive Thyroid Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065471. [PMID: 36982542 PMCID: PMC10049397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Effects of the tumor microenvironment (TME) stromal cells on progression in thyroid cancer are largely unexplored. Elucidating the effects and underlying mechanisms may facilitate the development of targeting therapy for aggressive cases of this disease. In this study, we investigated the impact of TME stromal cells on cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) in patient-relevant contexts where applying in vitro assays and xenograft models uncovered contributions of TME stromal cells to thyroid cancer progression. We found that TME stromal cells can enhance CSC self-renewal and invasiveness mainly via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. The disruption of Akt signaling could diminish the impact of TME stromal cells on CSC aggressiveness in vitro and reduce CSC tumorigenesis and metastasis in xenografts. Notably, disrupting Akt signaling did not cause detectable alterations in tumor histology and gene expression of major stromal components while it produced therapeutic benefits. In addition, using a clinical cohort, we discovered that papillary thyroid carcinomas with lymph node metastasis are more likely to have elevated Akt signaling compared with the ones without metastasis, suggesting the relevance of Akt-targeting. Overall, our results identify PI3K/Akt pathway-engaged contributions of TME stromal cells to thyroid tumor disease progression, illuminating TME Akt signaling as a therapeutic target in aggressive thyroid cancer.
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Xu W, Wang M, Bai Y, Chen Y, Ma X, Yang Z, Zhao L, Li Y. The role of microfibrillar‐associated protein 2 in cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1002036. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1002036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), a component of the extracellular matrix, is important in controlling growth factor signal transduction. Recent studies have shown that MFAP2, an effective prognostic molecule for various tumors, is associated with tumor occurrence and development and may be involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix and regulating proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, tumor cell metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis. However, MFAP2’s specific mechanism in these tumor processes remains unclear. This article reviewed the possible mechanism of MFAP2 in tumorigenesis and progression and provided a reference for the clinical prognosis of patients with cancer and new therapeutic target discovery.
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Imparato G, Urciuolo F, Netti PA. Organ on Chip Technology to Model Cancer Growth and Metastasis. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:28. [PMID: 35049737 PMCID: PMC8772984 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organ on chip (OOC) has emerged as a major technological breakthrough and distinct model system revolutionizing biomedical research and drug discovery by recapitulating the crucial structural and functional complexity of human organs in vitro. OOC are rapidly emerging as powerful tools for oncology research. Indeed, Cancer on chip (COC) can ideally reproduce certain key aspects of the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as biochemical gradients and niche factors, dynamic cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and complex tissue structures composed of tumor and stromal cells. Here, we review the state of the art in COC models with a focus on the microphysiological systems that host multicellular 3D tissue engineering models and can help elucidate the complex biology of TME and cancer growth and progression. Finally, some examples of microengineered tumor models integrated with multi-organ microdevices to study disease progression in different tissues will be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Imparato
- Center for Advanced Biomaterials for HealthCare@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy; (F.U.); (P.A.N.)
| | - Francesco Urciuolo
- Center for Advanced Biomaterials for HealthCare@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy; (F.U.); (P.A.N.)
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production (DICMAPI), Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples Federico II, P.leTecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Netti
- Center for Advanced Biomaterials for HealthCare@CRIB, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci 53, 80125 Naples, Italy; (F.U.); (P.A.N.)
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production (DICMAPI), Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB), University of Naples Federico II, P.leTecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
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