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Xiao D, Liu L, Xie F, Dong J, Wang Y, Xu X, Zhong W, Deng H, Zhou X, Li S. Azobenzene-Based Linker Strategy for Selective Activation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202310318. [PMID: 38369681 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202310318] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Existing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) linkers, whether cleavable or non-cleavable, are designed to release highly toxic payloads or payload derivatives upon internalisation of the ADCs into cells. However, clinical studies have shown that only <1 % of the dosed ADCs accumulate in tumour cells. The remaining >99 % of ADCs are nonspecifically distributed in healthy tissue cells, thus inevitably leading to off-target toxicity. Herein, we describe an intelligent tumour-specific linker strategy to address these limitations. A tumour-specific linker is constructed by introducing a hypoxia-activated azobenzene group as a toxicity controller. We show that this azobenzene-based linker is non-cleavable in healthy tissues (O2 >10 %), and the corresponding payload derivative, cysteine-appended azobenzene-linker-monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), can serve as a safe prodrug to mask the toxicity of MMAE (switched off). Upon exposure to the hypoxic tumour microenvironment (O2<1 %), this linker is cleaved to release MMAE and fully restores the high cytotoxicity of the ADC (switched on). Notably, the azobenzene linker-containing ADC exhibits satisfactory antitumour efficacy in vivo and a larger therapeutic window compared with ADCs containing traditional cleavable or non-cleavable linkers. Thus, our azobenzene-based linker sheds new light on the development of next-generation ADC linkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xiao
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Lianqi Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Fei Xie
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Jingwen Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yanming Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Xin Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Wu Zhong
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Hongbin Deng
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xinbo Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Song Li
- National Engineering Research Center for the Emergency Drug, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
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Liu A, Gammon ST, Pisaneschi F, Boda A, Ager CR, Piwnica-Worms D, Hong DS, Curran MA. Hypoxia-activated prodrug and antiangiogenic therapies cooperatively treat pancreatic cancer but elicit immunosuppressive G-MDSC infiltration. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e169150. [PMID: 37988164 PMCID: PMC10906452 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.169150] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously showed that ablation of tumor hypoxia can sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Here, we used a Kras+/G12D TP53+/R172H Pdx1-Cre-derived (KPC-derived) model of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to examine the tumor response and adaptive resistance mechanisms involved in response to 2 established methods of hypoxia-reducing therapy: the hypoxia-activated prodrug TH-302 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) blockade. The combination of both modalities normalized tumor vasculature, increased DNA damage and cell death, and delayed tumor growth. In contrast with prior cancer models, the combination did not alleviate overall tissue hypoxia or sensitize these KPC tumors to ICB therapy despite qualitative improvements to the CD8+ T cell response. Bulk tumor RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and adoptive myeloid cell transfer suggested that treated tumor cells increased their capacity to recruit granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs) through CCL9 secretion. Blockade of the CCL9/CCR1 axis could limit G-MDSC migration, and depletion of Ly6G-positive cells could sensitize tumors to the combination of TH-302, anti-VEGFR-2, and ICB. Together, these data suggest that pancreatic tumors modulate G-MDSC migration as an adaptive response to vascular normalization and that these immunosuppressive myeloid cells act in a setting of persistent hypoxia to maintain adaptive immune resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Liu
- The University of Texas MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Immunology program, Houston, Texas, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Immunology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Seth T. Gammon
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Federica Pisaneschi
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Akash Boda
- The University of Texas MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Immunology program, Houston, Texas, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Immunology, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Casey R. Ager
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Immunology, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - David Piwnica-Worms
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David S. Hong
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael A. Curran
- The University of Texas MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Immunology program, Houston, Texas, USA
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Immunology, Houston, Texas, USA
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3
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Lima EABF, Song PN, Reeves K, Larimer B, Sorace AG, Yankeelov TE. Predicting response to combination evofosfamide and immunotherapy under hypoxic conditions in murine models of colon cancer. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2023; 20:17625-17645. [PMID: 38052529 PMCID: PMC10703000 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2023783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this study is to develop a mathematical model that captures the interaction between evofosfamide, immunotherapy, and the hypoxic landscape of the tumor in the treatment of tumors. Recently, we showed that evofosfamide, a hypoxia-activated prodrug, can synergistically improve treatment outcomes when combined with immunotherapy, while evofosfamide alone showed no effects in an in vivo syngeneic model of colorectal cancer. However, the mechanisms behind the interaction between the tumor microenvironment in the context of oxygenation (hypoxic, normoxic), immunotherapy, and tumor cells are not fully understood. To begin to understand this issue, we develop a system of ordinary differential equations to simulate the growth and decline of tumors and their vascularization (oxygenation) in response to treatment with evofosfamide and immunotherapy (6 combinations of scenarios). The model is calibrated to data from in vivo experiments on mice implanted with colon adenocarcinoma cells and longitudinally imaged with [18F]-fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) positron emission tomography (PET) to quantify hypoxia. The results show that evofosfamide is able to rescue the immune response and sensitize hypoxic tumors to immunotherapy. In the hypoxic scenario, evofosfamide reduces tumor burden by $ 45.07 \pm 2.55 $%, compared to immunotherapy alone, as measured by tumor volume. The model accurately predicts the temporal evolution of five different treatment scenarios, including control, hypoxic tumors that received immunotherapy, normoxic tumors that received immunotherapy, evofosfamide alone, and hypoxic tumors that received combination immunotherapy and evofosfamide. The average concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) between predicted and observed tumor volume is $ 0.86 \pm 0.05 $. Interestingly, the model values to fit those five treatment arms was unable to accurately predict the response of normoxic tumors to combination evofosfamide and immunotherapy (CCC = $ -0.064 \pm 0.003 $). However, guided by the sensitivity analysis to rank the most influential parameters on the tumor volume, we found that increasing the tumor death rate due to immunotherapy by a factor of $ 18.6 \pm 9.3 $ increases CCC of $ 0.981 \pm 0.001 $. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to mathematically predict and describe the increased efficacy of immunotherapy following evofosfamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto A. B. F. Lima
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 201 East 24th St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Texas Advanced Computing Center, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd (R8700), Austin, TX 78758, USA
| | - Patrick N. Song
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1075 13th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Kirsten Reeves
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1075 13th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Benjamin Larimer
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Anna G. Sorace
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1075 13th St S, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Thomas E. Yankeelov
- Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 201 East 24th St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, 1107 W. Dean Keeton St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg B, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Oncology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg B, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 623 W. 38th St Ste 300, Austin, TX 78705, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St Unit 1472, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Guo M, Niu Y, Xie M, Liu X, Li X. Notch signaling, hypoxia, and cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1078768. [PMID: 36798826 PMCID: PMC9927648 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1078768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is involved in cell fate determination and deregulated in human solid tumors. Hypoxia is an important feature in many solid tumors, which activates hypoxia-induced factors (HIFs) and their downstream targets to promote tumorigenesis and cancer development. Recently, HIFs have been shown to trigger the Notch signaling pathway in a variety of organisms and tissues. In this review, we focus on the pro- and anti-tumorigenic functions of Notch signaling and discuss the crosstalk between Notch signaling and cellular hypoxic response in cancer pathogenesis, including epithelia-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and the maintenance of cancer stem cells. The pharmacological strategies targeting Notch signaling and hypoxia in cancer are also discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhou Guo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of National Health Commission, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Niu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of National Health Commission, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Xie
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of National Health Commission, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiansheng Liu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of National Health Commission, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaochen Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of National Health Commission, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Sciences and Technology, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Xiaochen Li,
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5
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Li Y, Zhao L, Li XF. Targeting Hypoxia: Hypoxia-Activated Prodrugs in Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:700407. [PMID: 34395270 PMCID: PMC8358929 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.700407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is an important characteristic of most solid malignancies, and is closely related to tumor prognosis and therapeutic resistance. Hypoxia is one of the most important factors associated with resistance to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therapies targeting tumor hypoxia have attracted considerable attention. Hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs) are bioreductive drugs that are selectively activated under hypoxic conditions and that can accurately target the hypoxic regions of solid tumors. Both single-agent and combined use with other drugs have shown promising antitumor effects. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of action and the current preclinical and clinical progress of several of the most widely used HAPs, summarize their existing problems and shortcomings, and discuss future research prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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Zhang Y, Coleman M, Brekken RA. Perspectives on Hypoxia Signaling in Tumor Stroma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3070. [PMID: 34202979 PMCID: PMC8234221 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is a well-known characteristic of solid tumors that contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. Oxygen deprivation due to high demand of proliferating cancer cells and standard of care therapies induce hypoxia. Hypoxia signaling, mainly mediated by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) family, results in tumor cell migration, proliferation, metabolic changes, and resistance to therapy. Additionally, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment impacts multiple cellular and non-cellular compartments in the tumor stroma, including disordered tumor vasculature, homeostasis of ECM. Hypoxia also has a multifaceted and often contradictory influence on immune cell function, which contributes to an immunosuppressive environment. Here, we review the important function of HIF in tumor stromal components and summarize current clinical trials targeting hypoxia. We provide an overview of hypoxia signaling in tumor stroma that might help address some of the challenges associated with hypoxia-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Morgan Coleman
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; (Y.Z.); (M.C.)
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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7
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Li Y, Zhao L, Li XF. The Hypoxia-Activated Prodrug TH-302: Exploiting Hypoxia in Cancer Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:636892. [PMID: 33953675 PMCID: PMC8091515 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.636892] [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: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is an important feature of most solid tumors, conferring resistance to radiation and many forms of chemotherapy. However, it is possible to exploit the presence of tumor hypoxia with hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs), agents that in low oxygen conditions undergo bioreduction to yield cytotoxic metabolites. Although many such agents have been developed, we will focus here on TH-302. TH-302 has been extensively studied, and we discuss its mechanism of action, as well as its efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies, with the aim of identifying future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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8
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Ollauri-Ibáñez C, Astigarraga I. Use of Antiangiogenic Therapies in Pediatric Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E253. [PMID: 33445470 PMCID: PMC7827326 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020253] [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: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an important cause of death in childhood. In recent years, scientists have made an important effort to achieve greater precision and more personalized treatments against cancer. But since only a few pediatric patients have identifiable therapeutic targets, other ways to stop the neoplastic cell proliferation and dissemination are needed. Therefore, the inhibition of general processes involved in the growth and behavior of tumors can be a relevant strategy for the development of new cancer therapies. In the case of solid tumors, one of these processes is angiogenesis, essential for tumor growth and generation of metastases. This review summarizes the results obtained with the use of antiangiogenic drugs in the main pediatric malignant solid tumors and also an overview of clinical trials currently underway. It should be noted that due to the rarity and heterogeneity of the different types of pediatric cancer, most studies on antiangiogenic drugs include only a small number of patients or isolated clinical cases, so they are not conclusive and further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ollauri-Ibáñez
- Pediatric Oncology Group, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain;
| | - Itziar Astigarraga
- Pediatric Oncology Group, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain;
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Universitario Cruces, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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Busk M, Horsman MR, Overgaard J, Jakobsen S. In vitro hypoxia responsiveness of [ 18F] FDG and [ 18F] FAZA retention: influence of shaking versus stagnant conditions, glass versus polystyrene substrata and cell number down-scaling. EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem 2020; 5:14. [PMID: 32542416 PMCID: PMC7295868 DOI: 10.1186/s41181-020-00099-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In vitro experiments using radiolabeled molecules is fundamental for Positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) tracer development and various metabolic assays, but no consensus on appropriate incubation conditions exists. Specifically, the use of shaking versus non-shaking conditions, cell number to medium volume and the choice of cell plating material may unintentionally influence cellular oxygenation and medium composition. This is problematic when testing the oxygen-dependence of tracers including 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) and hypoxia-selective 2-nitroimidazoles (e.g., 18F-fluoroazomycin-arabinoside, [18F]FAZA) or when doing prolonged experiments. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of various experimental conditions on tracer retention. Methods Tumor cells were seeded in a) Glass or standard Polystyrene Petri dishes or as b) discrete droplets in polystyrene Petri dishes or on 9 mm glass coverslips positioned in glass Petri dishes. When confluent, cells were pre-equilibrated for 2 h to 21%, 0.5% or 0% O2 and [18F] FDG or [18F] FAZA was added, followed by cell harvest and analysis of radioactivity 1 h ([18F]FDG) or 3 h ([18F]FAZA) after. Experiments were conducted with/without orbital shaking. Results The influence of hypoxia on tracer retention varied widely among cell lines, but shaking-induced convection did not influence uptake. In contrast, hypoxia-driven [18F] FAZA, and to some extent [18F] FDG, retention was much lower in cells grown on polyethylene than glass. Scaling-down the number of cells did not compromise accuracy. Conclusions Tracer retention was similar under stagnant and forced convection conditions suggesting that the former approach may be appropriate even when accurate control of oxygen and tracer availability is required. In contrast, conventional plasticware should be used with caution when studying tracers and drugs that are metabolized and retained or activated at low O2 levels. Downscaling of cell number, by reducing the effective growth area, was feasible, without compromising accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morten Busk
- Experimental Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus, Aarhus N, Denmark. .,Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Michael R Horsman
- Experimental Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jens Overgaard
- Experimental Clinical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Steen Jakobsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine & PET centre, AUH, Aarhus, Denmark
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10
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Meaney C, Rhebergen S, Kohandel M. In silico analysis of hypoxia activated prodrugs in combination with anti angiogenic therapy through nanocell delivery. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007926. [PMID: 32463836 PMCID: PMC7282674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour hypoxia is a well-studied phenomenon with implications in cancer progression, treatment resistance, and patient survival. While a clear adverse prognosticator, hypoxia is also a theoretically ideal target for guided drug delivery. This idea has lead to the development of hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs): a class of chemotherapeutics which remain inactive in the body until metabolized within hypoxic regions. In theory, these drugs have the potential for increased tumour selectivity and have therefore been the focus of numerous preclinical studies. Unfortunately, HAPs have had mixed results in clinical trials, necessitating further study in order to harness their therapeutic potential. One possible avenue for the improvement of HAPs is through the selective application of anti angiogenic agents (AAs) to improve drug delivery. Such techniques have been used in combination with other conventional chemotherapeutics to great effect in many studies. A further benefit is theoretically achieved through nanocell administration of the combination, though this idea has not been the subject of any experimental or mathematical studies to date. In the following, a mathematical model is outlined and used to compare the predicted efficacies of separate vs. nanocell administration for AAs and HAPs in tumours. The model is experimentally motivated, both in mathematical form and parameter values. Preliminary results of the model are highlighted throughout which qualitatively agree with existing experimental evidence. The novel prediction of our model is an improvement in the efficacy of AA/HAP combination therapies when administered through nanocells as opposed to separately. While this study specifically models treatment on glioblastoma, similar analyses could be performed for other vascularized tumours, making the results potentially applicable to a range of tumour types. Tumour hypoxia is a well-documented phenomenon with adverse effects for the progression of the cancer. Accordingly, various therapeutic strategies have emerged in recent years to combat its effects. Herein, we present an experimentally-motivated mathematical model used to assess the feasibility of the therapeutic combination of anti angiogenic agents with hypoxia-activated prodrugs. Analysis of the combination therapy shows that delivery through drug nanocells provides the optimal anticancer effect: a novel result which should inspire further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Meaney
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Sander Rhebergen
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammad Kohandel
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Hypoxia in the Initiation and Progression of Neuroblastoma Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010039. [PMID: 31861671 PMCID: PMC6982287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most frequent extracranial solid tumour in children, causing 10% of all paediatric oncology deaths. It arises in the embryonic neural crest due to an uncontrolled behaviour of sympathetic nervous system progenitors, giving rise to heterogeneous tumours. Low local or systemic tissue oxygen concentration has emerged as a cellular stimulus with important consequences for tumour initiation, evolution and progression. In neuroblastoma, several evidences point towards a role of hypoxia in tumour initiation during development, tumour cell differentiation, survival and metastatic spreading. However, the heterogeneous nature of the disease, its developmental origin and the lack of suitable experimental models have complicated a clear understanding of the effect of hypoxia in neuroblastoma tumour progression and the molecular mechanisms implicated. In this review, we have compiled available evidences to try to shed light onto this important field. In particular, we explore the effect of hypoxia in neuroblastoma cell transformation and differentiation. We also discuss the experimental models available and the emerging alternatives to study this problem, and we present hypoxia-related therapeutic avenues being explored in the field.
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Delahousse J, Skarbek C, Paci A. Prodrugs as drug delivery system in oncology. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2019; 84:937-958. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-019-03906-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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