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Bashir B, Wang JS, Falchook G, Fontana E, Arkenau HT, Carter L, Galot R, Basu B, Greystoke A, Subbiah V, Richardson DL, Orr H, Bennett G, Sharma R, Xu H, Paganoni P, Xu C, Campbell C, McKean M. Results From First-in-Human Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of a Novel Bicycle Toxin Conjugate Targeting EphA2 (BT5528) in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors. J Clin Oncol 2024:JCO2301107. [PMID: 39231383 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.01107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE BT5528 is a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate, a novel class of chemically synthesized molecules, comprising a bicyclic peptide targeting EphA2 tumor antigen, linked to a cytotoxin (monomethyl auristatin E [MMAE]). EphA2 is overexpressed in many solid tumors and contributes to oncogenesis, tumor-associated angiogenesis, and metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The primary objectives were to investigate the safety and tolerability of BT5528 and to define the maximum-tolerated dose, if observed, and recommended phase II dose (RP2D)/expansion dose. Dose escalation exploring once every week or once every 2 weeks administration of BT5528 employed a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design for the first two dose levels, followed by a Bayesian logistic regression model. Secondary and exploratory end points included preliminary efficacy and the pharmacokinetics of BT5528 and MMAE. RESULTS Forty-five patients were enrolled and received BT5528 doses between 2.2 mg/m2 once every week to 10.0 mg/m2 once every 2 weeks within the dose-escalation stage of the study. The most frequent BT5528-related adverse events (AEs) were nausea (44.4%), diarrhea (35.6%), and fatigue (33.3%), and the most common grade ≥3 BT5528-related AE was neutropenia/neutrophil count decrease (22.2%). Dose level 6.5 mg/m2 once every 2 weeks was selected as a RP2D. At 6.5 mg/m2 once every 2 weeks, the overall response rate was 6.7%, and the disease control rate was 20.0%. BT5528 and MMAE pharmacokinetics are generally dose proportional. BT5528 has a short half-life (0.4-0.7 hours), and the half-life of MMAE is longer (35-47 hours). CONCLUSION BT5528 was well tolerated and demonstrated favorable and preliminary antitumor activity. We believe these data provide preliminary validation of a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate approach to EphA2 tumor antigen. The study is ongoing and is evaluating BT5528 as monotherapy at a RP2D of 6.5 mg/m2 once every 2 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babar Bashir
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN
| | - Judy S Wang
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN
- Florida Cancer Specialists, Sarasota, FL
| | | | - Elisa Fontana
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Louise Carter
- The University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Rachel Galot
- Saint Luc Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bristi Basu
- University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Debra L Richardson
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Hanna Orr
- BicycleTX Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - Cong Xu
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA
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Madasu C, Liao Z, Parks SE, Sharma KL, Bohren KM, Ye Q, Li F, Palaniappan M, Tan Z, Yuan F, Creighton CJ, Tang S, Masand RP, Guan X, Young DW, Monsivais D, Matzuk MM. Identification of potent pan-ephrin receptor kinase inhibitors using DNA-encoded chemistry technology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322934121. [PMID: 38701119 PMCID: PMC11087803 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322934121] [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: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
EPH receptors (EPHs), the largest family of tyrosine kinases, phosphorylate downstream substrates upon binding of ephrin cell surface-associated ligands. In a large cohort of endometriotic lesions from individuals with endometriosis, we found that EPHA2 and EPHA4 expressions are increased in endometriotic lesions relative to normal eutopic endometrium. Because signaling through EPHs is associated with increased cell migration and invasion, we hypothesized that chemical inhibition of EPHA2/4 could have therapeutic value. We screened DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DECL) to rapidly identify EPHA2/4 kinase inhibitors. Hit compound, CDD-2693, exhibited picomolar/nanomolar kinase activity against EPHA2 (Ki: 4.0 nM) and EPHA4 (Ki: 0.81 nM). Kinome profiling revealed that CDD-2693 bound to most EPH family and SRC family kinases. Using NanoBRET target engagement assays, CDD-2693 had nanomolar activity versus EPHA2 (IC50: 461 nM) and EPHA4 (IC50: 40 nM) but was a micromolar inhibitor of SRC, YES, and FGR. Chemical optimization produced CDD-3167, having picomolar biochemical activity toward EPHA2 (Ki: 0.13 nM) and EPHA4 (Ki: 0.38 nM) with excellent cell-based potency EPHA2 (IC50: 8.0 nM) and EPHA4 (IC50: 2.3 nM). Moreover, CDD-3167 maintained superior off-target cellular selectivity. In 12Z endometriotic epithelial cells, CDD-2693 and CDD-3167 significantly decreased EFNA5 (ligand) induced phosphorylation of EPHA2/4, decreased 12Z cell viability, and decreased IL-1β-mediated expression of prostaglandin synthase 2 (PTGS2). CDD-2693 and CDD-3167 decreased expansion of primary endometrial epithelial organoids from patients with endometriosis and decreased Ewing's sarcoma viability. Thus, using DECL, we identified potent pan-EPH inhibitors that show specificity and activity in cellular models of endometriosis and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrashekhar Madasu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Zian Liao
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Sydney E. Parks
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Kiran L. Sharma
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Kurt M. Bohren
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Qiuji Ye
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Murugesan Palaniappan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Zhi Tan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Fei Yuan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Chad J. Creighton
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Biostatistics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Suni Tang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Ramya P. Masand
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Xiaoming Guan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Damian W. Young
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Martin M. Matzuk
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
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Safaei M, Khalighi F, Behabadi FA, Abpeikar Z, Goodarzi A, Kouhpayeh SA, Najafipour S, Ramezani V. Liposomal nanocarriers containing siRNA as small molecule-based drugs to overcome cancer drug resistance. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2023; 18:1745-1768. [PMID: 37965906 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2023-0176] [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: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the application of nanoliposomes containing siRNA/drug to overcome multidrug resistance for all types of cancer treatments. As drug resistance-associated factors are overexpressed in many cancer cell types, pumping chemotherapy drugs out of the cytoplasm leads to an inadequate therapeutic response. The siRNA/drug-loaded nanoliposomes are a promising approach to treating multidrug-resistant cancer, as they can effectively transmit a small-molecule drug into the target cytoplasm, ensuring that the drug binds efficiently. Moreover, nanoliposome-based therapeutics with advances in nanotechnology can effectively deliver siRNA to cancer cells. Overall, nanoliposomes have the potential to effectively deliver siRNA and small-molecule drugs in a targeted manner and are thus a promising tool for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Safaei
- Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, 7461686688, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Khalighi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, 9417694780, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Akhavan Behabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, 9417694780, Iran
| | - Zahra Abpeikar
- Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, 7461686688, Iran
| | - Arash Goodarzi
- Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, 7461686688, Iran
| | - Seyed Amin Kouhpayeh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, 7461686688, Iran
| | - Sohrab Najafipour
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, 7461686688, Iran
| | - Vahid Ramezani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, 9417694780, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, 9417694780, Iran
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Bhardwaj V, Zhang X, Pandey V, Garg M. Neo-vascularization-based therapeutic perspectives in advanced ovarian cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188888. [PMID: 37001618 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The process of angiogenesis is well described for its potential role in the development of normal ovaries, and physiological functions as well as in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of ovarian cancer (OC). In advanced stages of OC, cancer cells spread outside the ovary to the pelvic, abdomen, lung, or multiple secondary sites. This seriously limits the efficacy of therapeutic options contributing to fatal clinical outcomes. Notably, a variety of angiogenic effectors are produced by the tumor cells to initiate angiogenic processes leading to the development of new blood vessels, which provide essential resources for tumor survival, dissemination, and dormant micro-metastasis of tumor cells. Multiple proangiogenic effectors and their signaling axis have been discovered and functionally characterized for potential clinical utility in OC. In this review, we have provided the current updates on classical and emerging proangiogenic effectors, their signaling axis, and the immune microenvironment contributing to the pathogenesis of OC. Moreover, we have comprehensively reviewed and discussed the significance of the preclinical strategies, drug repurposing, and clinical trials targeting the angiogenic processes that hold promising perspectives for the better management of patients with OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Bhardwaj
- Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Bioengineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Vijay Pandey
- Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Bioengineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
| | - Manoj Garg
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector-125, Noida 201301, India.
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Mei C, Gong W, Wang X, Lv Y, Zhang Y, Wu S, Zhu C. Anti-angiogenic therapy in ovarian cancer: Current understandings and prospects of precision medicine. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1147717. [PMID: 36959862 PMCID: PMC10027942 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1147717] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) remains the most fatal disease of gynecologic malignant tumors. Angiogenesis refers to the development of new vessels from pre-existing ones, which is responsible for supplying nutrients and removing metabolic waste. Although not yet completely understood, tumor vascularization is orchestrated by multiple secreted factors and signaling pathways. The most central proangiogenic signal, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGFR signaling, is also the primary target of initial clinical anti-angiogenic effort. However, the efficiency of therapy has so far been modest due to the low response rate and rapidly emerging acquiring resistance. This review focused on the current understanding of the in-depth mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, together with the newest reports of clinical trial outcomes and resistance mechanism of anti-angiogenic agents in OC. We also emphatically summarized and analyzed previously reported biomarkers and predictive models to describe the prospect of precision therapy of anti-angiogenic drugs in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Mei
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weijing Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongning Lv
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sanlan Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Sanlan Wu, ; Chunqi Zhu,
| | - Chunqi Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Sanlan Wu, ; Chunqi Zhu,
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The EPH/Ephrin System in Gynecological Cancers: Focusing on the Roots of Carcinogenesis for Better Patient Management. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063249. [PMID: 35328669 PMCID: PMC8949008 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gynecological cancers represent some of the most common types of malignancy worldwide. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptors (EPHs) comprise the largest subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases, binding membrane-bound proteins called ephrins. EPHs/ephrins exhibit widespread expression in different cell types, playing an important role in carcinogenesis. The aim of the current review was to examine the dysregulation of the EPH/ephrin system in gynecological cancer, clarifying its role in ovarian, endometrial, and cervical carcinogenesis. In order to identify relevant studies, a literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases. The search terms ephrin, ephrin receptor, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and cervical cancer were employed and we were able to identify 57 studies focused on gynecological cancer and published between 2001 and 2021. All researched ephrins seemed to be upregulated in gynecological cancer, whereas EPHs showed either significant overexpression or extensive loss of expression in gynecological tumors, depending on the particular receptor. EPHA2, the most extensively studied EPH in ovarian cancer, exhibited overexpression both in ovarian carcinoma cell lines and patient tissue samples, while EPHB4 was found to be upregulated in endometrial cancer in a series of studies. EPHs/ephrins were shown to exert their role in different stages of gynecological cancer and to influence various clinicopathological parameters. The analysis of patients’ gynecological cancer tissue samples, most importantly, revealed the significant role of the EPH/ephrin system in the development and progression of gynecological cancer, as well as overall patient survival. In conclusion, the EPH/ephrin system represents a large family of biomolecules with promising applications in the fields of diagnosis, prognosis, disease monitoring, and treatment of gynecological cancer, with an established important clinical impact.
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The Clinical Impact of the EPH/Ephrin System in Cancer: Unwinding the Thread. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168412. [PMID: 34445116 PMCID: PMC8395090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin-producing human hepatocellular receptors (EPHs) compose the largest known subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). They bind and interact with the EPH family receptor interacting proteins (ephrins). EPHs/ephrins are implicated in a variety of physiological processes, as well as in cancer pathogenesis. With neoplastic disease remaining a leading cause of death world-wide, the development of novel biomarkers aiding in the field of diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring is of utmost importance. A multitude of studies have proven the association between the expression of members of the EPH/ephrin system and various clinicopathological parameters, including disease stage, tumor histologic grade, and patients' overall survival. Besides their utilization in timely disease detection and assessment of outcome, EPHs/ephrins could also represent possible novel therapeutic targets. The aim of the current review of the literature was to present the existing data regarding the association between EPH/ephrin system expression and the clinical characteristics of malignant tumors.
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Jukonen J, Moyano-Galceran L, Höpfner K, Pietilä EA, Lehtinen L, Huhtinen K, Gucciardo E, Hynninen J, Hietanen S, Grénman S, Ojala PM, Carpén O, Lehti K. Aggressive and recurrent ovarian cancers upregulate ephrinA5, a non-canonical effector of EphA2 signaling duality. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8856. [PMID: 33893375 PMCID: PMC8065122 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88382-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin producing hepatocellular (Eph) receptors and their membrane-bound ligands ephrins are variably expressed in epithelial cancers, with context-dependent implications to both tumor-promoting and -suppressive processes in ways that remain incompletely understood. Using ovarian cancer tissue microarrays and longitudinally collected patient cells, we show here that ephrinA5/EFNA5 is specifically overexpressed in the most aggressive high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) subtype, and increased in the HGSC cells upon disease progression. Among all the eight ephrin genes, high EFNA5 expression was most strongly associated with poor overall survival in HGSC patients from multiple independent datasets. In contrast, high EFNA3 predicted improved overall and progression-free survival in The Cancer Genome Atlas HGSC dataset, as expected for a canonical inducer of tumor-suppressive Eph receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. While depletion of either EFNA5 or the more extensively studied, canonically acting EFNA1 in HGSC cells increased the oncogenic EphA2-S897 phosphorylation, EFNA5 depletion left unaltered, or even increased the ligand-dependent EphA2-Y588 phosphorylation. Moreover, treatment with recombinant ephrinA5 led to limited EphA2 tyrosine phosphorylation, internalization and degradation compared to ephrinA1. Altogether, our results suggest a unique function for ephrinA5 in Eph-ephrin signaling and highlight the clinical potential of ephrinA5 as a cell surface biomarker in the most aggressive HGSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joonas Jukonen
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00140, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lidia Moyano-Galceran
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katrin Höpfner
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00140, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Elina A Pietilä
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00140, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Lehtinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Kaisa Huhtinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Erika Gucciardo
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00140, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Hynninen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20521, Turku, Finland
| | - Sakari Hietanen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20521, Turku, Finland
| | - Seija Grénman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, 20521, Turku, Finland
| | - Päivi M Ojala
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00140, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Carpén
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Kaisa Lehti
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, University of Helsinki, 00140, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
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Cioce M, Fazio VM. EphA2 and EGFR: Friends in Life, Partners in Crime. Can EphA2 Be a Predictive Biomarker of Response to Anti-EGFR Agents? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040700. [PMID: 33572284 PMCID: PMC7915460 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040700] [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: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eph receptors represent the largest group among Receptor Tyrosine kinase (RTK) families. The Eph/ephrin signaling axis plays center stage during development, and the deep perturbation of signaling consequent to its dysregulation in cancer reveals the multiplicity and complexity underlying its function. In the last decades, they have emerged as key players in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC); however, what causes EphA2 to switch between tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting function is still an active theater of investigation. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding EphA2 function in cancer, with detail on the molecular determinants of the oncogene-tumor suppressor switch function of EphA2. We describe tumor context-specific examples of EphA2 signaling and the emerging role EphA2 plays in supporting cancer-stem-cell-like populations and overcoming therapy-induced stress. In such a frame, we detail the interaction of the EphA2 and EGFR pathway in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. We discuss the contribution of the EphA2 oncogenic signaling to the resistance to EGFR blocking agents, including cetuximab and TKIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Cioce
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (V.M.F.)
| | - Vito Michele Fazio
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (V.M.F.)
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Adu-Gyamfi EA, Czika A, Liu TH, Gorleku PN, Fondjo LA, Djankpa FT, Ding YB, Wang YX. Ephrin and Eph receptor signaling in female reproductive physiology and pathology†. Biol Reprod 2020; 104:71-82. [PMID: 32940657 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ephrins are ligands of Eph receptors (Ephs); both of which are sorted into two classes, A and B. There are five types of ephrin-As (ephrin-A1-5) and three types of ephrin-Bs (ephrin-B1-3). Also, there are 10 types of EphAs (EphA1-10) and six types of EphBs (EphB1-6). Binding of ephrins to the Eph receptors activates signaling cascades that regulate several biological processes such as cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. Clarification of their roles in the female reproductive system is crucial to understanding the physiology and pathology of this system. Such knowledge will also create awareness regarding the importance of these molecules in diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic medicine. Hence, we have discussed the involvement of these molecules in the physiological and pathological events that occur within the female reproductive system. The evidence so far suggests that the ephrins and the Eph receptors modulate folliculogenesis, ovulation, embryo transport, implantation, and placentation. Abnormal expression of some of these molecules is associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovarian cancer, tubal pregnancy, endometrial cancer, uterine leiomyoma (fibroids), cervical cancer, and preeclampsia, suggesting the need to utilize these molecules in the clinical setting. To enhance a quick development of this gradually emerging field in female reproductive medicine, we have highlighted some "gaps in knowledge" that need prospective investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enoch Appiah Adu-Gyamfi
- Department of Reproductive Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Armin Czika
- Department of Reproductive Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tai-Hang Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Philip Narteh Gorleku
- Department of Medical Imaging, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Republic of Ghana
| | - Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Republic of Ghana
| | - Francis Tanam Djankpa
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Republic of Ghana
| | - Yu-Bin Ding
- Department of Reproductive Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying-Xiong Wang
- Department of Reproductive Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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11
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Bennett G, Brown A, Mudd G, Huxley P, Van Rietschoten K, Pavan S, Chen L, Watcham S, Lahdenranta J, Keen N. MMAE Delivery Using the Bicycle Toxin Conjugate BT5528. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1385-1394. [PMID: 32398269 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-1092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor is found at high levels in tumors and low levels in normal tissue and high EphA2 expression in biopsies is a predictor of poor outcome in patients. Drug discovery groups have therefore sought to develop EphA2-based therapies using small molecule, peptide, and nanoparticle-based approaches (1-3). However, until now only EphA2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) have entered clinical development. For example, MEDI-547 is an EphA2-targeting ADC that displayed encouraging antitumor activity in preclinical models and progressed to phase I clinical testing in man. Here we describe the development of BT5528, a bicyclic peptide ("Bicycle") conjugated to the auristatin derivative maleimidocaproyl-monomethyl auristatin E to generate the Bicycle toxin conjugate BT5528. The report compares and contrasts the Pharmacokinetics (PK) characteristics of antibody and Bicycle-based targeting systems and discusses how the PK and payload characteristics of different delivery systems impact the efficacy-toxicity trade off which is key to the development of successful cancer therapies. We show that BT5528 gives rise to rapid update into tumors and fast renal elimination followed by persistent toxin levels in tumors without prolonged exposure of parent drug in the vasculature. This fast in, fast out kinetics gave rise to more favorable toxicology findings in rats and monkeys than were observed with MEDI-547 in preclinical and clinical studies.Graphical Abstract: http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanther/19/7/1385/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy Brown
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma Mudd
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Silvia Pavan
- Fabbrica Italiana Sintetici S.p.A., Vicenza, Italy
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12
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Baghban R, Roshangar L, Jahanban-Esfahlan R, Seidi K, Ebrahimi-Kalan A, Jaymand M, Kolahian S, Javaheri T, Zare P. Tumor microenvironment complexity and therapeutic implications at a glance. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:59. [PMID: 32264958 PMCID: PMC7140346 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-0530-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 842] [Impact Index Per Article: 210.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The dynamic interactions of cancer cells with their microenvironment consisting of stromal cells (cellular part) and extracellular matrix (ECM) components (non-cellular) is essential to stimulate the heterogeneity of cancer cell, clonal evolution and to increase the multidrug resistance ending in cancer cell progression and metastasis. The reciprocal cell-cell/ECM interaction and tumor cell hijacking of non-malignant cells force stromal cells to lose their function and acquire new phenotypes that promote development and invasion of tumor cells. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms governing these interactions can be used as a novel strategy to indirectly disrupt cancer cell interplay and contribute to the development of efficient and safe therapeutic strategies to fight cancer. Furthermore, the tumor-derived circulating materials can also be used as cancer diagnostic tools to precisely predict and monitor the outcome of therapy. This review evaluates such potentials in various advanced cancer models, with a focus on 3D systems as well as lab-on-chip devices. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayyeh Baghban
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Leila Roshangar
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Rana Jahanban-Esfahlan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Khaled Seidi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committees, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Abbas Ebrahimi-Kalan
- Department of Neurosciences and Cognitive, School of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Jaymand
- Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Saeed Kolahian
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tahereh Javaheri
- Health Informatics Lab, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Peyman Zare
- Dioscuri Center of Chromatin Biology and Epigenomics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Medicine, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Simón-Gracia L, Hunt H, Teesalu T. Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Targeting with Tumor Homing Peptides. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23051190. [PMID: 29772690 PMCID: PMC6100015 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23051190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Over recent decades multiple therapeutic approaches have been explored for improved management of peritoneally disseminated malignancies—a grim condition known as peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Intraperitoneal (IP) administration can be used to achieve elevated local concentration and extended half-life of the drugs in the peritoneal cavity to improve their anticancer efficacy. However, IP-administered chemotherapeutics have a short residence time in the IP space, and are not tumor selective. An increasing body of work suggests that functionalization of drugs and nanoparticles with targeting peptides increases their peritoneal retention and provides a robust and specific tumor binding and penetration that translates into improved therapeutic response. Here we review the progress in affinity targeting of intraperitoneal anticancer compounds, imaging agents and nanoparticles with tumor-homing peptides. We review classes of tumor-homing peptides relevant for PC targeting, payloads for peptide-guided precision delivery, applications for targeted compounds, and the effects of nanoformulation of drugs and imaging agents on affinity-based tumor delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Simón-Gracia
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14b, Tartu 50411, Estonia.
| | - Hedi Hunt
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14b, Tartu 50411, Estonia.
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Centre of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 14b, Tartu 50411, Estonia.
- Cancer Research Center, Sanford-Burnham-Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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14
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Lee HY, Mohammed KA, Goldberg EP, Kaye F, Najmunnisa N. Silencing Receptor EphA2 Enhanced Sensitivity to Lipoplatin™ in Lung Tumor and MPM Cells. Cancer Invest 2016; 34:293-304. [PMID: 27438907 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2016.1201678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Receptor EphA2 is overexpressed in lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) which promote tumorogenesis. Lipoplatin™, a new liposomal cisplatin formulation, is used against resistant tumors. Use of cisplatin-based drugs leads to unacceptable toxicities. To improve the effectiveness of Lipoplatin, enhancing the cellular sensitivity of lung tumor and MPM cells is critical. Therefore, we targeted receptor EphA2 by silencing interference RNA (siRNA) and treated tumor cells with Lipoplatin. The combined effects of siRNA-EphA2 and Lipoplatin were determined. We report that silencing EphA2 significantly enhanced the cellular sensitivity of lung tumor and MPM cells to Lipoplatin and maybe a potential therapy for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Yen Lee
- a Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA.,b Biomaterials Center, Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Kamal A Mohammed
- a Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA.,c NF/SGVHS, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Eugene P Goldberg
- b Biomaterials Center, Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Frederic Kaye
- d Department of Hematology and Oncology , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Nasreen Najmunnisa
- a Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA.,c NF/SGVHS, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center , University of Florida , Gainesville , FL , USA
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15
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Yang PW, Chiang TH, Hsieh CY, Huang YC, Wong LF, Hung MC, Tsai JC, Lee JM. The effect of ephrin-A1 on resistance to Photofrin-mediated photodynamic therapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells. Lasers Med Sci 2015; 30:2353-61. [PMID: 26450615 DOI: 10.1007/s10103-015-1812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the most prevalent cell type of esophageal cancer, remains a dismal disease with poor prognosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment option for early esophageal cancer. To explore possible factors involved in resistance to PDT in esophageal cancer cells, we selected PDT-resistant subcell lines by repeated treatment of CE48T/VGH (CE48T) ESCC cells with Photofrin-PDT and then analyzed the global gene modulations in the PDT-resistant cells by whole-genome microarray. More than 700 genes reached a fold change greater than 1.5 in each of the PDT-resistant cells compared to parental cells. Among these genes, both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and EFNA1 genes were significantly upregulated in resistant cell lines. However, they were significantly downregulated in Photofrin-PDT-treated cells compared to untreated cells. The observations made in the microarray analysis were further confirmed by quantitative PCR. We observed that recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) activated the gene expression of EFNA1 at both the messenger RNA (mRNA) level and the protein level in CE48T cells. Functional analysis showed that when incubated with oligomeric and monomeric ephrin-A1 simultaneously, ESCC cells became significantly resistant to Photofrin-PDT. Functional analysis further suggested that transmembrane and soluble ephrin-A1 may cooperate to enhance resistance to Photofrin-PDT in ESCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Wen Yang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Hsuan Chiang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Yueh Hsieh
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Chuan Huang
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Fan Wong
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Chang Tsai
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan. .,Center for Optoelectronic Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Jang-Ming Lee
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Rd., Taipei, Taiwan.
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16
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Syed N, Barbhuiya MA, Pinto SM, Nirujogi RS, Renuse S, Datta KK, Khan AA, Srikumar K, Prasad TSK, Kumar MV, Kumar RV, Chatterjee A, Pandey A, Gowda H. Phosphotyrosine profiling identifies ephrin receptor A2 as a potential therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Proteomics 2015; 15:374-82. [PMID: 25366905 PMCID: PMC4309511 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201400379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignancies in Asia. Currently, surgical resection of early‐stage tumor is the best available treatment. However, most patients present late when surgery is not an option. Data suggest that chemotherapy regimens are inadequate for clinical management of advanced cancer. Targeted therapy has emerged as one of the most promising approaches to treat several malignancies. A prerequisite for developing targeted therapy is prior knowledge of proteins and pathways that drive proliferation in malignancies. We carried out phosphotyrosine profiling across four different ESCC cell lines and compared it to non‐neoplastic Het‐1A cell line to identify activated tyrosine kinase signaling pathways in ESCC. A total of 278 unique phosphopeptides were identified across these cell lines. This included several tyrosine kinases and their substrates that were hyperphosphorylated in ESCC. Ephrin receptor A2 (EPHA2), a receptor tyrosine kinase, was hyperphosphorylated in all the ESCC cell lines used in the study. EPHA2 is reported to be oncogenic in several cancers and is also known to promote metastasis. Immunohistochemistry‐based studies have revealed EPHA2 is overexpressed in nearly 50% of ESCC. We demonstrated EPHA2 as a potential therapeutic target in ESCC by carrying out siRNA‐based knockdown studies. Knockdown of EPHA2 in ESCC cell line TE8 resulted in significant decrease in cell proliferation and invasion, suggesting it is a promising therapeutic target in ESCC that warrants further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazia Syed
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, India; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
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17
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Puttick S, Stringer BW, Day BW, Bruce ZC, Ensbey KS, Mardon K, Cowin GJ, Thurecht KJ, Whittaker AK, Fay M, Boyd AW, Rose S. EphA2 as a Diagnostic Imaging Target in Glioblastoma: A Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Mol Imaging 2015. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2015.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Puttick
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Brett W. Stringer
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Bryan W. Day
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Zara C. Bruce
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Kathleen S. Ensbey
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Karine Mardon
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Gary J. Cowin
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Kristofer J. Thurecht
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Andrew K. Whittaker
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Michael Fay
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Andrew W. Boyd
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
| | - Stephen Rose
- From the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, and Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston; Australian National Imaging Facility, Queensland Node, Brisbane; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Queensland Node, Brisbane; Queensland Health – Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston; School of Medicine, The University of Queensland,
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Ozcan G, Ozpolat B, Coleman RL, Sood AK, Lopez-Berestein G. Preclinical and clinical development of siRNA-based therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2015; 87:108-19. [PMID: 25666164 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 334] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of RNA interference, first in plants and Caenorhabditis elegans and later in mammalian cells, led to the emergence of a transformative view in biomedical research. Knowledge of the multiple actions of non-coding RNAs has truly allowed viewing DNA, RNA and proteins in novel ways. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can be used as tools to study single gene function both in vitro and in vivo and are an attractive new class of therapeutics, especially against undruggable targets for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Despite the potential of siRNAs in cancer therapy, many challenges remain, including rapid degradation, poor cellular uptake and off-target effects. Rational design strategies, selection algorithms, chemical modifications and nanocarriers offer significant opportunities to overcome these challenges. Here, we review the development of siRNAs as therapeutic agents from early design to clinical trial, with special emphasis on the development of EphA2-targeting siRNAs for ovarian cancer treatment.
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19
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Shen W, Xi H, Zhang K, Cui J, Li J, Wang N, Wei B, Chen L. Prognostic role of EphA2 in various human carcinomas: a meta-analysis of 23 related studies. Growth Factors 2014; 32:247-53. [PMID: 25418013 DOI: 10.3109/08977194.2014.984806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The prognostic role of EphA2 in human carcinomas remains controversial. We systematically reviewed the evidence of assessment of EphA2 expression in cancers to help clarify this issue. PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched to identify eligible studies to evaluate the association of EphA2 expression and overall survival (OS) of cancers. Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled to estimate the effect. EphA2 overexpression was significantly correlated with poor OS of patients with cancer (HR: 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-2.28). Subgroup analysis also indicated a significant relation between EphA2 overexpression and OS in gastric cancer (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.48-2.59). However, there was no significant relation between EphA2 overexpression and OS in lung cancer (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93-1.83). Our analyses demonstrate that EphA2 overexpression was effectively predictive of worse prognosis in various human carcinomas. For certain cancers, EphA2 might be a marker of poor prognosis in patients with cancer, except for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weisong Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital , Beijing , China
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20
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Abstract
Ascites tumor cells (ATCs) represent a potentially valuable source of cells for monitoring treatment of ovarian cancer as it would obviate the need for more invasive surgical biopsies. The ability to perform longitudinal testing of ascites in a point-of-care setting could significantly impact clinical trials, drug development, and clinical care. Here, we developed a microfluidic chip platform to enrich ATCs from highly heterogeneous peritoneal fluid and then perform molecular analyses on these cells. We evaluated 85 putative ovarian cancer protein markers and found that nearly two-thirds were either nonspecific for malignant disease or had low abundance. Using four of the most promising markers, we prospectively studied 47 patients (33 ovarian cancer and 14 control). We show that a marker set (ATCdx) can sensitively and specifically map ATC numbers and, through its reliable enrichment, facilitate additional treatment-response measurements related to proliferation, protein translation, or pathway inhibition.
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21
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Miyazaki K, Inokuchi M, Takagi Y, Kato K, Kojima K, Sugihara K. EphA4 is a prognostic factor in gastric cancer. BMC Clin Pathol 2013; 13:19. [PMID: 23738943 PMCID: PMC3720259 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6890-13-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph) receptor, consisting of a family of receptor tyrosine kinases, plays critical roles in tumour development and is considered an attractive target for cancer therapy. METHODS Tumour samples were obtained from 222 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy. The expressions of EphA2, EphA4, and ephrinA1 were evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS High expressions of EphA2, EphA4, and ephrinA1 significantly correlated with variables related to tumour progression, including the depth of invasion, metastatic lymph nodes, pathological stage, and distant metastasis or recurrent disease. High expressions of EphA2, EphA4, and ephrinA1 were significantly associated with poorer disease-specific survival (DSS; p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.026). On multivariate analysis, EphA4 was an independent prognostic factor of DSS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-4.8; p = 0.028), and EphA2 tended to be a prognostic factor (HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0-5.8; p = 0.050). In stage II and III cancer, EphA4 and EphA2 were both significantly associated with shorter survival (p = 0.007 and 0.019), but only EphA2 was an independent prognostic factor (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.3; p = 0.039). CONCLUSION EphA4 may play important roles in tumor progression and outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohji Miyazaki
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Mikito Inokuchi
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Yoko Takagi
- Department of Translational Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Keiji Kato
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Kojima
- Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kenichi Sugihara
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
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22
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Smeets NMB, Hoare T. Designing responsive microgels for drug delivery applications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.26707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Niels M. B. Smeets
- Department of Chemical Engineering; McMaster University; Hamilton Ontario Canada L8S 4L8
| | - Todd Hoare
- Department of Chemical Engineering; McMaster University; Hamilton Ontario Canada L8S 4L8
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Eph receptors and their ligands: promising molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2013; 1835:243-57. [PMID: 23396052 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2013.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Revised: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Although at present, there is a high incidence of prostate cancer, particularly in the Western world, mortality from this disease is declining and occurs primarily only from clinically significant late stage tumors with a poor prognosis. A major current focus of this field is the identification of new biomarkers which can detect earlier, and more effectively, clinically significant tumors from those deemed "low risk", as well as predict the prognostic course of a particular cancer. This strategy can in turn offer novel avenues for targeted therapies. The large family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, the Ephs, and their binding partners, the ephrins, has been implicated in many cancers of epithelial origin through stimulation of oncogenic transformation, tumor angiogenesis, and promotion of increased cell survival, invasion and migration. They also show promise as both biomarkers of diagnostic and prognostic value and as targeted therapies in cancer. This review will briefly discuss the complex roles and biological mechanisms of action of these receptors and ligands and, with regard to prostate cancer, highlight their potential as biomarkers for both diagnosis and prognosis, their application as imaging agents, and current approaches to assessing them as therapeutic targets. This review demonstrates the need for future studies into those particular family members that will prove helpful in understanding the biology and potential as targets for treatment of prostate cancer.
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Shao Z, Zhu F, Song K, Zhang H, Liu K, Shang Z. EphA2/ephrinA1 mRNA expression and protein production in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2013; 71:869-78. [PMID: 23298804 DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2012.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Revised: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE EphA2/ephrinA1 is believed to play a role in tumor growth and metastasis. The purpose of the present study was to determine the presence of EphA2/ephrinA1 in mRNA and protein adenoid cystic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS mRNA and protein expression and protein product of EphA2 and ephrinA1 in adenoid cystic carcinoma was investigated using real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The tyrosine-phosphorylated state of EphA2 in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells was also investigated. RESULTS Greater expression of EphA2 and ephrinA1 proteins and mRNA was detected in adenoid cystic carcinoma tissues. EphA2/ephrinA1 staining activities in adenoid cystic carcinoma were more significant than those in normal gland tissue (P < .01). EphA2/ephrinA1 expression correlated significantly to the microvessel density (P < .01). EphA2/ephrinA1 expression and microvessel density correlated with the clinical TNM stage, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion (P < .05). In 3 histologic types of adenoid cystic carcinoma, the expression of EphA2/ephrinA1 and microvessel density was significantly greater in the solid type than in the cribriform and tubular types (P < .01). We also noted that EphA2 was present in a nontyrosine-phosphorylated state. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed a high expression of EphA2/ephrinA1 in adenoid cystic carcinoma. EphA2/ephrinA1 can serve as a novel therapy target for adenoid cystic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Shao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
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Tomasina J, Lheureux S, Gauduchon P, Rault S, Malzert-Fréon A. Nanocarriers for the targeted treatment of ovarian cancers. Biomaterials 2013; 34:1073-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.10.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
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Tan P, Liu Y, Yu C, Su Z, Li G, Zhou X, Huang D, Zhang X, Qiu Y, Tian Y. EphA2 silencing in nasopharyngeal carcinoma leads to decreased proliferation, invasion and increased sensitization to paclitaxel. Oncol Lett 2012; 4:429-434. [PMID: 23741245 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2012.746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
EphA2 is frequently overexpressed and functionally altered in a variety of human cancers. However, its roles in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unclear. To investigate the roles of EphA2 in the development and progression of NPC, we initially evaluated the expression pattern of EphA2 protein in NPC tissues using western blotting and CCK-8 assay. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and invasion assay were conducted to observe the effects of EphA2 inhibition in vivo. Our results demonstrated that EphA2 was overexpressed in NPC specimens and the expression of EphA2 was significantly associated with T classification, advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, human NPC 5-8F cells were infected with lentiviral vector-mediated EphA2-specific shRNA, which resulted in the significant inhibition of cell growth, invasion of 5-8F cells and markedly enhanced the sensitivity of 5-8F cells to the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel in vitro. Collectively, our results demonstrate that EphA2 is involved in malignant cell behavior and is a potential therapeutic target in human NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingqing Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008 ; Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan 410008
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Annunziata CM, Kohn EC, LoRusso P, Houston ND, Coleman RL, Buzoianu M, Robbie G, Lechleider R. Phase 1, open-label study of MEDI-547 in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors. Invest New Drugs 2012; 31:77-84. [PMID: 22370972 PMCID: PMC3553417 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-012-9801-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Targeting the cell-surface receptor EphA2, which is highly expressed in some solid tumors, is a novel approach for cancer therapy. We aimed to evaluate the safety profile, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of MEDI-547, an antibody drug conjugate composed of the cytotoxic drug auristatin (toxin) linked to a human anti-EphA2 monoclonal antibody (1C1), in patients with solid tumors relapsed/refractory to standard therapy. Methods In this phase 1, open-label study with planned dose-escalation and dose-expansion cohorts, patients received a 1-h intravenous infusion of MEDI-547 (0.08 mg/kg) every 3 weeks. Results Six patients received 0.08 mg/kg; all discontinued treatment. Dose escalation was not pursued. The study was stopped before cohort 2 enrollment due to treatment-related bleeding and coagulation events (hemorrhage-related, n = 3; epistaxis, n = 2). Therefore, lower doses were not explored and an MTD could not be selected. The most frequently reported treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were increased liver enzymes, decreased hemoglobin, decreased appetite, and epistaxis. Three patients (50%) experienced treatment-related serious AEs, including conjunctival hemorrhage, pain (led to study drug discontinuation), liver disorder, and hemorrhage. Best response included progressive disease (n = 5; 83.3%) and stable disease (n = 1; 16.7%). Minimal or no dissociation of toxin from 1C1 conjugate occurred in the blood. Serum MEDI-547 concentrations decreased rapidly, ~70% by 3 days post-dose. No accumulation of MEDI-547 was observed at 0.08 mg/kg upon administration of a second dose 3 weeks following dose 1. Conclusions The safety profile of MEDI-547 does not support further clinical investigation in patients with advanced solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Annunziata
- Medical Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Room 12 N226, Bethesda, MD 20892-1906, USA.
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Foveau B, Boulay G, Pinte S, Van Rechem C, Rood BR, Leprince D. The receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2 is a direct target gene of hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1). J Biol Chem 2012; 287:5366-78. [PMID: 22184117 PMCID: PMC3285316 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.329466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor gene hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1), which encodes a transcriptional repressor, is epigenetically silenced in many human tumors. Here, we show that ectopic expression of HIC1 in the highly malignant MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line severely impairs cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. In parallel, infection of breast cancer cell lines with a retrovirus expressing HIC1 also induces decreased mRNA and protein expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor EphA2. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and sequential ChIP experiments demonstrate that endogenous HIC1 proteins are bound, together with the MTA1 corepressor, to the EphA2 promoter in WI38 cells. Taken together, our results identify EphA2 as a new direct target gene of HIC1. Finally, we observe that inactivation of endogenous HIC1 through RNA interference in normal breast epithelial cells results in the up-regulation of EphA2 and is correlated with increased cellular migration. To conclude, our results involve the tumor suppressor HIC1 in the transcriptional regulation of the tyrosine kinase receptor EphA2, whose ligand ephrin-A1 is also a HIC1 target gene. Thus, loss of the regulation of this Eph pathway through HIC1 epigenetic silencing could be an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of epithelial cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bénédicte Foveau
- From the CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, CNRS-Institut Pasteur de Lille-Université de Lille 1-Université de Lille 2, 59021 Lille Cedex, France and
| | - Gaylor Boulay
- From the CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, CNRS-Institut Pasteur de Lille-Université de Lille 1-Université de Lille 2, 59021 Lille Cedex, France and
| | - Sébastien Pinte
- From the CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, CNRS-Institut Pasteur de Lille-Université de Lille 1-Université de Lille 2, 59021 Lille Cedex, France and
| | - Capucine Van Rechem
- From the CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, CNRS-Institut Pasteur de Lille-Université de Lille 1-Université de Lille 2, 59021 Lille Cedex, France and
| | - Brian R. Rood
- the Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D. C. 20010-2970
| | - Dominique Leprince
- From the CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, CNRS-Institut Pasteur de Lille-Université de Lille 1-Université de Lille 2, 59021 Lille Cedex, France and
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Ishikawa M, Miyahara R, Sonobe M, Horiuchi M, Mennju T, Nakayama E, Kobayashi M, Kikuchi R, Kitamura J, Imamura N, Huang CL, Date H. Higher expression of EphA2 and ephrin-A1 is related to favorable clinicopathological features in pathological stage I non-small cell lung carcinoma. Lung Cancer 2012; 76:431-8. [PMID: 22236865 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2011.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Revised: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 12/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2 has been reported in various cancers. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a positive correlation has been reported between high EphA2 immunohistochemical staining level and poor prognosis. However, its ligand, ephrin-A1, is supposed to act as a tumor suppressor via the kinase activity of EphA2. Thus, the biphasic roles of this system are not fully elucidated. We retrospectively evaluated the expression levels of EphA2 and ephrin-A1 in surgically treated pathological (p-) stage I NSCLC tumor samples, and their relation to clinicopathologic features or postoperative prognoses. METHODS The levels of EphA2 and ephrin-A1 mRNA expression were quantified by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in tissue samples from p-stage I NSCLC patients who had undergone complete resection in our facility (n=195). They were divided into two (EphA2/ephrin-A1-Low and -High) groups based on the median expression level, and their respective clinicopathologic features and prognoses were analyzed. Furthermore, samples were stained immunohistochemically and classified into four groups according to their staining levels, and their prognoses analyzed. RESULTS Marked demographic differences were found between EphA2/ephrin-A1-Low and -High groups. Both EphA2-High and ephrin-A1-High groups had more females, no smoking history, adenocarcinoma histology, well-differentiated carcinomas, p-stage IA patients, and patients with EGFR gene mutations. Five-year overall survival rates of the EphA2-Low and the EphA2-High patient groups were 68.9% and 86.1%, respectively (P=0.017), and five-year disease-free survival rates were 69.9% and 83.2%, respectively (P=0.035). There were no statistical differences between ephrin-A1-Low and ephrin-A1-High groups concerning postoperative survival. Although showing smaller differences, the findings from the immunohistochemical analyses supported the above results. CONCLUSIONS Higher expression of EphA2 and ephrin-A1 was more related to the female sex, reduced smoking status, adenocarcinoma, well differentiated carcinomas, p-stage IA, and EGFR gene mutations. Higher EphA2 mRNA expression in p-stage I NSCLC patients was positively related to improved prognoses. These results may reflect a tumor suppressive role for the EphA2/ephrin-A1 system in a population of patients restricted to p-stage I NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Ishikawa
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
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Liu Y, Yu C, Qiu Y, Huang D, Zhou X, Zhang X, Tian Y. Downregulation of EphA2 expression suppresses the growth and metastasis in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck in vitro and in vivo. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2011; 138:195-202. [PMID: 22086185 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-011-1087-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Our previous study has revealed that EphA2 overexpression is significantly associated with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). However, the function of EphA2 in tumorigenesis and cervical lymph node metastasis of SCCHN has never been elucidated in vivo. METHODS EphA2 was knocked down in SCCHN cell lines. CCK-8 assays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, invasion and migration assays were performed in vitro. In vivo tumorigenicity assays were performed, and the impact on cervical lymph node metastasis was evaluated. RESULTS The present investigation demonstrated that suppression of EphA2 resulted in a significant inhibition of proliferation, migration, invasion of SCCHN cells in vitro and markedly diminished their tumorigenicity and lymph node metastasis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that EphA2 plays a critical role in SCCHN growth and metastasis and may be a promising therapeutic target to prevent the progression of SCCHN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
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Larkin SET, Holmes S, Cree IA, Walker T, Basketter V, Bickers B, Harris S, Garbis SD, Townsend PA, Aukim-Hastie C. Identification of markers of prostate cancer progression using candidate gene expression. Br J Cancer 2011; 106:157-65. [PMID: 22075945 PMCID: PMC3251845 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) has no curative treatment options. Some forms of PCa are indolent and slow growing, while others metastasise quickly and may prove fatal within a very short time. The basis of this variable prognosis is poorly understood, despite considerable research. The aim of this study was to identify markers associated with the progression of PCa. METHODS Artificial neuronal network analysis combined with data from literature and previous work produced a panel of putative PCa progression markers, which were used in a transcriptomic analysis of 29 radical prostatectomy samples and correlated with clinical outcome. RESULTS Statistical analysis yielded seven putative markers of PCa progression, ANPEP, ABL1, PSCA, EFNA1, HSPB1, INMT and TRIP13. Two data transformation methods were utilised with only markers that were significant in both selected for further analysis. ANPEP and EFNA1 were significantly correlated with Gleason score. Models of progression co-utilising markers ANPEP and ABL1 or ANPEP and PSCA had the ability to correctly predict indolent or aggressive disease, based on Gleason score, in 89.7% and 86.2% of cases, respectively. Another model of TRIP13 expression in combination with preoperative PSA level and Gleason score was able to correctly predict recurrence in 85.7% of cases. CONCLUSION This proof of principle study demonstrates a novel association of carcinogenic and tumourigenic gene expression with PCa stage and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E T Larkin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michaels Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK.
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Abstract
EphA2 is a member of the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases and is highly expressed in many aggressive cancer types, including melanoma. We recently showed that EphA2 is also upregulated by ultraviolet radiation and is able to induce apoptosis. These findings suggest that EphA2 may have different, even paradoxical, effects on viability depending on the cellular context and that EphA2 mediates a delicate balance between life and death of the cell. To functionally clarify EphA2’s role in melanoma, we analyzed a panel of melanoma cell lines and found that EphA2 levels are elevated in a significant fraction of the samples. Specific depletion of EphA2 in high-expressing melanoma cells using shRNA led to profound reductions in cellular viability, colony formation and migration in vitro and a dramatic loss of tumorigenic potential in vivo. Stable introduction of EphA2 into low-expressing lines enhanced proliferation, colony formation and migration further supporting its pro-malignant phenotype. Interestingly, transient expression of EphA2 and/or BrafV600E in non-transformed melanocytes led to significant and additive apoptosis. These results verify that EphA2 is an important oncogene and potentially a common source of “addiction” for many melanoma cells. Moreover, acute induction of EphA2 may purge genetically-susceptible cells thereby uncovering a more aggressive population that is in fact dependent on the oncogene.
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Tandon M, Vemula SV, Mittal SK. Emerging strategies for EphA2 receptor targeting for cancer therapeutics. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2011; 15:31-51. [PMID: 21142802 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2011.538682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD High mortality rates with cancers warrant further development of earlier diagnostics and better treatment strategies. Membrane-bound erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor tyrosine kinase class A2 (EphA2) is overexpressed in breast, prostate, urinary bladder, skin, lung, ovary and brain cancers. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW EphA2 overexpression in cancers, its signaling mechanisms and strategies to target its deregulation. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN High EphA2 expression in cancer cells is correlated with a poor prognosis associated with recurrence due to enhanced metastasis. Interaction of the EphA2 receptor with its ligand (e.g., ephrinA1) triggers events that are deregulated and implicated in carcinogenesis. EphrinA1-independent oncogenic activity and ephrinA1-dependent tumor suppressor roles for EphA2 are described. Molecular interactions of EphA2 with signaling proteins are associated with the modulation of cytoskeleton dynamics, cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and metastasis. The deregulated signaling by EphA2 and its involvement in oncogenesis provide multiple avenues for the rational design of intervention approaches. TAKE HOME MESSAGE EphA2 has been tested as a drug target using multiple approaches such as agonist antibodies, RNA interference, immunotherapy, virus vector-mediated gene transfer, small-molecule inhibitors and nanoparticles. With over a decade of research, encouraging results with targeting of EphA2 expression in various pre-clinical cancer models necessitate further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Tandon
- Purdue University, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Bindley Bioscience Center, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Blackburn WH, Dickerson EB, Smith MH, McDonald JF, Lyon LA. Peptide-functionalized nanogels for targeted siRNA delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2010; 20:960-8. [PMID: 19341276 DOI: 10.1021/bc800547c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A major bottleneck in the development of siRNA therapies is their delivery to the desired cell type or tissue, followed by effective passage across the cell membrane with subsequent silencing of the targeted mRNA. To address this problem, we describe the synthesis of core/shell hydrogel nanoparticles (nanogels) with surface-localized peptides that specifically target ovarian carcinoma cell lines possessing high expression levels of the Eph2A receptor. These nanogels are also demonstrated to be highly effective in the noncovalent encapsulation of siRNA and enable cell-specific delivery of the oligonucleotides in serum-containing medium. Cell toxicity and viability assays reveal that the nanogel construct is nontoxic under the conditions studied, as no toxicity or decrease in cell proliferation is observed following delivery. Importantly, a preliminary investigation of gene silencing illustrates that nanogel-mediated delivery of siRNA targeted to the EGF receptor results in knockdown of that receptor. Excellent protection of siRNA during endosomal uptake and endosomal escape of the nanogels is suggested by these results since siRNA activity in the cytosol is required for gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Blackburn
- Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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Up-regulation of EphA2 and down-regulation of EphrinA1 are associated with the aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis of malignant glioma. Tumour Biol 2010; 31:477-88. [PMID: 20571968 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-010-0060-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2010] [Accepted: 06/02/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant gliomas display over-expression of the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2. However, expression levels of the EphA2 ligand, EphrinA1, have not been fully elucidated. Seventy-eight patients with primary gliomas were included in this study who underwent surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy. The expression of EphA2 and EphrinA1 in tumors was assessed by immunohistochemistry and was statistically analyzed in combination with the follow-up data of patients. EphA2 was highly expressed in most malignant gliomas, but EphrinA1 was expressed at low levels in these tumors. The increased EphA2 expression is associated with higher-grade histology and poor patient prognosis. Contrary to this, the increased EphrinA1 expression is associated with lower-grade histology, but not associated with poor patient prognosis. Moreover, patients with tumors positive for EphA2 and negative for EphrinA1 had significantly shorter overall and progression-free survival than patients with tumors positive for both EphA2 and EphrinA1, negative for both EphA2 and EphrinA1, or negative for EphA2 and positive for EphrinA1. RNAi-mediated suppression of endogenous EphA2 in human glioblastoma multiforme cells resulted in increased EphrinA1 levels, as well as decreased cell viability, anchorage independence and in vitro invasion, and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, suppression of EphA2 resulted in delayed tumor growth in mice xenografts. Together, these data indicate that up-regulation of EphA2 and down-regulation of Ephrina1 may correlate with poor prognosis for patients with high-grade glioma. EphA2 suppression partially reversed the aggressive phenotypes of malignant gliomas, possibly through up-regulating EphrinA1 expression, which may help explain how EphA2 modulates the malignant progression of gliomas.
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Yuan W, Chen Z, Wu S, Ge J, Chang S, Wang X, Chen J, Chen Z. Expression of EphA2 and E-cadherin in gastric cancer: correlated with tumor progression and lymphogenous metastasis. Pathol Oncol Res 2010; 15:473-8. [PMID: 19048396 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-008-9132-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 11/14/2008] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In this study, gastric cancer progression was correlated with the over-expression of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph)A2 receptor and down-expression of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin). Immunohistochemistry of EphA2 and E-cadherin were performed on these tumor samples from 165 primary lesions of gastric cancer. The results showed that expression of EphA2 was obviously increased in gastric cancer tissues (P < 0.01), which was positively correlated with the depth of cancer invasion, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), which was negatively correlated with the depth of cancer invasion, grade of tumor differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The correlation between EphA2 and E-cadherin expression was negative (r = -0.198, P = 0.011). In conclusion, either the over-expression of EphA2 or the down-expression of E-cadherin is correlated with cancer progression and lymphogenous metastasis in gastric cancer, suggesting that both of them may play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, Peoples Republic of China
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McCarron JK, Stringer BW, Day BW, Boyd AW. Ephrin expression and function in cancer. Future Oncol 2010; 6:165-76. [PMID: 20021216 DOI: 10.2217/fon.09.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ephrins are cell membrane-associated signaling proteins bound by transmembrane Eph receptors on juxtaposed cells. Eph-ephrin interactions result in bidirectional signaling within both receptor- and ligand-bearing cells, with diverse consequences for cell morphology and behavior. Such interactions are especially important during early vertebrate development, and growing evidence has revealed equally important roles in adult-tissue homeostasis. As for the Eph receptors, abnormal expression of ephrins is associated with disease, especially cancer. The ephrins have received less attention than the Ephs in the literature, owing, in part, to their later discovery and that they are fewer in number. Here, we attempt to redress this imbalance and provide an 'ephrin-centric' discussion of the expression and function of ephrins in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K McCarron
- Leukaemia Foundation Research Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, P.O. Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, 4029, Brisbane, Australia.
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Selective removal of ovarian cancer cells from human ascites fluid using magnetic nanoparticles. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2009; 6:399-408. [PMID: 19969103 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2009.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2009] [Revised: 10/07/2009] [Accepted: 11/11/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A majority of ovarian cancer metastases result from the shedding of malignant cells from the primary tumor into the abdominal cavity. Free-floating cancer cells in serous effusions of late-stage ovarian cancer patients may spread to internal organs, making effective treatment extremely difficult. Selective removal of ovarian cancer cells from serous fluids may abate metastasis and improve long-term prognoses. We have already shown that superparamagnetic nanoparticles conjugated to an ephrin-A1 mimetic peptide with a high affinity for the EphA2 receptor can be used to capture and remove cultured human ovarian cancer cells from the peritoneal of experimental mice. Here we demonstrate the potential clinical utility of the methodology by in vitro capture and isolation of cancer cells from the ascites fluid of ovarian cancer patients. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR Ovarian cancer metastases usually are the result of shedding of malignant cells from the primary tumor into the abdominal cavity. In this paper, a novel nanotechnology-based method is demonstrated for the in vitro capture and isolation of cancer cells from the ascites fluid of ovarian cancer patients.
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Larsen AB, Stockhausen MT, Poulsen HS. Cell adhesion and EGFR activation regulate EphA2 expression in cancer. Cell Signal 2009; 22:636-44. [PMID: 19948216 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2009.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2009] [Accepted: 11/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
EphA2 is frequently overexpressed in cancer, and increasing amounts of evidence show that EphA2 contributes to multiple aspects of the malignant character including angiogenesis and metastasis. Several aspects of the regulation and functional significance of EphA2 expression in cancer are still largely unknown. Here we show that the expression of EphA2 in in vitro cultured cells, is restricted to cells growing adherently and that adhesion-induced EphA2 expression is dependent upon activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and Src family kinases (SRC). Moreover, the results show that adhesion-induced EGFR activation and EphA2 expression is affected by interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins working as integrin ligands. Stimulation with the EphA2 ligand, ephrinA1 inhibited ERK phosphorylation and cancer cell viability. These effects were however abolished by activation of the EGF-receptor ligand system favoring Ras/MAPK signaling and cell proliferation. Based on our results, we propose a regulatory mechanism where cell adhesion induces EGFR kinase activation and EphA2 expression; and where the effect of ephrinA1 mediated reduction in cell viability by inhibiting EphA2 expression is overruled by activated EGFR in human cancer cells.
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Yang P, Yuan W, He J, Wang J, Yu L, Jin X, Hu Y, Liao M, Chen Z, Zhang Y. Overexpression of EphA2, MMP-9, and MVD-CD34 in hepatocellular carcinoma: Implications for tumor progression and prognosis. Hepatol Res 2009; 39:1169-77. [PMID: 19788698 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2009.00563.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the expression of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph)A2 receptor, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in order to reveal their expression correlations with tumor invasion, metastasis, and prognosis. METHODS From January 2000 to June 2003, 129 specimens of resected tumors from the patients with HCC were obtained. Corresponding pericarcinomatous liver tissues were also obtained and selected as a control group. Expressions of EphA2, MMP-9, and CD34 were detected with immunohistochemical staining. Microvascular density (MVD) was calculated with counting of CD34-positive vascular endothelial cells. RESULTS The expressions of EphA2, MMP-9, and MVD in the HCC tissues were significantly higher than those in the pericarcinomatous liver tissues (P < 0.01). Statistical analysis showed there were significant correlations between the expressions of EphA2, MMP-9 and MVD in some classicclinicopathological parameters (i.e. tumor nodule, vein invasion, tumor, node, metastasis stages, extrahepatic metastasis; P < 0.05). The correlation between EphA2 and MMP-9 expression was positive (r = 0.625, P = 0.011). Tumor MVD was closely associated with EphA2 (r = 0.281, P = 0.01) and MMP-9 (r = 0.319, P < 0.01) expressions. In particular, EphA2, MMP-9, and MVD expressions levels were found to be independent prognostic factors after HCC resection. CONCLUSIONS Overexpressions of EphA2 and MMP-9 relate to tumor progression, metastasis, and prognosis in HCC. The present study suggests that EphA2 is associated with key mediators of angiogenesis and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Yang
- Hepatobiliary & Enteric Surgery Research Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
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Clinical Significance of Ephrin (Eph)-A1, -A2, -A4, -A5 and -A7 Receptors in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Pathol Oncol Res 2009; 16:267-76. [DOI: 10.1007/s12253-009-9221-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2009] [Accepted: 10/20/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity effector-enhanced EphA2 agonist monoclonal antibody demonstrates potent activity against human tumors. Neoplasia 2009; 11:509-17, 2 p following 517. [PMID: 19484140 DOI: 10.1593/neo.81578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2008] [Revised: 03/10/2009] [Accepted: 03/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
EphA2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that has been shown to be overexpressed in a variety of human tumor types. Previous studies demonstrated that agonist monoclonal antibodies targeting EphA2 induced the internalization and degradation of the receptor, thereby abolishing its oncogenic effects. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of EphA2 effector-enhanced agonist monoclonal antibodies was evaluated. With tumor cell lines and healthy human peripheral blood monocytes, the EphA2 antibodies demonstrated approximately 80% tumor cell killing. In a dose-dependent manner, natural killer (NK) cells were required for the in vitro ADCC activity and became activated as demonstrated by the induction of cell surface expression of CD107a. To assess the role of NK cells on antitumor efficacy in vivo, the EphA2 antibodies were evaluated in xenograft models in severe compromised immunodeficient (SCID) mice (which have functional NK cells and monocytes) and SCID nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice (which largely lack functional NK cells and monocytes). Dosing of EphA2 antibody in the SCID murine tumor model resulted in a 6.2-fold reduction in tumor volume, whereas the SCID/nonobese diabetic model showed a 1.6-fold reduction over the isotype controls. Together, these results demonstrate that the anti-EphA2 monoclonal antibodies may function through at least two mechanisms of action: EphA2 receptor activation and ADCC-mediated activity. These novel EphA2 monoclonal antibodies provide additional means by which host effector mechanisms can be activated for selective destruction of EphA2-expressing tumor cells.
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Yuan WJ, Ge J, Chen ZK, Wu SB, Shen H, Yang P, Hu B, Zhang GW, Chen ZH. Over-expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in human gastric adenocarcinoma and its prognostic value for postoperative patients. Dig Dis Sci 2009; 54:2410-7. [PMID: 19101799 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-008-0649-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2008] [Accepted: 11/21/2008] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the expression and significance of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in human gastric adenocarcinoma progression and prognosis. The expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 was detected in the cell lines and tissues of gastric adenocarcinoma. Different expression levels of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 were found in two cell lines. The expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 was significantly higher in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues than in normal tissues. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation of EphA2 expression with the depth of tumor invasion, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages, and lymph node metastasis. EphrinA-1 over-expression was significantly correlated with TNM stages and lymph node metastasis, while EphA2 expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor of postoperative gastric adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, the increased expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 plays an important role in the progression of human gastric adenocarcinoma, in which elevated EphA2 expression is an independent factor that indicates poor prognosis in postoperative gastric adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Jie Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008 Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
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Zhou Z, Yuan X, Li Z, Tu H, Li D, Qing J, Wang H, Zhang L. RNA interference targeting EphA2 inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, and cooperates with cytotoxic drugs in human glioma cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 70:562-8; discussion 568-9. [PMID: 18614215 DOI: 10.1016/j.surneu.2008.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2008] [Accepted: 04/16/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overexpression of EphA2 was detected in low- and high-grade glioma. To examine the role of EphA2 in human glioma cells, we studied its effects on proliferation and apoptosis using gene silencing through RNA interference. METHODS One siRNA targeting EphA2 gene was synthesized in vitro and was transfected into the glioma U251n cells. Expression of EphA2 proteins was detected by Western blots and immunofluorescence. Cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed by flow cytometry and annexin-V/fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide, respectively. Caspase-3 activity was measured by a spectrofluorometer. MTT assay was used to examine changes in cell proliferation. RESULTS After treatment with sequence-specific siRNA targeting EphA2, the protein level of the transfected group decreased significantly. As compared to non-siRNA transfected cells, the transfected group showed lower proliferation, higher apoptosis, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Caspase-3 activity increased in cells treated with siRNA and downregulated when treated with caspase-3 inhibitor. And the effects were clearly additive when siRNA transfected cells treated with the anticancer agents. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that EphA2-siRNA inhibit U251n cell proliferation and induce their apoptosis. It is possible that EphA2 via mitochondrial and caspase-3 inhibits U251n cell apoptosis. And EphA2-siRNA transfection enhances U251n cells' sensitivity to chemotherapy. EphA2 may be an effective therapeutic target in patients with glioma. Silencing the receptor EphA2 gene is a novel approach for the containment of growth and migration of tumor in patients with malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangming Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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Holm R, de Putte GV, Suo Z, Lie AK, Kristensen GB. Expressions of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in early squamous cell cervical carcinomas and their relation to prognosis. Int J Med Sci 2008; 5:121-6. [PMID: 18566674 PMCID: PMC2424178 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.5.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2008] [Accepted: 06/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
By using immunohistochemistry we investigated the expression of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in 217 early squamous cell cervical carcinomas and examine their prognostic relevance. For EphA2 expression, 21 tumors (10%) showed negative, 108 (50%) weak positive, 69 (32%) moderate positive and 19 (9%) strong positive, whereas for EphrinA-1 expression, 33 tumors (15%) showed negative, 91 (42%) weak positive, 67 (31%) moderate positive and 26 (12%) strong positive. In univariate analysis high expression (strong staining) of EphrinA-1 was associated with poor disease-free (P = 0.033) and disease-specific (P = 0.039) survival. However, in the multivariate analyses neither EphrinA-1 nor EphA2 was significantly associated to survival. The increased levels of EphA2 and EphrinA-1 in a relative high number of early stage squamous cell carcinomas suggested that these two proteins may play an important role in the development of a subset of early cervical cancers. However, EphA2 and EphrinA-1 were not independently associated with clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Holm
- Division of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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Zhang G, Njauw CN, Park JM, Naruse C, Asano M, Tsao H. EphA2 is an essential mediator of UV radiation-induced apoptosis. Cancer Res 2008; 68:1691-6. [PMID: 18339848 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-2372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
One of the physiologic consequences of excessive UV radiation (UVR) exposure is apoptosis. This critical response serves to eliminate genetically injured cells and arises, in part, from activation of DNA damage and p53 signaling. Other contributory pathways, however, likely exist but have not been fully characterized. In a recent global screen of UVR response genes in melanocytes, we identified the receptor tyrosine kinase EPHA2. Using a combination of genetic and pharmacologic approaches, we set out to investigate the upstream regulation of EphA2 by UVR and the functional consequences of this effect. We found that the UVR-associated increase in EphA2 occurs in melanocytes, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts from both human and murine sources. More specifically, UVR effectively up-regulated EphA2 individually in p53-null, p63-null, and p73-null murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), suggesting that the p53 family of transcription factors is not essential for the observed effect. However, inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling by U0126 and PD98059 significantly reduced the UVR response whereas overexpression of oncogenic NRAS led to an increase in EphA2. These results confirm that UVR induces EphA2 by a p53-independent, but MAPK-dependent, mechanism. In response to UV irradiation, Epha2(-/-) MEFs were highly resistant to UVR-mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis whereas introduction of EphA2 into both wild-type and p53-null MEFs led to activation of an apoptotic program that can be blocked by caspase-8 inhibition. These functional findings suggest that EphA2 is in fact an essential p53-independent, caspase-8-dependent proapoptotic factor induced by UVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqi Zhang
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To highlight the current antiangiogenic compounds being evaluated as single agents or in association with chemotherapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer, as well as the rationale for their development. RECENT FINDINGS Several proangiogenic factors may be potential targets for antiangiogenic therapy in ovarian cancer. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has been evaluated as a single agent in two phase II clinical trials and in combination with chemotherapy in three phase II studies, with promising results. This agent is also being evaluated in association with chemotherapy in two phase III clinical trials, both in the treatment and in the maintenance settings. Heparanase inhibitors and inhibitors of platelet-derived growth factor signalling remain as potential agents to be investigated in phase II trials. The development of biomarkers to define appropriate dosing regimens and predict which patients may benefit from antiangiogenic therapies is of great importance. SUMMARY Data from preclinical and clinical studies reported in the last 2 years demonstrate the importance of several proangiogenic factors in the prognosis of ovarian cancer, suggesting possible new targets for antiangiogenic therapy. The agents that are currently being investigated in phase II and III clinical trials include bevacizumab, erlotinib, sunitinib, sorafenib and vascular endothelial growth factor Trap, and the results of these trials will have significant implications in the future management of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela D Rosa
- Cancer Research UK and University of Manchester, Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK
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Hammond SA, Lutterbuese R, Roff S, Lutterbuese P, Schlereth B, Bruckheimer E, Kinch MS, Coats S, Baeuerle PA, Kufer P, Kiener PA. Selective targeting and potent control of tumor growth using an EphA2/CD3-Bispecific single-chain antibody construct. Cancer Res 2007; 67:3927-35. [PMID: 17440108 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-2760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is frequently overexpressed and functionally altered in malignant cells and thus provides opportunities for selective targeting of tumor cells. We describe here the development of a novel, bispecific single-chain antibody (bscAb) referred to as bscEphA2xCD3. This molecule simultaneously targets EphA2 on tumor cells and the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex on T cells and possesses structural and functional characteristics of the recently developed BiTE technology. An EphA2-specific single-chain antibody was selected for recognition of an epitope that is preferentially exposed on malignant cells based on the concept of epitope exclusion; this was fused to a CD3-specific single-chain antibody to generate bscEphA2xCD3. The resultant bscAb redirected unstimulated human T cells to lyse EphA2-expressing tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. In separate experiments, efficient tumor cell lysis was achieved in vitro at drug concentrations <or=1 microg/mL, at a low T-cell effector-to-tumor target cell ratio (1:1), and with tumor cells that possess few available binding sites (2,400 per cell) for bscEphA2xCD3. Time-lapsed microscopy revealed potent cytotoxic activity of bscEphA2xCD3-activated T cells against monolayers of malignant cells but not against monolayers of nontransformed EphA2-positive cells except at the edges of the monolayer where the target epitope was exposed. BscEphA2xCD3 was also efficacious in human xenograft mouse models modified to show human T-cell killing of tumors. Together, our results reveal opportunities for redirecting the potent activity of cytotoxic T cells towards tumor cells that express selectively accessible epitopes and establish EphA2-specific bscAb molecules as novel and potent therapeutics with selectivity for tumor cells.
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Li X, Wang Y, Wang Y, Zhen H, Yang H, Fei Z, Zhang J, Liu W, Wang Y, Zhang X. Expression of EphA2 in human astrocytic tumors: correlation with pathologic grade, proliferation and apoptosis. Tumour Biol 2007; 28:165-72. [PMID: 17519535 DOI: 10.1159/000103010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2006] [Accepted: 11/07/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A high expression of EphA2 has been detected in many non-central nervous system tumors; however, the EphA2 expression in brain astrocytic tumors remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of EphA2 mRNA and protein in 90 cases of human astrocytic tumors by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The proliferative index (PI) of tumor cells was evaluated by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry, and the apoptotic index (AI) was determined by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. The correlation between EphA2 expression, pathologic grade, proliferation and apoptosis of astrocytic tumors was further analyzed. The results showed that 47.8% of cases expressed EphA2 mRNA and 43.3% of cases expressed EphA2 protein. With increasing pathologic grade, the positive rate of EphA2 mRNA and protein, as well as the EphA2 immunoreactivity score (IRS), increased markedly. The PI in the EphA2-positive group was significantly higher than in the EphA2-negative group. In addition, the PI was positively correlated with EphA2 IRS. Although there was no significant difference between the AI in the EphA2-positive group and that in the EphA2-negative group, the AI was inversely correlated with EphA2 IRS. Therefore, EphA2 may be a new biomarker for astrocytic tumors. It may also affect the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells and be an attractive therapy target for astrocytic tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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Nasreen N, Mohammed KA, Antony VB. Silencing the receptor EphA2 suppresses the growth and haptotaxis of malignant mesothelioma cells. Cancer 2007; 107:2425-35. [PMID: 17041885 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.22254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The over-expression of the ephrin-A1 ligand receptor EphA2 is associated with the growth and metastatic potential of tumors. Although EphA2 is expressed in a variety of tumors, its expression and function in malignant mesothelioma (MM) remain unknown. The authors hypothesized that expression of the receptor EphA2 in MM cells (MMCs) plays a key role in the growth and haptotactic migration of MM. They also hypothesized that silencing EphA2 expression by using small-interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibits the proliferation and haptotaxis of MMCs and induces apoptosis in MMCs. METHODS The expression of EphA2 in MMCs and in normal pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs) was studied by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and Western blot analysis. The growth of MMCs was determined with the WST-1 cell-proliferation assay. The haptotactic migration of MMCs and PMCs was determined with a Boyden chamber assay. Expression of caspases was determined with calorimetric assays. RESULTS The results demonstrated that silencing the receptor EphA2 by siRNA significantly reduced the proliferation and haptotactic migration of MMCs compared with controls. Over-expression of EphA2 with plasmid pcDNA/EphA2 enhanced the proliferation and haptotaxis of MMCs significantly. Knocking down EphA2 expression initiated caspase-9-mediated apoptosis in MMCs. CONCLUSIONS The current results suggested that constitutive expression of EphA2 may contribute to the aggressive behavior and cellular survival of MMCs. EphA2 may be an effective therapeutic target in patients with mesothelioma. Silencing the receptor EphA2 gene is a novel approach for the containment of growth and migration of tumor in patients with malignant mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najmunnisa Nasreen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
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