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Chen Y, Song S, Sun Y, Wu F, Yang G, Wang Z, Yu M. Small animal PET imaging with the 68Ga-labeled pH (low) insertion peptide-like peptide YJL-4 in a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model. EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem 2024; 9:33. [PMID: 38678139 PMCID: PMC11055835 DOI: 10.1186/s41181-024-00267-x] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to prepare a novel 68Ga-labeled pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP)-like peptide, YJL-4, and determine its value for the early diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) via in vivo imaging of tumor-bearing nude mice. The novel peptide YJL-4 was designed using a template-assisted method and synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. After modification with the chelator 1,4,7‑triazacyclononane-N,N',N″-triacetic acid (NOTA), the peptide was labeled with 68Ga. Then, the biodistribution of 68Ga-YJL-4 in tumor-bearing nude mice was investigated, and the mice were imaged by small animal positron emission tomography (PET). RESULTS The radiochemical yield and radiochemical purity of 68Ga-YJL-4 were 89.5 ± 0.16% and 97.95 ± 0.06%, respectively. The biodistribution of 68Ga-YJL-4 in tumors (5.94 ± 1.27% ID/g, 6.72 ± 1.69% ID/g and 4.54 ± 0.58% ID/g at 1, 2 and 4 h after injection, respectively) was significantly greater than that of the control peptide in tumors at the corresponding time points (P < 0.01). Of the measured off-target organs, 68Ga-YJL-4 was highly distributed in the liver and blood. The small animal PET imaging results were consistent with the biodistribution results. The tumors were visualized by PET at 2 and 4 h after the injection of 68Ga-YJL-4. No tumors were observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS The novel pHLIP family peptide YJL-4 can adopt an α-helical structure for easy insertion into the cell membrane in an acidic environment. 68Ga-YJL-4 was produced in high radiochemical yield with good stability and can target TNBC tissue. Moreover, the strong concentration of radioactive 68Ga-YJL-4 in the abdomen does not hinder the imaging of early TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- YueHua Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - ShuangShuang Song
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - YanQin Sun
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - FengYu Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - GuangJie Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - ZhenGuang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China.
| | - MingMing Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266100, China.
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Kelly JJ, Ankrom ET, Newkirk SE, Thévenin D, Pires MM. Targeted acidosis mediated delivery of antigenic MHC-binding peptides. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1337973. [PMID: 38665920 PMCID: PMC11043575 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1337973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the primary effector immune cells responsible for protection against cancer, as they target peptide neoantigens presented through the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on cancer cells, leading to cell death. Targeting peptide-MHC (pMHC) complex offers a promising strategy for immunotherapy due to their specificity and effectiveness against cancer. In this work, we exploit the acidic tumor micro-environment to selectively deliver antigenic peptides to cancer using pH(low) insertion peptides (pHLIP). We demonstrated the delivery of MHC binding peptides directly to the cytoplasm of melanoma cells resulted in the presentation of antigenic peptides on MHC, and activation of T cells. This work highlights the potential of pHLIP as a vehicle for the targeted delivery of antigenic peptides and its presentation via MHC-bound complexes on cancer cell surface for activation of T cells with implications for enhancing anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joey J. Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Emily T. Ankrom
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Sarah E. Newkirk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
| | - Marcos M. Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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3
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Degro CE, Jiménez-Vargas NN, Tsang Q, Yu Y, Guzman-Rodriguez M, Alizadeh E, Hurlbut D, Reed DE, Lomax AE, Stein C, Bunnett NW, Vanner SJ. Evolving acidic microenvironments during colitis provide selective analgesic targets for a pH-sensitive opioid. Pain 2023; 164:2501-2515. [PMID: 37326658 PMCID: PMC10731875 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Targeting the acidified inflammatory microenvironment with pH-sensitive opioids is a novel approach for managing visceral pain while mitigating side effects. The analgesic efficacy of pH-dependent opioids has not been studied during the evolution of inflammation, where fluctuating tissue pH and repeated therapeutic dosing could influence analgesia and side effects. Whether pH-dependent opioids can inhibit human nociceptors during extracellular acidification is unexplored. We studied the analgesic efficacy and side-effect profile of a pH-sensitive fentanyl analog, (±)- N -(3-fluoro-1-phenethylpiperidine-4-yl)- N -phenyl propionamide (NFEPP), during the evolution of colitis induced in mice with dextran sulphate sodium. Colitis was characterized by granulocyte infiltration, histological damage, and acidification of the mucosa and submucosa at sites of immune cell infiltration. Changes in nociception were determined by measuring visceromotor responses to noxious colorectal distension in conscious mice. Repeated doses of NFEPP inhibited nociception throughout the course of disease, with maximal efficacy at the peak of inflammation. Fentanyl was antinociceptive regardless of the stage of inflammation. Fentanyl inhibited gastrointestinal transit, blocked defaecation, and induced hypoxemia, whereas NFEPP had no such side effects. In proof-of-principle experiments, NFEPP inhibited mechanically provoked activation of human colonic nociceptors under acidic conditions mimicking the inflamed state. Thus, NFEPP provides analgesia throughout the evolution of colitis with maximal activity at peak inflammation. The actions of NFEPP are restricted to acidified layers of the colon, without common side effects in normal tissues. N -(3-fluoro-1-phenethylpiperidine-4-yl)- N -phenyl propionamide could provide safe and effective analgesia during acute colitis, such as flares of ulcerative colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudius E. Degro
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Quentin Tsang
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yang Yu
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mabel Guzman-Rodriguez
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elahe Alizadeh
- Queen’s Cardiopulmonary Unit (QCPU), Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME), Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Hurlbut
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - David E. Reed
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alan E. Lomax
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christoph Stein
- Department of Experimental Anaesthesiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nigel W. Bunnett
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen J. Vanner
- Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queeńs University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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4
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Kelly JJ, Ankrom E, Thévenin D, Pires MM. Targeted Acidosis Mediated Delivery of Antigenic MHC-Binding Peptides. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.18.562409. [PMID: 37904977 PMCID: PMC10614887 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.562409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the primary effector immune cells responsible for protection against cancer, as they target peptide neoantigens presented through the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on cancer cells, leading to cell death. Targeting peptide-MHC (pMHC) complexes offers a promising strategy for immunotherapy due to its specificity and effectiveness against cancer. In this work, we exploit the acidic tumor micro-environment to selectively deliver antigenic peptides to cancer cells using pH(low) insertion peptides (pHLIP). We demonstrated that the delivery of MHC binding peptides directly to the cytoplasm of melanoma cells resulted in the presentation of antigenic peptides on MHC, and subsequent activation of T cells. This work highlights the potential of pHLIP as a vehicle for targeted delivery of antigenic peptides and their presentation via MHC-bound complexes on cancer cell surfaces for activation of T cells with implications for enhancing anti-cancer immunotherapy.
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Wachira FW, Githirwa DC, McPartlon T, Nazarenko V, Gonzales JJC, Gazura MM, Leen C, Clary HR, Alston C, Klees LM, Yao L, An M. D-to-E and T19V Variants of the pH-Low Insertion Peptide and Their Doxorubicin Conjugates Interact with Membrane at Higher pH Ranges Than WT. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2997-3011. [PMID: 37793002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
To improve targeted cargo delivery to cancer cells, pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) variants were developed to interact with the membrane at pH values higher than those of the WT. The Asp-to-Glu variants aim to increase side chain pKa without disturbing the sequence of protonations that underpin membrane insertion. The Thr19 variants represent efforts to perturb the critical Pro20 residue. To study the effect of cargo on pHLIP insertion, doxorubicin (Dox), a fluorescent antineoplastic drug, was conjugated to selected variants near the inserting C-terminus. Variants and conjugates were characterized on a POPC membrane using Trp and Dox fluorescence methods to define the entire pH range of insertion (pHinitial-pHfinal). Compared to WT with a pHi-pHf range of 6.7-5.6, D25E-D31E-D33E, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E, and T19V-D25E variants demonstrated higher pHi-pHf ranges of 7.3-6.1, 7.3-6.3, and 8.2-5.4, respectively. The addition of Dox expanded the pHi-pHf range, mainly by shifting pHi to higher pH values (e.g., WT pHLIP-Dox has a pHi-pHf range of 7.7-5.2). Despite the low Hill coefficient observed for the conjugates, D14E-D25E-D31E-D33E pHLIP-Dox completed insertion by a pHf of 5.7. However, the Dox cargo remained in the hydrophobic membrane interior after pHLIP insertion, which may impede drug release. Finally, a logistic function can describe pHLIP insertion as a peripheral-to-TM (start-to-finish) two-state transition; wherever possible, we discuss data deviating from such sigmoidal fitting in support of the idea that pH-specific intermediate states distinct from the initial peripheral state and the final TM state exist at intervening pH values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith W Wachira
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Dancan C Githirwa
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Thomas McPartlon
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Vladyslav Nazarenko
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Jerel J C Gonzales
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Makenzie M Gazura
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Caitlin Leen
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Hannah R Clary
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Claire Alston
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lukas M Klees
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Lan Yao
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
- Department of Physics, SUNY, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Ming An
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York (SUNY), Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
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Visca H, DuPont M, Moshnikova A, Crawford T, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. pHLIP Peptides Target Acidity in Activated Macrophages. Mol Imaging Biol 2022; 24:874-885. [PMID: 35604527 PMCID: PMC9681937 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-022-01737-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Acidity can be a useful alternative biomarker for the targeting of metabolically active cells in certain diseased tissues, as in acute inflammation or aggressive tumors. We investigated the targeting of activated macrophages by pH low insertion peptides (pHLIPs), an established technology for targeting cell-surface acidity. PROCEDURES The uptake of fluorescent pHLIPs by activated macrophages was studied in cell cultures, in a mouse model of lung inflammation, and in a mouse tumor model. Fluorescence microscopy, whole-body and organ imaging, immunohistochemistry, and FACS analysis were employed. RESULTS We find that cultured, activated macrophages readily internalize pHLIPs. The uptake is higher in glycolytic macrophages activated by LPS and INF-γ compared to macrophages activated by IL-4/IL-13. Fluorescent pHLIPs target LPS-induced lung inflammation in mice. In addition to marking cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment, fluorescent pHLIPs target CD45+, CD11b+, F4/80+, and CD206+ tumor-associated macrophages with no significant targeting of other immune cells. Also, fluorescent pHLIPs target CD206-positive cells found in the inguinal lymph nodes of animals inoculated with breast cancer cells in mammary fat pads. CONCLUSIONS pHLIP peptides sense low cell surface pH, which triggers their insertion into the cell membrane. Unlike cancerous cells, activated macrophages do not retain inserted pHLIPs on their surfaces, instead their highly active membrane recycling moves the pHLIPs into endosomes. Targeting activated macrophages in diseased tissues may enable clinical visualization and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Troy Crawford
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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Rauta PR, Mackeyev Y, Sanders K, Kim JB, Gonzalez VV, Zahra Y, Shohayeb MA, Abousaida B, Vijay GV, Tezcan O, Derry P, Liopo AV, Zubarev ER, Carter R, Singh P, Krishnan S. Pancreatic tumor microenvironmental acidosis and hypoxia transform gold nanorods into cell-penetrant particles for potent radiosensitization. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm9729. [PMID: 36367938 PMCID: PMC9651859 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Coating nanoparticles with stealth epilayers increases circulation time by evading opsonization, macrophage phagocytosis, and reticuloendothelial sequestration. However, this also reduces internalization by cancer cells upon reaching the tumor. We designed gold nanorods (GNRs) with an epilayer that retains stealth properties in circulation but transforms spontaneously in the acidotic tumor microenvironment to a cell-penetrating particle. We used a customized stoichiometric ratio of l-glutamic acid and l-lysine within an amphiphilic polymer of poly(l-glutamic acid-co-l-lysine), or P(Glu-co-Lys), to effect this transformation in acidotic environments. P(Glu-co-Lys)-GNRs were internalized by cancer cells to facilitate potent in vitro radiosensitization. When administered intravenously in mice, they accumulate in the periphery and core of tumors without any signs of serum biochemical or hematological alterations, normal organ histopathological abnormalities, or overt deterioration in animal health. Furthermore, P(Glu-co-Lys)-GNRs penetrated the tumor microenvironment to accumulate in the hypoxic cores of tumors to potently radiosensitize heterotopic and orthotopic pancreatic cancers in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuri Mackeyev
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keith Sanders
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph B.K. Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Yasmin Zahra
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Belal Abousaida
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Okan Tezcan
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Paul Derry
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anton V. Liopo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Rickey Carter
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Pankaj Singh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
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Silva TD, Vila-Viçosa D, Machuqueiro M. Increasing the Realism of in Silico pHLIP Peptide Models with a Novel pH Gradient CpHMD Method. J Chem Theory Comput 2022; 18:6472-6481. [PMID: 36257921 PMCID: PMC9775217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.2c00880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIP) are pH-dependent membrane inserting peptides, whose function depends on the cell microenvironment acidity. Several peptide variants have been designed to improve upon the wt-sequence, particularly the state transition kinetics and the selectivity for tumor pH. The variant 3 (Var3) peptide is a 27 residue long peptide, with a key titrating residue (Asp-13) that, despite showing a modest performance in liposomes (pKins ∼ 5.0), excelled in tumor cell experiments. To help rationalize these results, we focused on the pH gradient in the cell membrane, which is one of the crucial properties that are not present in liposomes. We extended our CpHMD-L method and its pH replica-exchange (pHRE) implementation to include a pH gradient and mimic the pHLIP-membrane microenvironment in a cell where the internal pH is fixed (pH 7.2) and the external pH is allowed to change. We showed that, by properly modeling the pH-gradient, we can correctly predict the experimentally observed loss and gain of performance in tumor cells experiments by the wt and Var3 sequences, respectively. In sum, the pH gradient implementation allowed for more accurate and realistic pKa estimations and was a pivotal step in bridging the in silico data and the in vivo cell experiments.
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Multiplexed Imaging Reveals the Spatial Relationship of the Extracellular Acidity-Targeting pHLIP with Necrosis, Hypoxia, and the Integrin-Targeting cRGD Peptide. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213499. [DOI: 10.3390/cells11213499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIPs) have been developed for cancer imaging and therapy targeting the acidic extracellular microenvironment. However, the characteristics of intratumoral distribution (ITD) of pHLIPs are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to reveal the details of the ITD of pHLIPs and their spatial relationship with other tumor features of concern. The fluorescent dye-labeled pHLIPs were intravenously administered to subcutaneous xenograft mouse models of U87MG and IGR-OV1 expressing αVβ3 integrins (using large necrotic tumors). The αVβ3 integrin-targeting Cy5.5-RAFT-c(-RGDfK-)4 was used as a reference. In vivo and ex vivo fluorescence imaging, whole-tumor section imaging, fluorescence microscopy, and multiplexed fluorescence colocalization analysis were performed. The ITD of fluorescent dye-labeled pHLIPs was heterogeneous, having a high degree of colocalization with necrosis. A direct one-to-one comparison of highly magnified images revealed the cellular localization of pHLIP in pyknotic, karyorrhexis, and karyolytic necrotic cells. pHLIP and hypoxia were spatially contiguous but not overlapping cellularly. The hypoxic region was found between the ITDs of pHLIP and the cRGD peptide and the Ki-67 proliferative activity remained detectable in the pHLIP-accumulated regions. The results provide a better understanding of the characteristics of ITD of pHLIPs, leading to new insights into the theranostic applications of pHLIPs.
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Moshnikova A, DuPont M, Visca H, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Eradication of tumors and development of anti-cancer immunity using STINGa targeted by pHLIP. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1023959. [PMID: 36330464 PMCID: PMC9622777 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1023959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite significant progress in the development of novel STING agonists (STINGa), applications appear to be challenged by the low efficiency and poor selectivity of these agents. A pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) extends the lifetime of a STINGa in the blood and targets it to acidic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs). CAFs constitute 25% of all live cells within CT26 tumors, and M2-type TAMs and mMDSCs are the most abundant among the immune cells. The resulting activation of cytokines within the tumor microenvironment (TME) triggers the eradication of small (100 mm3) and large (400-700 mm3) CT26 tumors in mice after a single dose of pHLIP-STINGa. The tumor stroma was destroyed (the number of CAFs was reduced by 98%), intratumoral hemorrhage developed, and the level of acidity within the TME was reduced. Further, no tumors developed in 20 out of 25 tumor-free mice re-challenged by an additional injection of cancer cells. The therapeutic effect on CT26 tumors was insignificant in nude mice, lacking T-cells. Thus, targeted delivery of STINGa to tumor stroma and TAMs induces activation of signaling, potentially resulting in the recruitment and infiltration of T-cells, which gain access to the tumor core. The cytotoxic activity of T-cells is not impaired by an acidic environment and immune memory is developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Michael DuPont
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M. Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Oleg A. Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Yana K. Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- *Correspondence: Yana K. Reshetnyak,
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11
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Deskeuvre M, Lan J, Dierge E, Messens J, Riant O, Corbet C, Feron O, Frédérick R. Targeting cancer cells in acidosis with conjugates between the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 inhibitor etomoxir and pH (low) Insertion Peptides. Int J Pharm 2022; 624:122041. [PMID: 35868479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Targeting enzymes involved in tumor metabolism is a promising way to tackle cancer progression. The inhibition of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) by etomoxir (Eto) efficiently slows down the growth of various cancers. Unfortunately, the clinical use of this drug was abandoned because of hepatotoxic effects. We report the development of pH-sensitive peptide (pHLIP)-drug conjugate to deliver Eto selectively to cancer cells exposed to acidic microenvironmental conditions. A newly designed sequence for the pHLIP peptide, named pHLIPd, was compared with a previously published reference pHLIP peptide, named pHLIPr. We showed that the conjugate between pHLIPd and Eto has a better pH-dependent insertion and structuration than the pHLIPr-based conjugate inside POPC vesicles. We observed antiproliferative effects when applied on acid-adapted cancer cells, reaching a larger inhibitory activity than Eto alone. In conclusion, this study brings the first evidence that pHLIP-based conjugates with a CPT1 inhibitor has the potential to specifically target the tumor acidic compartment and exert anticancer effects while sparing healthy tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Deskeuvre
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium; Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Junjie Lan
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Emeline Dierge
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joris Messens
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Brussels Center for Redox Biology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Riant
- Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, MOST Division, Place Louis Pasteur, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve B-1348, Belgium
| | - Cyril Corbet
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Feron
- Pole of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 57 Avenue Hippocrate B1.57.04, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Frédérick
- Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), Medicinal Chemistry Research Group (CMFA), Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 73 Avenue Emmanuel Mounier, B-1200 Brussel, Belgium.
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12
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In Vivo Distribution and Therapeutic Efficacy of Radioiodine-Labeled pH-Low Insertion Peptide Variant 3 in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer. Mol Imaging 2022; 2022:7456365. [PMID: 35903249 PMCID: PMC9281440 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7456365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose. Extracellular acidity is a marker of highly aggressive breast cancer (BC). pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIPs) target the acidic tumor microenvironment. This study evaluates the distribution and therapeutic efficacy of radioiodine-labeled pHLIP variant 3 (Var3) in a mouse model of BC. Methods. The binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)- or radioiodine-125 (125I) labeled Var3-pHLIP to MDA-MB-231, 4T1, and SK-BR-3 BC cell lines under different pH values was evaluated in vitro. The distribution of 125I-labeled Var3-pHLIP and wild-type- (WT-) pHLIP in tumor-bearing mice was analyzed in vivo using micro-SPECT/CT imaging. The therapeutic efficacy of radioiodine-131 (131I)-labeled Var3-pHLIP in MDA-MB-231 xenografts was evaluated by relative tumor volume measurement and immunohistochemical analysis. Results. The binding ability of FITC- or 125I-labeled Var3-pHLIP to tumor cells increased with the decrease in pH. The tumor-to-background ratio of 125I-Var3-pHLIP in BC xenografts showed the best imaging contrast at 24 h or 48 h postinjection. The uptake of 125I-Var3-pHLIP in MDA-MB-231 xenografts at 2 h postinjection was significantly higher than that of 125I-WT-pHLIP (
vs.
%ID/g,
). The relative tumor volume in MDA-MB-231 xenografts was significantly lower in the 131I-Var3-pHLIP-treated group than in the groups treated with Var3-pHLIP (
), 131I (
), and saline (
). The 131I-Var 3-pHLIP group presented a lower expression of Ki67 and a higher expression of caspase 3. Conclusion. Radioiodine-labeled Var3-pHLIP effectively targeted BC cells in an acidic environment and inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 xenografts by ionizing radiation.
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13
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Chen Y, Su Y, Pang X, Song X, Zhao W, Yu M. Synthesis and Evaluation of Technetium-99m-Labeled pH (Low) Insertion Peptide Variant 7 for Early Diagnosis of MDA-MB-231 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:869260. [PMID: 35530359 PMCID: PMC9069674 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.869260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To prepare technetium-99m (99mTc)-labeled pH (low) insertion peptide variant 7 [pHLIP (Var7)] and carry out small-animal single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) imaging of tumor-bearing nude mice in vivo to study its value in the early diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods The pHLIP (Var7) sequence was synthesized via solid-phase peptide synthesis. Four amino acids, Gly-(D)-Ala-Gly-Gly, were attached to the N-terminus of pHLIP (Var7) to form a strong chelating group containing an N4 structure. The peptide was labeled with 99mTc using a direct labeling method. We determined the in vitro binding fraction of 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7) to MDA-MB-231 cells. Serial biodistribution studies and small-animal SPECT/CT imaging in MDA-MB-231 TNBC-bearing mice were performed using 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7). Results The radiochemical yield and purity of 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7) were 99.49 ± 0.17% and 99.63 ± 0.44%, respectively. The radiochemical purity was still more than 96% after 24 h in serum. The binding fraction of 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7) to MDA-MB-231 cells continuously increased in an acidic environment and was significantly higher than the cell-binding fraction (P < 0.01) at pH = 7.4 and the cell-binding fraction (P < 0.01) of 99mTc-kVar7 at different pH values (pH = 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 and 7.4) at each time point (P < 0.01). The distribution of 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7) in tumors at each time point was significantly greater than that of 99mTc-kVar7 (P < 0.01). SPECT/CT imaging was largely consistent with the biodistribution results; the tumor was clearly imaged at each time point after injection of 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7) but could not be imaged after injection of 99mTc-kVar7. Conclusion 99mTc-pHLIP (Var7) showed a high radiochemical yield and stability and was highly concentrated in tumor tissues. Although there was strong radioactive background in the abdomen of tumor-bearing nude mice, it did not hinder early diagnosis of TNBC.
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14
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Otieno SA, Qiang W. Roles of key residues and lipid dynamics reveal pHLIP-membrane interactions at intermediate pH. Biophys J 2021; 120:4649-4662. [PMID: 34624273 PMCID: PMC8595900 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) and its analogs sense the microenvironmental pH variations in tumorous cells and serve as useful anticancer drug deliveries. The pHLIP binds peripherally to membranes and adopts random coil conformation at the physiological pH. The peptide switches from random coil to α-helical conformation and inserts unidirectionally into membrane bilayers when pH drops below a critical transition value that has been routinely determined by the Trp fluorescence spectroscopy. Recent high-resolution studies using solid-state NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of thermodynamically stable intermediate states of membrane-associated pHLIP around the fluorescence-based transition pH-value. However, the molecular structural features and their mechanistic roles of these intermediate states in the pH-driven membrane insertion process of pHLIP remain largely unknown. This work utilizes solid-state NMR spectroscopy to explore 1) the mechanistic roles of key proline and arginine residues within the pHLIP sequence at intermediate pH-values, and 2) the changes in lipid dynamics at intermediate pH-values in multiple types of model bilayers with anionic phospholipid and/or cholesterol. Our results demonstrate several molecular structural and dynamics changes at around the transition pH-values, including the isomerization of proline-threonine backbone configuration, breaking of arginine-aspartic acid salt bridge and the formation of arginine-lipid interactions, and a universal decreasing of dynamics in lipid headgroups and alkyl chains. Overall, the outcomes provide important insights on the molecular interactions between pHLIP and membrane bilayers at intermediate pH-values and, therefore, prompt the understanding of pH-driven membrane insertion process of this anticancer drug-delivering peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Otieno
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York
| | - Wei Qiang
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, New York.
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15
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Mitrou A, Feng X, Khan A, Yaroslavsky AN. Feasibility of dual-contrast fluorescence imaging of pathological breast tissues. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2021; 14:e202100007. [PMID: 34010507 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202100007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The combination of intravital dye, methylene blue (MB), with molecular cancer marker, pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) conjugated with fluorescent Alexa532 (Alexa532-pHLIP), was evaluated for enhancing contrast of pathological breast tissue ex vivo. Fresh, thick breast specimens were stained sequentially with Alexa532-pHLIP and aqueous MB and imaged using dual-channel fluorescence microscopy. MB and Alexa532-pHLIP accumulated in the nuclei and cytoplasm of cancer cells, respectively. MB also stained nuclei of normal cells. Some Alexa532-pHLIP fluorescence emission was detected from connective tissue and benign cell membranes. Overall, Alexa532-pHLIP showed high affinity to cancer, while MB highlighted tissue morphology. The results indicate that MB and Alexa532-pHLIP provide complementary information and show promise for the detection of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Androniki Mitrou
- Advanced Biophotonics Laboratory, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xin Feng
- Advanced Biophotonics Laboratory, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ashraf Khan
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anna N Yaroslavsky
- Advanced Biophotonics Laboratory, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
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16
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Zou T, Lu W, Mezhuev Y, Lan M, Li L, Liu F, Cai T, Wu X, Cai Y. A review of nanoparticle drug delivery systems responsive to endogenous breast cancer microenvironment. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021; 166:30-43. [PMID: 34098073 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer, as a malignant disease that seriously threatens women's health, urgently needs to be researched to develop effective and safe therapeutic drugs. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems (NDDS), provide a powerful means for drug targeting to the breast cancer, enhancing the bioavailability and reducing the adverse effects of anticancer drug. However, the breast cancer microenvironment together with heterogeneity of cancer, impedes the tumor targeting effect of NDDS. Breast cancer microenvironment, exerts endogenous stimuli, such as hypoxia, acidosis, and aberrant protease expression, shape a natural shelter for tumor growth, invasion and migration. On the basis of the ubiquitous of endogenous stimuli in the breast cancer microenvironment, researchers exploited them to design the stimuli-responsive NDDS, which response to endogenous stimulus, targeted release drug in breast cancer microenvironment. In this review, we highlighted the effect of the breast cancer microenvironment, summarized innovative NDDS responsive to the internal stimuli in the tumor microenvironment, including the material, the targeting groups, the loading drugs, targeting position and the function of stimuli-responsive nanoparticle drug delivery system. The limitations and potential applications of the stimuli-responsive nanoparticle drug delivery systems for breast cancer treatment were discussed to further the application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengteng Zou
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Wenping Lu
- Guang an'men Hospital China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Yaroslav Mezhuev
- Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Moscow, 125047, Russia
| | - Meng Lan
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Lihong Li
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Fengjie Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Tiange Cai
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyu Wu
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3M2, Canada.
| | - Yu Cai
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Cancer Research Institute, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
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17
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Targeting the Hypoxic and Acidic Tumor Microenvironment with pH-Sensitive Peptides. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030541. [PMID: 33806273 PMCID: PMC8000199 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The delivery of cancer therapeutics can be limited by pharmacological issues such as poor bioavailability and high toxicity to healthy tissue. pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIPs) represent a promising tool to overcome these limitations. pHLIPs allow for the selective delivery of agents to tumors on the basis of pH, taking advantage of the acidity of the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. This review article highlights the various applications in which pHLIPs have been utilized for targeting and treating diseases in hypoxic environments, including delivery of small molecule inhibitors, toxins, nucleic acid analogs, fluorescent dyes, and nanoparticles.
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18
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Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor Expression in Breast Cancer and Its Association with Carbonic Anhydrase IX and Immune Checkpoints. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051022. [PMID: 33804486 PMCID: PMC7957699 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Preclinical studies suggest that interactions between granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrase IX regulate the trafficking and function of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. We investigated the clinical significance of this crosstalk by analyzing the protein expression of G-CSF and macrophage markers by immunohistochemistry on a well-characterized tissue microarray series of invasive breast cancers. We report that high expression of G-CSF on breast carcinoma cells is linked with significantly improved survival in an important group of breast cancers that do not respond to hormonal therapy. These tumours were infiltrated by immune cells expressing biomarkers that can be targeted with immune checkpoint inhibitor drugs. In contrast, carbonic anhydrase IX expression was associated with unfavourable outcomes. Abstract Purpose: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and hypoxia modulate the tumour immune microenvironment. In model systems, hypoxia-induced carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) has been associated with G-CSF and immune responses, including M2 polarization of macrophages. We investigated whether these associations exist in human breast cancer specimens, their relation to breast cancer subtypes, and clinical outcome. Methods: Using validated protocols and prespecified scoring methodology, G-CSF expression on carcinoma cells and CD163 expression on tumour-associated macrophages were assayed by immunohistochemistry and applied to a tissue microarray series of 2960 primary excision specimens linked to clinicopathologic, biomarker, and outcome data. Results: G-CSFhigh expression showed a significant positive association with ER negativity, HER2 positivity, presence of CD163+ M2 macrophages, and CAIX expression. In univariate analysis, G-CSFhigh phenotype was associated with improved survival in non-luminal cases, although the CAIX+ subset had a significantly adverse prognosis. A significant positive association was observed between immune checkpoint biomarkers on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and both G-CSF- and CAIX-expressing carcinoma cells. Immune checkpoint biomarkers correlated significantly with favourable prognosis in G-CSFhigh/non-luminal cases independent of standard clinicopathological features. Conclusions: The prognostic associations linking G-CSF to immune biomarkers and CAIX strongly support their immunomodulatory roles in the tumour microenvironment.
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19
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Sharma KS, Raju M. S, Goswami D, De A, Phadnis PP, Vatsa RK. pH-(Low)-Insertion Peptide-Assisted Detection and Diagnosis of Cancer Using Zinc Gallate-Based Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Swathi Raju M.
- Molecular Functional Imaging Lab, Tata Memorial Centre, ACTREC, Sector 22, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, India
| | - Dibakar Goswami
- Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Abhijit De
- Molecular Functional Imaging Lab, Tata Memorial Centre, ACTREC, Sector 22, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Prasad P. Phadnis
- Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Rajesh K. Vatsa
- Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India
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20
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pHLIP ICG for delineation of tumors and blood flow during fluorescence-guided surgery. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18356. [PMID: 33110131 PMCID: PMC7591906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75443-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence imaging has seen enduring use in blood flow visualization and is now finding a new range of applications in image-guided surgery. In this paper, we report a translational study of a new fluorescent agent for use in surgery, pHLIP ICG, where ICG (indocyanine green) is a surgical fluorescent dye used widely for imaging blood flow. We studied pHLIP ICG interaction with the cell membrane lipid bilayer, the pharmacology and toxicology in vitro and in vivo (mice and dogs), and the biodistribution and clearance of pHLIP ICG in mice. The pHLIP ICG tumor targeting and imaging efficacy studies were carried out in several murine and human mouse tumor models. Blood vessels were imaged in mice and pigs. Clinical Stryker imaging instruments for endoscopy and open surgery were used in the study. Intravenously administered pHLIP ICG exhibits a multi-hour circulation half-life, offering protracted delineation of vasculature. As it clears from the blood, pHLIP ICG targets tumors and tumor stroma, marking them for surgical removal. pHLIP ICG is non-toxic, marks blood flow for hours after injection, and effectively delineates tumors for improved resection on the day after administration.
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21
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Zhang W, Yu L, Ji T, Wang C. Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Peptide-Based Supramolecular Drug Delivery System. Front Chem 2020; 8:549. [PMID: 32775317 PMCID: PMC7388741 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical and biochemical differences between tumor tissues and normal tissues provide promising triggering factors that can be utilized to engineer stimuli-responsive drug delivery platforms for cancer treatment. Rationally designed peptide-based supramolecular architectures can perform structural conversion by responding to the tumor microenvironment and achieve the controlled release of antitumor drugs. This mini review summarizes recent approaches for designing internal trigger-responsive drug delivery platforms using peptide-based materials. Peptide assemblies that exhibit a stimuli-responsive structural conversion upon acidic pH, high temperature, high oxidative potential, and the overexpressed proteins in tumor tissues are emphatically introduced. We also discuss the challenges of current peptide-based supramolecular delivery platforms against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lanlan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianjiao Ji
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Chenxuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biophysics and Structural Biology, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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22
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Reshetnyak YK, Moshnikova A, Andreev OA, Engelman DM. Targeting Acidic Diseased Tissues by pH-Triggered Membrane-Associated Peptide Folding. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:335. [PMID: 32411684 PMCID: PMC7198868 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The advantages of targeted therapy have motivated many efforts to find distinguishing features between the molecular cell surface landscapes of diseased and normal cells. Typically, the features have been proteins, lipids or carbohydrates, but other approaches are emerging. In this discussion, we examine the use of cell surface acidity as a feature that can be exploited by using pH-sensitive peptide folding to target agents to diseased cell surfaces or cytoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana K Reshetnyak
- Department of Physics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Department of Physics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Department of Physics, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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23
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Ward C, Meehan J, Gray ME, Murray AF, Argyle DJ, Kunkler IH, Langdon SP. The impact of tumour pH on cancer progression: strategies for clinical intervention. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2020; 1:71-100. [PMID: 36046070 PMCID: PMC9400736 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2020.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of cellular pH is frequent in solid tumours and provides potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The acidic microenvironment within a tumour can promote migration, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells through a variety of mechanisms. Pathways associated with the control of intracellular pH that are under consideration for intervention include carbonic anhydrase IX, the monocarboxylate transporters (MCT, MCT1 and MCT4), the vacuolar-type H+-ATPase proton pump, and the sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1. This review will describe progress in the development of inhibitors to these targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Ward
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre and Edinburgh Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, EH4 2XU Edinburgh, UK
| | - James Meehan
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre and Edinburgh Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, EH4 2XU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark E Gray
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG Midlothian, UK
| | - Alan F Murray
- School of Engineering, Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems, EH9 3JL Edinburgh, UK
| | - David J Argyle
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG Midlothian, UK
| | - Ian H Kunkler
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre and Edinburgh Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, EH4 2XU Edinburgh, UK
| | - Simon P Langdon
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre and Edinburgh Pathology, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, EH4 2XU Edinburgh, UK
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24
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Wehr J, Sikorski EL, Bloch E, Feigman MS, Ferraro NJ, Baybutt TR, Snook AE, Pires MM, Thévenin D. pH-Dependent Grafting of Cancer Cells with Antigenic Epitopes Promotes Selective Antibody-Mediated Cytotoxicity. J Med Chem 2020; 63:3713-3722. [PMID: 32196345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A growing class of immunotherapeutics work by redirecting components of the immune system to recognize markers on the surface of cancer cells. However, such modalities will remain confined to a relatively small subgroup of patients because of the lack of universal targetable tumor biomarkers among all patients. Here, we designed a unique class of agents that exploit the inherent acidity of solid tumors to selectively graft cancer cells with immuno-engager epitopes. Our targeting approach is based on pHLIP, a unique peptide that selectively targets tumors in vivo by anchoring to cancer cell surfaces in a pH-dependent manner. We established that pHLIP-antigen conjugates trigger the recruitment of antibodies to the surface of cancer cells and induce cytotoxicity by peripheral blood mononuclear and engineered NK cells. These results indicate that these agents have the potential to be applicable to treating a wide range of solid tumors and to circumvent problems associated with narrow windows of selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janessa Wehr
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Eden L Sikorski
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Elizabeth Bloch
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Mary S Feigman
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
| | - Noel J Ferraro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Trevor R Baybutt
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Adam E Snook
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
| | - Marcos M Pires
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Damien Thévenin
- Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, United States
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25
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Cellular and Extracellular Components in Tumor Microenvironment and Their Application in Early Diagnosis of Cancers. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) 2020; 2020:6283796. [PMID: 32377504 PMCID: PMC7199555 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6283796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors are surrounded by complex environmental components, including blood and lymph vessels, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, cytokines, extracellular vesicles, and extracellular matrix. All the stromal components together with the tumor cells form the tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, extracellular physical and chemical factors, including extracellular pH, hypoxia, elevated interstitial fluid pressure, and fibrosis, are closely associated with tumor progression, metastasis, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. Cellular and extracellular components in TME contribute to nearly all procedures of carcinogenesis. By summarizing the recent work in this field, we make a comprehensive review on the role of cellular and extracellular components in the process of carcinogenesis and their potential application in early diagnosis of cancer. We hope that a systematic review of the diverse aspects of TME will help both research scientists and clinicians in this field.
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Zhang K, Lin H, Mao J, Luo X, Wei R, Su Z, Zhou B, Li D, Gao J, Shan H. An extracellular pH-driven targeted multifunctional manganese arsenite delivery system for tumor imaging and therapy. Biomater Sci 2019; 7:2480-2490. [PMID: 30957825 DOI: 10.1039/c9bm00216b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Expanding the use of arsenic trioxide (ATO, As2O3) in cancer chemotherapy has received extensive attention in recent years owing to its remarkable efficacy in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). To date, the use of ATO for clinical treatment of solid tumors is still limited by its poor biocompatibility and severe toxic side effects. To address these limitations, here we developed a pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) modified ATO-based multifunctional drug-delivery system (DDS), which is termed MnAs@SiO2-pHLIP. With the coating of pHLIP, MnAs@SiO2-pHLIP could efficiently target the acidic tumor microenvironment, resulting in high intracellular accumulation of the DDS. As a "smart" nanoparticle (NP) platform, the DDS could controllably discharge the loaded ATO in response to acidic environments, which promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells. The features of controlled release capacity and the outstanding targeting ability contribute to better anticancer efficacy and less toxicity towards normal tissues compared with free ATO. It is worth noting that the acidic tumor microenvironment would also trigger the release of manganese ions (Mn2+) that brighten the T1 signal, which is exploited for real-time monitoring via contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These multifunctional features, as demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments, could potentially expand the use of ATO to the treatment of solid tumors. We believe that MnAs@SiO2-pHLIP could serve as an auspicious agent for cancer theranostics and find tremendous applications in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- Center for Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
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27
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Rao BD, Chakraborty H, Chaudhuri A, Chattopadhyay A. Differential sensitivity of pHLIP to ester and ether lipids. Chem Phys Lipids 2019; 226:104849. [PMID: 31836521 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2019.104849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) is a polypeptide from the third transmembrane helix of bacteriorhodopsin. The pH-dependent membrane insertion of pHLIP has been conveniently exploited for translocation of cargo molecules and as a novel imaging agent in cancer biology due to low extracellular pH in cancer tissues. Although the application of pHLIP for imaging tumor and targeted drug delivery is well studied, literature on pHLIP-membrane interaction is relatively less studied. Keeping this in mind, we explored the differential interaction of pHLIP with ester and ether lipid membranes utilizing fluorescence and CD spectroscopy. We report, for the first time, higher binding affinity of pHLIP toward ether lipid relative to ester lipid membranes. There results gain relevance since Halobacterium halobium (source of bacteriorhodopsin) is enriched with ether lipids. In addition, we monitored the difference in microenvironment around pHLIP tryptophans utilizing red edge excitation shift and observed increased motional restriction of water molecules in the interfacial region in ether lipid membranes. These changes were accompanied with increase in helicity of pHLIP in ether lipid relative to ester lipid membranes. Our results assume further relevance since ether lipids are upregulated in cancer cells and have emerged as potential biomarkers of various diseases including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhagyashree D Rao
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India; CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
| | - Hirak Chakraborty
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India; School of Chemistry, Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla, Odisha, 768 019, India
| | - Arunima Chaudhuri
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India
| | - Amitabha Chattopadhyay
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201 002, India.
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28
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Leithner D, Horvat JV, Bernard-Davila B, Helbich TH, Ochoa-Albiztegui RE, Martinez DF, Zhang M, Thakur SB, Wengert GJ, Staudenherz A, Jochelson MS, Morris EA, Baltzer PAT, Clauser P, Kapetas P, Pinker K. A multiparametric [ 18F]FDG PET/MRI diagnostic model including imaging biomarkers of the tumor and contralateral healthy breast tissue aids breast cancer diagnosis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2019; 46:1878-1888. [PMID: 31197455 PMCID: PMC6647078 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-019-04331-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To develop a multiparametric [18F]FDG positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) model for breast cancer diagnosis incorporating imaging biomarkers of breast tumors and contralateral healthy breast tissue. Methods In this prospective study and retrospective data analysis, 141 patients (mean 57 years) with an imaging abnormality detected on mammography and/or ultrasound (BI-RADS 4/5) underwent combined multiparametric [18F]FDG PET/MRI with PET/computed tomography and multiparametric MRI of the breast at 3 T. Images were evaluated and the following were recorded: for the tumor, BI-RADS descriptors on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI, mean apparent diffusion co-efficient (ADCmean) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) on [18F]FDG-PET; and for the contralateral healthy breast, background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) and amount of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) on DCE-MRI, ADCmean on DWI, and SUVmax. Histopathology served as standard of reference. Uni-, bi-, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between malignancy and imaging features. Predictive discrimination of benign and malignant breast lesions was examined using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results There were 100 malignant and 41 benign lesions (size: median 1.9, range 0.5–10 cm). The multivariate regression model incorporating significant univariate predictors identified tumor enhancement kinetics (P = 0.0003), tumor ADCmean (P < 0.001), and BPE of the contralateral healthy breast (P = 0.0019) as independent predictors for breast cancer diagnosis. Other biomarkers did not reach significance. Combination of the three significant biomarkers achieved an AUC value of 0.98 for breast cancer diagnosis. Conclusion A multiparametric [18F]FDG PET/MRI diagnostic model incorporating both qualitative and quantitative parameters of the tumor and the healthy contralateral tissue aids breast cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doris Leithner
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Joao V Horvat
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Blanca Bernard-Davila
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas H Helbich
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Elena Ochoa-Albiztegui
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Danny F Martinez
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Michelle Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sunitha B Thakur
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Georg J Wengert
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anton Staudenherz
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maxine S Jochelson
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Morris
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Pascal A T Baltzer
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paola Clauser
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Panagiotis Kapetas
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katja Pinker
- Department of Radiology, Breast Imaging Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Molecular and Gender Imaging, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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29
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Roberts S, Strome A, Choi C, Andreou C, Kossatz S, Brand C, Williams T, Bradbury M, Kircher MF, Reshetnyak YK, Grimm J, Lewis JS, Reiner T. Acid specific dark quencher QC1 pHLIP for multi-spectral optoacoustic diagnoses of breast cancer. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8550. [PMID: 31189972 PMCID: PMC6561946 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44873-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of malignant growth in women. Early detection of breast cancer, as well as the identification of possible metastatic spread poses a significant challenge because of the structural and genetic heterogeneity that occurs during the progression of the disease. Currently, mammographies, biopsies and MRI scans are the standard of care techniques used for breast cancer diagnosis, all of which have their individual shortfalls, especially when it comes to discriminating tumors and benign growths. With this in mind, we have developed a non-invasive optoacoustic imaging strategy that targets the acidic environment of breast cancer. A pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) was conjugated to the dark quencher QC1, yielding a non-fluorescent sonophore with high extinction coefficient in the near infrared that increases signal as a function of increasing amounts of membrane insertion. In an orthotopic murine breast cancer model, pHLIP-targeted optoacoustic imaging allowed us to differentiate between healthy and breast cancer tissues with high signal/noise ratios. In vivo, the sonophore QC1-pHLIP could detect malignancies at higher contrast than its fluorescent analog ICG-pHLIP, which was developed for fluorescence-guided surgical applications. PHLIP-type optoacoustic imaging agents in clinical settings are attractive due to their ability to target breast cancer and a wide variety of other malignant growths for diagnostic purposes. Intuitively, these agents could also be used for visualization during surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl Roberts
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Arianna Strome
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Crystal Choi
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Chrysafis Andreou
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Susanne Kossatz
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Christian Brand
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Travis Williams
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Michelle Bradbury
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Moritz F Kircher
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Center for Molecular Imaging and Nanotechnology (CMINT), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yana K Reshetnyak
- Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Rd, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jan Grimm
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probes Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Reiner
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA. .,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10065, USA. .,Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, 10065, United States.
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30
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Rohani N, Hao L, Alexis MS, Joughin BA, Krismer K, Moufarrej MN, Soltis AR, Lauffenburger DA, Yaffe MB, Burge CB, Bhatia SN, Gertler FB. Acidification of Tumor at Stromal Boundaries Drives Transcriptome Alterations Associated with Aggressive Phenotypes. Cancer Res 2019; 79:1952-1966. [PMID: 30755444 PMCID: PMC6467770 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Acidosis is a fundamental feature of the tumor microenvironment, which directly regulates tumor cell invasion by affecting immune cell function, clonal cell evolution, and drug resistance. Despite the important association of tumor microenvironment acidosis with tumor cell invasion, relatively little is known regarding which areas within a tumor are acidic and how acidosis influences gene expression to promote invasion. Here, we injected a labeled pH-responsive peptide to mark acidic regions within tumors. Surprisingly, acidic regions were not restricted to hypoxic areas and overlapped with highly proliferative, invasive regions at the tumor-stroma interface, which were marked by increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases and degradation of the basement membrane. RNA-seq analysis of cells exposed to low pH conditions revealed a general rewiring of the transcriptome that involved RNA splicing and enriched for targets of RNA binding proteins with specificity for AU-rich motifs. Alternative splicing of Mena and CD44, which play important isoform-specific roles in metastasis and drug resistance, respectively, was sensitive to histone acetylation status. Strikingly, this program of alternative splicing was reversed in vitro and in vivo through neutralization experiments that mitigated acidic conditions. These findings highlight a previously underappreciated role for localized acidification of tumor microenvironment in the expression of an alternative splicing-dependent tumor invasion program. SIGNIFICANCE: This study expands our understanding of acidosis within the tumor microenvironment and indicates that acidosis induces potentially therapeutically actionable changes to alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Rohani
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| | - Liangliang Hao
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Maria S Alexis
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Brian A Joughin
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Konstantin Krismer
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Mira N Moufarrej
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Anthony R Soltis
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Michael B Yaffe
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Sangeeta N Bhatia
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Frank B Gertler
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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31
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Ji T, Lang J, Ning B, Qi F, Wang H, Zhang Y, Zhao R, Yang X, Zhang L, Li W, Shi X, Qin Z, Zhao Y, Nie G. Enhanced Natural Killer Cell Immunotherapy by Rationally Assembling Fc Fragments of Antibodies onto Tumor Membranes. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1804395. [PMID: 30549110 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have exploited the efficient potential of natural killer (NK) cells to kill tumor cells through antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, this therapeutic strategy is seriously limited by tumor antigen heterogeneity since antibodies can only recognize specific antigens. In this work, modified antibodies or their Fc fragments that can target solid tumors without the necessity of specific antigen presentation on tumors are developed. Briefly, Fc fragments or therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are conjugated with the N-terminus of pH low insertion peptide so that they will selectively assemble onto the membrane of solid tumor cells via the conformational transformation of the peptide by responding to the acidic tumor microenvironment. The inserted Fc fragments or antibodies can efficiently activate NK cells, initiating ADCC and killing multiple types of tumor cells, including antigen-negative cancer cells. In vivo therapeutic results also exhibit significant efficacy on both primary solid tumors and tumor metastasis. These modified Fc fragments and antibodies present strong potential to overcome the limitation of tumor antigen heterogeneity, broadening the applications of NK cell immunotherapy on solid tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjiao Ji
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiayan Lang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research/Sino-Danish College of UCAS, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Bo Ning
- Center for Molecular Design and Biomimetics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Feifei Qi
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hui Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchy Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yinlong Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ruifang Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lijing Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Li
- International Joint Cancer Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xinghua Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchy Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zhihai Qin
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), 11 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, China
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32
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Mahmood AA, Zhang J, Liao R, Pan X, Xu D, Xu H, Zhou Q. Evaluation of non-targeting, C- or N-pH (low) insertion peptide modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoclusters for selective MRI of liver tumors and their potential toxicity in cirrhosis. RSC Adv 2019; 9:14051-14059. [PMID: 35519327 PMCID: PMC9064030 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra02430a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoclusters (SPIONs) modified with pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP) could be advantageous for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis of liver tumors at the early stage due to their unique responsiveness to the tumor acidic microenvironment when tumor markers are unknown. However, many critical aspects including the effectiveness of selective MRI in liver tumors, types of delivery and the potential safety profile in cirrhosis need to be fully evaluated. In this study, we report the evaluation of non-targeting, C- or N-pHLIP modified SPIONs as the contrast agent for selective MRI of liver tumors and their potential toxicity profile in cirrhosis. It was found that N-pHLIP modified SPIONs did not result in the loss of liver tumor in the T2-weight MRI but provided additional dynamic details of tumor structures that would enhance the diagnosis of liver tumors at a small size below 8 mm. In addition, an enhanced safety profile was found for N-pHLIP modified SPIONs with almost fully recoverable impact in cirrhosis. In contrast, the poly-d-lysine assembled SPIONs and C-terminus linked pHLIP SPIONs had non-tumor specific MRI contrast enhancement and potential safety risks in cirrhosis due to the iron overload post injection. All these results implied the promising potential of N-terminus linked pHLIP SPIONs as an MRI contrast agent for the diagnosis of liver tumors. The acid-responsive pHLIP modified SPION as an MRI contrast agent for liver cancer diagnosis requires the validation of both the tumor-specific enhancement and a safe profile in cirrhosis.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman Ahmed Mahmood
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals
- College of Life Science and Technology
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Wuhan 430074
| | - Jianqi Zhang
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals
- College of Life Science and Technology
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Wuhan 430074
| | - Rufang Liao
- Department of Radiology
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
- Wuhan 430071
- China
| | - Xiwei Pan
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals
- College of Life Science and Technology
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Wuhan 430074
| | - Dan Xu
- Department of Radiology
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
- Wuhan 430071
- China
| | - Haibo Xu
- Department of Radiology
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University
- Wuhan 430071
- China
| | - Qibing Zhou
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals
- College of Life Science and Technology
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Wuhan 430074
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33
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Kalaydina RV, Bajwa K, Qorri B, Decarlo A, Szewczuk MR. Recent advances in "smart" delivery systems for extended drug release in cancer therapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2018; 13:4727-4745. [PMID: 30154657 PMCID: PMC6108334 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s168053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in nanomedicine have become indispensable for targeted drug delivery, early detection, and increasingly personalized approaches to cancer treatment. Nanoparticle-based drug-delivery systems have overcome some of the limitations associated with traditional cancer-therapy administration, such as reduced drug solubility, chemoresistance, systemic toxicity, narrow therapeutic indices, and poor oral bioavailability. Advances in the field of nanomedicine include “smart” drug delivery, or multiple levels of targeting, and extended-release drug-delivery systems that provide additional methods of overcoming these limitations. More recently, the idea of combining smart drug delivery with extended-release has emerged in hopes of developing highly efficient nanoparticles with improved delivery, bioavailability, and safety profiles. Although functionalized and extended-release drug-delivery systems have been studied extensively, there remain gaps in the literature concerning their application in cancer treatment. We aim to provide an overview of smart and extended-release drug-delivery systems for the delivery of cancer therapies, as well as to introduce innovative advancements in nanoparticle design incorporating these principles. With the growing need for increasingly personalized medicine in cancer treatment, smart extended-release nanoparticles have the potential to enhance chemotherapy delivery, patient adherence, and treatment outcomes in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Komal Bajwa
- Postgraduate Medical Education, Graduate Diploma and Professional Master in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen's University
| | - Bessi Qorri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University,
| | | | - Myron R Szewczuk
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University,
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Wyatt LC, Moshnikova A, Crawford T, Engelman DM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Peptides of pHLIP family for targeted intracellular and extracellular delivery of cargo molecules to tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E2811-E2818. [PMID: 29507241 PMCID: PMC5866553 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1715350115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIPs) target acidity at the surfaces of cancer cells and show utility in a wide range of applications, including tumor imaging and intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents. Here we report pHLIP constructs that significantly improve the targeted delivery of agents into tumor cells. The investigated constructs include pHLIP bundles (conjugates consisting of two or four pHLIP peptides linked by polyethylene glycol) and Var3 pHLIPs containing either the nonstandard amino acid, γ-carboxyglutamic acid, or a glycine-leucine-leucine motif. The performance of the constructs in vitro and in vivo was compared with previous pHLIP variants. A wide range of experiments was performed on nine constructs including (i) biophysical measurements using steady-state and kinetic fluorescence, circular dichroism, and oriented circular dichroism to study the pH-dependent insertion of pHLIP variants across the membrane lipid bilayer; (ii) cell viability assays to gauge the pH-dependent potency of peptide-toxin constructs by assessing the intracellular delivery of the polar, cell-impermeable cargo molecule amanitin at physiological and low pH (pH 7.4 and 6.0, respectively); and (iii) tumor targeting and biodistribution measurements using fluorophore-peptide conjugates in a breast cancer mouse model. The main principles of the design of pHLIP variants for a range of medical applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linden C Wyatt
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Troy Crawford
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881;
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Kydd J, Jadia R, Velpurisiva P, Gad A, Paliwal S, Rai P. Targeting Strategies for the Combination Treatment of Cancer Using Drug Delivery Systems. Pharmaceutics 2017; 9:E46. [PMID: 29036899 PMCID: PMC5750652 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics9040046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells have characteristics of acquired and intrinsic resistances to chemotherapy treatment-due to the hostile tumor microenvironment-that create a significant challenge for effective therapeutic regimens. Multidrug resistance, collateral toxicity to normal cells, and detrimental systemic side effects present significant obstacles, necessitating alternative and safer treatment strategies. Traditional administration of chemotherapeutics has demonstrated minimal success due to the non-specificity of action, uptake and rapid clearance by the immune system, and subsequent metabolic alteration and poor tumor penetration. Nanomedicine can provide a more effective approach to targeting cancer by focusing on the vascular, tissue, and cellular characteristics that are unique to solid tumors. Targeted methods of treatment using nanoparticles can decrease the likelihood of resistant clonal populations of cancerous cells. Dual encapsulation of chemotherapeutic drug allows simultaneous targeting of more than one characteristic of the tumor. Several first-generation, non-targeted nanomedicines have received clinical approval starting with Doxil® in 1995. However, more than two decades later, second-generation or targeted nanomedicines have yet to be approved for treatment despite promising results in pre-clinical studies. This review highlights recent studies using targeted nanoparticles for cancer treatment focusing on approaches that target either the tumor vasculature (referred to as 'vascular targeting'), the tumor microenvironment ('tissue targeting') or the individual cancer cells ('cellular targeting'). Recent studies combining these different targeting methods are also discussed in this review. Finally, this review summarizes some of the reasons for the lack of clinical success in the field of targeted nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janel Kydd
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
| | - Rahul Jadia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
| | - Praveena Velpurisiva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
| | - Aniket Gad
- Confocal Imaging Core, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| | - Shailee Paliwal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
| | - Prakash Rai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Ave, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
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Adochite RC, Moshnikova A, Golijanin J, Andreev OA, Katenka NV, Reshetnyak YK. Comparative Study of Tumor Targeting and Biodistribution of pH (Low) Insertion Peptides (pHLIP(®) Peptides) Conjugated with Different Fluorescent Dyes. Mol Imaging Biol 2017; 18:686-96. [PMID: 27074841 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-016-0949-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Acidification of extracellular space promotes tumor development, progression, and invasiveness. pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIP(®) peptides) belong to the class of pH-sensitive membrane peptides, which target acidic tumors and deliver imaging and/or therapeutic agents to cancer cells within tumors. PROCEDURES Ex vivo fluorescent imaging of tissue and organs collected at various time points after administration of different pHLIP(®) variants conjugated with fluorescent dyes of various polarity was performed. Methods of multivariate statistical analyses were employed to establish classification between fluorescently labeled pHLIP(®) variants in multidimensional space of spectral parameters. RESULTS The fluorescently labeled pHLIP(®) variants were classified based on their biodistribution profile and ability of targeting of primary tumors. Also, submillimeter-sized metastatic lesions in lungs were identified by ex vivo imaging after intravenous administration of fluorescent pHLIP(®) peptide. CONCLUSIONS Different cargo molecules conjugated with pHLIP(®) peptides can alter biodistribution and tumor targeting. The obtained knowledge is essential for the design of novel pHLIP(®)-based diagnostic and therapeutic agents targeting primary tumors and metastatic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Moshnikova
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jovana Golijanin
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Natallia V Katenka
- Department of Computer Sciences and Statistics, University of Rhode Island, 9 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Yana K Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA.
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Wei Y, Liao R, Mahmood AA, Xu H, Zhou Q. pH-responsive pHLIP (pH low insertion peptide) nanoclusters of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a tumor-selective MRI contrast agent. Acta Biomater 2017; 55:194-203. [PMID: 28363789 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) are contrast agents used for noninvasive tumor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). SPION with active targeting by tumor-specific ligands can effectively enhance the MRI sensitivity and specificity of tumors. However, the challenge remains when the tumor specific markers are yet to be determined, especially in the case of early tumor detection. In this study, the effectiveness of pH-responsive SPION via a pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) to target tumor acidic microenvironments was investigated. Polylysine polymers were first successfully modified with pHLIP to have the pH-responsive capability. SPION pHLIP nanoclusters of 64, 82, 103, and 121nm size were then assembled by the pH-responsive polymers in a size-controlled manner. The pH-responsive SPION nanoclusters of the 64nm size exhibited the most effective pH-responsive retention in cells and tumor selective imaging in MRI. More importantly, the unique contrast enhancement of tumor inner core by the pH-responsive SPION in three different tumor models demonstrated the clinical potential to target tumor acidic microenvironment through pHLIP for tumor early detection and diagnosis by MRI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Detection and diagnosis of tumors at early stage are critical for the improvement of the survival rate of cancer patients. However, the challenge remains when the tumor specific markers are yet to be determined, especially in early tumor detection. pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) has been used as a specific ligand to target the tumor acidic microenvironment for tumors at early and metastatic stages. Superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles (SPION) are contrast enhancing agents used in the noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging for tumors. This research has demonstrated that pH-responsive pHLIP nanoclusters of SPION were able to target different tumors and facilitate the noninvasive diagnosis of tumors by MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yushuang Wei
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals, National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Rufang Liao
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Abdulrahman Ahmed Mahmood
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals, National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Haibo Xu
- Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Qibing Zhou
- Department of Nanomedicine & Biopharmaceuticals, National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
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Applications of pHLIP Technology for Cancer Imaging and Therapy. Trends Biotechnol 2017; 35:653-664. [PMID: 28438340 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acidity is a biomarker of cancer that is not subject to the blunting clonal selection effects that reduce the efficacy of other biomarker technologies, such as antibody targeting. The pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIP®s) provide new opportunities for targeting acidic tissues. Through the physical mechanism of membrane-associated folding, pHLIPs are triggered by the acidic microenvironment to insert and span the membranes of tumor cells. The pHLIP platform can be applied to imaging acidic tissues, delivering cell-permeable and impermeable molecules to the cytoplasm, and promoting the cellular uptake of nanoparticles. Since acidosis is a hallmark of tumor development, progression, and aggressiveness, the pHLIP technology may prove useful in targeting cancer cells and metastases for tumor diagnosis, imaging, and therapy.
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Daniels JL, Crawford TM, Andreev OA, Reshetnyak YK. Synthesis and characterization of pHLIP ® coated gold nanoparticles. Biochem Biophys Rep 2017; 10:62-69. [PMID: 28955736 PMCID: PMC5614664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 02/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel approaches in synthesis of spherical and multispiked gold nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP®) were introduced. The presence of a tumor-targeting pHLIP® peptide in the nanoparticle coating enhances the stability of particles in solution and promotes a pH-dependent cellular uptake. The spherical particles were prepared with sodium citrate as a gold reducing agent to form particles of 7.0±2.5 nm in mean metallic core diameter and ∼43 nm in mean hydrodynamic diameter. The particles that were injected into tumors in mice (21 µg of gold) were homogeneously distributed within a tumor mass with no staining of the muscle tissue adjacent to the tumor. Up to 30% of the injected gold dose remained within the tumor one hour post-injection. The multispiked gold nanoparticles with a mean metallic core diameter of 146.0±50.4 nm and a mean hydrodynamic size of ~161 nm were prepared using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and disk-like bicelles as a template. Only the presence of a soft template, like bicelles, ensured the appearance of spiked nanoparticles with resonance in the near infrared region. The irradiation of spiked gold nanoparticles by an 805 nm laser led to the time- and concentration-dependent increase of temperature. Both pHLIP® and PEG coated gold spherical and multispiked nanoparticles might find application in radiation and thermal therapies of tumors. pHLIP®-PEG coated pH-sensitive gold spherical nanoparticles were synthesized. 30% of the injected gold dose remained within the tumor one hour post-injection. pHLIP®-PEG coated pH-sensitive gold multispiked nanoparticles were synthesized. Bicelles were used as a soft template to obtain multispiked nanoparticles. Temperature increases after 805 nm irradiation of spiked gold nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Daniels
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Rd., Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Troy M Crawford
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Rd., Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Rd., Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Yana K Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lippitt Rd., Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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Kirkpatrick CL, Broberg CA, McCool EN, Lee WJ, Chao A, McConnell EW, Pritchard DA, Hebert M, Fleeman R, Adams J, Jamil A, Madera L, Strömstedt AA, Göransson U, Liu Y, Hoskin DW, Shaw LN, Hicks LM. The "PepSAVI-MS" Pipeline for Natural Product Bioactive Peptide Discovery. Anal Chem 2017; 89:1194-1201. [PMID: 27991763 PMCID: PMC8609470 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b03625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The recent increase in extensively drug-resistant bacterial pathogens and the associated increase of morbidity and mortality demonstrate the immediate need for new antibiotic backbones with novel mechanisms of action. Here, we report the development of the PepSAVI-MS pipeline for bioactive peptide discovery. This highly versatile platform employs mass spectrometry and statistics to identify bioactive peptide targets from complex biological samples. We validate the use of this platform through the successful identification of known bioactive peptides from a botanical species, Viola odorata. Using this pipeline, we have widened the known antimicrobial spectrum for V. odorata cyclotides, including antibacterial activity of cycloviolacin O2 against A. baumannii. We further demonstrate the broad applicability of the platform through the identification of novel anticancer activities for cycloviolacins by their cytotoxicity against ovarian, breast, and prostate cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elijah N. McCool
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Woo Jean Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Alex Chao
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Evan W. McConnell
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - David A. Pritchard
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Michael Hebert
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Renee Fleeman
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Jessie Adams
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Amer Jamil
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Laurence Madera
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
| | - Adam A. Strömstedt
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Göransson
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yufeng Liu
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Department of Genetics, Department of Biostatistics, and Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - David W. Hoskin
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
| | - Lindsey N. Shaw
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Leslie M. Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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Abadjian MCZ, Edwards WB, Anderson CJ. Imaging the Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1036:229-257. [PMID: 29275475 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67577-0_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment consists of tumor, stromal, and immune cells, as well as extracellular milieu. Changes in numbers of these cell types and their environments have an impact on cancer growth and metastasis. Non-invasive imaging of aspects of the tumor microenvironment can provide important information on the aggressiveness of the cancer, whether or not it is metastatic, and can also help to determine early response to treatment. This chapter provides an overview on non-invasive in vivo imaging in humans and mouse models of various cell types and physiological parameters that are unique to the tumor microenvironment. Current clinical imaging and research investigation are in the areas of nuclear imaging (positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical (near infrared (NIR) fluorescence) imaging. Aspects of the tumor microenvironment that have been imaged by PET, MRI and/or optical imaging are tumor associated inflammation (primarily macrophages and T cells), hypoxia, pH changes, as well as enzymes and integrins that are highly prevalent in tumors, stroma and immune cells. Many imaging agents and strategies are currently available for cancer patients; however, the investigation of novel avenues for targeting aspects of the tumor microenvironment in pre-clinical models of cancer provides the cancer researcher with a means to monitor changes and evaluate novel treatments that can be translated into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - W Barry Edwards
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carolyn J Anderson
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Zhang H, Chen Q, Zhang X, Zhu X, Chen J, Zhang H, Hou L, Zhang Z. An Intelligent and Tumor-Responsive Fe 2+ Donor and Fe 2+-Dependent Drugs Cotransport System. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:33484-33498. [PMID: 27960409 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b11839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Fe2+ plays an essential role for artemisinin (ART)-based drugs in anticancer therapy. As a result, it is important to realize these two agents' cotransport for improving antitumor efficacy. We utilized a kind of alternating magnetic field (AMF) and tumor-responsive material-mesoporous Fe3O4 (mFe3O4)-to encapsulate ART. After that, the outer surface of mFe3O4 was capped with multifunctional hyaluronic acid (HA), which was used not only as a smart gatekeeper but also as a tumor targeting moiety. In vitro and in vivo studies proved that ART can be encapsulated in HA-mFe3O4 and protected by HA coating which could effectively avoid premature release during in vivo circulation. HA-mFe3O4/ART could be taken up by MCF-7 tumor cells via CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis and locate at acidic lysosome. Subsequently, "HA gate" could be degraded by acidity and hyaluronidase. Then this system synchronously released Fe2+ and ART at the same site. Fe2+ can nonenzymatically convert ART to ROS for killing cancer cells. Under AMF irradiation, HA-mFe3O4 could not only effectively convert electromagnetic wave into heat for tumor thermal therapy but also generate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for tumor dynamic therapy. These results demonstrated that the antitumor efficacy of HA-mFe3O4/ART in vivo significantly enhanced 3.7 times compared with free ART. Combining with AMF, it further improved 3.9 times (V/V0 of 0.11), suggesting the successful combined application of HA-mFe3O4/ART and AMF for tumor treatment. It is believed that HA-mFe3O4/ART is a promising system for Fe2+-dependent drugs to improve their therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoge Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xing Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jianjiao Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongling Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lin Hou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhenzhong Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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Targeted imaging of urothelium carcinoma in human bladders by an ICG pHLIP peptide ex vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:11829-11834. [PMID: 27688767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1610472113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is the fifth most common in incidence and one of the most expensive cancers to treat. Early detection greatly improves the chances of survival and bladder preservation. The pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) conjugated with a near-infrared fluorescent dye [indocyanine green (ICG)] targets low extracellular pH, allowing visualization of malignant lesions in human bladder carcinoma ex vivo. Cystectomy specimens obtained after radical surgery were immediately irrigated with nonbuffered saline and instilled with a solution of the ICG pHLIP construct, incubated, and rinsed. Bladders were subsequently opened and imaged, the fluorescent spots were marked, and a standard pathological analysis was carried out to establish the correlation between ICG pHLIP imaging and white light pathological assessment. Accurate targeting of bladder lesions was achieved with a sensitivity of 97%. Specificity is 100%, but reduced to 80% if targeting of necrotic tissue from previous transurethral resections or chemotherapy are considered as false positives. The ICG pHLIP imaging agent marked high-grade urothelial carcinomas, both muscle invasive and nonmuscle invasive. Carcinoma in situ was accurately diagnosed in 11 cases, whereas only four cases were seen using white light, so imaging with the ICG pHLIP peptide offers improved early diagnosis of bladder cancers and may also enable new treatment alternatives.
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Silva VL, Ferreira D, Nobrega FL, Martins IM, Kluskens LD, Rodrigues LR. Selection of Novel Peptides Homing the 4T1 CELL Line: Exploring Alternative Targets for Triple Negative Breast Cancer. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161290. [PMID: 27548261 PMCID: PMC4993384 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of bacteriophages to select novel ligands has been widely explored for cancer therapy. Their application is most warranted in cancer subtypes lacking knowledge on how to target the cancer cells in question, such as the triple negative breast cancer, eventually leading to the development of alternative nanomedicines for cancer therapeutics. Therefore, the following study aimed to select and characterize novel peptides for a triple negative breast cancer murine mammary carcinoma cell line– 4T1. Using phage display, 7 and 12 amino acid random peptide libraries were screened against the 4T1 cell line. A total of four rounds, plus a counter-selection round using the 3T3 murine fibroblast cell line, was performed. The enriched selective peptides were characterized and their binding capacity towards 4T1 tissue samples was confirmed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis. The selected peptides (4T1pep1 –CPTASNTSC and 4T1pep2—EVQSSKFPAHVS) were enriched over few rounds of selection and exhibited specific binding to the 4T1 cell line. Interestingly, affinity to the human MDA-MB-231 cell line was also observed for both peptides, promoting the translational application of these novel ligands between species. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis suggested that both peptides target human Mucin-16. This protein has been implicated in different types of cancer, as it is involved in many important cellular functions. This study strongly supports the need of finding alternative targeting systems for TNBC and the peptides herein selected exhibit promising future application as novel homing peptides for breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera L. Silva
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Debora Ferreira
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Franklin L. Nobrega
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ivone M. Martins
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Leon D. Kluskens
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ligia R. Rodrigues
- CEB—Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
We have developed a way to measure cell surface pH by positioning a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, seminaphtharhodafluor (SNARF), conjugated to the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP). It has been observed that many diseased tissues are acidic and that tumors are especially so. A combination of effects acidifies tumor cell interiors, and cells pump out lactic acid and protons to maintain intracellular pH, acidifying the extracellular space. Overexpression of carbonic anhydrases on cell surfaces further contributes to acidification. Thus, the pH near tumor cell surfaces is expected to be low and to increase with distance from the membrane, so bulk pH measurements will not report surface acidity. Our new surface pH-measurement tool was validated in cancer cells grown in spheroids, in mouse tumor models in vivo, and in excised tumors. We found that the surface pH is sensitive to cell glycolytic activity: the pH decreases in high glucose and increases if glucose is replaced with nonmetabolized deoxyglucose. For highly metastatic cancer cells, the pH measured at the surface was 6.7-6.8, when the surrounding external pH was 7.4. The approach is sensitive enough to detect 0.2-0.3 pH unit changes in vivo in tumors induced by i.p. injection of glucose. The pH at the surfaces of highly metastatic cells within tumors was found to be about 6.1-6.4, whereas in nonmetastatic tumors, it was 6.7-6.9, possibly creating a way to distinguish more aggressive from less aggressive tumors. Other biological roles of surface acidity may be found, now that targeted measurements are possible.
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46
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pH-Selective Cytotoxicity of pHLIP-Antimicrobial Peptide Conjugates. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28465. [PMID: 27334357 PMCID: PMC4917822 DOI: 10.1038/srep28465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Positively charged antimicrobial peptides have become promising agents for the treatment of cancer by inducing apoptosis though their preferential binding and disruption of negatively charged membranes, such as the mitochondrial membrane. (KLAKLAK)2 is such a peptide but due to its polarity, it cannot cross the cellular membrane and therefore relies on the use of a delivery agent. For targeted delivery, previous studies have relied on cell penetrating peptides, nanoparticles or specific biomarkers. Herein, we investigated the first use of pHLIP to selectively target and directly translocate (KLAKLAK)2 into the cytoplasm of breast cancer cells, based on the acidic tumor micro-environment. With the goal of identifying a lead conjugate with optimized selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells, we analyzed a family of (KLAKLAK)2 analogs with varying size, polarity and charge. We present a highly efficacious pHLIP conjugate that selectively induces concentration- and pH-dependent toxicity in breast cancer cells.
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Moku G, Gulla SK, Nimmu NV, Khalid S, Chaudhuri A. Delivering anti-cancer drugs with endosomal pH-sensitive anti-cancer liposomes. Biomater Sci 2016; 4:627-38. [DOI: 10.1039/c5bm00479a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous prior studies have been reported on the use of pH-sensitive drug carriers such as micelles, liposomes, peptides, polymers, nanoparticles,etc. that are sensitive to the acidic (pH = ∼6.5) microenvironments of tumor tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopikrishna Moku
- Biomaterials Group
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Hyderabad-500 007
- India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
| | - Suresh Kumar Gulla
- Biomaterials Group
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Hyderabad-500 007
- India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
| | - Narendra Varma Nimmu
- D216
- Discovery Lab
- Analytical Chemistry Division
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Hyderabad-500 007
| | - Sara Khalid
- D216
- Discovery Lab
- Analytical Chemistry Division
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Hyderabad-500 007
| | - Arabinda Chaudhuri
- Biomaterials Group
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Hyderabad-500 007
- India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
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Kimbrough CW, Khanal A, Zeiderman M, Khanal BR, Burton NC, McMasters KM, Vickers SM, Grizzle WE, McNally LR. Targeting Acidity in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography Detects pH-Low Insertion Peptide Probes In Vivo. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 21:4576-85. [PMID: 26124201 PMCID: PMC4609270 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND pH-low insertion peptides (pHLIP) can serve as a targeting moiety that enables pH-sensitive probes to detect solid tumors. Using these probes in conjunction with multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) is a promising approach to improve imaging for pancreatic cancer. METHODS A pH-sensitive pHLIP (V7) was conjugated to 750 NIR fluorescent dye and evaluated as a targeted probe for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The pH-insensitive K7 pHLIP served as an untargeted control. Probe binding was assessed in vitro at pH 7.4, 6.8, and 6.6 using human pancreatic cell lines S2VP10 and S2013. Using MSOT, semiquantitative probe accumulation was then assessed in vivo with a murine orthotopic pancreatic adenocarcinoma model. RESULTS In vitro, the V7-750 probe demonstrated significantly higher fluorescence at pH 6.6 compared with pH 7.4 (S2VP10, P = 0.0119; S2013, P = 0.0160), whereas no difference was observed with the K7-750 control (S2VP10, P = 0.8783; S2013, P = 0.921). In the in vivo S2VP10 model, V7-750 probe resulted in 782.5 MSOT a.u. signal compared with 5.3 MSOT a.u. in K7-750 control in tumor (P = 0.0001). Similarly, V7-750 probe signal was 578.3 MSOT a.u. in the S2013 model compared with K7-750 signal at 5.1 MSOT a.u. (P = 0.0005). There was minimal off-target accumulation of the V7-750 probe within the liver or kidney, and probe distribution was confirmed with ex vivo imaging. CONCLUSIONS Compared with pH-insensitive controls, V7-750 pH-sensitive probe specifically targets pancreatic adenocarcinoma and has minimal off-target accumulation. The noninvasive detection of pH-targeted probes by means of MSOT represents a promising modality to improve the detection and monitoring of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Kimbrough
- The Hiram C. Polk Jr, MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Anil Khanal
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Matthew Zeiderman
- The Hiram C. Polk Jr, MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Bigya R Khanal
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | | | - Kelly M McMasters
- The Hiram C. Polk Jr, MD Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | | | | | - Lacey R McNally
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
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Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles for targeting the tumor microenvironment. J Control Release 2015; 219:205-214. [PMID: 26341694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
One of the most challenging and clinically important goals in nanomedicine is to deliver imaging and therapeutic agents to solid tumors. Here we discuss the recent design and development of stimuli-responsive smart nanoparticles for targeting the common attributes of solid tumors such as their acidic and hypoxic microenvironments. This class of stimuli-responsive nanoparticles is inactive during blood circulation and under normal physiological conditions, but is activated by acidic pH, enzymatic up-regulation, or hypoxia once they extravasate into the tumor microenvironment. The nanoparticles are often designed to first "navigate" the body's vascular system, "dock" at the tumor sites, and then "activate" for action inside the tumor interstitial space. They combine the favorable biodistribution and pharmacokinetic properties of nanodelivery vehicles and the rapid diffusion and penetration properties of smaller drug cargos. By targeting the broad tumor habitats rather than tumor-specific receptors, this strategy has the potential to overcome the tumor heterogeneity problem and could be used to design diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles for a broad range of solid tumors.
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Paulus A, Desai P, Carney B, Carlucci G, Reiner T, Brand C, Weber WA. Development of a clickable bimodal fluorescent/PET probe for in vivo imaging. EJNMMI Res 2015; 5:120. [PMID: 26285667 PMCID: PMC4540712 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-015-0120-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fluorescent imaging agents are becoming evermore important in preclinical and clinical research. They do, however, suffer from poor tissue penetration, which makes optical fluorescence imaging incompatible with whole-body imaging techniques. The design of novel bimodal PET active and fluorescent tracers could therefore combine the benefits of optical imaging with radioactively labeled imaging probes. Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of a clickable 18F-labeled fluorescent dye. Methods An azide-modified BODIPY-Fl dye could be successfully radio-labeled with 18F using an 18F/19F exchange reaction of the boron-fluoride core of the BODIPY dye to yield a clickable bimodal PET/fluorescent imaging tool. In vitro as well as in vivo imaging (PET/fluorescence) using a bombesin analog was conducted to study the applicability of the dual-modality imaging probe. Results We use the radio-labeled small molecule, 18F-BODIPY-azide to label site-specifically different targeted peptides, based on a standard modular labeling protocol. Following the synthesis of a bimodal bombesin analog, we determine the peptide tracer’s performance in vitro and in vivo, exploring both the optical as well as PET imaging capabilities. Conclusion This versatile methodology has the potential to have a transformational impact on 18F radiotracer synthesis, opening the door for rapid screening of novel-labeled peptide tracers, both on the cellular (optical) as well as whole-body (PET) level. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13550-015-0120-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Paulus
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, 10065, New York, NY, USA,
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