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Against the Resilience of High-Grade Gliomas: Gene Therapies (Part II). Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11080976. [PMID: 34439595 PMCID: PMC8393930 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11080976] [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: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: High-grade gliomas (HGGs) still have a high rate of recurrence and lethality. Gene therapies were projected to overcome the therapeutic resilience of HGGs, due to the intrinsic genetic heterogenicity and immune evasion pathways. The present literature review strives to provide an updated overview of the novel gene therapies for HGGs treatment, highlighting evidence from clinical trials, molecular mechanisms, and future perspectives. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted through PubMed/Medline and ClinicalTrials.gov databases, using the keywords “high-grade glioma,” “glioblastoma,” and “malignant brain tumor”, combined with “gene therapy,” “oncolytic viruses,” “suicide gene therapies,” “tumor suppressor genes,” “immunomodulatory genes,” and “gene target therapies”. Only articles in English and published in the last 15 years were chosen, further screened based on best relevance. Data were analyzed and described according to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Viruses were the most vehicles employed for their feasibility and transduction efficiency. Apart from liposomes, other viral vehicles remain largely still experimental. Oncolytic viruses and suicide gene therapies proved great results in phase I, II preclinical, and clinical trials. Tumor suppressor, immunomodulatory, and target genes were widely tested, showing encouraging results especially for recurrent HGGs. Conclusions: Oncolytic virotherapy and suicide genes strategies are valuable second-line treatment options for relapsing HGGs. Immunomodulatory approaches, tumor suppressor, and target genes therapies may implement and upgrade standard chemoradiotherapy. Future research aims to improve safety profile and prolonging therapeutic effectiveness. Further clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of gene-based therapies.
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Banerjee K, Núñez FJ, Haase S, McClellan BL, Faisal SM, Carney SV, Yu J, Alghamri MS, Asad AS, Candia AJN, Varela ML, Candolfi M, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Current Approaches for Glioma Gene Therapy and Virotherapy. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:621831. [PMID: 33790740 PMCID: PMC8006286 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.621831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in the adult population and it carries a dismal prognosis. Inefficient drug delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB), an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and development of drug resistance are key barriers to successful glioma treatment. Since gliomas occur through sequential acquisition of genetic alterations, gene therapy, which enables to modification of the genetic make-up of target cells, appears to be a promising approach to overcome the obstacles encountered by current therapeutic strategies. Gene therapy is a rapidly evolving field with the ultimate goal of achieving specific delivery of therapeutic molecules using either viral or non-viral delivery vehicles. Gene therapy can also be used to enhance immune responses to tumor antigens, reprogram the TME aiming at blocking glioma-mediated immunosuppression and normalize angiogenesis. Nano-particles-mediated gene therapy is currently being developed to overcome the BBB for glioma treatment. Another approach to enhance the anti-glioma efficacy is the implementation of viro-immunotherapy using oncolytic viruses, which are immunogenic. Oncolytic viruses kill tumor cells due to cancer cell-specific viral replication, and can also initiate an anti-tumor immunity. However, concerns still remain related to off target effects, and therapeutic and transduction efficiency. In this review, we describe the rationale and strategies as well as advantages and disadvantages of current gene therapy approaches against gliomas in clinical and preclinical studies. This includes different delivery systems comprising of viral, and non-viral delivery platforms along with suicide/prodrug, oncolytic, cytokine, and tumor suppressor-mediated gene therapy approaches. In addition, advances in glioma treatment through BBB-disruptive gene therapy and anti-EGFRvIII/VEGFR gene therapy are also discussed. Finally, we discuss the results of gene therapy-mediated human clinical trials for gliomas. In summary, we highlight the progress, prospects and remaining challenges of gene therapies aiming at broadening our understanding and highlighting the therapeutic arsenal for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Banerjee
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Felipe J. Núñez
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago Haase
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Brandon L. McClellan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Syed M. Faisal
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stephen V. Carney
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jin Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Mahmoud S. Alghamri
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Antonela S. Asad
- Departamento de Biología e Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro J. Nicola Candia
- Departamento de Biología e Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Luisa Varela
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Marianela Candolfi
- Departamento de Biología e Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro R. Lowenstein
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Maria G. Castro
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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3
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Okura H, Smith CA, Rutka JT. Gene therapy for malignant glioma. MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR THERAPIES 2014; 2:21. [PMID: 26056588 PMCID: PMC4451964 DOI: 10.1186/2052-8426-2-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent and devastating primary brain tumor in adults. Despite current treatment modalities, such as surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, only modest improvements in median survival have been achieved. Frequent recurrence and invasiveness of GBM are likely due to the resistance of glioma stem cells to conventional treatments; therefore, novel alternative treatment strategies are desperately needed. Recent advancements in molecular biology and gene technology have provided attractive novel treatment possibilities for patients with GBM. Gene therapy is defined as a technology that aims to modify the genetic complement of cells to obtain therapeutic benefit. To date, gene therapy for the treatment of GBM has demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy in pre-clinical studies and promising safety profiles in clinical studies. However, while this approach is obviously promising, concerns still exist regarding issues associated with transduction efficiency, viral delivery, the pathologic response of the brain, and treatment efficacy. Tumor development and progression involve alterations in a wide spectrum of genes, therefore a variety of gene therapy approaches for GBM have been proposed. Improved viral vectors are being evaluated, and the potential use of gene therapy alone or in synergy with other treatments against GBM are being studied. In this review, we will discuss the most commonly studied gene therapy approaches for the treatment of GBM in preclinical and clinical studies including: prodrug/suicide gene therapy; oncolytic gene therapy; cytokine mediated gene therapy; and tumor suppressor gene therapy. In addition, we review the principles and mechanisms of current gene therapy strategies as well as advantages and disadvantages of each.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehiro Okura
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada ; Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421 Japan
| | - Christian A Smith
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - James T Rutka
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada ; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, 149 College Street, 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1P5 Canada ; Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Suite 1503, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 Canada
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4
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Newton HB. Molecular neuro-oncology and the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for brain tumors Part 4: p53 signaling pathway. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2014; 5:177-91. [PMID: 15757449 DOI: 10.1586/14737140.5.1.177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors are a diverse group of malignancies that remain refractory to conventional treatment approaches. Molecular neuro-oncology has now begun to clarify the transformed phenotype of brain tumors and identify oncogenic pathways that might be amenable to targeted therapy. Loss of the tumor suppressor gene p53 and its encoded protein are the most common genetic events in human cancer and are a frequent occurrence in brain tumors. p53 functions as a transcription factor and is responsible for the transactivation and repression of key genes involved in cell growth, apoptosis and the cell cycle. Mutation of the p53 gene or dysfunction of its signaling pathway are early events in the transformation process of astrocytic gliomas. The majority of mutations are missense and occur in the conserved regions of the gene, within exons 5 through 8. Molecular therapeutic strategies to normalize p53 signaling in cells with mutant p53 include pharmacologic rescue of mutant protein, gene therapy approaches, small-molecule agonists of downstream inhibitory genes, antisense approaches and oncolytic viruses. Other strategies include activation of normal p53 activity, inhibition of mdm2-mediated degradation of p53 and blockade of p53 nuclear export. Further development of targeted therapies designed to restore or enhance p53 function, and evaluation of these new agents in clinical trials, will be needed to improve survival and quality of life for patients with brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert B Newton
- Dardinger Neuro-Oncology Center, Department of Neurology, Ohio State University Hospitals, 465 Means Hall, 1654 Upham Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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5
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Lu J, Zhang F, Yuan Y, Ding C, Zhang L, Li Q. All-trans retinoic acid upregulates the expression of p53 via Axin and inhibits the proliferation of glioma cells. Oncol Rep 2013; 29:2269-74. [PMID: 23588680 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a potent chemopreventive and therapeutic agent and exerts its effects by inducing growth arrest. In the present study, we demonstrated that ATRA activated the expression of p53 via Axin and induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase and apoptosis of glioma cells. Briefly, C6 cells were treated with ATRA, and the levels of p53 mRNA and protein were determined by RT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that ATRA activated the expression of p53. In addition, ectopic expression of Axin by transient transfection of C6 cells with rAxin revealed that overexpression of Axin induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with an upregulation of p53. Furthermore, loss-of-function of Axin in glioma cells by RNAi blocked ATRA-induced cell cycle phase arrest and apoptosis via downregulation of p53. The present study revealed a novel function of Axin and identified it as an important regulator of ATRA-activated p53 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrong Lu
- Department of Pathology, Shaanxi Province Cancer Hospital, and The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, PR China
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Castro MG, Candolfi M, Kroeger K, King GD, Curtin JF, Yagiz K, Mineharu Y, Assi H, Wibowo M, Ghulam Muhammad AKM, Foulad D, Puntel M, Lowenstein PR. Gene therapy and targeted toxins for glioma. Curr Gene Ther 2011; 11:155-80. [PMID: 21453286 DOI: 10.2174/156652311795684722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The most common primary brain tumor in adults is glioblastoma. These tumors are highly invasive and aggressive with a mean survival time of 15-18 months from diagnosis to death. Current treatment modalities are unable to significantly prolong survival in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. As such, glioma is an attractive target for developing novel therapeutic approaches utilizing gene therapy. This review will examine the available preclinical models for glioma including xenographs, syngeneic and genetic models. Several promising therapeutic targets are currently being pursued in pre-clinical investigations. These targets will be reviewed by mechanism of action, i.e., conditional cytotoxic, targeted toxins, oncolytic viruses, tumor suppressors/oncogenes, and immune stimulatory approaches. Preclinical gene therapy paradigms aim to determine which strategies will provide rapid tumor regression and long-term protection from recurrence. While a wide range of potential targets are being investigated preclinically, only the most efficacious are further transitioned into clinical trial paradigms. Clinical trials reported to date are summarized including results from conditionally cytotoxic, targeted toxins, oncolytic viruses and oncogene targeting approaches. Clinical trial results have not been as robust as preclinical models predicted; this could be due to the limitations of the GBM models employed. Once this is addressed, and we develop effective gene therapies in models that better replicate the clinical scenario, gene therapy will provide a powerful approach to treat and manage brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Castro
- Gene Therapeutics Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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7
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van Putten EH, Dirven CM, van den Bent MJ, Lamfers ML. Sitimagene ceradenovec: a gene-based drug for the treatment of operable high-grade glioma. Future Oncol 2011; 6:1691-710. [PMID: 21142657 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of gene therapy for malignant glioma has made important advances since the first gene transfer studies were performed 20 years ago. Multiple Phase I/II trials and two Phase III trials have been performed and have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of intratumoral vector delivery in the brain. Sitimagene ceradenovec is an adenoviral vector encoding the herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene, developed by Ark Therapeutics Group plc (UK and Finland) for the treatment of patients with operable high-grade glioma. In preclinical and Phase I/II clinical studies, sitimagene ceradenovec exhibited a significant increase in survival. Although the preliminary results of a Phase III clinical study demonstrated a significant positive effect of sitimagene ceradenovec treatment on time to reintervention or death when compared with standard care treatment (hazard ratio: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.06-1.93; p < 0.05), the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use did not consider the data to provide sufficient evidence of clinical benefit. Further clinical evaluation, powered to demonstrate a benefit on a robust end point, is required. This article focuses on sitimagene ceradenovec and provides an overview of the developments in the field of gene therapy for malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hp van Putten
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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8
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Zhao Y, Xiao A, diPierro CG, Carpenter JE, Abdel-Fattah R, Redpath GT, Lopes MBS, Hussaini IM. An extensive invasive intracranial human glioblastoma xenograft model: role of high level matrix metalloproteinase 9. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 176:3032-49. [PMID: 20413683 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The lack of an intracranial human glioma model that recapitulates the extensive invasive and hypervascular features of glioblastoma (GBM) is a major hurdle for testing novel therapeutic approaches against GBM and studying the mechanism of GBM invasive growth. We characterized a high matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expressing U1242 MG intracranial xenograft mouse model that exhibited extensive individual cells and cell clusters in a perivascular and subpial cellular infiltrative pattern, geographic necrosis and infiltrating tumor-induced vascular proliferation closely resembling the human GBM phenotype. MMP-9 silencing cells with short hairpin RNA dramatically blocked the cellular infiltrative pattern, hypervascularity, and cell proliferation in vivo, and decreased cell invasion, colony formation, and cell motility in vitro, indicating that a high level of MMP-9 plays an essential role in extensive infiltration and hypervascularity in the xenograft model. Moreover, epidermal growth factor (EGF) failed to stimulate MMP-9 expression, cell invasion, and colony formation in MMP-9-silenced clones. An EGF receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor, a RasN17 dominant-negative construct, MEK and PI3K inhibitors significantly blocked EGF/EGFR-stimulated MMP-9, cell invasion, and colony formation in U1242 MG cells, suggesting that MMP-9 is involved in EGFR/Ras/MEK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-mediated cell invasion and anchorage-independent growth in U1242 MG cells. Our data indicate that the U1242 MG xenograft model is valuable for studying GBM extensive invasion and angiogenesis as well as testing anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunge Zhao
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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9
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Candolfi M, Kroeger KM, Muhammad AKMG, Yagiz K, Farrokhi C, Pechnick RN, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Gene therapy for brain cancer: combination therapies provide enhanced efficacy and safety. Curr Gene Ther 2010; 9:409-21. [PMID: 19860655 DOI: 10.2174/156652309789753301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain cancer in adults. Despite significant advances in treatment and intensive research, the prognosis for patients with GBM remains poor. Therapeutic challenges for GBM include its invasive nature, the proximity of the tumor to vital brain structures often preventing total resection, and the resistance of recurrent GBM to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Gene therapy has been proposed as a useful adjuvant for GBM, to be used in conjunction with current treatment. Work from our laboratory has shown that combination of conditional cytotoxic with immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of GBM elicits regression of large intracranial tumor masses and anti-tumor immunological memory in syngeneic rodent models of GBM. In this review we examined the currently available animal models for GBM, including rodent transplantable models, endogenous rodent tumor models and spontaneous GBM in dogs. We discuss non-invasive surrogate end points to assess tumor progression and therapeutic efficacy, such as behavioral tests and circulating biomarkers. Growing preclinical and clinical data contradict the old dogma that cytotoxic anti-cancer therapy would lead to an immune-suppression that would impair the ability of the immune system to mount an anti-tumor response. The implications of the findings reviewed indicate that combination of cytotoxic therapy with immunotherapy will lead to synergistic antitumor efficacy with reduced neurotoxicity and supports the clinical implementation of combined cytotoxic-immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianela Candolfi
- Gene Therapeutics Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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10
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Pan D, Wei X, Liu M, Feng S, Tian X, Feng X, Zhang X. Adenovirus mediated transfer of p53, GM-CSF and B7-1 suppresses growth and enhances immunogenicity of glioma cells. Neurol Res 2009; 32:502-9. [PMID: 19589203 DOI: 10.1179/174313209x455736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Malignant gliomas are good targets for gene therapy because they have been proven incurable with conventional treatments. However, malignant gliomas are genetically and physiologically highly heterogeneous, and current gene therapy interventions have been designed to target only a few variations of this kind of disease. Hence, we developed a combined gene therapy approach using a recombinant adenovirus carrying human wild-type p53 (WT-p53), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and B7-1 genes (designated BB-102) to combat the disease. METHODS Human malignant glioma cells U251 and U87 were transduced with BB-102. Expression of WT-p53, GM-CSF and B7-1 genes were determined by Western blot, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometric analysis, respectively. Growth rates were determined by serial cell counts. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis. Proliferation of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and cytotoxicity against primary glioma cells were assessed by cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assay kits, respectively. RESULTS By the transduction of BB-102, high expression levels of the three exogenesis genes were detected in glioma cells. Cell growth was inhibited and apoptosis was induced. Significant proliferation of autologous PBLs and specific cytotoxicity against primary glioma cells were also induced by the infection of BB-102 in vitro, with the effect being more evident than that of Ad-p53. CONCLUSION These results suggest that glioma cell vaccination co-transferred with p53, GM-CSF and B7-1 genes may be a feasible and effective immunotherapeutic approach in glioma treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Pan
- Institute of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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11
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Selznick LA, Shamji MF, Fecci P, Gromeier M, Friedman AH, Sampson J. Molecular strategies for the treatment of malignant glioma--genes, viruses, and vaccines. Neurosurg Rev 2008; 31:141-55; discussion 155. [PMID: 18259789 PMCID: PMC3418803 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-008-0121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2007] [Accepted: 12/29/2007] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The standard treatment paradigm of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy for malignant gliomas has only a modest effect on survival. It is well emphasized in the literature that despite aggressive multimodal therapy, most patients survive approximately 1 year after diagnosis, and less than 10% survive beyond 2 years. This dismal prognosis provides the impetus for ongoing investigations in search of improved therapeutics. Standard multimodal therapy has largely reached a plateau in terms of effectiveness, and there is now a growing body of literature on novel molecular approaches for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and immunotherapy are the major investigational approaches that have demonstrated promise in preclinical and early clinical studies. These new molecular technologies each have distinct advantages and limitations, and none has yet demonstrated a significant survival benefit in a phase II or III clinical trial. Molecular approaches may not lead to the discovery of a "magic bullet" for these aggressive tumors, but they may ultimately prove synergistic with more conventional approaches and lead to a broadening of the multimodal approach that is the current standard of care. This review will discuss the scientific background, therapeutic potential, and clinical limitations of these novel strategies with a focus on those that have made it to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee A. Selznick
- Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mohammed F. Shamji
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- 2616 Erwin Road, #1416, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Peter Fecci
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Matthias Gromeier
- Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan H. Friedman
- Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John Sampson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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12
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Candolfi M, Curtin JF, Nichols WS, Muhammad AG, King GD, Pluhar GE, McNiel EA, Ohlfest JR, Freese AB, Moore PF, Lerner J, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Intracranial glioblastoma models in preclinical neuro-oncology: neuropathological characterization and tumor progression. J Neurooncol 2007; 85:133-48. [PMID: 17874037 PMCID: PMC2384236 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-007-9400-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 252] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2006] [Accepted: 04/23/2007] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Although rodent glioblastoma (GBM) models have been used for over 30 years, the extent to which they recapitulate the characteristics encountered in human GBMs remains controversial. We studied the histopathological features of dog GBM and human xenograft GBM models in immune-deficient mice (U251 and U87 GBM in nude Balb/c), and syngeneic GBMs in immune-competent rodents (GL26 cells in C57BL/6 mice, CNS-1 cells in Lewis rats). All GBMs studied exhibited neovascularization, pleomorphism, vimentin immunoreactivity, and infiltration of T-cells and macrophages. All the tumors showed necrosis and hemorrhages, except the U87 human xenograft, in which the most salient feature was its profuse neovascularization. The tumors differed in the expression of astrocytic intermediate filaments: human and dog GBMs, as well as U251 xenografts expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin, while the U87 xenograft and the syngeneic rodent GBMs were GFAP(-) and vimentin(+). Also, only dog GBMs exhibited endothelial proliferation, a key feature that was absent in the murine models. In all spontaneous and implanted GBMs we found histopathological features compatible with tumor invasion into the non-neoplastic brain parenchyma. Our data indicate that murine models of GBM appear to recapitulate several of the human GBM histopathological features and, considering their reproducibility and availability, they constitute a valuable in vivo system for preclinical studies. Importantly, our results indicate that dog GBM emerges as an attractive animal model for testing novel therapies in a spontaneous tumor in the context of a larger brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianela Candolfi
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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13
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Magrini R, Bakker A, Gaviraghi G, Terstappen GC. Targeting the p53 tumor suppressor gene function in glioblastomas using small chemical molecules. Drug Dev Res 2007. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.20151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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14
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King GD, Curtin JF, Candolfi M, Kroeger K, Lowenstein PR, Castro MG. Gene therapy and targeted toxins for glioma. Curr Gene Ther 2006; 5:535-57. [PMID: 16457645 PMCID: PMC1629033 DOI: 10.2174/156652305774964631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The most common primary brain tumor in adults is glioblastoma. These tumors are highly invasive and aggressive with a mean survival time of nine to twelve months from diagnosis to death. Current treatment modalities are unable to significantly prolong survival in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. As such, glioma is an attractive target for developing novel therapeutic approaches utilizing gene therapy. This review will examine the available preclinical models for glioma including xenographs, syngeneic and genetic models. Several promising therapeutic targets are currently being pursued in pre-clinical investigations. These targets will be reviewed by mechanism of action, i.e., conditional cytotoxic, targeted toxins, oncolytic viruses, tumor suppressors/oncogenes, and immune stimulatory approaches. Preclinical gene therapy paradigms aim to determine which strategies will provide rapid tumor regression and long-term protection from recurrence. While a wide range of potential targets are being investigated preclinically, only the most efficacious are further transitioned into clinical trial paradigms. Clinical trials reported to date are summarized including results from conditionally cytotoxic, targeted toxins, oncolytic viruses and oncogene targeting approaches. Clinical trial results have not been as robust as preclinical models predicted, this could be due to the limitations of the GBM models employed. Once this is addressed, and we develop effective gene therapies in models that better replicate the clinical scenario, gene therapy will provide a powerful approach to treat and manage brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendalyn D King
- Gene Therapeutics Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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15
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Phuphanich S, Brat DJ, Olson JJ. Delivery systems and molecular targets of mechanism-based therapies for GBM. Expert Rev Neurother 2006; 4:649-63. [PMID: 15853584 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.4.4.649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor of adults and is in great need of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Diagnosis is beginning to consider a tumor's genetic status and in the future may incorporate gene expression or proteomic profiles. Genetic alterations in gliomas that are being used in classification include TP53 and retinoblastoma pathway disruption, PTEN mutations, epidermal growth factor receptor amplification and 1p/19q losses. Molecular mechanisms are being exploited to treat glioblastoma multiforme. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors directed at epidermal growth factor receptor (ZD1839, OSI-774) are being explored. Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (R115777) block activation of the ras pathway and may be effective. Antagonists of the endothelin receptor (e.g., atrasentan) expressed on blood vessels may block the high degree of angiogenesis in gliomas. Tumors lacking methylthioadenosine phosphorylase are sensitive to inhibitors of de novo adenosine synthesis (SDX-102) since they lack a salvage pathway. Future goals are to tailor therapies to a tumor's molecular, proteomic or genomic status ,and manage glioblastoma multiformes as in chronic diseases in a multidisciplinary clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surasak Phuphanich
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Suite C-5002, 1365 C Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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16
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Xia D, Moyana T, Xiang J. Combinational adenovirus-mediated gene therapy and dendritic cell vaccine in combating well-established tumors. Cell Res 2006; 16:241-59. [PMID: 16541123 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cr.7310032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in tumor immunology and biotechnology have made cancer gene therapy and immunotherapy feasible. The current efforts for cancer gene therapy mainly focus on using immunogenes, chemogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Central to all these therapies is the development of efficient vectors for gene therapy. By far, adenovirus (AdV)-mediated gene therapy is one of the most promising approaches, as has confirmed by studies relating to animal tumor models and clinical trials. Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly efficient, specialized antigen-presenting cells, and DC-based tumor vaccines are regarded as having much potential in cancer immunotherapy. Vaccination with DCs pulsed with tumor peptides, lysates, or RNA, or loaded with apoptotic/necrotic tumor cells, or engineered to express certain cytokines or chemokines could induce significant antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and antitumor immunity. Although both AdV-mediated gene therapy and DC vaccine can both stimulate antitumor immune responses, their therapeutic efficiency has been limited to generation of prophylactic antitumor immunity against re-challenge with the parental tumor cells or to growth inhibition of small tumors. However, this approach has been unsuccessful in combating well-established tumors in animal models. Therefore, a major strategic goal of current cancer immunotherapy has become the development of novel therapeutic strategies that can combat well-established tumors, thus resembling real clinical practice since a good proportion of cancer patients generally present with significant disease. In this paper, we review the recent progress in AdV-mediated cancer gene therapy and DC-based cancer vaccines, and discuss combined immunotherapy including gene therapy and DC vaccines. We underscore the fact that combined therapy may have some advantages in combating well-established tumors vis-a-vis either modality administered as a monotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajing Xia
- Research Unit, Health Research Division, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Department of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, 20 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 4H4, Canada
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17
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Park KH, Lee J, Yoo CG, Kim YW, Han SK, Shim YS, Kim SK, Wang KC, Cho BK, Lee CT. Application of p27 gene therapy for human malignant glioma potentiated by using mutant p27. J Neurosurg 2004; 101:505-10. [PMID: 15352609 DOI: 10.3171/jns.2004.101.3.0505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT Malignant glioma could be an ideal candidate for local gene therapy because its invasion is local and it has little metastatic potential. A low expression level and high degradation activity of p27 are known to constitute an independent poor prognostic factor in patients with malignant glioma. In this study, the authors investigated the roles of wild-type p27 and mutant p27 on the treatment of malignant glioma. METHODS The authors used two adenoviruses: one expressed wild-type p27 (ad-p27wt) and the other, containing a mutation at the major metabolic site, expressed mutant p27 (ad-p27mt). The antitumor effects of the two adenoviruses were compared with respect to cell growth arrest, cell cycle alteration, apoptosis induction, and in vitro tumorigenicity in three glioblastoma mutiforme (GBM) cell lines and in a primary GBM cell line. Transduction with ad-p27wt or ad-p27mt induced the production of p27 and the dephosphorylation of pRB. The protein level of mutant p27 was significantly higher than that of wild-type p27. The ad-p27wt induced cell cycle arrest at the G1-S transition point, whereas the ad-p27mt induced arrest at the G2-M point. Both ad-p27wt and ad-p27mt induced a growth-inhibiting effect, apoptosis, and suppression of in vitro tumorigenicity; however, ad-p27mt displayed a stronger antitumor effect than ad-p27wt in brain tumor cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Gene therapy involving p27, especially mutant p27, has the potential to become a novel and powerful therapy for malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Ho Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Lung Institute of Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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18
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Kanzawa T, Ito H, Kondo Y, Kondo S. Current and Future Gene Therapy for Malignant Gliomas. J Biomed Biotechnol 2003; 2003:25-34. [PMID: 12686720 PMCID: PMC179758 DOI: 10.1155/s1110724303209013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant gliomas are the most common neoplasm in the central nervous system. When treated with conventional treatments including surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy, the average life expectancy of the most malignant type, glioblastoma multiforme is usually less than 1 year. Therefore, gene therapy is expected to be an effective and possibly curative treatment. Many gene therapeutic approaches have demonstrated efficacy in experimental animal models. However, the current clinical trials are disappointing. This review focuses on current therapeutic genes/vectors/delivery systems/targeting strategies in order to introduce updated trends and hopefully indicate prospective gene therapy for malignant gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takao Kanzawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hideaki Ito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yasuko Kondo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Seiji Kondo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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19
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Arafat WO, Buchsbaum DJ, Gómez-Navarro J, Tawil SA, Olsen C, Xiang J, El-Akad H, Salama AM, Badib AO, Stackhouse MA, Curiel DT. An adenovirus encoding proapoptotic Bax synergistically radiosensitizes malignant glioma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2003; 55:1037-50. [PMID: 12605984 DOI: 10.1016/s0360-3016(02)04488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We explore the utility of the adenovirus-mediated delivery of proapoptotic Bax for enhancing the cytotoxicity of radiotherapy (RT) in RT-refractory glioma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell lines D54 MG and U87 MG (p53 wild-type), and U251 MG and U373 MG (p53 mutant), and patient-derived astrocytes were evaluated. Cells were irradiated and infected with an inducible adenovirus encoding Bax. Cell proliferation, colony formation assay, quantification of early apoptotic alteration in the plasma membrane by fluorescence-activated cell sorter using annexin V, and nuclear staining with H33258 were used to evaluate apoptosis. The capacity of the combined treatment to induce regression of subcutaneous D54 MG tumors was tested in nude mice. A dose of 5 Gy was administered every other day, four times, for a total dose of 20 Gy. One day after each irradiation, tumors were injected with 1 x 10(9) plaque-forming units (PFU). RESULTS Apoptotic death was enhanced by the combination of Ad/Bax and RT. In D54 MG, levels of apoptosis after RT alone, Ad/Bax alone, or the combination were, respectively, 12.3%, 32.1%, and 78.5%. In contrast, treatment of astrocytes did not significantly induce apoptosis. A colony-formation assay showed a 2-log inhibition with respect to controls after combined treatment, irrespective of the endogenous levels of p53. The other apoptosis assays also showed the defining characteristics of apoptosis in the combination group. Remarkably, combined treatment induced regression of tumors in mice. CONCLUSIONS Ad/Bax synergistically radiosensitizes glioma, with a seemingly favorable therapeutic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed O Arafat
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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20
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Su ZZ, Lebedeva IV, Sarkar D, Gopalkrishnan RV, Sauane M, Sigmon C, Yacoub A, Valerie K, Dent P, Fisher PB. Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7, mda-7/IL-24, selectively induces growth suppression, apoptosis and radiosensitization in malignant gliomas in a p53-independent manner. Oncogene 2003; 22:1164-80. [PMID: 12606943 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1206062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Malignant gliomas are extremely aggressive cancers currently lacking effective treatment modalities. Gene therapy represents a promising approach for this disease. A requisite component for improving gene-based therapies of brain cancer includes tumor suppressor genes that exhibit cancer constrained inhibitory activity. Subtraction hybridization identified melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 (mda-7) as a gene associated with melanoma cell growth, differentiation and progression. Ectopic expression of mda-7 by means of a replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad), Ad.mda-7, induces growth suppression and apoptosis selectively in diverse human cancers, without producing any apparent harmful effect in normal cells. We presently demonstrate that Ad.mda-7 induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in malignant human gliomas expressing both mutant and wild-type p53, and these effects correlate with an elevation in expression of members of the growth arrest and DNA damage (GADD) gene family. In contrast, infection with a recombinant Ad expressing wild-type p53, Ad.wtp53, specifically affects mutant p53 expressing gliomas. When tested in early passage normal and immortal human fetal astrocytes, growth inhibition resulting from infection with Ad.mda-7 or Ad.wtp53 is significantly less than in malignant gliomas and no toxicity is evident in these normal cells. Moreover, infection of gliomas with Ad.mda-7 or treatment with purified GST-MDA-7 protein sensitizes both wild-type and mutant p53 expressing tumor cells to the growth inhibitory and antisurvival effects of ionizing radiation, and this response correlates with increased expression of specific members of the GADD gene family. Since heterogeneity in p53 expression is common in evolving gliomas, the present findings suggest that Ad.mda-7 may, in many instances, prove more beneficial for the gene-based therapy of malignant gliomas than administration of wild-type p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zao-Zhong Su
- Department of Pathology, Columbia university, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York , NY 10032, USA
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21
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Abstract
Malignant glioma formation is associated with characteristic genetic alterations, although epigenetic mechanisms may contribute in tumorigenesis. Until recently, our knowledge has mainly been based on chromosomal and molecular studies performed in the last two decades. This has increased tremendously with the advent of new technologies, in particular expression arrays for simultaneous analysis of thousands of genes. Consequently, gene therapy of gliomas may aim at molecular interference with 'gain of function' genes (oncogenes) or replacement of 'loss of function' genes (tumor suppressor genes). Such approaches require transgene expression in whole tumor cell populations (if not other mechanisms come into play) which cannot be achieved with current vector systems. Hence other strategies have been pursued which may be independent of genes actually involved in tumorigenesis. Microbial genes (e.g. herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase) may be transferred into the tumors allowing for prodrug activation (e.g. ganciclovir). Furthermore, cytokines or other immunomodulatory genes may be used for vaccination purposes which frequently involves ex vivo transfection of autologous tumor cells with such genes. These approaches proved promising in preclinical studies performed in cell culture and different inbred rodent models. A considerable number of clinical trials have been initiated based on these approaches. Although most therapeutic strategies proved safe, clinical responses fell short of expectations raised by preclinical results. This, to a large extent, has to be attributed to a lag in the development of efficient vector systems. Although much effort has been put into this area of research, neuro-oncologists are still in await of a vector system allowing for selective and efficient tumor cell transduction. This has led to increased interest in distinct but related strategies, e.g. oncolytic viruses or direct intra-tumoral delivery of anti-sense oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Hamel
- Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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22
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Viner JL, Umar A, Hawk ET. Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: problems, progress, and prospects. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2002; 31:971-99. [PMID: 12489273 DOI: 10.1016/s0889-8553(02)00055-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Chemoprevention holds great promise as a complement to traditional CRC screening and treatment. Effective chemopreventive agents might improve patient outcomes by reducing the number of missed lesions, the morbidity associated with their identification and treatment, and their malignant potential. In addition, chemoprevention may reduce neoplastic potential simultaneously in several organs and improve clinical outcomes for persons at risk for cancers at multiple sites (e.g., colorectal and extracolonic cancers in HNPCC cohorts). Complex molecular circuits underlie the disease mosaic that is associated with aging. Several of these diseases share common mechanisms against which preventive interventions appear to be effective, such as NSAIDs for colorectal neoplasia and neurodegenerative disease, and statins for cardiovascular disease and colorectal neoplasia. Understanding these mechanisms and effects could raise prevention science to an entirely new level. The number of trials that are investigating chemopreventives against CR neoplasia is relatively small; if these agents live up to a fraction of their promise, the public health impact may be great (see Table 6).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaye L Viner
- Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers Research Group, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Prevention, EPN, Suite 2141, 6130 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892-7317, USA
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Abstract
Chemoprevention science is in flux owing to rapid advances in postgenomic technology. We have witnessed enormous advances in the areas of early detection and molecular profiling of colorectal carcinogenesis; however, unique interpretive and technologic challenges persist. Neoplastic hallmarks must be iteratively tested and validated as markers of risk, targets for intervention, and/or markers of response in order to expedite the development of preventive interventions. In this review, we highlight several of the technologies that are revolutionizing our understanding of carcinogenesis and our approach to colorectal cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Umar
- Gastrointestinal & Other Cancers Research Group, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Prevention, EPN, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7317, USA
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Tunici P, Gianni D, Finocchiaro G. Gene therapy of glioblastomas: from suicide to homicide. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2001; 132:711-9. [PMID: 11545030 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(01)32112-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Tunici
- Unit of Neuro-Oncology and Gene Therapy, Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
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25
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Affiliation(s)
- W C Russell
- Biomolecular Sciences Building, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK1
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26
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Shinoura N, Koike H, Furitu T, Hashimoto M, Asai A, Kirino T, Hamada H. Adenovirus-mediated transfer of caspase-8 augments cell death in gliomas: implication for gene therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2000; 11:1123-37. [PMID: 10834615 DOI: 10.1089/10430340050015185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Caspase-8 is a member of the family of caspases, which are involved in the execution of apoptosis. To investigate whether caspase-8 can be used for gene therapy of gliomas, we transduced A-172 and U251 glioma cells with the caspase-8 gene via an adenoviral vector (Adv) controlled by the chicken beta-actin (CA) promoter (Advcaspase-8), and found that a similar level of caspase-8 protein induced A-172 cells to undergo necrotic cell death and U251 cells to undergo apoptotic cell death. Neither Bcl-XL nor Bcl-2, which play important roles in antiapoptotic mechanisms in gliomas, protected glioma cells from apoptosis induced by overexpression of caspase-8. Injection of Adv-caspase-8 suppressed the in vivo growth of U251 xenografts, in which apoptotic cell death remarkably increased as revealed by TUNEL analysis. Finally, we assessed whether gene therapy with a tissue-specific promoter, the myelin basic protein (MBP) promoter, is applicable to gliomas. Adv for caspase-8 controlled by the MBP promoter induced drastic apoptosis in U251 and U-373MG glioma cells, whereas it did not induce apoptosis in human endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells. These results indicate that Adv for caspase-8 effectively induced cell death in gliomas, and that this approach may be a useful modality for gene therapy of gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Shinoura
- Department of Molecular Biotherapy Research, Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo
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