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Champagne A, Jain P, Vélot L, Riopel J, Lefebvre V, Neveu B, Pouliot F. A transcriptional biosensor to monitor single cancer cell therapeutic responses by bioluminescence microscopy. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:474-492. [PMID: 34976196 PMCID: PMC8692902 DOI: 10.7150/thno.63744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
When several life-prolonging drugs are indicated for cancer treatment, predictive drug-response tumor biomarkers are essential to guide management. Most conventional biomarkers are based on bulk tissue analysis, which cannot address the complexity of single-cell heterogeneity responsible for drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative drug response predictive biomarker approaches that could directly interrogate single-cell and whole population cancer cell drug sensitivity. In this study, we report a novel method exploiting bioluminescence microscopy to detect single prostate cancer (PCa) cell response to androgen receptor (AR)-axis-targeted therapies (ARAT) and predict cell population sensitivity. Methods: We have generated a new adenovirus-delivered biosensor, PCA3-Cre-PSEBC-ITSTA, which combines an integrated two-step transcriptional amplification system (ITSTA) and the activities of the prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) and modified prostate-specific antigen (PSEBC) gene promoters as a single output driving the firefly luciferase reporter gene. This system was tested on PCa cell lines and on primary PCa cells. Single cells, exposed or not to ARAT, were dynamically imaged by bioluminescence microscopy. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA)-based method was used to determine cell population sensitivities to ARAT. Results: We show that the PCA3-Cre-PSEBC-ITSTA biosensor is PCa-specific and can dynamically monitor single-cell AR transcriptional activity before and after ARAT by bioluminescence microscopy. After biosensor transduction and bioluminescence microscopy single-cell luminescence dynamic quantification, LDA analysis could discriminate the cell populations overall ARAT sensitivity despite heterogeneous single-cell responses. Indeed, the biosensor could detect a significant decrease in AR activity following exposure to conventional ARAT in hormone-naive primary PCa cells, while in castration-resistant PCa patients, treatment response correlated with the observed clinical ARAT resistance. Conclusion: The exploitation of bioluminescence microscopy and multi-promoter transcriptionally-regulated biosensors can aptly define the overall treatment response of patients by monitoring live single cell drug response from primary cancer tissue. This approach can be used to develop predictive biomarkers for drug response in order to help clinicians select the best drug combinations or sequences for each patient.
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Lin J, Zeng D, He H, Tan G, Lan Y, Jiang F, Sheng S. Gene therapy for human ovarian cancer cells using efficient expression of Fas gene combined with γδT cells. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:3791-3798. [PMID: 28765933 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Low tissue specificity and efficiency of exogenous gene expression are the two major obstacles in tumor‑targeted gene therapy. The Fas cell surface death receptor (Fas)/Fas ligand pathway is one of the primary pathways responsible for the regulation of cell apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to explore whether the regulation of tumor specific promoters and a two‑step transcriptional amplification system (TSTA) assured efficient, targeted expression of their downstream Fas gene in human ovarian cancer cells, and to assess the killing effect of γδT cells on these cells with high Fas expression. Three shuttle plasmids containing different control elements of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter and/or TSTA were constructed and packaged into adenovirus 5 (Ad5) vectors for the expression of exogenous Fas gene. The human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and a control human embryonic lung fibroblast cell line were transfected with Ad5‑hTERT‑Fas or Ad5‑hTERT‑TSTA‑Fas. Fas mRNA and protein expression were examined by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. γδT lymphocytes were isolated, cultured and mixed at different ratios with SKOV3 cells with Fas expression in order to assess the killing effect of γδT cells. hTERT promoter induced the specific expression of FAS gene in SKOV3 cells, and the TSTA strategy increased FAS expression by 14.2‑fold. The killing effect of γδT cells increased with the expression level of Fas and the effector‑target cell ratio. The killing rate for SKOV3 cells with high FAS expression was 72.5% at an effector‑target cell ratio of 40:1. The regulators of hTERT promoter and TSTA assure the efficient and targeted expression of their downstream Fas gene in SKOV3 cells. The killing effect of γδT cells for ovarian cancer cells with relatively high Fas expression was improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajing Lin
- Department of Gynecology, The 4th Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545005, P.R. China
| | - Dingyuan Zeng
- Department of Gynecology, Maternity and Children's Hospital Affiliated to The Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545002, P.R. China
| | - Hongying He
- Department of Gynecology, The 4th Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545005, P.R. China
| | - Guangping Tan
- Department of Gynecology, The 4th Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545005, P.R. China
| | - Ying Lan
- Department of Gynecology, 1st Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545002, P.R. China
| | - Fuyan Jiang
- Department of Gynecology, Liuzhou Tumor Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545005, P.R. China
| | - Shuting Sheng
- Department of Gynecology, Liuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545001, P.R. China
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Neveu B, Jain P, Têtu B, Wu L, Fradet Y, Pouliot F. A PCA3 gene-based transcriptional amplification system targeting primary prostate cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:1300-10. [PMID: 26594800 PMCID: PMC4811461 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting specifically primary prostate cancer (PCa) cells for immune therapy, gene therapy or molecular imaging is of high importance. The PCA3 long non-coding RNA is a unique PCa biomarker and oncogene that has been widely studied. This gene has been mainly exploited as an accurate diagnostic urine biomarker for PCa detection. In this study, the PCA3 promoter was introduced into a new transcriptional amplification system named the 3-Step Transcriptional Amplification System (PCA3-3STA) and cloned into type 5 adenovirus. PCA3-3STA activity was highly specific for PCa cells, ranging between 98.7- and 108.0-fold higher than that for benign primary prostate epithelial or non-PCa cells, respectively. In human PCa xenografts, PCA3-3STA displayed robust bioluminescent signals at levels that are sufficient to translate to positron emission tomography (PET)-based reporter imaging. Remarkably, when freshly isolated benign or cancerous prostate biopsies were infected with PCA3-3STA, the optical signal produced from primary PCa biopsies was significantly higher than from benign prostate biopsies (4.4-fold, p < 0.0001). PCA3-3STA therefore represents a PCa-specific expression system with the potential to target, with high accuracy, primary or metastatic PCa epithelial cells for imaging, vaccines, or gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Neveu
- Département de Chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Pallavi Jain
- Département de Chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Bernard Têtu
- Département de Biochimie et Pathologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Lily Wu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yves Fradet
- Département de Chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Pouliot
- Département de Chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
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Wibmer AG, Burger IA, Sala E, Hricak H, Weber WA, Vargas HA. Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer. Radiographics 2015; 36:142-59. [PMID: 26587888 DOI: 10.1148/rg.2016150059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most common noncutaneous malignancy among men in the Western world. The natural history and clinical course of prostate cancer are markedly diverse, ranging from small indolent intraprostatic lesions to highly aggressive disseminated disease. An understanding of this biologic heterogeneity is considered a necessary requisite in the quest for the adoption of precise and personalized management strategies. Molecular imaging offers the potential for noninvasive assessment of the biologic interactions underpinning prostate carcinogenesis. Currently, numerous molecular imaging probes are in clinical use or undergoing preclinical or clinical evaluation. These probes can be divided into those that image increased cell metabolism, those that target prostate cancer-specific membrane proteins and receptor molecules, and those that bind to the bone matrix adjacent to metastases to bone. The increased metabolism and vascular changes in prostate cancer cells can be evaluated with radiolabeled analogs of choline, acetate, glucose, amino acids, and nucleotides. The androgen receptor, prostate-specific membrane antigen, and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (ie, bombesin) are overexpressed in prostate cancer and can be targeted by specific radiolabeled imaging probes. Because metastatic prostate cancer cells induce osteoblastic signaling pathways of adjacent bone tissue, bone-seeking radiotracers are sensitive tools for the detection of metastases to bone. Knowledge about the underlying biologic processes responsible for the phenotypes associated with the different stages of prostate cancer allows an appropriate choice of methods and helps avoid pitfalls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas G Wibmer
- From the Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (A.G.W., E.S., H.H., W.A.W., H.A.V.); and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.A.B.)
| | - Irene A Burger
- From the Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (A.G.W., E.S., H.H., W.A.W., H.A.V.); and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.A.B.)
| | - Evis Sala
- From the Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (A.G.W., E.S., H.H., W.A.W., H.A.V.); and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.A.B.)
| | - Hedvig Hricak
- From the Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (A.G.W., E.S., H.H., W.A.W., H.A.V.); and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.A.B.)
| | - Wolfgang A Weber
- From the Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (A.G.W., E.S., H.H., W.A.W., H.A.V.); and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.A.B.)
| | - Hebert Alberto Vargas
- From the Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10065 (A.G.W., E.S., H.H., W.A.W., H.A.V.); and Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.A.B.)
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Minn I, Menezes ME, Sarkar S, Yarlagadda K, Das SK, Emdad L, Sarkar D, Fisher PB, Pomper MG. Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2014; 124:131-69. [PMID: 25287688 PMCID: PMC4339000 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-411638-2.00004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer using nonviral delivery systems has great potential for clinical application as a safe, efficient, noninvasive tool for visualization of various cellular processes including detection of cancer, and its attendant metastases. In recent years, significant effort has been expended in overcoming technical hurdles to enable clinical adoption of molecular-genetic imaging. This chapter will provide an introduction to the components of molecular-genetic imaging and recent advances on each component leading to safe, efficient clinical applications for detecting cancer. Combination with therapy, namely, generating molecular-genetic theranostic constructs, will provide further impetus for clinical translation of this promising technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Minn
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Siddik Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Keerthi Yarlagadda
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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Pouliot F, Sato M, Jiang ZK, Huyn S, Karanikolas BD, Wu L. A molecular imaging system based on both transcriptional and genomic amplification to detect prostate cancer cells in vivo. Mol Ther 2012; 21:554-60. [PMID: 23247102 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
An imaging modality that can accurately discern prostate cancer (PCa) foci would be useful to detect PCa early or guide treatment. We have engineered numerous adenoviral vectors (Ads) to carry out reporter gene-based imaging using specific promoters to express a potent transcriptional activator, which in turn activates the reporter gene in PCa. This two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) method can boost promoters' activity, while maintaining cell specificity. Here, we examined a dual TSTA (DTSTA) approach, which utilizes TSTA not only to express the imaging reporter, but also to direct viral genome replication of a conditionally replicating Ad (CRAd) to further augment the expression levels of the reporter gene by genomic amplification supported in trans by coadministered CRAd. In vitro studies showed up to 50-fold increase of the reporter genome by DTSTA. Compared with TSTA reporter alone, DTSTA application exhibited a 25-fold increase in imaging signal in PCa xenografts. DTSTA approach is also beneficial for a combination of two TSTA Ads with distinct promoters, although amplification is observed only when TSTA-CRAd can replicate. Consequently, the DTSTA approach is a hybrid method of transcriptional and genomic augmentation that can provide higher level reporter gene expression potentially with a lower dose of viral administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Pouliot
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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7
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent advances in the fundamental understanding of the complex biology of prostate cancer have provided an increasing number of potential targets for imaging and treatment. The imaging evaluation of prostate cancer needs to be tailored to the various phases of this remarkably heterogeneous disease. CONCLUSION In this article, I review the current state of affairs on a range of PET radiotracers for potential use in the imaging evaluation of men with prostate cancer.
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Chen L, Hann B, Wu L. Experimental models to study lymphatic and blood vascular metastasis. J Surg Oncol 2011; 103:475-83. [PMID: 21480239 DOI: 10.1002/jso.21794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
As a model system for the understanding of human cancer, the mouse has proved immensely valuable. Indeed, studies of mouse models have helped to define the nature of cancer as a genetic disease and demonstrated the causal role of genetic events found in tumors. As an experimental platform, they have provided critical insight into the process of tumor metastasis in the lymphovascular system. Once viewed with skepticism, mouse models are now an integral arm of basic and clinical cancer research. The use of a genetically tractable organism that shares organ systems and an immense degree of genetic similarity to humans provides a means to examine multiple features of human disease. Mouse models enable development and testing of new approaches to disease prevention and treatment, identification of early diagnostic markers and novel therapeutic targets, and an understanding of the in vivo biology and genetics of tumor initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis. This review summarizes recent mouse models for lymphangiogenesis and the process of lymphovascular metastasis, focusing on the use of the cornea as an experimental platform for lymphangiogenesis in inflammation and immunity, and on the use of molecular and viral vector mediated imaging and to identify and monitor lymph node metastases of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- Center for Eye Disease & Development, Program in Vision Science and School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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Richard-Fiardo P, Franken PR, Harrington KJ, Vassaux G, Cambien B. The use of molecular imaging of gene expression by radiotracers in gene therapy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2011; 11:1273-85. [DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2011.588596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Arendt ML, Nasir L, Morgan IM. A novel two-step transcriptional activation system for gene therapy directed toward epithelial cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2010; 8:3244-54. [PMID: 19952120 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-09-0543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The two-step transcriptional activation (TSTA) mechanism in gene therapy amplifies cell type-specific promoter activity, allowing for increased levels of gene expression in target tissues. In this system, the specific promoter drives expression of a strong transcriptional activator that binds to DNA target sequences located upstream from a second promoter controlling the expression of the therapeutic gene. The majority of previous studies have exploited a fusion between the DNA binding domain of the yeast transcriptional activator Gal4 fused to the VP16 activation domain of herpes simplex virus 1 as the transcriptional activator. In this report, an alternative to this system is described based on a fusion protein containing the DNA binding domain of the bovine papillomavirus 1 transcriptional activator E2 fused to VP16 that induces target gene expression following binding to a minimal bovine papillomavirus 4 promoter containing upstream E2 binding sites and only 3 bp of promoter sequence upstream from the TATA box. VP16-E2 is superior to Gal4-VP16 as the transcriptional activator in a TSTA system driven by either of the two potentially cancer-specific promoters telomerase RNA and telomerase reverse transcriptase in several cell lines. Results also suggest that this new system has an advantage in epithelial cells and is therefore ideal for potential targeting of carcinomas. By incorporating the TRAIL gene as a transgene in the VP16-E2 TSTA system, selective killing of telomerase-positive cells occurs. We propose that our new system should be considered in future TSTA, particularly when targeting epithelial-derived cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja L Arendt
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Division of Pathological Sciences, University of Glasgow Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, United Kingdom
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Johnson M, Karanikolas BDW, Priceman SJ, Powell R, Black ME, Wu HM, Czernin J, Huang SC, Wu L. Titration of variant HSV1-tk gene expression to determine the sensitivity of 18F-FHBG PET imaging in a prostate tumor. J Nucl Med 2009; 50:757-64. [PMID: 19372484 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.108.058438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Because of its high selectivity and specificity for the imaging reporter probe 9-(4-(18)F-fluoro-3-[hydroxymethyl]butyl)guanine ((18)F-FHBG), the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) variant sr39tk is actively being studied as a PET reporter gene. We recently demonstrated the capability of using a prostate-specific transcriptional amplification PET reporter vector, AdTSTA-sr39tk, to target prostate cancer lymph node metastasis. However, one area that warrants further study is the examination of the sensitivity of PET by determining the minimum percentage of cells expressing the sr39tk transgene needed for detection. Addressing this question could determine the sensitivity of vector-mediated sr39tk PET in cancer-targeting strategies. METHODS DU-145, PC-3, and CWR22Rv.1 prostate cancer cell lines (a total of 1 x 10(6) cells) were studied, of which 7%, 10%, 25%, 50%, or 70% were transduced with the lentiviral vector constitutively expressing HSV1-sr39tk-IRES-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Cells were subcutaneously implanted into the left shoulder of severe combined immunodeficient mice and evaluated. Tumor cells comparably transduced with an EGFP control vector were implanted on the right shoulder. Mice were imaged using PET with (18)F-FHBG at 8, 15, and 22 d after tumor implant. On day 23, tumors were isolated and analyzed for sr39tk transgene expression by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry for EGFP expression. RESULTS Results showed a linear relationship between the level of sr39tk expression and the quantity of tracer accrual in DU-145, with the minimal value for PET detection at 10%. The magnitude of tracer retention in sr39tk-expressing cells was amplified over time as the tumor grew. Protein levels in the stepwise titration increased with the percentage of sr39tk-transduced cells. CONCLUSION The stepwise titration of prostate cancer cells transduced with the lenti-CMV-sr39tk-IRES-EGFP determined the minimum number of sr39tk-expressing tumor cells necessary to be detected by PET using the (18)F-FHBG reporter probe. Furthermore, PET signal correlated well with traditional methods of protein evaluation such as flow cytometry, quantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Unlike the traditional methods, however, the use of PET is noninvasive and will be more advantageous in clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Johnson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Waerzeggers Y, Monfared P, Viel T, Winkeler A, Voges J, Jacobs AH. Methods to monitor gene therapy with molecular imaging. Methods 2009; 48:146-60. [PMID: 19318125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2009.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2008] [Accepted: 03/11/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in scientific and clinical research has made gene therapy a promising option for efficient and targeted treatment of several inherited and acquired disorders. One of the most critical issues for ensuring success of gene-based therapies is the development of technologies for non-invasive monitoring of the distribution and kinetics of vector-mediated gene expression. In recent years many molecular imaging techniques for safe, repeated and high-resolution in vivo imaging of gene expression have been developed and successfully used in animals and humans. In this review molecular imaging techniques for monitoring of gene therapy are described and specific use of these methods in the different steps of a gene therapy protocol from gene delivery to assessment of therapy response is illustrated. Linking molecular imaging (MI) to gene therapy will eventually help to improve the efficacy and safety of current gene therapy protocols for human application and support future individualized patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannic Waerzeggers
- Laboratory for Gene Therapy and Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Neurological Research and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Gleuelerstrasse 50, Cologne 50931, Germany
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Burton JB, Priceman SJ, Sung JL, Brakenhielm E, An DS, Pytowski B, Alitalo K, Wu L. Suppression of prostate cancer nodal and systemic metastasis by blockade of the lymphangiogenic axis. Cancer Res 2008; 68:7828-37. [PMID: 18829538 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lymph node involvement denotes a poor outcome for patients with prostate cancer. Our group, along with others, has shown that initial tumor cell dissemination to regional lymph nodes via lymphatics also promotes systemic metastasis in mouse models. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of suppressive therapies targeting either the angiogenic or lymphangiogenic axis in inhibiting regional lymph node and systemic metastasis in subcutaneous and orthotopic prostate tumor xenografts. Both androgen-dependent and more aggressive androgen-independent prostate tumors were used in our investigations. Interestingly, we observed that the threshold for dissemination is lower in the vascular-rich prostatic microenvironment compared with subcutaneously grafted tumors. Both vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) ligand trap (sVEGFR-3) and antibody directed against VEGFR-3 (mF4-31C1) significantly reduced tumor lymphangiogenesis and metastasis to regional lymph nodes and distal vital organs without influencing tumor growth. Conversely, angiogenic blockade by short hairpin RNA against VEGF or anti-VEGFR-2 antibody (DC101) reduced tumor blood vessel density, significantly delayed tumor growth, and reduced systemic metastasis, although it was ineffective in reducing lymphangiogenesis or nodal metastasis. Collectively, these data clarify the utility of vascular therapeutics in prostate tumor growth and metastasis, particularly in the context of the prostate microenvironment. Our findings highlight the importance of lymphangiogenic therapies in the control of regional lymph node and systemic metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy B Burton
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1738, USA
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14
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Phase I study of noninvasive imaging of adenovirus-mediated gene expression in the human prostate. Mol Ther 2008; 16:1761-9. [PMID: 18714306 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2008.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
To monitor noninvasively potentially therapeutic adenoviruses for cancer, we have developed a methodology based on the sodium iodide symporter (NIS). Men with clinically localized prostate cancer were administered an intraprostatic injection of a replication-competent adenovirus, Ad5-yCD/utTK(SR39)rep-hNIS, armed with two suicide genes and the NIS gene. NIS gene expression (GE) was imaged noninvasively by uptake of Na(99 m)TcO(4) in infected cells using single photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT). The investigational therapy was safe with 98% of the adverse events being grade 1 or 2. GE was detected in the prostate in seven of nine (78%) patients at 1 x 10(12) virus particles (vp) but not at 1 x 10(11) vp. Volume and total amount of GE was quantified by SPECT. Following injection of 1 x 10(12) vp in 1 cm(3), GE volume (GEV) increased to a mean of 6.6 cm(3), representing, on average, 18% of the total prostate volume. GEV and intensity peaked 1-2 days after the adenovirus injection and was detectable in the prostate up to 7 days. Whole-body imaging demonstrated intraprostatic gene expression, and there was no evidence of extraprostatic dissemination of the adenovirus by SPECT imaging. The results demonstrate that noninvasive imaging of adenovirus-mediated gene therapy in humans is feasible and safe.
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Guo ZS, Li Q, Bartlett DL, Yang JY, Fang B. Gene transfer: the challenge of regulated gene expression. Trends Mol Med 2008; 14:410-8. [PMID: 18692441 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2008.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2008] [Revised: 07/04/2008] [Accepted: 07/04/2008] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is expected to have a major impact on human healthcare in the future. However, precise regulation of therapeutic gene expression in vivo is still a challenge. Natural and synthetic enhancer-promoters (EPs) can be utilized to drive gene transcription in a temporal, spatial or environmental signal-inducible manner in response to heat shock, hypoxia, radiation, chemotherapy, epigenetic agents or viral infection. To allow tightly regulated expression, a regulatable gene-expression system can also be implemented. Most of these systems are based on small molecule (drug)-responsive artificial transactivators. In this review, we aim to provide a brief overview of the classes of EPs and regulatable systems, along with lessons learned from these studies. We highlight the potential applications in gene transfer, gene therapy for cancer and genetic disease and the future challenges for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Sheng Guo
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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