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Shueng PW, Shih KC, Gambhir SS, Kuo DY, Chuang HY. Cancer Detection Using an Artificial Secretable MicroRNA Found in Blood and Urine. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030621. [PMID: 35327423 PMCID: PMC8945529 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers can potentially help in the detection and prognosis of diseases such as cancer, its recurrence, predicting response to therapy, and monitoring of response during and/or after treatment. Endogenous tumor blood biomarkers suffer from low concentrations that are not distinguishable from background noise and, if identified, the localization of the biomarker production site is not known. The use of exogenously introduced or artificial biomarkers can eliminate these issues. In this study, we show that cancer cells can be made to produce an artificial secreted microRNA (Sec-miR) that can be detected in media from cells in culture, and from both blood and urine in living mice. In culture, we show that chaining a number of Sec-miR sequences in a plasmid and transfecting cells with the plasmids could increase Sec-miR secretion as the number of sequences increases. Tumor induction in mice with a stably transfected HeLa cell line shows the presence and significant increase in the Sec-miR with time and tumor growth in plasma (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.5542). The relative half-life of the Sec-miR was seen to be 1.2 h in the plasma of living mice and was seen to appear in urine within 12 h. The transgene for the Sec-miR within a minicircle was introduced via the tail-vein into subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice. As the tumor growth increased with time, further in vivo transfection of the Sec-miR minicircles showed an increase in Sec-miR in both plasma and urine (R2 = 0.4546). This study demonstrated that an exogenous Sec-miR biomarker would allow for early tumor detection using in vitro diagnostics techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Wei Shueng
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 220, Taiwan;
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Kuang-Chung Shih
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Cheng-Hsin General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan;
| | - Sanjiv Sam Gambhir
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Deng-Yu Kuo
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 220, Taiwan;
- Correspondence: (D.-Y.K.); (H.-Y.C.); Tel.: +886-2-7728-1033 (D.-Y.K.); +886-2-2826-7241 (H.-Y.C.); Fax: +886-2-7728-2367 (D.-Y.K.); +886-2-2820-1095 (H.-Y.C.)
| | - Hui-Yen Chuang
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (D.-Y.K.); (H.-Y.C.); Tel.: +886-2-7728-1033 (D.-Y.K.); +886-2-2826-7241 (H.-Y.C.); Fax: +886-2-7728-2367 (D.-Y.K.); +886-2-2820-1095 (H.-Y.C.)
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Wang T, Chen Y, Goodale D, Allan AL, Ronald JA. A survivin-driven, tumor-activatable minicircle system for prostate cancer theranostics. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2021; 20:209-219. [PMID: 33665359 PMCID: PMC7889447 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Gene vectors regulated by tumor-specific promoters to express transgenes specifically in cancer cells are an emerging approach for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Minicircles are shortened plasmids stripped of prokaryotic sequences that have potency and safety characteristics beneficial for clinical translation. Previously, we developed minicircles driven by the tumor-specific survivin promoter, which exhibits elevated transcriptional activity in aggressive cancers, to express a secreted reporter for blood-based cancer detection. Here we present the first activatable, cancer theranostic minicircle system featuring a pair of diagnostic and therapeutic minicircles expressing Gaussia luciferase for urine-based cancer detection or cytosine deaminase:uracil phosphoribosyltransferase for gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. Diagnostic minicircles revealed urinary reporter output related to cellular survivin levels. Notably, mice with aggressive prostate tumors exhibited significantly higher urine reporter activity than mice with non-aggressive tumors and healthy mice after intratumoral minicircle administration. Therapeutic minicircles displayed specific cytotoxicity in survivin-rich cancer cells and significantly attenuated growth of aggressive orthotopic prostate tumors in mice. Use of these minicircles together creates a theranostic system that can first identify individuals carrying aggressive prostate cancer via a urinary test, followed by stringent control of tumor progression in stratified individuals who carry high-risk prostate lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- TianDuo Wang
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute - Imaging Research Laboratories, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Yuanxin Chen
- Robarts Research Institute - Imaging Research Laboratories, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - David Goodale
- London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Science Centre, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - Alison L Allan
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.,London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Science Centre, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - John A Ronald
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada.,Robarts Research Institute - Imaging Research Laboratories, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
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3
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Serganova I, Blasberg RG. Molecular Imaging with Reporter Genes: Has Its Promise Been Delivered? J Nucl Med 2020; 60:1665-1681. [PMID: 31792128 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.220004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The first reporter systems were developed in the early 1980s and were based on measuring the activity of an enzyme-as a surrogate measure of promoter-driven transcriptional activity-which is now known as a reporter gene system. The initial objective and application of reporter techniques was to analyze the activity of a specific promoter (namely, the expression of a gene that is under the regulation of the specific promoter that is linked to the reporter gene). This system allows visualization of specific promoter activity with great sensitivity. In general, there are 2 classes of reporter systems: constitutively expressed (always-on) reporter constructs used for cell tracking, and inducible reporter systems sensitive to endogenous signaling molecules and transcription factors that characterize specific tissues, tumors, or signaling pathways.This review traces the development of different reporter systems, using fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins as well as radionuclide-based reporter systems. The development and application of radionuclide-based reporter systems is the focus of this review. The question at the end of the review is whether the "promise" of reporter gene imaging has been realized. What is required for moving forward with radionuclide-based reporter systems, and what is required for successful translation to clinical applications?
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Serganova
- Department of Neurology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ronald G Blasberg
- Department of Neurology, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York .,Department of Radiology, Memorial Hospital, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; and.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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4
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Drug Discovery by Molecular Imaging and Monitoring Therapy Response in Lymphoma. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081639. [PMID: 28749424 PMCID: PMC5578029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging allows a noninvasive assessment of biochemical and biological processes in living subjects. Treatment strategies for malignant lymphoma depend on histology and tumor stage. For the last two decades, molecular imaging has been the mainstay diagnostic test for the staging of malignant lymphoma and the assessment of response to treatment. This technology enhances our understanding of disease and drug activity during preclinical and clinical drug development. Here, we review molecular imaging applications in drug development, with an emphasis on oncology. Monitoring and assessing the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies in preclinical or clinical models are essential and the multimodal molecular imaging approach may represent a new stage for pharmacologic development in cancer. Monitoring the progress of lymphoma therapy with imaging modalities will help patients. Identifying and addressing key challenges is essential for successful integration of molecular imaging into the drug development process. In this review, we highlight the general usefulness of molecular imaging in drug development and radionuclide-based reporter genes. Further, we discuss the different molecular imaging modalities for lymphoma therapy and their preclinical and clinical applications.
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Targeting of phage particles towards endothelial cells by antibodies selected through a multi-parameter selection strategy. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42230. [PMID: 28186116 PMCID: PMC5301479 DOI: 10.1038/srep42230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of cancer is sustained angiogenesis. Here, normal endothelial cells are activated, and their formation of new blood vessels leads to continued tumour growth. An improved patient condition is often observed when angiogenesis is prevented or normalized through targeting of these genomically stable endothelial cells. However, intracellular targets constitute a challenge in therapy, as the agents modulating these targets have to be delivered and internalized specifically to the endothelial cells. Selection of antibodies binding specifically to certain cell types is well established. It is nonetheless a challenge to ensure that the binding of antibodies to the target cell will mediate internalization. Previously selection of such antibodies has been performed targeting cancer cell lines; most often using either monovalent display or polyvalent display. In this article, we describe selections that isolate internalizing antibodies by sequential combining monovalent and polyvalent display using two types of helper phages, one which increases display valence and one which reduces background. One of the selected antibodies was found to mediate internalization into human endothelial cells, although our results confirms that the single stranded nature of the DNA packaged into phage particles may limit applications aimed at targeting nucleic acids in mammalian cells.
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Kim KI, Chung HK, Park JH, Lee YJ, Kang JH. Alpha-fetoprotein-targeted reporter gene expression imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:6127-6134. [PMID: 27468205 PMCID: PMC4945974 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i27.6127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in Eastern Asia, and its incidence is increasing globally. Numerous experimental models have been developed to better our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of HCC and to evaluate novel therapeutic approaches. Molecular imaging is a convenient and up-to-date biomedical tool that enables the visualization, characterization and quantification of biologic processes in a living subject. Molecular imaging based on reporter gene expression, in particular, can elucidate tumor-specific events or processes by acquiring images of a reporter gene’s expression driven by tumor-specific enhancers/promoters. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various experimental HCC mouse models and we present in vivo images of tumor-specific reporter gene expression driven by an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer/promoter system in a mouse model of HCC. The current mouse models of HCC development are established by xenograft, carcinogen induction and genetic engineering, representing the spectrum of tumor-inducing factors and tumor locations. The imaging analysis approach of reporter genes driven by AFP enhancer/promoter is presented for these different HCC mouse models. Such molecular imaging can provide longitudinal information about carcinogenesis and tumor progression. We expect that clinical application of AFP-targeted reporter gene expression imaging systems will be useful for the detection of AFP-expressing HCC tumors and screening of increased/decreased AFP levels due to disease or drug treatment.
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Detecting cancers through tumor-activatable minicircles that lead to a detectable blood biomarker. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:3068-73. [PMID: 25713388 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1414156112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier detection of cancers can dramatically improve the efficacy of available treatment strategies. However, despite decades of effort on blood-based biomarker cancer detection, many promising endogenous biomarkers have failed clinically because of intractable problems such as highly variable background expression from nonmalignant tissues and tumor heterogeneity. In this work we present a tumor-detection strategy based on systemic administration of tumor-activatable minicircles that use the pan-tumor-specific Survivin promoter to drive expression of a secretable reporter that is detectable in the blood nearly exclusively in tumor-bearing subjects. After systemic administration we demonstrate a robust ability to differentiate mice bearing human melanoma metastases from tumor-free subjects for up to 2 wk simply by measuring blood reporter levels. Cumulative change in reporter levels also identified tumor-bearing subjects, and a receiver operator-characteristic curve analysis highlighted this test's performance with an area of 0.918 ± 0.084. Lung tumor burden additionally correlated (r(2) = 0.714; P < 0.05) with cumulative reporter levels, indicating that determination of disease extent was possible. Continued development of our system could improve tumor detectability dramatically because of the temporally controlled, high reporter expression in tumors and nearly zero background from healthy tissues. Our strategy's highly modular nature also allows it to be iteratively optimized over time to improve the test's sensitivity and specificity. We envision this system could be used first in patients at high risk for tumor recurrence, followed by screening high-risk populations before tumor diagnosis, and, if proven safe and effective, eventually may have potential as a powerful cancer-screening tool for the general population.
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Di Paola M, Chiriacò F, Soloperto G, Conversano F, Casciaro S. Echographic imaging of tumoral cells through novel nanosystems for image diagnosis. World J Radiol 2014; 6:459-470. [PMID: 25071886 PMCID: PMC4109097 DOI: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i7.459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the recognition of disease molecular basis, it has become clear that the keystone moments of medical practice, namely early diagnosis, appropriate therapeutic treatment and patient follow-up, must be approached at a molecular level. These objectives will be in the near future more effectively achievable thanks to the impressive developments in nanotechnologies and their applications to the biomedical field, starting-up the nanomedicine era. The continuous advances in the development of biocompatible smart nanomaterials, in particular, will be crucial in several aspects of medicine. In fact, the possibility of manufacturing nanoparticle contrast agents that can be selectively targeted to specific pathological cells has extended molecular imaging applications to non-ionizing techniques and, at the same time, has made reachable the perspective of combining highly accurate diagnoses and personalized therapies in a single theranostic intervention. Main developing applications of nanosized theranostic agents include targeted molecular imaging, controlled drug release, therapeutic monitoring, guidance of radiation-based treatments and surgical interventions. Here we will review the most recent findings in nanoparticles contrast agents and their applications in the field of cancer molecular imaging employing non-ionizing techniques and disease-specific contrast agents, with special focus on recent findings on those nanomaterials particularly promising for ultrasound molecular imaging and simultaneous treatment of cancer.
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Ahn BC. Requisites for successful theranostics with radionuclide-based reporter gene imaging. J Drug Target 2014; 22:295-303. [PMID: 24417717 DOI: 10.3109/1061186x.2013.878940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Radionuclide-based theranostic strategy has been widely used in diagnosis and treatment of patients with hyperthyroidism or differentiated thyroid cancer for a long time, and sodium iodide symporter gene is the radionuclide-based reporter gene used in theranostics. Theranostics, which is a promising approach, offering the ideal combination of accurate diagnosis and successful therapy in various clinical fields, is expected to become a key area of personalized medicine. Rapid advancements in biotechnologies using theranostic reporter genes and theranostic radiochemistry have led to development of the concept of theranostics using radionuclide-based imaging reporter genes; the theranostic approach is almost ready for application in a limited arena of clinics. In order to fulfill both the diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, theranostics with radionuclide-based imaging reporter requires use of successful combinations of various components, such as radionuclide-based reporter genes, promoters/enhancers that regulate expression of reporter genes, delivery vectors/vehicles, imaging or therapeutic probes and prodrugs, transductional and transcriptional targeting strategies, transgene amplification systems, etc. In this review, overview and recent updates on theranostics using radionuclide-based imaging reporter genes will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong-Cheol Ahn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital , Daegu , Republic of Korea
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10
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Conrad SJ, Essani K. Oncoselectivity in Oncolytic Viruses against Colorectal Cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/jct.2014.513118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Kim JE, Hwang MH, Lee HW, Lee SW, Lee J, Ahn BC. Combined RNA interference of adenine nucleotide translocase-2 and ganciclovir therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nucl Med Biol 2013; 40:987-93. [PMID: 24054501 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2013.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of combined RNA interference (RNAi) of the adenine nucleotide translocase-2 (ANT2) gene and ganciclovir (GCV) therapy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Huh 7) in an animal model. METHODS The Huh 7/NTG stable cell line was established by transfection of a vector with the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS), HSV1-sr39 thymidine kinase (tk), and enhanced green florescent protein (EGFP) fusion gene into Huh 7 cells. mRNA expressions of these genes were evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. The functions of hNIS and HSV1-sr39tk were verified with (125)I uptake and (3)H-penciclovir (PCV) uptake tests. EGFP and hNIS expression was confirmed with confocal microscopy after immunocytochemical staining. We treated the tumor cells with ANT2 shRNA or GCV or both ANT2 shRNA and GCV and treated the in vivo mouse model with a Huh 7/NTG tumor xenograft. The therapeutic effects of the in vivo study were assessed with caliper measurements and gamma camera imaging using (99m)Tc-pertechnetate. RESULTS Huh 7/NTG cells showed a cell number-dependent increase in (125)I uptake and a 24-fold higher (3)H-PCV uptake compared to parent Huh 7 cells. Huh 7/NTG cells transfected with ANT2 shRNA had lower ANT2 mRNA expression and more impaired proliferation activity than cells transfected with scramble shRNA. Proliferation of Huh 7/NTG cells was also inhibited by GCV treatment. Combined GCV and ANT2 shRNA therapy further inhibited cell proliferation in the in vitro study. The combined therapy with GCV and ANT2 shRNA showed a further decrease in tumor growth in the mouse model. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the combined RNA interference with ANT2 and GCV therapy inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation more than single GCV therapy or ANT2 shRNA therapy in vitro and in vivo. Therefore it could be applied treating incurable hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Eun Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, 50 Samduk-dong 2-ga, Jung Gu, Daegu, 700-721, Korea.
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Ronald JA, Katzenberg R, Nielsen CH, Jae HJ, Hofmann LV, Gambhir SS. MicroRNA-regulated non-viral vectors with improved tumor specificity in an orthotopic rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Gene Ther 2013; 20:1006-13. [PMID: 23719066 PMCID: PMC3864878 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2013.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), tumor specificity of gene therapy is of utmost importance to preserve liver function. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are powerful negative regulators of gene expression and many are downregulated in human HCC. We identified seven miRNAs that are also downregulated in tumors in a rat hepatoma model (P<0.05) and attempted to improve tumor specificity by constructing a panel of luciferase-expressing vectors containing binding sites for these miRNAs. Attenuation of luciferase expression by the corresponding miRNAs was confirmed across various cell lines and in mouse liver. We then tested our vectors in tumor-bearing rats and identified two miRNAs, miR-26a and miR-122, that significantly decreased expression in liver compared with the control vector (6.40 and 0.26%, respectively; P<0.05). In tumor, miR-122 had a nonsignificant trend towards decreased (∼50%) expression, whereas miR-26 had no significant effect on tumor expression. To our knowledge, this is the first work using differentially expressed miRNAs to de-target transgene expression in an orthotopic hepatoma model and to identify miR-26a, in addition to miR-122, for de-targeting liver. Considering the heterogeneity of miRNA expression in human HCC, this information will be important in guiding development of more personalized vectors for the treatment of this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Ronald
- 1] Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA [2] Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Kim KI, Park JH, Lee YJ, Lee TS, Park JJ, Song I, Nahm SS, Cheon GJ, Lim SM, Chung JK, Kang JH. In vivo bioluminescent imaging of α-fetoprotein-producing hepatocellular carcinoma in the diethylnitrosamine-treated mouse using recombinant adenoviral vector. J Gene Med 2013; 14:513-20. [PMID: 22761128 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The in vivo molecular imaging method is a useful tool for monitoring carcinogenesis in various hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models, such as xenografted-, chemical induced- and transgenic mice. The tumor-specific gene expression strategy, such as transcriptional targeting, is essential for achieving a lower toxicity for normal liver tissue in therapy and the monitoring of tumor progression in diagnosis, respectively. The present study aimed to visualize spontaneously developing α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing HCC through targeted gene expression in tumors using recombinant adenoviral vector. METHODS The recombinant adenovirus vector, AdAFPfLuc (containing firefly luciferase gene driven by human AFP enhancer/promoter) was prepared. After in vitro infection by adenovirus, gene expression was confirmed using the luciferase assay, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting in AFP-producing and nonproducing cells. Tumor-bearing mice were intravenously injected with adenovirus, and bioluminescent images were obtained. RESULTS The expression of fLuc was efficiently demonstrated by the luciferase assay in AFP-producing cells but not in AFP-nonproducing cells. AFP-producing HCC targeted gene expression was confirmed at the mRNA and protein levels. After being injected intravenously in HuH-7 xenografts and HCC-bearing diethylnitrosamine-treated mice using adenovirus, functional reporter gene expression was confirmed in tumors by in vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI). CONCLUSIONS The recombinant adenovirus vector system can be used to monitor spontaneously developing AFP-producing HCC and to evaluate targeted gene expression in tumors by in vivo BLI in a small animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang Il Kim
- Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
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Jiang ZK, Sato M, Wu L. Chapter five--The development of transcription-regulated adenoviral vectors with high cancer-selective imaging capabilities. Adv Cancer Res 2012; 115:115-46. [PMID: 23021244 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398342-8.00005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A clear benefit of molecular imaging is to enable noninvasive, repetitive monitoring of intrinsic signals within tumor cells as a means to identify the lesions as malignant or to assess the ability of treatment to perturb key pathways within the tumor cells. Due to the promising utility of molecular imaging in oncology, preclinical research to refine molecular imaging techniques in small animals is a blossoming field. We will first discuss the several imaging modalities such as fluorescent imaging, bioluminescence imaging, and positron emission tomography that are now commonly used in small animal settings. The indirect imaging approach, which can be adapted to a wide range of imaging reporter genes, is a useful platform to develop molecular imaging. In particular, reporter gene-based imaging is well suited for transcriptional-targeted imaging that can be delivered by recombinant adenoviral vectors. In this review, we will summarize transcription-regulated strategies used in adenoviral-mediated molecular imaging to visualize metastasis and monitor oncolytic therapy in preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Karen Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Bhang HEC, Pomper MG. Cancer imaging: Gene transcription-based imaging and therapeutic systems. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44:684-9. [PMID: 22349219 PMCID: PMC3324783 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2012.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2011] [Revised: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer is in its infancy. Over the past decade gene reporter systems have been optimized in preclinical models and some have found their way into the clinic. The search is on to find the best combination of gene delivery vehicle and reporter imaging system that can be translated safely and quickly. The goal is to have a combination that can detect a wide variety of cancers with high sensitivity and specificity in a way that rivals the current clinical standard, positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose. To do so will require systemic delivery of reporter genes for the detection of micrometastases, and a nontoxic vector, whether viral or based on nanotechnology, to gain widespread acceptance by the oncology community. Merger of molecular-genetic imaging with gene therapy, a strategy that has been employed in the past, will likely be necessary for such imaging to reach widespread clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-eun C Bhang
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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16
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Kim YI, Ahn BC, Ronald JA, Katzenberg R, Singh A, Paulmurugan R, Ray S, Gambhir SS, Hofmann LV. Intratumoral versus intravenous gene therapy using a transcriptionally targeted viral vector in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma rat model. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2012; 23:704-11. [PMID: 22387029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2012.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2011] [Revised: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility of intratumoral delivery of adenoviral vector carrying a bidirectional two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system to amplify transcriptional strength of cancer-specific Survivin promoter in a hepatocellular carcinoma model. MATERIALS AND METHODS MCA-RH7777 cells were implanted in rat liver, and tumor formation was confirmed with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). The adenoviral vector studied had Survivin promoter driving a therapeutic gene (tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand [TRAIL]) and a reporter gene (firefly luciferase [FL]; Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL). Tumor-bearing rats were administered Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL intravenously (n = 7) or intratumorally (n = 8). For control groups, adenovirus FL under cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (Ad-pCMV-FL) was administered intravenously (n = 3) or intratumorally (n = 3). One day after delivery, bioluminescence imaging was performed to evaluate transduction. At 4 and 7 days after delivery, 18F-FDG-PET was performed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. RESULTS With intravenous delivery, Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL showed no measurable liver tumor FL signal on day 1 after delivery, but showed better therapeutic efficacy than Ad-pCMV-FL on day 7 (PET tumor/liver ratio, 3.5 ± 0.58 vs 6.0 ± 0.71; P = .02). With intratumoral delivery, Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL showed positive FL signal from all tumors and better therapeutic efficacy than Ad-pCMV-FL on day 7 (2.4 ± 0.50 vs 5.4 ± 0.78; P = .01). In addition, intratumoral delivery of Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL demonstrated significant decrease in tumoral viability compared with intravenous delivery (2.4 ± 0.50 vs 3.5 ± 0.58; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Intratumoral delivery of a transcriptionally targeted therapeutic vector for amplifying tumor-specific effect demonstrated better transduction efficiency and therapeutic efficacy for liver cancer than systemic delivery, and may lead to improved therapeutic outcome for future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Il Kim
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Hwang DW, Lee DS. Optical imaging for stem cell differentiation to neuronal lineage. Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2012; 46:1-9. [PMID: 24900026 DOI: 10.1007/s13139-011-0122-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2011] [Revised: 11/22/2011] [Accepted: 11/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In regenerative medicine, the prospect of stem cell therapy holds great promise for the recovery of injured tissues and effective treatment of intractable diseases. Tracking stem cell fate provides critical information to understand and evaluate the success of stem cell therapy. The recent emergence of in vivo noninvasive molecular imaging has enabled assessment of the behavior of grafted stem cells in living subjects. In this review, we provide an overview of current optical imaging strategies based on cell- or tissue-specific reporter gene expression and of in vivo methods to monitor stem cell differentiation into neuronal lineages. These methods use optical reporters either regulated by neuron-specific promoters or containing neuron-specific microRNA binding sites. Both systems revealed dramatic changes in optical reporter imaging signals in cells differentiating into a neuronal lineage. The detection limit of weak promoters or reporter genes can be greatly enhanced by adopting a yeast GAL4 amplification system or an engineering-enhanced luciferase reporter gene. Furthermore, we propose an advanced imaging system to monitor neuronal differentiation during neurogenesis that uses in vivo multiplexed imaging techniques capable of detecting several targets simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do Won Hwang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-Dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744 Korea ; Institute of Radiation Medicine, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong Soo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-Dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744 Korea ; WCU, Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Science, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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Lee YL, Ahn BC, Lee Y, Lee SW, Cho JY, Lee J. Targeting of hepatocellular carcinoma with glypican-3-targeting peptide ligand. J Pept Sci 2011; 17:763-9. [PMID: 21976137 DOI: 10.1002/psc.1400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2011] [Revised: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 07/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common malignancy. The carcinoma cells express glypican-3 (GPC-3) on the cell membrane. GPC-3 is also expressed in melanoma cells. Therefore, GPC-3 might be a potential target for tumor imaging or therapy. Here, proteomic mass spectrometry was used to identify peptides that target GPC-3-expressing tumors. A mammalian expression vector expressing a FLAG-GPC-3 fusion protein was cloned for immunoprecipitation. With the use of liposomes, the vector was transfected into HepG2 (HepG2/FLAG-GPC-3) and HEK 293 cells, and the transfected cell lines were selected with geneticin. HepG2/FLAG-GPC-3 cells were used for immunoprecipitation of FLAG-GPC-3 fusion protein. Seven peptide candidates (L1-L7) were selected for GPC-3-targeting ligands by mass spectrometric analysis. The L5 peptide with 14 amino acids (Arg-Leu-Asn-Val-Gly-Gly-Thr-Tyr-Phe-Leu-Thr-Thr-Arg-Gln) showed selective binding to the GPC-3-expressing tumor cells, as did a shortened L5 peptide (L5-2) with seven amino acids (Tyr-Phe-Leu-Thr-Thr-Arg-Gln). These peptide ligands have potential as targeting moieties to GPC-3-expressing tumors for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- You La Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Chung Gu, Daegu, South Korea
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Assessment of an altered E1B promoter on the specificity and potency of triple-regulated conditionally replicating adenoviruses: implications for the generation of ideal m-CRAs. Cancer Gene Ther 2011; 18:724-33. [PMID: 21836631 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2011.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although previous studies modified two components of conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAs), which selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells, the most accurate ways to achieve increased cancer specificity (that is, safety) without reducing the anticancer (that is, therapeutic) effects are unknown. Here, we generated two types of survivin-responsive m-CRAs (Surv.m-CRAs), Surv.m-CRA-CMVp and Surv.m-CRA-OCp, which use two and three different mechanisms to target cancer, that is, early region 1A (E1A) regulated by the survivin promoter and mutated E1BΔ55K regulated by the ubiquitously active cytomegalovirus promoter and cancer/tissue-specific osteocalcin promoter, respectively, and carefully examined their safety and anticancer effects. Endogenous osteocalcin mRNA was expressed and further enhanced by vitamin D(3) in all osteosarcoma and prostate cancer cell lines and human osteoblasts, but not in human fibroblasts. The osteocalcin promoter activity was weak even with vitamin D(3) treatment in these osteocalcin-expressing cancers, leading to low E1BΔ55K expression after Surv.m-CRA-OCp infection. Nevertheless, Surv.m-CRA-OCp had significantly increased cancer specificity without reduced anticancer effects in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The unexpected but favorable fact that strong activity of an altered E1B promoter is unnecessary indicates that the majority of cancer/tissue-specific promoters may be used to generate ideal m-CRAs and will advance the development of m-CRA-based cancer therapies.
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Badr CE, Tannous BA. Bioluminescence imaging: progress and applications. Trends Biotechnol 2011; 29:624-33. [PMID: 21788092 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2011.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Application of bioluminescence imaging has increased tremendously in the past decade and has significantly contributed to core conceptual advances in biomedical research. This technology provides valuable means for monitoring of different biological processes in immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In this review, we discuss current trends in bioluminescence and its application in different fields with an emphasis on cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian E Badr
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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