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Picoli CDC, Birbrair A, Li Z. Pericytes as the Orchestrators of Vasculature and Adipogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:126. [PMID: 38275607 PMCID: PMC10815550 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Pericytes (PCs) are located surrounding the walls of small blood vessels, particularly capillaries and microvessels. In addition to their functions in maintaining vascular integrity, participating in angiogenesis, and regulating blood flow, PCs also serve as a reservoir for multi-potent stem/progenitor cells in white, brown, beige, and bone marrow adipose tissues. Due to the complex nature of this cell population, the identification and characterization of PCs has been challenging. A comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity of PCs may enhance their potential as therapeutic targets for metabolic syndromes or bone-related diseases. This mini-review summarizes multiple PC markers commonly employed in lineage-tracing studies, with an emphasis on their contribution to adipogenesis and functions in different adipose depots under diverse metabolic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Birbrair
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Medical Sciences Center, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
| | - Ziru Li
- Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA;
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2
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McCormick AL, Anderson TS, Daugherity EA, Okpalanwaka IF, Smith SL, Appiah D, Lowe DB. Targeting the pericyte antigen DLK1 with an alpha type-1 polarized dendritic cell vaccine results in tumor vascular modulation and protection against colon cancer progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1241949. [PMID: 37849752 PMCID: PMC10578441 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1241949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the availability of various treatment options, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality. Current standard-of-care interventions, including surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted agents like immune checkpoint blockade and anti-angiogenic therapies, have improved short-term patient outcomes depending on disease stage, but survival rates with metastasis remain low. A promising strategy to enhance the clinical experience with CRC involves the use of dendritic cell (DC) vaccines that incite immunity against tumor-derived blood vessels, which are necessary for CRC growth and progression. In this report, we target tumor-derived pericytes expressing DLK1 with a clinically-relevant alpha type-1 polarized DC vaccine (αDC1) in a syngeneic mouse model of colorectal cancer. Our pre-clinical data demonstrate the αDC1 vaccine's ability to induce anti-tumor effects by facilitating cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and ablating the tumor vasculature. This work, overall, provides a foundation to further interrogate immune-mediated mechanisms of protection in order to help devise efficacious αDC1-based strategies for patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. McCormick
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, United States
| | - Trevor S. Anderson
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, United States
| | - Elizabeth A. Daugherity
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, United States
| | - Izuchukwu F. Okpalanwaka
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, United States
| | - Savanna L. Smith
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, United States
| | - Duke Appiah
- Department of Public Health, School of Population and Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Devin B. Lowe
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, United States
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3
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Zhai Y, He K, Huang L, Shang X, Wang G, Yuan G, Han ZG. DLK1-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver Int 2022; 42:2524-2537. [PMID: 36002393 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delta-like homologue 1 (DLK1), a transmembrane protein, is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored whether DLK1-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can specifically eliminate DLK1-positive HCC cells and serve as a therapeutic strategy for HCC immunotherapy. METHODS We first characterized a homemade anti-human DLK1 monoclonal antibody, sequenced the single-chain Fragment variable (scFv) and integrated it into the second-generation CAR lentiviral vector, and then developed the DLK1-directed CAR-T cells. The cytotoxic activities of DLK1-directed CAR-T cells against different HCC cells were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS The genetically modified human T cells with the DLK1-directed CARs produced cytotoxic activity against DLK1-positive HCC cells. Additionally, the DLK1-directed CARs enhanced T cell proliferation and activation in a DLK1-dependent manner. Interestingly, the DLK1-targeted CAR-T cells significantly inhibited both subcutaneous and peritoneal xenograft tumours derived from human liver cancer cell lines HepG2 or Huh-7. CONCLUSION DLK1-directed CAR-T cells specifically suppresses DLK1-positive HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. This study provides a novel transmembrane antigen DLK1 as a potential therapeutic target appropriate for CAR-T cell therapy, which may be further developed as a clinical therapeutic strategy for HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kunyan He
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liyu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuyang Shang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangxing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guandou Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Ze-Guang Han
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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4
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He T, Hao Z, Lin M, Xin Z, Chen Y, Ouyang W, Yang Q, Chen X, Zhou H, Zhang W, Wu P, Xu F. Oncolytic adenovirus promotes vascular normalization and nonclassical tertiary lymphoid structure formation through STING-mediated DC activation. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2093054. [PMID: 35800155 PMCID: PMC9255224 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2093054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Inducing a full antitumor immune response in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is essential for successful cancer immunotherapy. Here, we report that an oncolytic adenovirus carrying mIL-15 (Ad-IL15) can effectively induce antitumor immune response and inhibit tumor growth in a mouse model of cancer. We found that Ad-IL15 facilitated the activation and infiltration of immune cells, including dendritic cells (DCs), T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, in the TME. Unexpectedly, we observed that Ad-IL15 also induced vascular normalization and tertiary lymphoid structure formation in the TME. Moreover, we demonstrated these Ad-IL15-induced changes in the TME were depended on the Ad-IL15-induced activation of the STING-TBK1-IRF3 pathway in DCs. Taken together, our findings suggest that Ad-IL15 is a candidate for cancer immunotherapy that promotes immune cell activation and infiltration, tumor vascular normalization and tertiary lymphoid structure formation in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng He
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhixing Hao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingjie Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhongwei Xin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongyuan Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Ouyang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Emergency, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoke Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanying Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Pin Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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5
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Takács-Vellai K, Farkas Z, Ősz F, Stewart GW. Model systems in SDHx-related pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:1177-1201. [PMID: 34957538 PMCID: PMC8825606 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-10009-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and paraganglioma (PGL) (together PPGL) are tumors with poor outcomes that arise from neuroendocrine cells in the adrenal gland, and sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia outside the adrenal gland, respectively. Many follow germline mutations in genes coding for subunits of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a tetrameric enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle that both converts succinate to fumarate and participates in electron transport. Germline SDH subunit B (SDHB) mutations have a high metastatic potential. Herein, we review the spectrum of model organisms that have contributed hugely to our understanding of SDH dysfunction. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), succinate accumulation inhibits alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase enzymes leading to DNA demethylation. In the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, mutated SDH creates developmental abnormalities, metabolic rewiring, an energy deficit and oxygen hypersensitivity (the latter is also found in Drosophila melanogaster). In the zebrafish Danio rerio, sdhb mutants display a shorter lifespan with defective energy metabolism. Recently, SDHB-deficient pheochromocytoma has been cultivated in xenografts and has generated cell lines, which can be traced back to a heterozygous SDHB-deficient rat. We propose that a combination of such models can be efficiently and effectively used in both pathophysiological studies and drug-screening projects in order to find novel strategies in PPGL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zsolt Farkas
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fanni Ősz
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gordon W Stewart
- Division of Medicine, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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6
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Storkus WJ, Maurer D, Lin Y, Ding F, Bose A, Lowe D, Rose A, DeMark M, Karapetyan L, Taylor JL, Chelvanambi M, Fecek RJ, Filderman JN, Looney TJ, Miller L, Linch E, Lowman GM, Kalinski P, Butterfield LH, Tarhini A, Tawbi H, Kirkwood JM. Dendritic cell vaccines targeting tumor blood vessel antigens in combination with dasatinib induce therapeutic immune responses in patients with checkpoint-refractory advanced melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-003675. [PMID: 34782430 PMCID: PMC8593702 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A first-in-human, randomized pilot phase II clinical trial combining vaccines targeting overexpressed, non-mutated tumor blood vessel antigens (TBVA) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib was conducted in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2+ patients with advanced melanoma. Methods Patient monocyte-derived type-1-polarized dendritic cells were loaded with HLA-A2-presented peptides derived from TBVA (DLK1, EphA2, HBB, NRP1, RGS5, TEM1) and injected intradermally as a vaccine into the upper extremities every other week. Patients were randomized into one of two treatment arms receiving oral dasatinib (70 mg two times per day) beginning in week 5 (Arm A) or in week 1 (Arm B). Trial endpoints included T cell response to vaccine peptides (interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot), objective clinical response (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors V.1.1) and exploratory tumor, blood and serum profiling of immune-associated genes/proteins. Results Sixteen patients with advanced-stage cutaneous (n=10), mucosal (n=1) or uveal (n=5) melanoma were accrued, 15 of whom had previously progressed on programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade. Of 13 evaluable patients, 6 patients developed specific peripheral blood T cell responses against ≥3 vaccine-associated peptides, with further evidence of epitope spreading. All six patients with specific CD8+ T cell response to vaccine-targeted antigens exhibited evidence of T cell receptor (TCR) convergence in association with preferred clinical outcomes (four partial response and two stabilization of disease (SD)). Seven patients failed to respond to vaccination (one SD and six progressive disease). Patients in Arm B (immediate dasatinib) outperformed those in Arm A (delayed dasatinib) for immune response rate (IRR; 66.7% vs 28.6%), objective response rate (ORR) (66.7% vs 0%), overall survival (median 15.45 vs 3.47 months; p=0.0086) and progression-free survival (median 7.87 vs 1.97 months; p=0.063). IRR (80% vs 25%) and ORR (60% vs 12.5%) was greater for females versus male patients. Tumors in patients exhibiting response to treatment displayed (1) evidence of innate and adaptive immune-mediated inflammation and TCR convergence at baseline, (2) on-treatment transcriptional changes associated with reduced hypoxia/acidosis/glycolysis, and (3) increased inflammatory immune cell infiltration and tertiary lymphoid structure neogenesis. Conclusions Combined vaccination against TBVA plus dasatinib was safe and resulted in coordinating immunologic and/or objective clinical responses in 6/13 (46%) evaluable patients with melanoma, particularly those initiating treatment with both agents. Trial registration number NCT01876212.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter J Storkus
- Dermatology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Deena Maurer
- Translational and Regulatory Affairs, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yan Lin
- Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Fei Ding
- Biostatistics, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Anamika Bose
- Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Devin Lowe
- Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, Texas, USA
| | - Amy Rose
- Clinical Research Services, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Melissa DeMark
- Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lilit Karapetyan
- Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jennifer L Taylor
- Dermatology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Manoj Chelvanambi
- Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ronald J Fecek
- Microbiology and Immunology, LECOM, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica N Filderman
- Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Lauren Miller
- Molecular Biology, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Santa Clara, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Linch
- Molecular Biology, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Santa Clara, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Lowman
- Molecular Biology, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Santa Clara, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Pawel Kalinski
- Medical Oncology and Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Lisa H Butterfield
- Research and Development, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, California, USA
- Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ahmad Tarhini
- Cutaneous Oncology and Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hussein Tawbi
- Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John M Kirkwood
- Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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7
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Raica M, Cimpean AM, Ferician OC, Ferician AM. Tumour-associated Angiogenesis and Intermediate Blood Vessels in Renal Cell Carcinoma. CANCER DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS 2021; 1:231-234. [PMID: 35399306 PMCID: PMC8962796 DOI: 10.21873/cdp.10031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Renal cell carcinoma is strongly vascularized, and formation of new blood vessels is a complex and multi-step process. In this study, we analysed the subtypes of intermediate blood vessels, as shown by double immunohistochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tumour-associated blood vessels were identified by double immunostaining based on CD34 and smooth muscle cell actin. Blood vessels were classified both quantitatively and qualitatively based on the expression of the aforementioned two markers. The main criteria to sub-classify intermediate blood vessels was the presence, distribution, and arrangement of perivascular cells. RESULTS We described three subtypes of intermediate blood vessels found particularly in the tumour area: Subtype 1 lacked perivascular cells, subtype 2 showed scattered pericytes attached to the vascular wall, and subtype 3 showed a continuous layer of perivascular cells on one side. CONCLUSION We describe for the first time three subtypes of renal cell carcinoma-associated intermediate blood vessels, which could be important in prognosis and as potential targets for anti-vascular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Raica
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center,Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Anca Maria Cimpean
- Department of Microscopic Morphology/Histology, Angiogenesis Research Center,Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | | | - Adela Maria Ferician
- Department of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
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8
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Sun R, Kong X, Qiu X, Huang C, Wong PP. The Emerging Roles of Pericytes in Modulating Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:676342. [PMID: 34179005 PMCID: PMC8232225 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.676342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pericytes (PCs), known as mural cells, play an important blood vessel (BV) supporting role in regulating vascular stabilization, permeability and blood flow in microcirculation as well as blood brain barrier. In carcinogenesis, defective interaction between PCs and endothelial cells (ECs) contributes to the formation of leaky, chaotic and dysfunctional vasculature in tumors. However, recent works from other laboratories and our own demonstrate that the direct interaction between PCs and other stromal cells/cancer cells can modulate tumor microenvironment (TME) to favor cancer growth and progression, independent of its BV supporting role. Furthermore, accumulating evidence suggests that PCs have an immunomodulatory role. In the current review, we focus on recent advancement in understanding PC's regulatory role in the TME by communicating with ECs, immune cells, and tumor cells, and discuss how we can target PC's functions to re-model TME for an improved cancer treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruipu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangzhan Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyi Qiu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping-Pui Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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9
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Understanding the Heterogeneity of Human Pericyte Subsets in Blood-Brain Barrier Homeostasis and Neurological Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040890. [PMID: 33919664 PMCID: PMC8069782 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pericytes are increasingly recognized as being important in the control of blood–brain barrier permeability and vascular flow. Research on this important cell type has been hindered by widespread confusion regarding the phenotypic identity and nomenclature of pericytes and other perivascular cell types. In addition, pericyte heterogeneity and mouse–human species differences have contributed to confusion. Herein we summarize our present knowledge on the identification of pericytes and pericyte subsets in humans, primarily focusing on recent findings in humans and nonhuman primates. Precise identification and definition of pericytes and pericyte subsets in humans may help us to better understand pericyte biology and develop new therapeutic approaches specifically targeting disease-associated pericyte subsets.
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10
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Chelvanambi M, Fecek RJ, Taylor JL, Storkus WJ. STING agonist-based treatment promotes vascular normalization and tertiary lymphoid structure formation in the therapeutic melanoma microenvironment. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e001906. [PMID: 33526609 PMCID: PMC7852948 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The degree of immune infiltration in tumors, especially CD8+ T cells, greatly impacts patient disease course and response to interventional immunotherapy. Enhancement of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) is a critical element of efficacious therapy and one that may be achieved via administration of agents that promote tumor vascular normalization (VN) and/or induce the development of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) within the tumor microenvironment (TME). METHODS Low-dose stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist ADU S-100 (5 µg/mouse) was delivered intratumorally to established subcutaneous B16.F10 melanomas on days 10, 14 and 17 post-tumor inoculation. Treated and control tumors were isolated at various time points to assess transcriptional changes associated with VN and TLS formation via quantitative PCR (qPCR), with corollary immune cell composition changes in isolated tissues determined using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. In vitro assays were performed on CD11c+ BMDCs treated with 2.5 µg/mL ADU S-100 or CD11c+ DCs isolated from tumor digests and associated transcriptional changes analyzed via qPCR or profiled using DNA microarrays. For T cell repertoireβ-CDR3 analyses, T cell CDR3 was sequenced from gDNA isolated from splenocytes and enzymatically digested tumors. RESULTS We report that activation of STING within the TME leads to slowed melanoma growth in association with increased production of antiangiogenic factors including Tnfsf15 (Vegi) and Cxcl10, and TLS-inducing factors including Ccl19, Ccl21, Lta, Ltb and Light. Therapeutic responses resulting from intratumoral STING activation were characterized by improved VN, enhanced tumor infiltration by CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ DCs and local TLS neogenesis, all of which were dependent on host expression of STING. Consistent with a central role for DC in TLS formation, ADU S-100-activated mCD11c+ DCs also exhibited upregulated expression of TLS promoting factors including lymphotoxin-α (LTA), interleukin (IL)-36, inflammatory chemokines and type I interferons in vitro and in vivo. TLS formation in ADU S-100-treated mice was associated with the development of a highly oligoclonal TIL repertoire enriched in expanded T cell clonotypes unique to the TME and not detected in the periphery. CONCLUSIONS Our data support the premise that i.t. delivery of low-dose STING agonist promotes VN and a proinflammatory TME supportive of TLS formation, enrichment in the TIL repertoire and tumor growth control.
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MESH Headings
- Angiogenic Proteins/genetics
- Angiogenic Proteins/metabolism
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytokines/genetics
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Dendritic Cells/drug effects
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/metabolism
- Female
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/drug effects
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/immunology
- Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/drug therapy
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Melanoma, Experimental/pathology
- Membrane Proteins/agonists
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Neovascularization, Pathologic
- Signal Transduction
- Skin Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Skin Neoplasms/immunology
- Skin Neoplasms/metabolism
- Skin Neoplasms/pathology
- Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/immunology
- Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/metabolism
- Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/pathology
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Chelvanambi
- Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ronald J Fecek
- Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jennifer L Taylor
- Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Walter J Storkus
- Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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11
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The Role of Chemokine Receptor CXCR3 and Its Ligands in Renal Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228582. [PMID: 33202536 PMCID: PMC7696621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The major invasive subtype of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The essential components of cancer development are chronic inflammation and neoangiogenesis. It has been suggested that the chemokine ligand 9, -10, –11 (CXCL9–11) and chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) chemokines receptor expressed on monocytes, T and NK cells may be involved in the inhibition of angiogenesis. However, to date, little is known about the potential clinical significance of these chemokines and their receptor in renal cell carcinoma. Therefore, in this review, we described the role of CXCR3 and its ligands in pathogenesis of RCC. We performed an extensive search of the current literature in our investigation, using the MEDLINE/PubMed database. The changes of chemokines and their specific receptor in renal cell carcinoma were observed. Published studies revealed an increased expression of CXCR3 and elevated concentration of its ligands in RCC. The association between treatment of RCC and CXCL9–11/CXCR3 concentration and expression was also observed. Moreover, CXCR3 and its ligands levels were related to patient’s prognosis, risk of metastasis and tumor growth. This review describes the potential role of CXCR3 and its ligands in pathogenesis of RCC, as well as their potential immune-therapeutic significance. However, future studies should aim to confirm the clinical and prognostic role of CXCL9–11/CXCR3 in renal cell carcinoma.
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12
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Russell KL, Gorgulho CM, Allen A, Vakaki M, Wang Y, Facciabene A, Lee D, Roy P, Buchser WJ, Appleman LJ, Maranchie J, Storkus WJ, Lotze MT. Inhibiting Autophagy in Renal Cell Cancer and the Associated Tumor Endothelium. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 25:165-177. [PMID: 31135523 PMCID: PMC10395074 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The clear cell subtype of kidney cancer encompasses most renal cell carcinoma cases and is associated with the loss of von Hippel-Lindau gene function or expression. Subsequent loss or mutation of the other allele influences cellular stress responses involving nutrient and hypoxia sensing. Autophagy is an important regulatory process promoting the disposal of unnecessary or degraded cellular components, tightly linked to almost all cellular processes. Organelles and proteins that become damaged or that are no longer needed in the cell are sequestered and digested in autophagosomes upon fusing with lysosomes, or alternatively, released via vesicular exocytosis. Tumor development tends to disrupt the regulation of the balance between this process and apoptosis, permitting prolonged cell survival and increased replication. Completed trials of autophagic inhibitors using hydroxychloroquine in combination with other anticancer agents including rapalogues and high-dose interleukin 2 have now been reported. The complex nature of autophagy and the unique biology of clear cell renal cell carcinoma warrant further understanding to better develop the next generation of relevant anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Abigail Allen
- Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | | | - Andrea Facciabene
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Partha Roy
- Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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13
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Huang C, Lowerison MR, Lucien F, Gong P, Wang D, Song P, Chen S. Noninvasive Contrast-Free 3D Evaluation of Tumor Angiogenesis with Ultrasensitive Ultrasound Microvessel Imaging. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4907. [PMID: 30894634 PMCID: PMC6426859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41373-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound microvessel imaging (UMI), when applied with ultrafast planewave acquisitions, has demonstrated superior blood signal sensitivity in comparison to conventional Doppler imaging. Here we propose a high spatial resolution and ultra-sensitive UMI that is based on conventional line-by-line high-frequency ultrasound imagers and singular value decomposition (SVD) clutter filtering for the visualization and quantification of tumor microvasculature and perfusion. The technique was applied to a chicken embryo tumor model of renal cell carcinoma that was treated with two FDA-approved anti-angiogenic agents at clinically relevant dosages. We demonstrate the feasibility of 3D evaluation with UMI to achieve highly sensitive detection of microvasculature using conventional line-by-line ultrasound imaging on a preclinical and commercially available high-frequency ultrasound device without software or hardware modifications. Quantitative parameters (vascularization index and fractional moving blood volume) derived from UMI images provide significantly improved evaluation of anti-angiogenic therapy response as compared with conventional power Doppler imaging, using histological analysis and immunohistochemistry as the reference standard. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that high-frequency UMI is a low-cost, contrast-agent-free, easily applicable, accessible, and quantitative imaging tool for tumor characterization, which may be very useful for preclinical evaluation and longitudinal monitoring of anti-cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengwu Huang
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Matthew R Lowerison
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Fabrice Lucien
- Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ping Gong
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Diping Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Pengfei Song
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Shigao Chen
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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14
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Boardman R, Pang V, Malhi N, Lynch AP, Leach L, Benest AV, Bates DO, Machado MJC. Activation of Notch signaling by soluble Dll4 decreases vascular permeability via a cAMP/PKA-dependent pathway. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2019; 316:H1065-H1075. [PMID: 30681366 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00610.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Notch ligand delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4), upregulated by VEGF, is a key regulator of vessel morphogenesis and function, controlling tip and stalk cell selection during sprouting angiogenesis. Inhibition of Dll4 results in hypersprouting, nonfunctional, poorly perfused vessels, suggesting a role for Dll4 in the formation of mature, reactive, functional vessels, with low permeability and able to restrict fluid and solute exchange. We tested the hypothesis that Dll4 controls transvascular fluid exchange. A recombinant protein expressing only the extracellular portion of Dll4 [soluble Dll4 (sDll4)] induced Notch signaling in endothelial cells (ECs), resulting in increased expression of vascular-endothelial cadherin, but not the tight junctional protein zonula occludens 1, at intercellular junctions. sDll4 decreased the permeability of FITC-labeled albumin across EC monolayers, and this effect was abrogated by coculture with the γ-secretase inhibitor N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester. One of the known molecular effectors responsible for strengthening EC-EC contacts is PKA, so we tested the effect of modulation of PKA on the sDll4-mediated reduction of permeability. Inhibition of PKA reversed the sDll4-mediated reduction in permeability and reduced expression of the Notch target gene Hey1. Knockdown of PKA reduced sDLL4-mediated vascular-endothelial cadherin junctional expression. sDll4 also caused a significant decrease in the hydraulic conductivity of rat mesenteric microvessels in vivo. This reduction was abolished upon coperfusion with the PKA inhibitor H89 dihydrochloride. These results indicate that Dll4 signaling through Notch activation acts through a cAMP/PKA pathway upon intercellular adherens junctions, but not tight junctions, to regulate endothelial barrier function. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Notch signaling reduces vascular permeability through stimulation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Boardman
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Pang
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom
| | - Naseeb Malhi
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom
| | - Amy P Lynch
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom
| | - Lopa Leach
- Division of Physiology Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, The Medical School , Nottingham , United Kingdom
| | - Andrew V Benest
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom.,The Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - David O Bates
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom.,The Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Maria J C Machado
- Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham , Nottingham , United Kingdom
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15
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Fabian KL, Storkus WJ. Immunotherapeutic Targeting of Tumor-Associated Blood Vessels. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1036:191-211. [PMID: 29275473 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-67577-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pathological angiogenesis occurs during tumor progression and leads in the formation of an abnormal vasculature in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The tumor vasculature is disorganized, tortuous and leaky, resulting in high interstitial pressure and hypoxia in the TME, all of which are events that support tumor growth and survival. Given the sustaining role of the tumor vasculature, it has become an increasingly attractive target for the development of anti-cancer therapies. Antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and cancer vaccines that target pro-angiogenic factors, angiogenesis-associated receptors or tumor blood vessel-associated antigens continue to be developed and tested for therapeutic efficacy. Preferred anti-angiogenic protocols include those that "normalize" the tumor-associated vasculature which reduce hypoxia and improve tumor blood perfusion, resulting in tumor cell apoptosis, decreased immunosuppression, and enhanced effector immune cell infiltration/tumoricidal action within the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellsye L Fabian
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Walter J Storkus
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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16
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Paragangliomas arise through an autonomous vasculo-angio-neurogenic program inhibited by imatinib. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:779-798. [PMID: 29305721 PMCID: PMC5904229 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1799-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Tumours can be viewed as aberrant tissues or organs sustained by tumorigenic stem-like cells that engage into dysregulated histo/organogenetic processes. Paragangliomas, prototypical organoid tumours constituted by dysmorphic variants of the vascular and neural tissues found in normal paraganglia, provide a model to test this hypothesis. To understand the origin of paragangliomas, we built a biobank comprising 77 cases, 18 primary cultures, 4 derived cell lines, 80 patient-derived xenografts and 11 cell-derived xenografts. We comparatively investigated these unique complementary materials using morphofunctional, ultrastructural and flow cytometric assays accompanied by microRNA studies. We found that paragangliomas contain stem-like cells with hybrid mesenchymal/vasculoneural phenotype, stabilized and expanded in the derived cultures. The viability and growth of such cultures depended on the downregulation of the miR-200 and miR-34 families, which allowed high PDGFRA and ZEB1 protein expression levels. Both tumour tissue- and cell culture-derived xenografts recapitulated the vasculoneural paraganglioma structure and arose from mesenchymal-like cells through a fixed developmental sequence. First, vasculoangiogenesis organized the microenvironment, building a perivascular niche which in turn supported neurogenesis. Neuroepithelial differentiation was associated with severe mitochondrial dysfunction, not present in cultured paraganglioma cells, but acquired in vivo during xenograft formation. Vasculogenesis was the Achilles’ heel of xenograft development. In fact, imatinib, that targets endothelial-mural signalling, blocked paraganglioma xenograft formation (11 xenografts from 12 cell transplants in the control group versus 2 out of 10 in the treated group, P = 0.0015). Overall our key results were unaffected by the SDHx gene carrier status of the patient, characterized for 70 out of 77 cases. In conclusion, we explain the biphasic vasculoneural structure of paragangliomas and identify an early and pharmacologically actionable phase of paraganglioma organization.
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17
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Fabian KPL, Chi-Sabins N, Taylor JL, Fecek R, Weinstein A, Storkus WJ. Therapeutic efficacy of combined vaccination against tumor pericyte-associated antigens DLK1 and DLK2 in mice. Oncoimmunology 2017; 6:e1290035. [PMID: 28405524 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1290035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
When compared with vascular cells in normal tissues, pericytes and vascular endothelial cells (VEC) in tumor blood vessels exhibit altered morphology and epigenetic programming that leads to the expression of unique antigens that allow for differential recognition by CD8+ T cells. We have previously shown that the Notch antagonist delta-like homolog 1 (DLK1) is a tumor pericyte-associated antigen expressed in setting of melanoma and a range of carcinomas. In this report, we show that therapeutic vaccination against DLK1 in murine models results in slowed tumor growth, but also to the compensatory expression of the DLK1 homolog, DLK2, by tumor-associated pericytes. Vaccines targeting both DLK1 and DLK2 resulted in superior antitumor benefits in association with improved activation and recruitment of antigen-specific Type 1 CD8+ T cells, reduced presence of myeloid-derived suppressive cells, T regulatory cell and tumor vascular normalization. The antitumor efficacy of vaccines coordinately targeting DLK1 and DLK2 was further improved by inclusion of PD-L1 blockade, thus defining a combination immunotherapy theoretically suitable for the treatment of a broad range of solid (vascularized) cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellsye Paula L Fabian
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nina Chi-Sabins
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Taylor
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ronald Fecek
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aliyah Weinstein
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Walter J Storkus
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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18
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Tarhini AA, Tawbi H, Storkus WJ. Vaccine therapy + dasatinib for the treatment of patients with stage IIIB-IV melanoma. Melanoma Manag 2016; 3:251-254. [PMID: 30190895 DOI: 10.2217/mmt-2016-0016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad A Tarhini
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Melanoma Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Melanoma Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Hussein Tawbi
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Walter J Storkus
- Melanoma Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Melanoma Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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19
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Raïch-Regué D, Fabian KP, Watson AR, Fecek RJ, Storkus WJ, Thomson AW. Intratumoral delivery of mTORC2-deficient dendritic cells inhibits B16 melanoma growth by promoting CD8(+) effector T cell responses. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1146841. [PMID: 27471613 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1146841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) play a pivotal role in the induction and regulation of immune responses. In cancer, DC-based vaccines have proven to be safe and to elicit protective and therapeutic immunological responses. Recently, we showed that specific mTORC2 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2) deficiency in DC enhances their ability to promote Th1 and Th17 responses after LPS stimulation. In the present study, bone marrow-derived mTORC2-deficient (Rictor(-/-)) DC were evaluated as a therapeutic modality in the murine B16 melanoma model. Consistent with their pro-inflammatory profile (enhanced IL-12p70 production and low PD-L1 expression versus control DC), intratumoral (i.t.) injection of LPS-activated Rictor(-/-) DC slowed B16 melanoma growth markedly in WT C57BL/6 recipient mice. This antitumor effect was abrogated when Rictor(-/-) DC were injected i.t. into B16-bearing Rag(-/-) mice, and also after selective CD8(+) T cell depletion in wild-type hosts in vivo, indicating that CD8(+) T cells were the principal regulators of tumor growth after Rictor(-/-) DC injection. I.t. administration of Rictor(-/-) DC also reduced the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells within tumors, and enhanced numbers of IFNγ(+) and granzyme-B(+) cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells both in the spleens and tumors of treated animals. These data suggest that selective inhibition of mTORC2 activity in activated DC augments their pro-inflammatory and T cell stimulatory profile, in association with their enhanced capacity to promote protective CD8(+) T cell responses in vivo, leading to slowed B16 melanoma progression. These novel findings may contribute to the design of more effective DC-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dàlia Raïch-Regué
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, US
| | - Kellsye P Fabian
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, US
| | - Alicia R Watson
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, US
| | - Ronald J Fecek
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh, PA, US
| | - Walter J Storkus
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, US; Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Angus W Thomson
- Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, US; Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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20
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Kilian TM, Beck-Sickinger AG. Recombinant expression and characterization of biologically active protein delta homolog 1. Protein Expr Purif 2015; 110:72-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2015.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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21
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A Monoclonal Antibody to Human DLK1 Reveals Differential Expression in Cancer and Absence in Healthy Tissues. Antibodies (Basel) 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/antib4020071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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22
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Wang Z, Dabrosin C, Yin X, Fuster MM, Arreola A, Rathmell WK, Generali D, Nagaraju GP, El-Rayes B, Ribatti D, Chen YC, Honoki K, Fujii H, Georgakilas AG, Nowsheen S, Amedei A, Niccolai E, Amin A, Ashraf SS, Helferich B, Yang X, Guha G, Bhakta D, Ciriolo MR, Aquilano K, Chen S, Halicka D, Mohammed SI, Azmi AS, Bilsland A, Keith WN, Jensen LD. Broad targeting of angiogenesis for cancer prevention and therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 35 Suppl:S224-S243. [PMID: 25600295 PMCID: PMC4737670 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 312] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 12/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of angiogenesis – the growth of new blood vessels from an existing vasculature – is a main driving force in many severe human diseases including cancer. As such, tumor angiogenesis is important for delivering oxygen and nutrients to growing tumors, and therefore considered an essential pathologic feature of cancer, while also playing a key role in enabling other aspects of tumor pathology such as metabolic deregulation and tumor dissemination/metastasis. Recently, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis has become a clinical anti-cancer strategy in line with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, which underscore the critical importance of the angiogenic switch during early tumor development. Unfortunately the clinically approved anti-angiogenic drugs in use today are only effective in a subset of the patients, and many who initially respond develop resistance over time. Also, some of the anti-angiogenic drugs are toxic and it would be of great importance to identify alternative compounds, which could overcome these drawbacks and limitations of the currently available therapy. Finding “the most important target” may, however, prove a very challenging approach as the tumor environment is highly diverse, consisting of many different cell types, all of which may contribute to tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, the tumor cells themselves are genetically unstable, leading to a progressive increase in the number of different angiogenic factors produced as the cancer progresses to advanced stages. As an alternative approach to targeted therapy, options to broadly interfere with angiogenic signals by a mixture of non-toxic natural compound with pleiotropic actions were viewed by this team as an opportunity to develop a complementary anti-angiogenesis treatment option. As a part of the “Halifax Project” within the “Getting to know cancer” framework, we have here, based on a thorough review of the literature, identified 10 important aspects of tumor angiogenesis and the pathological tumor vasculature which would be well suited as targets for anti-angiogenic therapy: (1) endothelial cell migration/tip cell formation, (2) structural abnormalities of tumor vessels, (3) hypoxia, (4) lymphangiogenesis, (5) elevated interstitial fluid pressure, (6) poor perfusion, (7) disrupted circadian rhythms, (8) tumor promoting inflammation, (9) tumor promoting fibroblasts and (10) tumor cell metabolism/acidosis. Following this analysis, we scrutinized the available literature on broadly acting anti-angiogenic natural products, with a focus on finding qualitative information on phytochemicals which could inhibit these targets and came up with 10 prototypical phytochemical compounds: (1) oleanolic acid, (2) tripterine, (3) silibinin, (4) curcumin, (5) epigallocatechin-gallate, (6) kaempferol, (7) melatonin, (8) enterolactone, (9) withaferin A and (10) resveratrol. We suggest that these plant-derived compounds could be combined to constitute a broader acting and more effective inhibitory cocktail at doses that would not be likely to cause excessive toxicity. All the targets and phytochemical approaches were further cross-validated against their effects on other essential tumorigenic pathways (based on the “hallmarks” of cancer) in order to discover possible synergies or potentially harmful interactions, and were found to generally also have positive involvement in/effects on these other aspects of tumor biology. The aim is that this discussion could lead to the selection of combinations of such anti-angiogenic compounds which could be used in potent anti-tumor cocktails, for enhanced therapeutic efficacy, reduced toxicity and circumvention of single-agent anti-angiogenic resistance, as well as for possible use in primary or secondary cancer prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongwei Wang
- Department of Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Charlotta Dabrosin
- Department of Oncology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Xin Yin
- Medicine and Research Services, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System & University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mark M Fuster
- Medicine and Research Services, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System & University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Alexandra Arreola
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Daniele Generali
- Molecular Therapy and Pharmacogenomics Unit, AO Isituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | - Ganji P Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bassel El-Rayes
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy; National Cancer Institute Giovanni Paolo II, Bari, Italy
| | - Yi Charlie Chen
- Department of Biology, Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi, WV, USA
| | - Kanya Honoki
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Arthroplasty and Regenerative Medicine, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Fujii
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Arthroplasty and Regenerative Medicine, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Somaira Nowsheen
- Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Niccolai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Amr Amin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirate University, United Arab Emirates; Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - S Salman Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirate University, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bill Helferich
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xujuan Yang
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Gunjan Guha
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Dipita Bhakta
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | | | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Sophie Chen
- Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Research Trust Laboratory, Guilford, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Sulma I Mohammed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Asfar S Azmi
- School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Alan Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - W Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lasse D Jensen
- Department of Medical, and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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23
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Meseure D, Drak Alsibai K, Nicolas A. Pivotal role of pervasive neoplastic and stromal cells reprogramming in circulating tumor cells dissemination and metastatic colonization. CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT SOCIETY 2014; 7:95-115. [PMID: 25523234 PMCID: PMC4275542 DOI: 10.1007/s12307-014-0158-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between neoplastic cells and their microenvironment are crucial events in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Pervasive stromal reprogramming and remodeling that transform a normal to a tumorigenic microenvironment modify numerous stromal cells functions, status redox, oxidative stress, pH, ECM stiffness and energy metabolism. These environmental factors allow selection of more aggressive cancer cells that develop important adaptive strategies. Subpopulations of cancer cells acquire new properties associating plasticity, stem-like phenotype, unfolded protein response, metabolic reprogramming and autophagy, production of exosomes, survival to anoikis, invasion, immunosuppression and therapeutic resistance. Moreover, by inducing vascular transdifferentiation of cancer cells and recruiting endothelial cells and pericytes, the tumorigenic microenvironment induces development of tumor-associated vessels that allow invasive cells to gain access to the tumor vessels and to intravasate. Circulating cancer cells can survive in the blood stream by interacting with the intravascular microenvironment, extravasate through the microvasculature and interact with the metastatic microenvironment of target organs. In this review, we will focus on many recent paradigms involved in the field of tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Meseure
- Platform of Investigative Pathology and Department of Biopathology, Curie Institute, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248, Paris, Cedex 05, France,
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24
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Delta-Like Homologue 1 and Its Role in the Bone Marrow Niche and Hematologic Malignancies. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2014; 14:451-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2014.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 06/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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25
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Tuohy VK. Retired self-proteins as vaccine targets for primary immunoprevention of adult-onset cancers. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 13:1447-62. [DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2014.953063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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26
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McManus MM, Weiss KR, Hughes DPM. Understanding the role of Notch in osteosarcoma. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 804:67-92. [PMID: 24924169 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04843-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The Notch pathway has been described as an oncogene in osteosarcoma, but the myriad functions of all the members of this complex signaling pathway, both in malignant cells and nonmalignant components of tumors, make it more difficult to define Notch as simply an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. The cell-autonomous behaviors caused by Notch pathway manipulation may vary between cell lines but can include changes in proliferation, migration, invasiveness, oxidative stress resistance, and expression of markers associated with stemness or tumor-initiating cells. Beyond these roles, Notch signaling also plays a vital role in regulating tumor angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, which are vital aspects of osteosarcoma growth and behavior in vivo. Further, osteosarcoma cells themselves express relatively low levels of Notch ligand, making it likely that nonmalignant cells, especially endothelial cells and pericytes, are the major source of Notch activation in osteosarcoma tumors in vivo and in patients. As a result, Notch pathway expression is not expected to be uniform across a tumor but likely to be highest in those areas immediately adjacent to blood vessels. Therapeutic targeting of the Notch pathway is likewise expected to be complicated. Most pharmacologic approaches thus far have focused on inhibition of gamma secretase, a protease of the presenilin complex. This enzyme, however, has numerous other target proteins that would be expected to affect osteosarcoma behavior, including CD44, the WNT/β-catenin pathway, and Her-4. In addition, Notch plays a vital role in tissue and organ homeostasis in numerous systems, and toxicities, especially GI intolerance, have limited the effectiveness of gamma secretase inhibitors. New approaches are in development, and the downstream targets of Notch pathway signaling also may turn out to be good targets for therapy. In summary, a full understanding of the complex functions of Notch in osteosarcoma is only now unfolding, and this deeper knowledge will help position the field to better utilize novel therapies as they are developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madonna M McManus
- The Children's Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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