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The Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 (VEGFR-1) D16F7 Monoclonal Antibody Inhibits Melanoma Adhesion to Soluble VEGFR-1 and Tissue Invasion in Response to Placenta Growth Factor. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225578. [PMID: 36428669 PMCID: PMC9688925 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Placenta growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family involved in tumor-associated angiogenesis and melanoma invasion of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) through activation of membrane VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR-1). A soluble VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) form is released in the ECM, where it sequesters proangiogenic factors and stimulates endothelial or tumor cell adhesion and chemotaxis through interaction with α5β1 integrin. The anti-VEGFR-1 monoclonal antibody (D16F7 mAb) inhibits VEGF-A or PlGF-mediated signal transduction without affecting ligand interaction, thus preserving sVEGFR-1 decoy function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether D16F7 mAb hampers melanoma spread by in vitro analysis of cell adhesion to sVEGFR-1, ECM invasion, transmigration through an endothelial cell monolayer and in vivo evaluation of tumor infiltrative potential in a syngeneic murine model. Results indicate that D16F7 mAb significantly inhibits melanoma adhesion to sVEGFR-1 and ECM invasion, as well as transmigration in response to PlGF. Moreover, treatment of melanoma-bearing mice with the anti-VEGFR-1 mAb not only inhibits tumor growth but also induces a significant reduction in bone infiltration associated with a decrease in PlGF-positive melanoma cells. Furthermore, D16F7 mAb reduces PlGF production by melanoma cells. Therefore, blockade of PLGF/VEGFR-1 signaling represents a suitable strategy to counteract the metastatic potential of melanoma.
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Pombo Pasín MC, Pubul Nuñez V, García Bernardo L, Gude Sampedro F, Abdulkader-Nallib I, Ruibal Morell A. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 in non small cell lung carcinomas: Lower VEGFR1 expression is asociated with squamous cell carcinoma subtype and high SUV max values in 18F-FDG PET. Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol 2022; 41:28-31. [PMID: 34991832 DOI: 10.1016/j.remnie.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To study the possible relation between immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and the maximum standardised uptake value (SUV max) of 18F-FDG PET in patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 39 patients with NSCLC (24 squamous cell carcinomas and 15 adenocarcinomas). According to the clinical stage, the patients were distributed as follows: 8 stage I, 7 stage II, 15 stage III and 9 stage IV. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 was studied through the technique of tissue-matrix using Tissue Arrayer Device (Beecher Instruments, Sun Prairie, WI), using the polyclonal antibody against VEGFR1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA). RESULTS Positive VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression was noted in 23 cases (59%). The number of positive tumours was not related with clinical stage but there was a different statistically significant association (p:0,0009) between VEGFR1 positivity and histological type, corresponding the greater percentages of positive results to adenocarcinomas (93,3%) versus in squamous cell carcinomas (37,5%). Likewise, SUV max values were higher (p: 0,039) in negative VEGFR1 carcinomas than in positive VEGFR1 tumors (r: 4-32,1; 16,4+/-6,4 (median 16,1) vs r: 3-47; 14,5+/-8,6 (12,8)). CONCLUSIONS Our results led us to consider that in NSCLC, the negative VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression is associated significantly with squamous cell carcinomas subtype and with higher SUV max values in 18F-FDG-PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Pombo Pasín
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - V Pubul Nuñez
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - L García Bernardo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - F Gude Sampedro
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - I Abdulkader-Nallib
- Department of Pathology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela. Spain
| | - A Ruibal Morell
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Molecular Imaging Group. USC- IDIS. University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Fundación Tejerina. Madrid, Spain
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Görte J, Danen E, Cordes N. Therapy-Naïve and Radioresistant 3-Dimensional Pancreatic Cancer Cell Cultures Are Effectively Radiosensitized by β1 Integrin Targeting. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 112:487-498. [PMID: 34481933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a cancer with unmet needs. The role of highly conformal radiation therapy is still under debate for PDAC. Owing to its desmoplastic nature, integrin-mediated interactions between PDAC cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) profoundly contribute to PDAC therapy resistance. In this study, we investigated the radiochemosensitizing potential of β1 integrin targeting in therapy-naïve and radioresistant PDAC cell cultures grown in 3-dimensional (3D) ECM. METHODS AND MATERIALS In a panel of 3D, ECM-based PDAC cell cultures, β1 integrin was inhibited by antibodies or siRNA-mediated knockdown. Together with x-ray irradiation and specific chemotherapies, we determined 3D colony formation capacity in therapy-naïve and radioresistant PDAC cultures. We used kinome profiling, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence stainings to characterize these cell lines. Various siRNA screens were conducted to identify novel therapeutic targets. RESULTS We found a significant radiosensitizing potential of β1 integrin inhibition both in therapy-naïve and radioresistant PDAC cell cultures. Kinome profiling upon β1 integrin targeting identified a generally declined tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase activity, which presented less prominent in radioresistant than in therapy-naïve PDAC cells. siRNA screens employing the top 34 deregulated kinases in combination with β1 integrin inhibition revealed less efficacy and less radiosensitization in radioresistant relative to therapy-naïve PDAC cell cultures. Triple inhibition of β1 integrin, protein kinase D1, and rearranged during transfection turned out to be most effective in reducing 3D colony formation of radioresistant PDAC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study clearly shows that β1 integrins are robust targets for overcoming radioresistance in PDAC. This seems to apply equally to therapy-sensitive and radioresistant cells. Concerning tumor heterogeneity, this dual therapy-sensitizing potential might be exploitable for a significant improvement of patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Görte
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, Dresden, Germany
| | - Erik Danen
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nils Cordes
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Radiooncology-OncoRay, Dresden, Germany; German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site Dresden: German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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Colotti G, Failla CM, Lacal PM, Ungarelli M, Ruffini F, Di Micco P, Orecchia A, Morea V. Neuropilin-1 is required for endothelial cell adhesion to soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1. FEBS J 2021; 289:183-198. [PMID: 34252269 PMCID: PMC9290910 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neuropilin‐1 (NRP‐1) is a semaphorin receptor involved in neuron guidance, and a co‐receptor for selected isoforms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. NRP‐1 binding to several VEGF‐A isoforms promotes growth factor interaction with VEGF receptor (VEGFR)‐2, increasing receptor phosphorylation. Additionally, NRP‐1 directly interacts with VEGFR‐1, but this interaction competes with NRP‐1 binding to VEGF‐A165 and does not enhance VEGFR‐1 activation. In this work, we investigated in detail the role of NRP‐1 interaction with the soluble isoform of VEGFR‐1 (sVEGFR‐1) in angiogenesis. sVEGFR‐1 acts both as a decoy receptor for VEGFs and as an extracellular matrix protein directly binding to α5β1 integrin on endothelial cells. By combining cell adhesion assays and surface plasmon resonance experiments on purified proteins, we found that sVEGFR‐1/NRP‐1 interaction is required both for α5β1 integrin binding to sVEGFR‐1 and for endothelial cell adhesion to a sVEGFR‐1‐containing matrix. We also found that a previously reported anti‐angiogenic peptide (Flt2‐11), which maps in the second VEGFR‐1 Ig‐like domain, specifically binds NRP‐1 and inhibits NRP‐1/sVEGFR‐1 interaction, a process that likely contributes to its anti‐angiogenic activity. In view of potential translational applications, we developed a five‐residue‐long peptide, derived from Flt2‐11, which has the same ability as the parent Flt2‐11 peptide to inhibit cell adhesion to, and migration towards, sVEGFR‐1. Therefore, the Flt2‐5 peptide represents a potential anti‐angiogenic compound per se, as well as an attractive lead for the development of novel angiogenesis inhibitors acting with a different mechanism with respect to currently used therapeutics, which interfere with VEGF‐A165 binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Colotti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Patrizio Di Micco
- Department of Biochemical Sciences 'A. Rossi Fanelli', Sapienza' University of Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Orecchia
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology, IDI-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Morea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM) of the National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
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Pombo Pasín MC, Pubul Nuñez V, García Bernardo L, Gude Sampedro F, Abdulkader-Nallib I, Ruibal Morell A. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 in non small cell lung carcinomas: Lower VEGFR1 expression is asociated with squamous cell carcinoma subtype and high max SUV values in 18F-FDG PET. Rev Esp Med Nucl Imagen Mol 2021; 41:S2253-654X(20)30169-4. [PMID: 33994329 DOI: 10.1016/j.remn.2020.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To study the possible relation between immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and the maximum standardised uptake value (maxSUV) of 18F-FDG PET in patients with non small cell lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 39 patients with NSCLC (24 squamous cell carcinomas and 15 adenocarcinomas). According to the clinical stage, the patients were distributed as follows: 8 stage I, 7 stage II, 15 stage III and 9 stage IV. Immunohistochemical expression of VEGFR1 was studied through the technique of tissue-matrix using tissue arrayer device (Beecher Instruments, Sun Prairie, WI), using the polyclonal antibody against VEGFR1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, California, USA). RESULTS Positive VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression was noted in 23 cases (59%). The number of positive tumours was not related with clinical stage but there was a different statistically significant association (p:.0009) between VEGFR1 positivity and histological type, corresponding the greater percentages of positive results to adenocarcinomas (93.3%) versus in squamous cell carcinomas (37.5%). Likewise, maxSUV values were higher (p: .039) in negative VEGFR1 carcinomas than in positive VEGFR1 tumors (r: 4-32.1; 16.4+/-6.4 [median 16.1] vs. r: 3-47; 14.5+/-8.6 [12.8]). CONCLUSIONS Our results led us to consider that in NSCLC, the negative VEGFR1 immunohistochemical expression is associated significantly with squamous cell carcinomas subtype and with higher maxSUV values in 18F-FDG-PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Pombo Pasín
- Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España.
| | - V Pubul Nuñez
- Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España
| | - L García Bernardo
- Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España
| | - F Gude Sampedro
- Unidad de Epidemiología Clínica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España
| | - I Abdulkader-Nallib
- Departamento de Patología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España
| | - A Ruibal Morell
- Departamento de Medicina Nuclear, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España; Grupo de Imagen Molecular USC- IDIS, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, España; Fundación Tejerina, Madrid, España
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Li K, Wang Z. Splicing factor SRSF2-centric gene regulation. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:1708-1715. [PMID: 33994855 PMCID: PMC8120470 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.58888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) is a splicing factor that is widely expressed in a variety of mammalian cell types. Increasing evidence has confirmed that SRSF2 plays vital roles in a number of biological and pathological processes. Therefore, it is important to understand how its expression is regulated, and how it regulates the expression of its target genes. Recently, we found that SRSF2 expression could be upregulated by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection, and that altered SRSF2 expression, in turn, epigenetically regulates the transcription of HSV-1 genes. Further studies on T cell exhaustion demonstrated that upregulated SRSF2 in exhausted T cells elevated the levels of multiple immune checkpoint molecules by associating with the acyl-transferases, P300 and CBP, and by altering histone modification near the transcription start sites of these genes, thereby influencing signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 binding to these gene promoters. These findings suggest that SRSF2 acts as an important sensor and effector during disease progression. Here, we discuss the molecules that regulate SRSF2 gene expression and their associated mechanisms, and the mechanisms via which SRSF2 regulates the expression of target genes, thus providing novel insights into the central role of SRSF2 in gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Ziqiang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan 250014, China.,Biomedical Sciences College & Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China
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Liang P, Ballou B, Lv X, Si W, Bruchez MP, Huang W, Dong X. Monotherapy and Combination Therapy Using Anti-Angiogenic Nanoagents to Fight Cancer. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005155. [PMID: 33684242 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic therapy, targeting vascular endothelial cells (ECs) to prevent tumor growth, has been attracting increasing attention in recent years, beginning with bevacizumab (Avastin) through its Phase II/III clinical trials on solid tumors. However, these trials showed only modest clinical efficiency; moreover, anti-angiogenic therapy may induce acquired resistance to the drugs employed. Combining advanced drug delivery techniques (e.g., nanotechnology) or other therapeutic strategies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, and immunotherapy) with anti-angiogenic therapy results in significantly synergistic effects and has opened a new horizon in fighting cancer. Herein, clinical difficulties in using traditional anti-angiogenic therapy are discussed. Then, several promising applications of anti-angiogenic nanoagents in monotherapies and combination therapies are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of anti-angiogenic cancer therapy are summarized. A useful introduction to anti-angiogenic strategies, which may significantly improve therapeutic outcomes, is thus provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pingping Liang
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211800, China
| | - Byron Ballou
- Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Mellon Institute, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States
| | - Xinyi Lv
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211800, China
| | - Weili Si
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211800, China
| | - Marcel P Bruchez
- Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center, Carnegie Mellon University, Mellon Institute, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, United States
| | - Wei Huang
- Shaanxi Institute of Flexible Electronics (SIFE), Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), 127 West Youyi Road, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Xiaochen Dong
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211800, China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
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Understanding the role of integrins in breast cancer invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Oncogene 2021; 40:1043-1063. [PMID: 33420366 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01588-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Integrins are cell adhesion receptors, which are typically transmembrane glycoproteins that connect to the extracellular matrix (ECM). The function of integrins regulated by biochemical events within the cells. Understanding the mechanisms of cell growth by integrins is important in elucidating their effects on tumor progression. One of the major events in integrin signaling is integrin binding to extracellular ligands. Another event is distant signaling that gathers chemical signals from outside of the cell and transmit the signals upon cell adhesion to the inside of the cell. In normal breast tissue, integrins function as checkpoints to monitor effects on cell proliferation, while in cancer tissue these functions altered. The combination of tumor microenvironment and its associated components determines the cell fate. Hypoxia can increase the expression of several integrins. The exosomal integrins promote the growth of metastatic cells. Expression of certain integrins is associated with increased metastasis and decreased prognosis in cancers. In addition, integrin-binding proteins promote invasion and metastasis in breast cancer. Targeting specific integrins and integrin-binding proteins may provide new therapeutic approaches for breast cancer therapies. This review will examine the current knowledge of integrins' role in breast cancer.
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Di Matteo A, Belloni E, Pradella D, Cappelletto A, Volf N, Zacchigna S, Ghigna C. Alternative splicing in endothelial cells: novel therapeutic opportunities in cancer angiogenesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2020; 39:275. [PMID: 33287867 PMCID: PMC7720527 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01753-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a pervasive molecular process generating multiple protein isoforms, from a single gene. It plays fundamental roles during development, differentiation and maintenance of tissue homeostasis, while aberrant AS is considered a hallmark of multiple diseases, including cancer. Cancer-restricted AS isoforms represent either predictive biomarkers for diagnosis/prognosis or targets for anti-cancer therapies. Here, we discuss the contribution of AS regulation in cancer angiogenesis, a complex process supporting disease development and progression. We consider AS programs acting in a specific and non-redundant manner to influence morphological and functional changes involved in cancer angiogenesis. In particular, we describe relevant AS variants or splicing regulators controlling either secreted or membrane-bound angiogenic factors, which may represent attractive targets for therapeutic interventions in human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Di Matteo
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisa Belloni
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Pradella
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Ambra Cappelletto
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Nina Volf
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34149, Trieste, Italy. .,Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Claudia Ghigna
- Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
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Zhang L, Jiang C, Chen X, Gu J, Song Q, Zhong H, Xiong S, Dong Q, Yu J, Deng N. Large-scale production, purification, and function of a tumor multi-epitope vaccine: Peptibody with bFGF/VEGFA. Eng Life Sci 2020; 20:422-436. [PMID: 32944017 PMCID: PMC7481771 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.202000020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In tumor tissue, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) promote tumorigenesis by activating angiogenesis, but targeting single factor may produce drug resistance and compensatory angiogenesis. The Peptibody with bFGF/VEGFA was designed to simultaneously blockade these two factors. We were aiming to produce this Fc fusion protein in a large scale. The biological characterizations of Peptibody strains were identified as Escherichia coli and the fermentation mode was optimized in the shake flasks and 10-L bioreactor. The fermentation was scaled up to 100 L, with wet cell weight (WCW) 126 g/L, production 1.41 g/L, and productivity 0.35 g/(L·h) of IPTG induction. The target protein was isolated by cation-exchange, hydrophobic and Protein A chromatography, with total recovery of 60.28% and HPLC purity of 86.71%. The host cells protein, DNA, and endotoxin residues were within the threshold. In mouse model, immunization of Peptibody vaccine could significantly suppressed the tumor growth and angiogenesis, with inhibition rate of 57.73 and 39.34%. The Peptibody vaccine could elicit high-titer anti-bFGF and anti-VEGFA antibodies, which inhibited the proliferation and migration of Lewis lung cancer cell cells by decreasing the Akt/MAPK signal pathways. Therefore, the Peptibody with bFGF/VEGFA might be used as a therapeutic tumor vaccine. The large-scale process we developed could support its industrial production and pre-clinical study in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligang Zhang
- Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and ImmunoassayDepartment of BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Chengcheng Jiang
- Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and ImmunoassayDepartment of BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Xi Chen
- Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and ImmunoassayDepartment of BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Jiangtao Gu
- Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and ImmunoassayDepartment of BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Qifang Song
- Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and ImmunoassayDepartment of BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Hui Zhong
- The Biomedicine Translational Institute in Jinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Sheng Xiong
- Guangdong Jida Genetic Medicine Engineering Research Center Co. LtdGuangzhouP. R. China
| | | | - Jin‐Chen Yu
- Bio‐Thera Solution Co. LtdGuangzhouP. R. China
| | - Ning Deng
- Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and ImmunoassayDepartment of BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhouP. R. China
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Zhang L, Deng Y, Zhang Y, Liu C, Zhang S, Zhu W, Tang Y, Deng N. The Design, Characterizations, and Tumor Angiogenesis Inhibition of a Multi-Epitope Peptibody With bFGF/VEGFA. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1190. [PMID: 32766160 PMCID: PMC7379876 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor angiogenesis is dependent on growth factors, and inhibition of their pathways is one of the promising strategies in cancer therapy. However, resistance to single pathway has been a great concern in clinical trials so that it necessitates multiple targetable factors for developing tumor angiogenesis inhibitors. Moreover, the strategy of Fc fusion protein is an attractive platform for novel peptide agents, which gains increasing importance with FDA approval because of better immunogenicity and stability. Here, we applied the Fc fusion protein concept to bFGF/VEGFA pathways and designed a multi-epitope Peptibody with immunogenic peptides derived from human bFGF and VEGFA sequences. Immunization with Peptibody could elicit high-titer anti-bFGF and anti-VEGFA antibodies, activate T cells, and induce Th1/Th2-type cytokines. In in vitro experiments, the isolated anti-Peptibody antibody inhibited the proliferation and migration of A549 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by decreasing the MAPK/Akt/mTOR signal pathways. In the murine tumor model, pre-immunization with Peptibody suppressed the tumor growth and neovascularization of lung cancer by decreasing the production of bFGF/VEGFA/PDGF, the MAPK/Akt/mTOR signal pathways, and the activation of suppressive cells in tumor sites. Further, the biological characterizations of the recombinant Peptibody were investigated systematically, including protein primary structure, secondary structure, stability, and toxicity. Collectively, the results highlighted the strategy of bFGF/VEGFA pathways and Fc fusion protein in suppressing tumor progression and angiogenesis, which emphasized the potential of multiple targetable factors for producing enduring clinical responses in tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligang Zhang
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanrui Deng
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yinmei Zhang
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Simin Zhang
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zhu
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Tang
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ning Deng
- Department of Biology, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Antibody Drug and Immunoassay, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Ceci C, Atzori MG, Lacal PM, Graziani G. Role of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 Signaling and its Inhibition in Modulating Tumor Invasion: Experimental Evidence in Different Metastatic Cancer Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1388. [PMID: 32085654 PMCID: PMC7073125 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members, VEGF-A, placenta growth factor (PlGF), and to a lesser extent VEGF-B, play an essential role in tumor-associated angiogenesis, tissue infiltration, and metastasis formation. Although VEGF-A can activate both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 membrane receptors, PlGF and VEGF-B exclusively interact with VEGFR-1. Differently from VEGFR-2, which is involved both in physiological and pathological angiogenesis, in the adult VEGFR-1 is required only for pathological angiogenesis. Besides this role in tumor endothelium, ligand-mediated stimulation of VEGFR-1 expressed in tumor cells may directly induce cell chemotaxis and extracellular matrix invasion. Furthermore, VEGFR-1 activation in myeloid progenitors and tumor-associated macrophages favors cancer immune escape through the release of immunosuppressive cytokines. These properties have prompted a number of preclinical and clinical studies to analyze VEGFR-1 involvement in the metastatic process. The aim of the present review is to highlight the contribution of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 signaling in the progression of different tumor types and to provide an overview of the therapeutic approaches targeting VEGFR-1 currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Atzori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, “Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico”, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
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13
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de Fraipont F, Gazzeri S, Cho WC, Eymin B. Circular RNAs and RNA Splice Variants as Biomarkers for Prognosis and Therapeutic Response in the Liquid Biopsies of Lung Cancer Patients. Front Genet 2019; 10:390. [PMID: 31134126 PMCID: PMC6514155 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer, including non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), is the most frequently diagnosed cancer. It is also the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide because of its late diagnosis and its resistance to therapies. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of therapeutic response is urgently needed. Liquid biopsies, especially blood, are considered as promising tools to detect and quantify circulating cancer biomarkers. Cell-free circulating tumor DNA has been extensively studied. Recently, the possibility to detect and quantify RNAs in tumor biopsies, notably circulating cell-free RNAs, has gained great attention. RNA alternative splicing contributes to the proteome diversity through the biogenesis of several mRNA splice variants from the same pre-mRNA. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a new class of RNAs resulting from pre-mRNA back splicing. Owing to the development of high-throughput transcriptomic analyses, numerous RNA splice variants and, more recently, circRNAs have been identified and found to be differentially expressed in tumor patients compared to healthy controls. The contribution of some of these RNA splice variants and circRNAs to tumor progression, dissemination, or drug response has been clearly demonstrated in preclinical models. In this review, we discuss the potential of circRNAs and mRNA splice variants as candidate biomarkers for the prognosis and the therapeutic response of NSCLC in liquid biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence de Fraipont
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.,Grenoble Hospital, La Tronche, France
| | - Sylvie Gazzeri
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - William C Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Beatrice Eymin
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
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14
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Abou Faycal C, Gazzeri S, Eymin B. A VEGF-A/SOX2/SRSF2 network controls VEGFR1 pre-mRNA alternative splicing in lung carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:336. [PMID: 30674935 PMCID: PMC6344584 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36728-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The splice variant sVEGFR1-i13 is a truncated version of the cell membrane-spanning VEGFR1 receptor that is devoid of its transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains. We recently showed the contribution of sVEGFR1-i13 to the progression and the response of squamous lung carcinoma to anti-angiogenic therapies. In this study, we identify VEGF165, a splice variant of VEGF-A, as a regulator of sVEGFR1-i13 expression in these tumors, and further show that VEGF165 cooperates with the transcription factor SOX2 and the splicing factor SRSF2 to control sVEGFR1-i13 expression. We also demonstrate that anti-angiogenic therapies up-regulate sVEGFR1-i13 protein level in squamous lung carcinoma cells by a mechanism involving the VEGF165/SOX2/SRSF2 network. Collectively, our results identify for the first time a signaling network that controls VEGFR1 pre-mRNA alternative splicing in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherine Abou Faycal
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Institute For Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, 38042, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, 38041, France
| | - Sylvie Gazzeri
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Institute For Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, 38042, France.,Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, 38041, France
| | - Beatrice Eymin
- INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Institute For Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, 38042, France. .,Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, 38041, France.
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15
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Lacal PM, Graziani G. Therapeutic implication of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) targeting in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment by competitive and non-competitive inhibitors. Pharmacol Res 2018; 136:97-107. [PMID: 30170190 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) is a tyrosine kinase receptor for VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and placental growth factor (PlGF) ligands that is expressed in endothelial, myelomonocytic and tumor cells. VEGF-B and PlGF exclusively bind to VEGFR-1, whereas VEGF-A also binds to VEGFR-2. At variance with VEGFR-2, VEGFR-1 does not play a relevant role in physiological angiogenesis in the adult, while it is important in tumor-associated angiogenesis. VEGFR-1 and PlGF are expressed in a variety of tumors, promote invasiveness and contribute to resistance to anti-VEGF-A therapy. The currently approved antiangiogenic therapies for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors hamper VEGF-A signaling mediated by both VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-1 [i.e., the monoclonal antibody (mAb) anti-VEGF-A bevacizumab, the chimeric molecule aflibercept and several small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors] or exclusively by VEGFR-2 (i.e., the mAb anti-VEGFR-2 ramucirumab). However, molecules that interfere with VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling determine severe adverse effects due to inhibition of physiological angiogenesis and their efficacy is hampered by tumor infiltration of protumoral myeloid cells. Blockade of VEGFR-1 may exert anti-tumor activity by multiple mechanisms: a) inhibition of tumor-associated angiogenesis; b) reduction of myeloid progenitor mobilization and tumor infiltration by VEGFR-1 expressing M2 macrophages, which contribute to tumor progression and spreading; c) inhibition of invasiveness, vasculogenic mimicry and survival of VEGFR-1 positive tumor cells. As a consequence of these properties, molecules targeting VEGFR-1 are expected to produce less adverse effects and to counteract resistance towards anti-VEGF-A therapies. More interestingly, selective VEGFR-1 inhibition might enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we will examine the experimental evidence available so far that supports targeting VEGFR-1 signal transduction pathway for cancer treatment by competitive inhibitors that prevent growth factor interaction with the receptor and non-competitive inhibitors that hamper receptor activation without affecting ligand binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy.
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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