1
|
Lizunou Y, Potthoff AL, Schäfer N, Waha A, Borger V, Herrlinger U, Vatter H, Schuss P, Schneider M. Cerebellar glioblastoma in adults: a comparative single-center matched pair analysis and systematic review of the literature. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:432. [PMID: 39340649 PMCID: PMC11438707 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05959-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The rarity of cerebellar glioblastoma presents a significant challenge in clinical practice due to the lack of extensive prognostic data on long-term survival rates, rendering it an underrepresented entity compared to its supratentorial counterpart. This study aims to analyze potential differences in survival outcome between patients with cerebellar and supratentorial glioblastomas. METHODS From 2009 to 2020, 8 patients underwent surgical treatment for cerebellar glioblastoma at the authors' institution. These patients were individually matched with a cohort of 205 consecutive patients from our institutional database with supratentorial glioblastoma, taking into account key prognostic parameters. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were compared. Additionally, we performed a systematic literature review to compile further survival data on cerebellar glioblastoma patients. RESULTS The median OS for cerebellar glioblastoma patients was 18 months (95% CI 11-25). The balanced matched-pair analysis showed no significant difference in survival when compared to patients with supratentorial glioblastoma, exhibiting a median OS of 23 months (95% CI 0-62) (p = 0.63). Respective values for PFS were 8 months (95% CI 4-12) for cerebellar and 7 months (95% CI 0-16) for supratentorial glioblastoma (p = 0.2). The systematic review revealed that median OS for cerebellar glioblastoma in current literature ranges from 7 to 21 months. CONCLUSIONS The present findings indicate that patients with supra- and infratentorial glioblastoma do not significantly differ in regard to survival outcome parameters. This similarity in prognosis might encourage clinicians to consider surgical interventions for both supra- and infratentorial glioblastoma in a similar manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yauhen Lizunou
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | | | - Niklas Schäfer
- Department of Neurology, Devision of Neurooncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Waha
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Valeri Borger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ulrich Herrlinger
- Department of Neurology, Devision of Neurooncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hartmut Vatter
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Patrick Schuss
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang ZS, Gao ZX, He JJ, Ma C, Tao HT, Zhu FY, Cheng YN, Xie CQ, Li JQ, Liu ZZ, Hou LL, Sun H, Xie SQ, Fang D. Andrographolide sensitizes glioma to temozolomide by inhibiting DKK1 expression. Br J Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41416-024-02842-0. [PMID: 39266624 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02842-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first-line chemotherapeutic drug for gliomas treatment. However, the clinical efficacy of TMZ in glioma patients was very limited. Therefore, it is urgently needed to discover a novel approach to increase the sensitivity of glioma cells to TMZ. METHODS Western blot, immunohistochemical staining, and qRT-PCR assays were used to explore the mechanisms underlying TMZ promoting DKK1 expression and andrographolide (AND) inhibiting DKK1 expression. HPLC was used to detect the ability of andrographolide (AND) to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. MTT assay, bioluminescence images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and H&E staining were employed to measure the proliferative activity of glioma cells and the growth of intracranial tumors. RESULTS TMZ can promote DKK1 expression in glioma cells and brain tumors of an orthotopic model of glioma. DKK1 could promote glioma cell proliferation and tumor growth in an orthotopic model of glioma. Mechanistically, TMZ increased EGFR expression and subsequently induced the activation of its downstream MEK-ERK and PI3K-Akt pathways, thereby promoting DKK1 expression in glioma cells. Andrographolide inhibited TMZ-induced DKK1 expression through inactivating MEK-ERK and PI3K-Akt pathways. Andrographolide can cross the blood-brain barrier, the combination of TMZ and andrographolide not only improved the anti-tumor effects of TMZ but also showed a survival benefit in an orthotopic model of glioma. CONCLUSION Andrographolide can enhance anti-tumor activity of TMZ against glioma by inhibiting DKK1 expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Sheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afffliated Hospital of Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Zi-Xuan Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afffliated Hospital of Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Jin-Jin He
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afffliated Hospital of Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Can Ma
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Hang-Tian Tao
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Feng-Yi Zhu
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Yu-Na Cheng
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Cui-Qing Xie
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Ji-Qin Li
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Zhuang-Zhuang Liu
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Li-Li Hou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Hua Sun
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Song-Qiang Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afffliated Hospital of Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of High Value Utilization to Natural Medical Resource in Yellow River Basin, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Dong Fang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afffliated Hospital of Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Institute of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, Henan University, N. Jinming Ave, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center of High Value Utilization to Natural Medical Resource in Yellow River Basin, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Würtemberger U, Rau A, Diebold M, Becker L, Hohenhaus M, Beck J, Reinacher PC, Erny D, Reisert M, Urbach H, Demerath T. Advanced diffusion MRI provides evidence for altered axonal microstructure and gradual peritumoral infiltration in GBM in comparison to brain metastases. Clin Neuroradiol 2024; 34:703-711. [PMID: 38683350 PMCID: PMC11339137 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-024-01416-0] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE In contrast to peritumoral edema in metastases, GBM is histopathologically characterized by infiltrating tumor cells within the T2 signal alterations. We hypothesized that depending on the distance from the outline of the contrast-enhancing tumor we might reveal imaging evidence of gradual peritumoral infiltration in GBM and predominantly vasogenic edema around metastases. We thus investigated the gradual change of advanced diffusion metrics with the peritumoral zone in metastases and GBM. METHODS In 30 patients with GBM and 28 with brain metastases, peritumoral T2 hyperintensity was segmented in 33% partitions based on the total volume beginning at the enhancing tumor margin and divided into inner, middle and outer zones. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)-derived fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity as well as Diffusion Microstructure Imaging (DMI)-based parameters Dax-intra, Dax-extra, V‑CSF and V-intra were employed to assess group-wise differences between inner and outer zones as well as within-group gradients between the inner and outer zones. RESULTS In metastases, fractional anisotropy and Dax-extra were significantly reduced in the inner zone compared to the outer zone (FA p = 0.01; Dax-extra p = 0.03). In GBM, we noted a reduced Dax-extra and significantly lower intraaxonal volume fraction (Dax-extra p = 0.008, V‑intra p = 0.006) accompanied by elevated axial intraaxonal diffusivity in the inner zone (p = 0.035). Between-group comparison of the outer to the inner zones revealed significantly higher gradients in metastases over GBM for FA (p = 0.04) as well as the axial diffusivity in the intra- (p = 0.02) and extraaxonal compartment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our findings provide evidence of gradual alterations within the peritumoral zone of brain tumors. These are compatible with predominant (vasogenic) edema formation in metastases, whereas our findings in GBM are in line with an axonal destructive component in the immediate peritumoral area and evidence of tumor cell infiltration with accentuation in the tumor's vicinity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- U Würtemberger
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
- Dept. of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - A Rau
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Diebold
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - L Becker
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Hohenhaus
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - J Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - P C Reinacher
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - D Erny
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Reisert
- Department of Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - H Urbach
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - T Demerath
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu I, Alencastro Veiga Cruzeiro G, Bjerke L, Rogers RF, Grabovska Y, Beck A, Mackay A, Barron T, Hack OA, Quezada MA, Molinari V, Shaw ML, Perez-Somarriba M, Temelso S, Raynaud F, Ruddle R, Panditharatna E, Englinger B, Mire HM, Jiang L, Nascimento A, LaBelle J, Haase R, Rozowsky J, Neyazi S, Baumgartner AC, Castellani S, Hoffman SE, Cameron A, Morrow M, Nguyen QD, Pericoli G, Madlener S, Mayr L, Dorfer C, Geyeregger R, Rota C, Ricken G, Ligon KL, Alexandrescu S, Cartaxo RT, Lau B, Uphadhyaya S, Koschmann C, Braun E, Danan-Gotthold M, Hu L, Siletti K, Sundström E, Hodge R, Lein E, Agnihotri S, Eisenstat DD, Stapleton S, King A, Bleil C, Mastronuzzi A, Cole KA, Waanders AJ, Montero Carcaboso A, Schüller U, Hargrave D, Vinci M, Carceller F, Haberler C, Slavc I, Linnarsson S, Gojo J, Monje M, Jones C, Filbin MG. GABAergic neuronal lineage development determines clinically actionable targets in diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3G34-mutant. Cancer Cell 2024:S1535-6108(24)00305-2. [PMID: 39232581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Diffuse hemispheric gliomas, H3G34R/V-mutant (DHG-H3G34), are lethal brain tumors lacking targeted therapies. They originate from interneuronal precursors; however, leveraging this origin for therapeutic insights remains unexplored. Here, we delineate a cellular hierarchy along the interneuron lineage development continuum, revealing that DHG-H3G34 mirror spatial patterns of progenitor streams surrounding interneuron nests, as seen during human brain development. Integrating these findings with genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens identifies genes upregulated in interneuron lineage progenitors as major dependencies. Among these, CDK6 emerges as a targetable vulnerability: DHG-H3G34 tumor cells show enhanced sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors and a CDK6-specific degrader, promoting a shift toward more mature interneuron-like states, reducing tumor growth, and prolonging xenograft survival. Notably, a patient with progressive DHG-H3G34 treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor achieved 17 months of stable disease. This study underscores interneuronal progenitor-like states, organized in characteristic niches, as a distinct vulnerability in DHG-H3G34, highlighting CDK6 as a promising clinically actionable target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilon Liu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy, BIH Charité Digital Clinician Scientist Program, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gustavo Alencastro Veiga Cruzeiro
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lynn Bjerke
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - Rebecca F Rogers
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - Yura Grabovska
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - Alexander Beck
- Center for Neuropathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Alan Mackay
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - Tara Barron
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Olivia A Hack
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Michael A Quezada
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Valeria Molinari
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - McKenzie L Shaw
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Marta Perez-Somarriba
- Children & Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - Sara Temelso
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK
| | - Florence Raynaud
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RK, UK
| | - Ruth Ruddle
- Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RK, UK
| | - Eshini Panditharatna
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Bernhard Englinger
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hafsa M Mire
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Andrezza Nascimento
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jenna LaBelle
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rebecca Haase
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jacob Rozowsky
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sina Neyazi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alicia-Christina Baumgartner
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sophia Castellani
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Samantha E Hoffman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Amy Cameron
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Murry Morrow
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Quang-De Nguyen
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Giulia Pericoli
- Department of Onco-haematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Sibylle Madlener
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Mayr
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Dorfer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rene Geyeregger
- Clinical Cell Biology, Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Christopher Rota
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Gerda Ricken
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Keith L Ligon
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sanda Alexandrescu
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rodrigo T Cartaxo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Benison Lau
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Carl Koschmann
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Emelie Braun
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Miri Danan-Gotthold
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lijuan Hu
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kimberly Siletti
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Sundström
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Hodge
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ed Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - David D Eisenstat
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Simon Stapleton
- Department of Neurosurgery, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK
| | - Andrew King
- Department of Neuropathology, King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Cristina Bleil
- Department of Neurosurgery, King's College Hospital NHS Trust, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Onco-haematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Kristina A Cole
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Angela J Waanders
- Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Ulrich Schüller
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Darren Hargrave
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Maria Vinci
- Department of Onco-haematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
| | - Fernando Carceller
- Children & Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK; Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RK, UK
| | - Christine Haberler
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Irene Slavc
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sten Linnarsson
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johannes Gojo
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chris Jones
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5 NG, UK.
| | - Mariella G Filbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kofman K, Levin M. Bioelectric pharmacology of cancer: A systematic review of ion channel drugs affecting the cancer phenotype. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 191:25-39. [PMID: 38971325 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2024.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a pernicious and pressing medical problem; moreover, it is a failure of multicellular morphogenesis that sheds much light on evolutionary developmental biology. Numerous classes of pharmacological agents have been considered as cancer therapeutics and evaluated as potential carcinogenic agents; however, these are spread throughout the primary literature. Here, we briefly review recent work on ion channel drugs as promising anti-cancer treatments and present a systematic review of the known cancer-relevant effects of 109 drugs targeting ion channels. The roles of ion channels in cancer are consistent with the importance of bioelectrical parameters in cell regulation and with the functions of bioelectric signaling in morphogenetic signals that act as cancer suppressors. We find that compounds that are well-known for having targets in the nervous system, such as voltage-gated ion channels, ligand-gated ion channels, proton pumps, and gap junctions are especially relevant to cancer. Our review suggests further opportunities for the repurposing of numerous promising candidates in the field of cancer electroceuticals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karina Kofman
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
He L, Ioannidis A, Hoffman CJ, Arambula E, Joshi P, Whitelegge J, Liau LM, Kornblum HI, Pajonk F. Activation of the Mevalonate Pathway in Response to Anti-cancer Treatments Drives Glioblastoma Recurrences Through Activation of Rac-1. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1566-1580. [PMID: 38837899 PMCID: PMC11197925 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest adult brain cancer. Under the current standard of care, almost all patients succumb to the disease and novel treatments are urgently needed. Recognizing that GBMs are addicted to cholesterol, past clinical trials have repurposed statins against GBM but failed. The purpose of this study was to test whether treatments that upregulate the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in GBM would generate a metabolic vulnerability that can be exploited using statins and to determine the underlying mechanisms.Effects of radiotherapy and temozolomide or dopamine receptor antagonists on the mevalonate pathway in GBM were assessed in vitro and in vivo. The impact of statins on self-renewal of glioma stem cells and median survival was studied. Branches of the mevalonate pathway were probed to identify relevant effector proteins.Cells surviving combination treatments that converge in activating the immediate early response, universally upregulated the mevalonate pathway and increased stemness of GBM cells through activation of the Rho-GTPase Rac-1. Activation of the mevalonate pathway and Rac-1 was inhibited by statins, which led to improved survival in mouse models of glioblastoma when combined with radiation and drugs that target the glioma stem cell pool and plasticity of glioma cells.We conclude that a combination of dopamine receptor antagonists and statins could potentially improve radiotherapy outcome and warrants further investigation. SIGNIFICANCE Combination therapies that activate the mevalonate pathway in GBM cells after sublethal treatment enhance self-renewal and migratory capacity through Rac-1 activation, which creates a metabolic vulnerability that can be further potentially exploited using statins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Angeliki Ioannidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carter J. Hoffman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Evelyn Arambula
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Purva Joshi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Julian Whitelegge
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Linda M. Liau
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Harley I. Kornblum
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Frank Pajonk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Layer N, Bunse L, Venkataramani V. Neural deception: Breast cancer co-opts neuronal mechanisms to evade the immune system. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:936-938. [PMID: 38821062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Cellular mechanisms mediating immunotherapy resistances are incompletely understood. In this issue, Li et al. reveal how breast cancer hijacks neuronal mechanisms of neuroprotection to shield itself from the immune system. Secretion of N-acetylaspartate impairs immune synapse formation in both neuroinflammation and breast cancer models, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Layer
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lukas Bunse
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Drexler R, Khatri R, Sauvigny T, Mohme M, Maire CL, Ryba A, Zghaibeh Y, Dührsen L, Salviano-Silva A, Lamszus K, Westphal M, Gempt J, Wefers AK, Neumann JE, Bode H, Hausmann F, Huber TB, Bonn S, Jütten K, Delev D, Weber KJ, Harter PN, Onken J, Vajkoczy P, Capper D, Wiestler B, Weller M, Snijder B, Buck A, Weiss T, Göller PC, Sahm F, Menstel JA, Zimmer DN, Keough MB, Ni L, Monje M, Silverbush D, Hovestadt V, Suvà ML, Krishna S, Hervey-Jumper SL, Schüller U, Heiland DH, Hänzelmann S, Ricklefs FL. A prognostic neural epigenetic signature in high-grade glioma. Nat Med 2024; 30:1622-1635. [PMID: 38760585 PMCID: PMC11186787 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02969-w] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Neural-tumor interactions drive glioma growth as evidenced in preclinical models, but clinical validation is limited. We present an epigenetically defined neural signature of glioblastoma that independently predicts patients' survival. We use reference signatures of neural cells to deconvolve tumor DNA and classify samples into low- or high-neural tumors. High-neural glioblastomas exhibit hypomethylated CpG sites and upregulation of genes associated with synaptic integration. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals a high abundance of malignant stemcell-like cells in high-neural glioblastoma, primarily of the neural lineage. These cells are further classified as neural-progenitor-cell-like, astrocyte-like and oligodendrocyte-progenitor-like, alongside oligodendrocytes and excitatory neurons. In line with these findings, high-neural glioblastoma cells engender neuron-to-glioma synapse formation in vitro and in vivo and show an unfavorable survival after xenografting. In patients, a high-neural signature is associated with decreased overall and progression-free survival. High-neural tumors also exhibit increased functional connectivity in magnetencephalography and resting-state magnet resonance imaging and can be detected via DNA analytes and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients' plasma. The prognostic importance of the neural signature was further validated in patients diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma. Our study presents an epigenetically defined malignant neural signature in high-grade gliomas that is prognostically relevant. High-neural gliomas likely require a maximized surgical resection approach for improved outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Drexler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robin Khatri
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Sauvigny
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Mohme
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cecile L Maire
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alice Ryba
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yahya Zghaibeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lasse Dührsen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amanda Salviano-Silva
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Lamszus
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Westphal
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Gempt
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annika K Wefers
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCS4, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia E Neumann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Helena Bode
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Hausmann
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bonn
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Jütten
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Delev
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinic Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina J Weber
- Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- University Cancer Center (UCT) Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Patrick N Harter
- Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Onken
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Vajkoczy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Capper
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt Wiestler
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Weller
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Berend Snijder
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alicia Buck
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pauline C Göller
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Sahm
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joelle Aline Menstel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - David Niklas Zimmer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Lijun Ni
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dana Silverbush
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Volker Hovestadt
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mario L Suvà
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Saritha Krishna
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Shawn L Hervey-Jumper
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dieter H Heiland
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Clinic Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Translational Neurosurgery, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Hänzelmann
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franz L Ricklefs
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin H, Liu C, Hu A, Zhang D, Yang H, Mao Y. Understanding the immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical perspectives. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:31. [PMID: 38720342 PMCID: PMC11077829 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01544-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), the predominant and primary malignant intracranial tumor, poses a formidable challenge due to its immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby confounding conventional therapeutic interventions. Despite the established treatment regimen comprising surgical intervention, radiotherapy, temozolomide administration, and the exploration of emerging modalities such as immunotherapy and integration of medicine and engineering technology therapy, the efficacy of these approaches remains constrained, resulting in suboptimal prognostic outcomes. In recent years, intensive scrutiny of the inhibitory and immunosuppressive milieu within GBM has underscored the significance of cellular constituents of the GBM microenvironment and their interactions with malignant cells and neurons. Novel immune and targeted therapy strategies have emerged, offering promising avenues for advancing GBM treatment. One pivotal mechanism orchestrating immunosuppression in GBM involves the aggregation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), glioma-associated macrophage/microglia (GAM), and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Among these, MDSCs, though constituting a minority (4-8%) of CD45+ cells in GBM, play a central component in fostering immune evasion and propelling tumor progression, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. MDSCs deploy intricate immunosuppressive mechanisms that adapt to the dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the interplay between GBM and MDSCs provides a compelling basis for therapeutic interventions. This review seeks to elucidate the immune regulatory mechanisms inherent in the GBM microenvironment, explore existing therapeutic targets, and consolidate recent insights into MDSC induction and their contribution to GBM immunosuppression. Additionally, the review comprehensively surveys ongoing clinical trials and potential treatment strategies, envisioning a future where targeting MDSCs could reshape the immune landscape of GBM. Through the synergistic integration of immunotherapy with other therapeutic modalities, this approach can establish a multidisciplinary, multi-target paradigm, ultimately improving the prognosis and quality of life in patients with GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaxian Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ankang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Duanwu Zhang
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lou E, Vérollet C, Winkler F, Zurzolo C, Valdebenito-Silva S, Eugenin E. Tunneling nanotubes and tumor microtubes-Emerging data on their roles in intercellular communication and pathophysiology: Summary of an International FASEB Catalyst Conference October 2023. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23514. [PMID: 38466151 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302551] [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: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
In the past decade, there has been a steady rise in interest in studying novel cellular extensions and their potential roles in facilitating human diseases, including neurologic diseases, viral infectious diseases, cancer, and others. One of the exciting new aspects of this field is improved characterization and understanding of the functions and potential mechanisms of tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), which are actin-based filamentous protrusions that are structurally distinct from filopodia. TNTs form and connect cells at long distance and serve as direct conduits for intercellular communication in a wide range of cell types in vitro and in vivo. More researchers are entering this field and investigating the role of TNTs in mediating cancer cell invasion and drug resistance, cellular transfer of proteins, RNA or organelles, and intercellular spread of infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, and prions. Even further, the elucidation of highly functional membrane tubes called "tumor microtubes" (TMs) in incurable gliomas has further paved a new path for understanding how and why the tumor type is highly invasive at the cellular level and also resistant to standard therapies. Due to the wide-ranging and rapidly growing applicability of TNTs and TMs in pathophysiology across the spectrum of biology, it has become vital to bring researchers in the field together to discuss advances and the future of research in this important niche of protrusion biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emil Lou
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Christel Vérollet
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
- International Research Laboratory (IRP) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV", Toulouse, France
- International Research Laboratory (IRP) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV", Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chiara Zurzolo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3691, Membrane Traffic and Pathogenesis, Paris, France
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Eliseo Eugenin
- Department of Neurobiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ebrahim T, Ebrahim AS, Kandouz M. Diversity of Intercellular Communication Modes: A Cancer Biology Perspective. Cells 2024; 13:495. [PMID: 38534339 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060495] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
From the moment a cell is on the path to malignant transformation, its interaction with other cells from the microenvironment becomes altered. The flow of molecular information is at the heart of the cellular and systemic fate in tumors, and various processes participate in conveying key molecular information from or to certain cancer cells. For instance, the loss of tight junction molecules is part of the signal sent to cancer cells so that they are no longer bound to the primary tumors and are thus free to travel and metastasize. Upon the targeting of a single cell by a therapeutic drug, gap junctions are able to communicate death information to by-standing cells. The discovery of the importance of novel modes of cell-cell communication such as different types of extracellular vesicles or tunneling nanotubes is changing the way scientists look at these processes. However, are they all actively involved in different contexts at the same time or are they recruited to fulfill specific tasks? What does the multiplicity of modes mean for the overall progression of the disease? Here, we extend an open invitation to think about the overall significance of these questions, rather than engage in an elusive attempt at a systematic repertory of the mechanisms at play.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thanzeela Ebrahim
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Abdul Shukkur Ebrahim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mustapha Kandouz
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
De Fazio E, Pittarello M, Gans A, Ghosh B, Slika H, Alimonti P, Tyler B. Intrinsic and Microenvironmental Drivers of Glioblastoma Invasion. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2563. [PMID: 38473812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052563] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are diffusely infiltrating brain tumors whose prognosis is strongly influenced by their extent of invasion into the surrounding brain tissue. While lower-grade gliomas present more circumscribed borders, high-grade gliomas are aggressive tumors with widespread brain infiltration and dissemination. Glioblastoma (GBM) is known for its high invasiveness and association with poor prognosis. Its low survival rate is due to the certainty of its recurrence, caused by microscopic brain infiltration which makes surgical eradication unattainable. New insights into GBM biology at the single-cell level have enabled the identification of mechanisms exploited by glioma cells for brain invasion. In this review, we explore the current understanding of several molecular pathways and mechanisms used by tumor cells to invade normal brain tissue. We address the intrinsic biological drivers of tumor cell invasion, by tackling how tumor cells interact with each other and with the tumor microenvironment (TME). We focus on the recently discovered neuronal niche in the TME, including local as well as distant neurons, contributing to glioma growth and invasion. We then address the mechanisms of invasion promoted by astrocytes and immune cells. Finally, we review the current literature on the therapeutic targeting of the molecular mechanisms of invasion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emerson De Fazio
- Department of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Matilde Pittarello
- Department of Medicine, Humanitas University School of Medicine, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gans
- Department of Neurology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Bikona Ghosh
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Hasan Slika
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Paolo Alimonti
- Department of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University School of Medicine, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Betty Tyler
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lootens T, Roman BI, Stevens CV, De Wever O, Raedt R. Glioblastoma-Associated Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Partners in Crime? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2285. [PMID: 38396962 PMCID: PMC10889514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042285] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (TA-MSCs) have been recognized as attractive therapeutic targets in several cancer types, due to their ability to enhance tumor growth and angiogenesis and their contribution to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In glioblastoma (GB), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seem to be recruited to the tumor site, where they differentiate into glioblastoma-associated mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (GA-MSCs) under the influence of tumor cells and the TME. GA-MSCs are reported to exert important protumoral functions, such as promoting tumor growth and invasion, increasing angiogenesis, stimulating glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) proliferation and stemness, mediating resistance to therapy and contributing to an immunosuppressive TME. Moreover, they could act as precursor cells for cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which have recently been identified in GB. In this review, we provide an overview of the different functions exerted by GA-MSCs and CAFs and the current knowledge on the relationship between these cell types. Increasing our understanding of the interactions and signaling pathways in relevant models might contribute to future regimens targeting GA-MSCs and GB-associated CAFs to inhibit tumor growth and render the TME less immunosuppressive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Lootens
- 4Brain, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.I.R.); (C.V.S.)
| | - Bart I. Roman
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.I.R.); (C.V.S.)
- SynBioC, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian V. Stevens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.I.R.); (C.V.S.)
- SynBioC, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Wever
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.I.R.); (C.V.S.)
| | - Robrecht Raedt
- 4Brain, Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (B.I.R.); (C.V.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hai L, Hoffmann DC, Wagener RJ, Azorin DD, Hausmann D, Xie R, Huppertz MC, Hiblot J, Sievers P, Heuer S, Ito J, Cebulla G, Kourtesakis A, Kaulen LD, Ratliff M, Mandelbaum H, Jung E, Jabali A, Horschitz S, Ernst KJ, Reibold D, Warnken U, Venkataramani V, Will R, Suvà ML, Herold-Mende C, Sahm F, Winkler F, Schlesner M, Wick W, Kessler T. A clinically applicable connectivity signature for glioblastoma includes the tumor network driver CHI3L1. Nat Commun 2024; 15:968. [PMID: 38320988 PMCID: PMC10847113 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45067-8] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor microtubes (TMs) connect glioma cells to a network with considerable relevance for tumor progression and therapy resistance. However, the determination of TM-interconnectivity in individual tumors is challenging and the impact on patient survival unresolved. Here, we establish a connectivity signature from single-cell RNA-sequenced (scRNA-Seq) xenografted primary glioblastoma (GB) cells using a dye uptake methodology, and validate it with recording of cellular calcium epochs and clinical correlations. Astrocyte-like and mesenchymal-like GB cells have the highest connectivity signature scores in scRNA-sequenced patient-derived xenografts and patient samples. In large GB cohorts, TM-network connectivity correlates with the mesenchymal subtype and dismal patient survival. CHI3L1 gene expression serves as a robust molecular marker of connectivity and functionally influences TM networks. The connectivity signature allows insights into brain tumor biology, provides a proof-of-principle that tumor cell TM-connectivity is relevant for patients' prognosis, and serves as a robust prognostic biomarker.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Hai
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk C Hoffmann
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robin J Wagener
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel D Azorin
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Hausmann
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ruifan Xie
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magnus-Carsten Huppertz
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julien Hiblot
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Sievers
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, DKTK, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophie Heuer
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakob Ito
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gina Cebulla
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexandros Kourtesakis
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leon D Kaulen
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Miriam Ratliff
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Neurosurgery Clinic, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Henriette Mandelbaum
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Erik Jung
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ammar Jabali
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research, Mannheim, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Horschitz
- Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research, Mannheim, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kati J Ernst
- Pediatric Glioma Research Group, DKTK, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center at the NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Denise Reibold
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uwe Warnken
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rainer Will
- Genomics and Proteomics Core Facility, DKTK, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mario L Suvà
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Felix Sahm
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, DKTK, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Biomedical Informatics, Data Mining and Data Analytics, Faculty of Applied Computer Science and Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Kessler
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Department of Neurology and Neurooncology Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sun M, Xie H, Zhang W, Li X, Jiang Z, Liang Y, Zhao G, Huang N, Mao J, Liu G, Zhang Z. Bioinspired Lipoproteins of Furoxans-Gemcitabine Preferentially Targets Glioblastoma and Overcomes Radiotherapy Resistance. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306190. [PMID: 38049204 PMCID: PMC10853724 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) resistance is an enormous challenge in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment, which is largely associated with DNA repair, poor distribution of reactive radicals in tumors, and limited delivery of radiosensitizers to the tumor sites. Inspired by the aberrant upregulation of RAD51 (a critical protein of DNA repair), scavenger receptor B type 1 (SR-B1), and C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) in GBM patients, a reduction-sensitive nitric oxide (NO) donor conjugate of gemcitabine (RAD51 inhibitor) (NG) is synthesized as radio-sensitizer and a CCL5 peptide-modified bioinspired lipoprotein system of NG (C-LNG) is rationally designed, aiming to preferentially target the tumor sites and overcome the RT resistance. C-LNG can preferentially accumulate at the orthotopic GBM tumor sites with considerable intratumor permeation, responsively release the gemcitabine and NO, and then generate abundant peroxynitrite (ONOO- ) upon X-ray radiation, thereby producing a 99.64% inhibition of tumor growth and a 71.44% survival rate at 120 days in GL261-induced orthotopic GBM tumor model. Therefore, the rationally designed bioinspired lipoprotein of NG provides an essential strategy to target GBM and overcome RT resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maoyuan Sun
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Honglei Xie
- Institute of PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesShandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences619 Changcheng RoadTaian271016China
| | - Wenli Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xianlu Li
- School of Pharmacy & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education)Fudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Zhan Jiang
- Department of OncologyThe Chongqing General HospitalChongqing400016China
| | - Yiyu Liang
- School of Pharmacy & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education)Fudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| | - Guanjian Zhao
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Ning Huang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Jinning Mao
- Health Management CenterThe Second Affiliated HospitalChongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Guodong Liu
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Zhiwen Zhang
- School of Pharmacy & Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery (Ministry of Education)Fudan UniversityShanghai201203China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Venkataramani V, Winkler F. [Glioblastomas exploit neuronal properties: a key to new forms of treatment?]. DER NERVENARZT 2024; 95:96-103. [PMID: 38157044 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-023-01589-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Recent research indicates that glioblastomas exhibit different neural properties that successfully promote tumor growth, colonize the brain and resist standard treatment. This opens up opportunities for new therapeutic strategies giving rise to the new research field of cancer neuroscience at the interface between oncology and neuroscience. It has been observed that glioblastomas as well as other incurable brain tumor entities, form multicellular tumor networks through long cell projections called tumor microtubes that are molecularly controlled by neuronal developmental mechanisms. These networks provide the tumor with efficient communication and resilience to external perturbations and are tumor-intrinsic continuously activated by pacemaker-like tumor cells. In addition, neuron-tumor networks have been discovered that also exploit direct glutamatergic synaptic contacts between nerve cells and tumor cells. These different neuronal mechanisms of the glioblastoma networks contribute to malignancy and resistance, which is why strategies to separate these multicellular networks were developed and are currently being investigated in initial clinical trials with respect to their therapeutic suitability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Varun Venkataramani
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Deutschland.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Büttner T, Maerevoet MKE, Giordano FA, Veldwijk MR, Herskind C, Ruder AM. Combining a noble gas with radiotherapy: glutamate receptor antagonist xenon may act as a radiosensitizer in glioblastoma. Radiat Oncol 2024; 19:16. [PMID: 38291439 PMCID: PMC10826195 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-023-02395-1] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ionotropic glutamate receptors α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulate proliferation, invasion and radioresistance in glioblastoma (GB). Pharmacological targeting is difficult as many in vitro-effective agents are not suitable for in patient applications. We aimed to develop a method to test the well tolerated AMPAR- and NMDAR-antagonist xenon gas as a radiosensitizer in GB. METHODS We designed a diffusion-based system to perform the colony formation assay (CFA), the radiobiological gold standard, under xenon exposure. Stable and reproducible gas atmosphere was validated with oxygen and carbon dioxide as tracer gases. After checking for AMPAR and NMDAR expression via immunofluorescence staining we performed the CFA with the glioblastoma cell lines U87 and U251 as well as the non-glioblastoma derived cell line HeLa. Xenon was applied after irradiation and additionally tested in combination with NMDAR antagonist memantine. RESULTS The gas exposure system proved compatible with the CFA and resulted in a stable atmosphere of 50% xenon. Indications for the presence of glutamate receptor subunits were present in glioblastoma-derived and HeLa cells. Significantly reduced clonogenic survival by xenon was shown in U87 and U251 at irradiation doses of 4-8 Gy and 2, 6 and 8 Gy, respectively (p < 0.05). Clonogenic survival was further reduced by the addition of memantine, showing a significant effect at 2-8 Gy for both glioblastoma cell lines (p < 0.05). Xenon did not significantly reduce the surviving fraction of HeLa cells until a radiation dose of 8 Gy. CONCLUSION The developed system allows for testing of gaseous agents with CFA. As a proof of concept, we have, for the first time, unveiled indications of radiosensitizing properties of xenon gas in glioblastoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Büttner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
- Clinic for Urology and Paediatric Urology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Marielena K E Maerevoet
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank A Giordano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Marlon R Veldwijk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carsten Herskind
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Arne Mathias Ruder
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Heuer S, Burghaus I, Gose M, Kessler T, Sahm F, Vollmuth P, Venkataramani V, Hoffmann D, Schlesner M, Ratliff M, Hopf C, Herrlinger U, Ricklefs F, Bendszus M, Krieg SM, Wick A, Wick W, Winkler F. PerSurge (NOA-30) phase II trial of perampanel treatment around surgery in patients with progressive glioblastoma. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:135. [PMID: 38279087 PMCID: PMC10811925 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11846-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma is the most frequent and a particularly malignant primary brain tumor with no efficacy-proven standard therapy for recurrence. It has recently been discovered that excitatory synapses of the AMPA-receptor subtype form between non-malignant brain neurons and tumor cells. This neuron-tumor network connectivity contributed to glioma progression and could be efficiently targeted with the EMA/FDA approved antiepileptic AMPA receptor inhibitor perampanel in preclinical studies. The PerSurge trial was designed to test the clinical potential of perampanel to reduce tumor cell network connectivity and tumor growth with an extended window-of-opportunity concept. METHODS PerSurge is a phase IIa clinical and translational treatment study around surgical resection of progressive or recurrent glioblastoma. In this multicenter, 2-arm parallel-group, double-blind superiority trial, patients are 1:1 randomized to either receive placebo or perampanel (n = 66 in total). It consists of a treatment and observation period of 60 days per patient, starting 30 days before a planned surgical resection, which itself is not part of the study interventions. Only patients with an expected safe waiting interval are included, and a safety MRI is performed. Tumor cell network connectivity from resected tumor tissue on single cell transcriptome level as well as AI-based assessment of tumor growth dynamics in T2/FLAIR MRI scans before resection will be analyzed as the co-primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints will include further imaging parameters such as pre- and postsurgical contrast enhanced MRI scans, postsurgical T2/FLAIR MRI scans, quality of life, cognitive testing, overall and progression-free survival as well as frequency of epileptic seizures. Further translational research will focus on additional biological aspects of neuron-tumor connectivity. DISCUSSION This trial is set up to assess first indications of clinical efficacy and tolerability of perampanel in recurrent glioblastoma, a repurposed drug which inhibits neuron-glioma synapses and thereby glioblastoma growth in preclinical models. If perampanel proved to be successful in the clinical setting, it would provide the first evidence that interference with neuron-cancer interactions may indeed lead to a benefit for patients, which would lay the foundation for a larger confirmatory trial in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION EU-CT number: 2023-503938-52-00 30.11.2023.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Heuer
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ina Burghaus
- Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials (KKS) Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Gose
- Coordination Centre for Clinical Trials (KKS) Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Kessler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Sahm
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- CCU Neuropathology, German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Geman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Vollmuth
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Hoffmann
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schlesner
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Biomedical Informatics, Data Mining and Data Analytics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Ratliff
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Neurosurgery Clinic, University Hospital Mannheim, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carsten Hopf
- Center for Mass Spectrometry and Optical Spectroscopy (CeMOS), Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Paul-Wittsack Str. 10, 68163, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Mannheim Center for Translational Neuroscience (MCTN), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Herrlinger
- Division of Clinical Neurooncology, Department of Neurology and Centre of Integrated Oncology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Franz Ricklefs
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antje Wick
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Mastall M, Roth P, Bink A, Fischer Maranta A, Läubli H, Hottinger AF, Hundsberger T, Migliorini D, Ochsenbein A, Seystahl K, Imbach L, Hortobagyi T, Held L, Weller M, Wirsching HG. A phase Ib/II randomized, open-label drug repurposing trial of glutamate signaling inhibitors in combination with chemoradiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: the GLUGLIO trial protocol. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:82. [PMID: 38225589 PMCID: PMC10789019 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11797-z] [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: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Glioblastoma cells synthesize and secrete large quantities of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, driving epilepsy, neuronal death, tumor growth and invasion. Moreover, neuronal networks interconnect with glioblastoma cell networks through glutamatergic neuroglial synapses, activation of which induces oncogenic calcium oscillations that are propagated via gap junctions between tumor cells. The primary objective of this study is to explore the efficacy of brain-penetrating anti-glutamatergic drugs to standard chemoradiotherapy in patients with glioblastoma. METHODS/DESIGN GLUGLIO is a 1:1 randomized phase Ib/II, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter trial of gabapentin, sulfasalazine, memantine and chemoradiotherapy (Arm A) versus chemoradiotherapy alone (Arm B) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Planned accrual is 120 patients. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival at 6 months. Secondary endpoints include overall and seizure-free survival, quality of life of patients and caregivers, symptom burden and cognitive functioning. Glutamate levels will be assessed longitudinally by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Other outcomes of interest include imaging response rate, neuronal hyperexcitability determined by longitudinal electroencephalography, Karnofsky performance status as a global measure of overall performance, anticonvulsant drug use and steroid use. Tumor tissue and blood will be collected for translational research. Subgroup survival analyses by baseline parameters include segregation by age, extent of resection, Karnofsky performance status, O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promotor methylation status, steroid intake, presence or absence of seizures, tumor volume and glutamate levels determined by MR spectroscopy. The trial is currently recruiting in seven centers in Switzerland. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT05664464. Registered 23 December 2022.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Mastall
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center and Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zurich, CH-8091, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Roth
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center and Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zurich, CH-8091, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Bink
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Heinz Läubli
- Division of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Thomas Hundsberger
- Department of Neurology and Medical Oncology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Denis Migliorini
- Department of Oncology, Hopitaux Universitaires de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Ochsenbein
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Seystahl
- Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Imbach
- Swiss Epilepsy Center - Klinik Lengg, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tibor Hortobagyi
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Leonhard Held
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Weller
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center and Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zurich, CH-8091, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Georg Wirsching
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center and Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zurich, CH-8091, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Adnani L, Rak J. Intercellular Molecular Transfer Mediated by Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 73:327-352. [PMID: 39242385 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Among multiple pathways of intercellular communication operative in multicellular organisms, the trafficking of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and particles (EP) represents a unique mode of cellular information exchange with emerging roles in health and disease, including cancer. A distinctive feature of EV/EP-mediated cell-cell communication is that it involves simultaneous short- or long-range transfer of numerous molecular constituents (cargo) from donor to recipient cells. EV/EP uptake by donor cells elicits signalling or metabolic responses, or else leads to EV-re-emission or degradation. EVs are heterogeneous membranous structures released from cells via increasingly defined mechanisms involving either formation of multivesicular endosomes (exosomes) or budding from the plasma membrane (ectosomes). EPs (exomeres, supermeres) are membraneless complex particles, smaller than EVs and of less defined biogenesis and function. EVs/EPs carry complex assemblies of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids (RNA, DNA), which they shuttle into intercellular milieu, body fluids and recipient cells, via surface contact, fusion and different forms of internalization (endocytosis, micropinocytosis). While the physiological functions of EVs/EPs communication pathways continue to be investigated, their roles in cancer are increasingly well-defined. For example, EVs are involved in the transmission of cancer-specific molecular cargo, including mutant, oncogenic, transforming, or regulatory macromolecules to indolent, or normal cells, sometimes triggering their quasi-transformation-like states, or phenotypic alterations. Conversely, a reciprocal and avid uptake of stromal EVs by cancer cells may be responsible for modulating their oncogenic repertoire, as exemplified by the angiocrine effects of endothelial EVs influencing cancer cell stemness. EV exchanges during cancer progression have also been implicated in the formation of tumour stroma, angiogenesis and non-angiogenic neovascularization processes, immunosuppression, colonization of metastatic organ sites (premetastatic niche), paraneoplastic and systemic pathologies (thrombosis, diabetes, hepatotoxicity). Thus, an EV/EP-mediated horizontal transfer of cellular content emerges as a new dimension in cancer pathogenesis with functional, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lata Adnani
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada
| | - Janusz Rak
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Rey-Barroso J, Dufrançais O, Vérollet C. Tunneling Nanotubes in Myeloid Cells: Perspectives for Health and Infectious Diseases. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 73:419-434. [PMID: 39242388 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are cellular connections, which represent a novel route for cell-to-cell communication. Strong evidence points to a role for TNTs in the intercellular transfer of signals, molecules, organelles, and pathogens, involving them in many cellular functions. In myeloid cells (e.g., monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts), intercellular communication via TNT contributes to their differentiation and immune functions, by favoring material and pathogen transfer, as well as cell fusion. This chapter addresses the complexity of the definition and characterization of TNTs in myeloid cells, the different processes involved in their formation, their existence in vivo, and finally their function(s) in health and infectious diseases, with the example of HIV-1 infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rey-Barroso
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Ophélie Dufrançais
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Christel Vérollet
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France.
- International Research Laboratory (IRP) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV", Toulouse, France.
- International Research Laboratory (IRP) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bahcheli AT, Min HK, Bayati M, Zhao H, Fortuna A, Dong W, Dzneladze I, Chan J, Chen X, Guevara-Hoyer K, Dirks PB, Huang X, Reimand J. Pan-cancer ion transport signature reveals functional regulators of glioblastoma aggression. EMBO J 2024; 43:196-224. [PMID: 38177502 PMCID: PMC10897389 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00016-x] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Ion channels, transporters, and other ion-flux controlling proteins, collectively comprising the "ion permeome", are common drug targets, however, their roles in cancer remain understudied. Our integrative pan-cancer transcriptome analysis shows that genes encoding the ion permeome are significantly more often highly expressed in specific subsets of cancer samples, compared to pan-transcriptome expectations. To enable target selection, we identified 410 survival-associated IP genes in 33 cancer types using a machine-learning approach. Notably, GJB2 and SCN9A show prominent expression in neoplastic cells and are associated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive brain cancer. GJB2 or SCN9A knockdown in patient-derived glioblastoma cells induces transcriptome-wide changes involving neuron projection and proliferation pathways, impairs cell viability and tumor sphere formation in vitro, perturbs tunneling nanotube dynamics, and extends the survival of glioblastoma-bearing mice. Thus, aberrant activation of genes encoding ion transport proteins appears as a pan-cancer feature defining tumor heterogeneity, which can be exploited for mechanistic insights and therapy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander T Bahcheli
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hyun-Kee Min
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Masroor Bayati
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery and Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Alexander Fortuna
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Weifan Dong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Irakli Dzneladze
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jade Chan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xin Chen
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kissy Guevara-Hoyer
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Cancer Immunomonitoring and Immuno-Mediated Pathologies Support Unit, Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Laboratory Medicine (IML) and Biomedical Research Foundation (IdiSCC), San Carlos Clinical Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter B Dirks
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Jüri Reimand
- Computational Biology Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Pace A, Lombardi G, Villani V, Benincasa D, Abbruzzese C, Cestonaro I, Corrà M, Padovan M, Cerretti G, Caccese M, Silvani A, Gaviani P, Giannarelli D, Ciliberto G, Paggi MG. Efficacy and safety of chlorpromazine as an adjuvant therapy for glioblastoma in patients with unmethylated MGMT gene promoter: RACTAC, a phase II multicenter trial. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1320710. [PMID: 38162492 PMCID: PMC10755935 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1320710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Drug repurposing is a promising strategy to develop new treatments for glioblastoma. In this phase II clinical trial, we evaluated the addition of chlorpromazine to temozolomide in the adjuvant phase of the standard first-line therapeutic protocol in patients with unmethylated MGMT gene promoter. Methods This was a multicenter phase II single-arm clinical trial. The experimental procedure involved the combination of CPZ with standard treatment with TMZ in the adjuvant phase of the Stupp protocol in newly-diagnosed GBM patients carrying an unmethylated MGMT gene promoter. Progression-free survival was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints were overall survival and toxicity. Results Forty-one patients were evaluated. Twenty patients (48.7%) completed 6 cycles of treatment with TMZ+CPZ. At 6 months, 27 patients (65.8%) were without progression, achieving the primary endpoint. Median PFS was 8.0 months (95% CI: 7.0-9.0). Median OS was 15.0 months (95% CI: 13.1-16.9). Adverse events led to reduction or interruption of CPZ dosage in 4 patients (9.7%). Discussion The addition of CPZ to standard TMZ in the first-line treatment of GBM patients with unmethylated MGMT gene promoter was safe and led to a longer PFS than expected in this population of patients. These findings provide proof-of-concept for the potential of adding CPZ to standard TMZ treatment in GBM patients with unmethylated MGMT gene promoter. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04224441, identifier NCT04224441.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pace
- IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Martina Corrà
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - Marta Padovan
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Mario Caccese
- Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Marco G. Paggi
- IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Abbruzzese C, Matteoni S, Matarrese P, Signore M, Ascione B, Iessi E, Gurtner A, Sacconi A, Ricci-Vitiani L, Pallini R, Pace A, Villani V, Polo A, Costantini S, Budillon A, Ciliberto G, Paggi MG. Chlorpromazine affects glioblastoma bioenergetics by interfering with pyruvate kinase M2. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:821. [PMID: 38092755 PMCID: PMC10719363 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06353-3] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and lethal brain tumor, whose therapeutic outcome - only partially effective with current schemes - places this disease among the unmet medical needs, and effective therapeutic approaches are urgently required. In our attempts to identify repositionable drugs in glioblastoma therapy, we identified the neuroleptic drug chlorpromazine (CPZ) as a very promising compound. Here we aimed to further unveil the mode of action of this drug. We performed a supervised recognition of the signal transduction pathways potentially influenced by CPZ via Reverse-Phase Protein microArrays (RPPA) and carried out an Activity-Based Protein Profiling (ABPP) followed by Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis to possibly identify cellular factors targeted by the drug. Indeed, the glycolytic enzyme PKM2 was identified as one of the major targets of CPZ. Furthermore, using the Seahorse platform, we analyzed the bioenergetics changes induced by the drug. Consistent with the ability of CPZ to target PKM2, we detected relevant changes in GBM energy metabolism, possibly attributable to the drug's ability to inhibit the oncogenic properties of PKM2. RPE-1 non-cancer neuroepithelial cells appeared less responsive to the drug. PKM2 silencing reduced the effects of CPZ. 3D modeling showed that CPZ interacts with PKM2 tetramer in the same region involved in binding other known activators. The effect of CPZ can be epitomized as an inhibition of the Warburg effect and thus malignancy in GBM cells, while sparing RPE-1 cells. These preclinical data enforce the rationale that allowed us to investigate the role of CPZ in GBM treatment in a recent multicenter Phase II clinical trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Abbruzzese
- Cellular Networks and Molecular Therapeutic Targets, Proteomics Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Matteoni
- Cellular Networks and Molecular Therapeutic Targets, Proteomics Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Matarrese
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Signore
- RPPA Unit, Proteomics Area, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Ascione
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Iessi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Aymone Gurtner
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
- The Institute of Translational Pharmacology - IFT - CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- UOSD Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Ricci-Vitiani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Pallini
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University School of Medicine, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Pace
- Neuro-Oncology, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Villani
- Neuro-Oncology, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Polo
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratori di Mercogliano, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Susan Costantini
- Experimental Pharmacology Unit, Laboratori di Mercogliano, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alfredo Budillon
- Scientific Directorate, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco G Paggi
- Cellular Networks and Molecular Therapeutic Targets, Proteomics Unit, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mathews J, Levin M. Cancer's unique bioelectric properties: From cells to body-wide networks: Comment on: "The distinguishing electrical properties of cancer cells" by Elisabetta Di Gregorio, Simone Israel, Michael Staelens, Gabriella Tankel, Karthik Shankar, and Jack A. Tuszynski (this issue). Phys Life Rev 2023; 47:113-115. [PMID: 37837910 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Mathews
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - M Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Winkler F. Neuroscience and oncology: state-of-the-art and new perspectives. Curr Opin Neurol 2023; 36:544-548. [PMID: 37973023 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Emerging discoveries suggest that both the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous system are an important driver of cancer initiation, promotion, dissemination, and therapy resistance, not only in the brain but also in multiple cancer types throughout the body. This article highlights the most recent developments in this emerging field of research over the last year and provides a roadmap for the future, emphasizing its translational potential. RECENT FINDINGS Excitatory synapses between neurons and cancer cells that drive growth and invasion have been detected and characterized. In addition, a plethora of paracrine, mostly tumor-promoting neuro-cancer interactions are reported, and a neuro-immuno-cancer axis emerges. Cancer cell-intrinsic neural properties, and cancer (therapy) effects on the nervous system that cause morbidity in patients and can establish harmful feedback loops receive increasing attention. Despite the relative novelty of these findings, therapies that inhibit key mechanisms of this neuro-cancer crosstalk are developed, and already tested in clinical trials, largely by repurposing of approved drugs. SUMMARY Neuro-cancer interactions are manyfold, have multiple clinical implications, and can lead to novel neuroscience-instructed cancer therapies and improved therapies of neurological dysfunctions and cancer pain. The development of biomarkers and identification of most promising therapeutic targets is crucial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Maas DA, Douw L. Multiscale network neuroscience in neuro-oncology: How tumors, brain networks, and behavior connect across scales. Neurooncol Pract 2023; 10:506-517. [PMID: 38026586 PMCID: PMC10666814 DOI: 10.1093/nop/npad044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Network neuroscience refers to the investigation of brain networks across different spatial and temporal scales, and has become a leading framework to understand the biology and functioning of the brain. In neuro-oncology, the study of brain networks has revealed many insights into the structure and function of cells, circuits, and the entire brain, and their association with both functional status (e.g., cognition) and survival. This review connects network findings from different scales of investigation, with the combined aim of informing neuro-oncological healthcare professionals on this exciting new field and also delineating the promising avenues for future translational and clinical research that may allow for application of network methods in neuro-oncological care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorien A Maas
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Douw
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Pericoli G, Galardi A, Paolini A, Petrilli LL, Pepe G, Palma A, Colletti M, Ferretti R, Giorda E, Levi Mortera S, Burford A, Carai A, Mastronuzzi A, Mackay A, Putignani L, Jones C, Pascucci L, Peinado H, Helmer-Citterich M, de Billy E, Masotti A, Locatelli F, Di Giannatale A, Vinci M. Inhibition of exosome biogenesis affects cell motility in heterogeneous sub-populations of paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:207. [PMID: 37957701 PMCID: PMC10641969 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01166-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paediatric-type diffuse High-Grade Gliomas (PDHGG) are highly heterogeneous tumours which include distinct cell sub-populations co-existing within the same tumour mass. We have previously shown that primary patient-derived and optical barcoded single-cell-derived clones function as interconnected networks. Here, we investigated the role of exosomes as a route for inter-clonal communication mediating PDHGG migration and invasion. RESULTS A comprehensive characterisation of seven optical barcoded single-cell-derived clones obtained from two patient-derived cell lines was performed. These analyses highlighted extensive intra-tumour heterogeneity in terms of genetic and transcriptional profiles between clones as well as marked phenotypic differences including distinctive motility patterns. Live single-cell tracking analysis of 3D migration and invasion assays showed that the single-cell-derived clones display a higher speed and longer travelled distance when in co-culture compared to mono-culture conditions. To determine the role of exosomes in PDHGG inter-clonal cross-talks, we isolated exosomes released by different clones and characterised them in terms of marker expression, size and concentration. We demonstrated that exosomes are actively internalized by the cells and that the inhibition of their biogenesis, using the phospholipase inhibitor GW4689, significantly reduced the cell motility in mono-culture and more prominently when the cells from the clones were in co-culture. Analysis of the exosomal miRNAs, performed with a miRNome PCR panel, identified clone-specific miRNAs and a set of miRNA target genes involved in the regulation of cell motility/invasion/migration. These genes were found differentially expressed in co-culture versus mono-culture conditions and their expression levels were significantly modulated upon inhibition of exosome biogenesis. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our study highlights for the first time a key role for exosomes in the inter-clonal communication in PDHGG and suggests that interfering with the exosome biogenesis pathway may be a valuable strategy to inhibit cell motility and dissemination for these specific diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Pericoli
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Galardi
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Paolini
- Multifactorial and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Lisa Petrilli
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerardo Pepe
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Palma
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Colletti
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Ferretti
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ezio Giorda
- Core Facilities research laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Levi Mortera
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Burford
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Andrea Carai
- Oncological Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alan Mackay
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Lorenza Putignani
- Multimodal Laboratory Medicine Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chris Jones
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Luisa Pascucci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Hector Peinado
- Microenvironment & Metastasis Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Emmanuel de Billy
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Masotti
- Multifactorial and Complex Phenotype Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Di Giannatale
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vinci
- Department of Onco-hematology, Gene and Cell Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Heuer S, Winkler F. Glioblastoma revisited: from neuronal-like invasion to pacemaking. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:887-896. [PMID: 37586918 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, two developments have helped us to better understand the fundamental biology of glioblastoma: the description of a striking intratumoral heterogeneity including gene expression-based cell states, and the discovery that neuro-cancer interactions and cancer-intrinsic neurodevelopmental mechanisms are fundamental features of glioblastoma. In this opinion article, we aim to integrate both developments. We explain how two key disease features are characterized by different neural mechanisms related to distinct but plastic cancer cell states: first, the single cell-dominated invasive parts and second, the more solid parts which are dominated by communicating cell networks constantly activated by pacemaker-like glioblastoma cells. The resulting integrative roadmap of molecular and functional heterogeneity contributes to the Cancer Neuroscience of glioblastoma and suggests novel therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Heuer
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Würtemberger U, Erny D, Rau A, Hosp JA, Akgün V, Reisert M, Kiselev VG, Beck J, Jankovic S, Reinacher PC, Hohenhaus M, Urbach H, Diebold M, Demerath T. Mesoscopic Assessment of Microstructure in Glioblastomas and Metastases by Merging Advanced Diffusion Imaging with Immunohistopathology. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2023; 44:1262-1269. [PMID: 37884304 PMCID: PMC10631536 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Glioblastomas and metastases are the most common malignant intra-axial brain tumors in adults and can be difficult to distinguish on conventional MR imaging due to similar imaging features. We used advanced diffusion techniques and structural histopathology to distinguish these tumor entities on the basis of microstructural axonal and fibrillar signatures in the contrast-enhancing tumor component. MATERIALS AND METHODS Contrast-enhancing tumor components were analyzed in 22 glioblastomas and 21 brain metastases on 3T MR imaging using DTI-fractional anisotropy, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging-orientation dispersion, and diffusion microstructural imaging-micro-fractional anisotropy. Available histopathologic specimens (10 glioblastomas and 9 metastases) were assessed for the presence of axonal structures and scored using 4-level scales for Bielschowsky staining (0: no axonal structures, 1: minimal axonal fragments preserved, 2: decreased axonal density, 3: no axonal loss) and glial fibrillary acid protein expression (0: no glial fibrillary acid protein positivity, 1: limited expression, 2: equivalent to surrounding parenchyma, 3: increased expression). RESULTS When we compared glioblastomas and metastases, fractional anisotropy was significantly increased and orientation dispersion was decreased in glioblastomas (each P < .001), with a significant shift toward increased glial fibrillary acid protein and Bielschowsky scores. Positive associations of fractional anisotropy and negative associations of orientation dispersion with glial fibrillary acid protein and Bielschowsky scores were revealed, whereas no association between micro-fractional anisotropy with glial fibrillary acid protein and Bielschowsky scores was detected. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed high predictive values of both fractional anisotropy (area under the curve = 0.8463) and orientation dispersion (area under the curve = 0.8398) regarding the presence of a glioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS Diffusion imaging fractional anisotropy and orientation dispersion metrics correlated with histopathologic markers of directionality and may serve as imaging biomarkers in contrast-enhancing tumor components.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Urs Würtemberger
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (U.W., A.R., V.A., H.U., T.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Erny
- Institute of Neuropathology (D.E., M.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Berta-Ottenstein-Program for Advanced Clinician Scientists (D.E.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Rau
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (U.W., A.R., V.A., H.U., T.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (A.R.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas A Hosp
- Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology (J.A.H.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Veysel Akgün
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (U.W., A.R., V.A., H.U., T.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Reisert
- Department of Medical Physics (M.R., V.G.K.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (M.R., P.C.R.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Valerij G Kiselev
- Department of Medical Physics (M.R., V.G.K.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery (J.B., M.H.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Jankovic
- Department of Radiology (S.J.), Faculty of Medicine, University Clinical Center Nis, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia
| | - Peter C Reinacher
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (M.R., P.C.R.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (P.C.R.), Aachen, Germany
| | - Marc Hohenhaus
- Department of Neurosurgery (J.B., M.H.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Horst Urbach
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (U.W., A.R., V.A., H.U., T.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Diebold
- Institute of Neuropathology (D.E., M.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- IMM-PACT Clinician Scientist Program (M.D.), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Theo Demerath
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (U.W., A.R., V.A., H.U., T.D.), Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Dembitskaya Y, Boyce AKJ, Idziak A, Pourkhalili Langeroudi A, Arizono M, Girard J, Le Bourdellès G, Ducros M, Sato-Fitoussi M, Ochoa de Amezaga A, Oizel K, Bancelin S, Mercier L, Pfeiffer T, Thompson RJ, Kim SK, Bikfalvi A, Nägerl UV. Shadow imaging for panoptical visualization of brain tissue in vivo. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6411. [PMID: 37828018 PMCID: PMC10570379 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42055-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Progress in neuroscience research hinges on technical advances in visualizing living brain tissue with high fidelity and facility. Current neuroanatomical imaging approaches either require tissue fixation (electron microscopy), do not have cellular resolution (magnetic resonance imaging) or only give a fragmented view (fluorescence microscopy). Here, we show how regular light microscopy together with fluorescence labeling of the interstitial fluid in the extracellular space provide comprehensive optical access in real-time to the anatomical complexity and dynamics of living brain tissue at submicron scale. Using several common fluorescence microscopy modalities (confocal, light-sheet and 2-photon microscopy) in mouse organotypic and acute brain slices and the intact mouse brain in vivo, we demonstrate the value of this straightforward 'shadow imaging' approach by revealing neurons, microglia, tumor cells and blood capillaries together with their complete anatomical tissue contexts. In addition, we provide quantifications of perivascular spaces and the volume fraction of the extracellular space of brain tissue in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Dembitskaya
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Andrew K J Boyce
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Agata Idziak
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Misa Arizono
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/The Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jordan Girard
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Guillaume Le Bourdellès
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mathieu Ducros
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC), UAR 3420, US 4, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marie Sato-Fitoussi
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Amaia Ochoa de Amezaga
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Kristell Oizel
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC), U1312, Bat B2, Allée Geoffroy St Hilaire, 33615, Pessac, France
| | - Stephane Bancelin
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Luc Mercier
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas Pfeiffer
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Roger J Thompson
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sun Kwang Kim
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Korea
| | - Andreas Bikfalvi
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC), U1312, Bat B2, Allée Geoffroy St Hilaire, 33615, Pessac, France
| | - U Valentin Nägerl
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, CNRS UMR 5297 and University of Bordeaux, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Lia A, Di Spiezio A, Vitalini L, Tore M, Puja G, Losi G. Ion Channels and Ionotropic Receptors in Astrocytes: Physiological Functions and Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease and Glioblastoma. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2038. [PMID: 37895420 PMCID: PMC10608464 DOI: 10.3390/life13102038] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The human brain is composed of nearly one hundred billion neurons and an equal number of glial cells, including macroglia, i.e., astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain. In the last few decades, compelling evidence has revealed that glial cells are far more active and complex than previously thought. In particular, astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell population, not only take part in brain development, metabolism, and defense against pathogens and insults, but they also affect sensory, motor, and cognitive functions by constantly modulating synaptic activity. Not surprisingly, astrocytes are actively involved in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and other neurological disorders like brain tumors, in which they rapidly become reactive and mediate neuroinflammation. Reactive astrocytes acquire or lose specific functions that differently modulate disease progression and symptoms, including cognitive impairments. Astrocytes express several types of ion channels, including K+, Na+, and Ca2+ channels, transient receptor potential channels (TRP), aquaporins, mechanoreceptors, and anion channels, whose properties and functions are only partially understood, particularly in small processes that contact synapses. In addition, astrocytes express ionotropic receptors for several neurotransmitters. Here, we provide an extensive and up-to-date review of the roles of ion channels and ionotropic receptors in astrocyte physiology and pathology. As examples of two different brain pathologies, we focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most diffuse neurodegenerative disorders, and glioblastoma (GBM), the most common brain tumor. Understanding how ion channels and ionotropic receptors in astrocytes participate in NDs and tumors is necessary for developing new therapeutic tools for these increasingly common neurological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Lia
- Department Biomedical Science, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (A.L.); (A.D.S.)
| | - Alessandro Di Spiezio
- Department Biomedical Science, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (A.L.); (A.D.S.)
- Neuroscience Institute (CNR-IN), Padova Section, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Vitalini
- Department Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (L.V.); (G.P.)
| | - Manuela Tore
- Institute of Nanoscience (CNR-NANO), Modena Section, 41125 Modena, Italy;
- Department Biomedical Science, Metabolic and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Puja
- Department Life Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (L.V.); (G.P.)
| | - Gabriele Losi
- Institute of Nanoscience (CNR-NANO), Modena Section, 41125 Modena, Italy;
- Department Biomedical Science, Metabolic and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Dong W, Fekete A, Chen X, Liu H, Beilhartz GL, Chen X, Bahrampour S, Xiong Y, Yang Q, Zhao H, Kong T, Morioka MS, Jung G, Kim JE, Schramek D, Dirks PB, Song Y, Kim TH, He Y, Wanggou S, Li X, Melnyk RA, Wang LY, Huang X. A designer peptide against the EAG2-Kvβ2 potassium channel targets the interaction of cancer cells and neurons to treat glioblastoma. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1418-1436. [PMID: 37697045 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an incurable brain cancer that lacks effective therapies. Here we show that EAG2 and Kvβ2, which are predominantly expressed by GBM cells at the tumor-brain interface, physically interact to form a potassium channel complex due to a GBM-enriched Kvβ2 isoform. In GBM cells, EAG2 localizes at neuron-contacting regions in a Kvβ2-dependent manner. Genetic knockdown of the EAG2-Kvβ2 complex decreases calcium transients of GBM cells, suppresses tumor growth and invasion and extends the survival of tumor-bearing mice. We engineered a designer peptide to disrupt EAG2-Kvβ2 interaction, thereby mitigating tumor growth in patient-derived xenograft and syngeneic mouse models across GBM subtypes without overt toxicity. Neurons upregulate chemoresistant genes in GBM cells in an EAG2-Kvβ2-dependent manner. The designer peptide targets neuron-associated GBM cells and possesses robust efficacy in treating temozolomide-resistant GBM. Our findings may lead to the next-generation therapeutic agent to benefit patients with GBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weifan Dong
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam Fekete
- Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xiaodi Chen
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hongwei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Greg L Beilhartz
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xin Chen
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shahrzad Bahrampour
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yi Xiong
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tian Kong
- Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Malia S Morioka
- Macaulay Honors College, City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Geena Jung
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ji-Eun Kim
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Schramek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Molecular and Systems Biology, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter B Dirks
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuanquan Song
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tae-Hee Kim
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ye He
- Macaulay Honors College, City College of New York, New York, NY, USA
- Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Siyi Wanggou
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuejun Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Roman A Melnyk
- Molecular Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lu-Yang Wang
- Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xi Huang
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Kuo CH, Tu TH, Chen KT. Editorial: Advanced technological applications in neurosurgery. Front Surg 2023; 10:1277997. [PMID: 37744725 PMCID: PMC10512053 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1277997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Hung Kuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsi Tu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ko-Ting Chen
- School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Xiong W, Zhang X, Peng B, Zhu H, Huang L, He S. Pan-glioma analyses reveal species- and tumor-specific regulation of neuron-glioma synapse genes by lncRNAs. Front Genet 2023; 14:1218408. [PMID: 37693314 PMCID: PMC10484416 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1218408] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are highly heterogeneous and aggressive. Malignant cells in gliomas can contact normal neurons through a synapse-like structure (called neuron-to-glioma synapse, NGS) to promote their proliferation, but it is unclear whether NGS gene expression and regulation show species- and tumor-specificity. This question is important in that many anti-cancer drugs are developed upon mouse models. To address this question, we conducted a pan-glioma analysis using nine scRNA-seq datasets from humans and mice. We also experimentally validated the key element of our methods and verified a key result using TCGA datasets of the same glioma types. Our analyses revealed that NGS gene expression and regulation by lncRNAs are highly species- and tumor-specific. Importantly, simian-specific lncRNAs are more involved in NGS gene regulation than lncRNAs conserved in mammals, and transgenic mouse gliomas have little in common with PDX mouse models and human gliomas in terms of NGS gene regulation. The analyses suggest that simian-specific lncRNAs are a new and rich class of potential targets for tumor-specific glioma treatment, and provide pertinent data for further experimentally and clinically exmining the targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xiong
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuecong Zhang
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Peng
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Zhu
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lijin Huang
- Neurosurgery Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sha He
- Bioinformatics Section, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Drexler R, Khatri R, Sauvigny T, Mohme M, Maire CL, Ryba A, Zghaibeh Y, Dührsen L, Salviano-Silva A, Lamszus K, Westphal M, Gempt J, Wefers AK, Neumann J, Bode H, Hausmann F, Huber TB, Bonn S, Jütten K, Delev D, Weber KJ, Harter PN, Onken J, Vajkoczy P, Capper D, Wiestler B, Weller M, Snijder B, Buck A, Weiss T, Keough MB, Ni L, Monje M, Silverbush D, Hovestadt V, Suvà ML, Krishna S, Hervey-Jumper SL, Schüller U, Heiland DH, Hänzelmann S, Ricklefs FL. Epigenetic neural glioblastoma enhances synaptic integration and predicts therapeutic vulnerability. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552017. [PMID: 37609137 PMCID: PMC10441357 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Neural-tumor interactions drive glioma growth as evidenced in preclinical models, but clinical validation is nascent. We present an epigenetically defined neural signature of glioblastoma that independently affects patients' survival. We use reference signatures of neural cells to deconvolve tumor DNA and classify samples into low- or high-neural tumors. High-neural glioblastomas exhibit hypomethylated CpG sites and upregulation of genes associated with synaptic integration. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals high abundance of stem cell-like malignant cells classified as oligodendrocyte precursor and neural precursor cell-like in high-neural glioblastoma. High-neural glioblastoma cells engender neuron-to-glioma synapse formation in vitro and in vivo and show an unfavorable survival after xenografting. In patients, a high-neural signature associates with decreased survival as well as increased functional connectivity and can be detected via DNA analytes and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in plasma. Our study presents an epigenetically defined malignant neural signature in high-grade gliomas that is prognostically relevant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Drexler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Robin Khatri
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Sauvigny
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Mohme
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cecile L. Maire
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alice Ryba
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yahya Zghaibeh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lasse Dührsen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amanda Salviano-Silva
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Lamszus
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Westphal
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Gempt
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annika K. Wefers
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCS4, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Neumann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Helena Bode
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Hausmann
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B. Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Bonn
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Jütten
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Delev
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina J. Weber
- Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- University Cancer Center (UCT) Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Patrick N. Harter
- Neurological Institute (Edinger Institute), University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Onken
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Vajkoczy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Capper
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt Wiestler
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich
| | - Michael Weller
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Berend Snijder
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alicia Buck
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Weiss
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Michael B. Keough
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lijun Ni
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | | | - Mario L. Suvà
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Saritha Krishna
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Shawn L. Hervey-Jumper
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dieter H. Heiland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Hänzelmann
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical AI, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franz L. Ricklefs
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
He L, Ioannidis A, Arambula E, Hoffman CJ, Joshi P, Kathiravan A, Whitelegge J, Liau LM, Kornblum HI, Pajonk F. Activation of the mevalonate pathway in response to anti-cancer treatments drives glioblastoma recurrences through activation of Rac-1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.23.550205. [PMID: 37546917 PMCID: PMC10402033 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.23.550205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the deadliest adult brain cancer. Under the current standard of care almost all patients succumb to the disease and novel treatments are urgently needed. Dopamine receptor antagonists have been shown to target cancer cell plasticity in GBM and repurposing these FDA-approved drugs in combination with radiation improves the efficacy of radiotherapy in glioma models. In cells surviving this combination treatment the mevalonate pathway is upregulated at the transcriptional and functional level. Here we report that glioblastoma treatments that converge in the immediate early response to radiation through activation of the MAPK cascade universally upregulate the mevalonate pathway and increase stemness of GBM cells through activation of the Rho-GTPase Rac-1. Activation of the mevalonate pathway and Rac-1 is inhibited by statins, which leads to improved survival in mouse models of glioblastoma when combined with radiation and drugs that target the glioma stem cell pool and plasticity of glioma cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Angeliki Ioannidis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Evelyn Arambula
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Carter J. Hoffman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Purva Joshi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | | | - Julian Whitelegge
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Linda M. Liau
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA
- Department of Neurosurgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Harley I. Kornblum
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Frank Pajonk
- Department of Radiation Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Lin X, Huang Z, Wang Y. Neuronal Mechanisms Govern Glioblastoma Cell Invasion. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1027-1030. [PMID: 36723779 PMCID: PMC10264303 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01028-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowu Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Zhihui Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
| | - Yongjie Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Andrade AF, Chen CCL, Jabado N. Oncohistones in brain tumors: the soil and seed. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:444-455. [PMID: 36933956 PMCID: PMC11075889 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.02.003] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent somatic mutations in histone 3 (H3) variants (termed 'oncohistones') have been identified in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) in children and young adults and induce tumorigenesis through disruption of chromatin states. Oncohistones occur with exquisite neuroanatomical specificity and are associated with specific age distribution and epigenome landscapes. Here, we review the known intrinsic ('seed') and the extrinsic ('soil') factors needed for their optimal oncogenic effect and highlight the many unresolved questions regarding their effects on development and crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment. The 'seed and soil' analogy, used to explain tumor metastatic niches, also applies to oncohistones, which mainly thrive and flourish in specific chromatin states during very narrow windows of development, creating exquisite vulnerabilities, which could provide effective therapies for these deadly cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol C L Chen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Tu SM, Aydin AM, Maraboyina S, Chen Z, Singh S, Gokden N, Langford T. Stem Cell Origin of Cancer: Implications of Oncogenesis Recapitulating Embryogenesis in Cancer Care. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092516. [PMID: 37173982 PMCID: PMC10177345 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
From this perspective, we wonder about the clinical implications of oncology recapturing ontogeny in the contexts of neoantigens, tumor biomarkers, and cancer targets. We ponder about the biological ramifications of finding remnants of mini-organs and residuals of tiny embryos in some tumors. We reminisce about classical experiments showing that the embryonic microenvironment possesses antitumorigenic properties. Ironically, a stem-ness niche-in the wrong place at the wrong time-is also an onco-niche. We marvel at the paradox of TGF-beta both as a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. We query about the dualism of EMT as a stem-ness trait engaged in both normal development and abnormal disease states, including various cancers. It is uncanny that during fetal development, proto-oncogenes wax, while tumor-suppressor genes wane. Similarly, during cancer development, proto-oncogenes awaken, while tumor-suppressor genes slumber. Importantly, targeting stem-like pathways has therapeutic implications because stem-ness may be the true driver, if not engine, of the malignant process. Furthermore, anti-stem-like activity elicits anti-cancer effects for a variety of cancers because stem-ness features may be a universal property of cancer. When a fetus survives and thrives despite immune surveillance and all the restraints of nature and the constraints of its niche, it is a perfect baby. Similarly, when a neoplasm survives and thrives in an otherwise healthy and immune-competent host, is it a perfect tumor? Therefore, a pertinent narrative of cancer depends on a proper perspective of cancer. If malignant cells are derived from stem cells, and both cells are intrinsically RB1 negative and TP53 null, do the absence of RB1 and loss of TP53 really matter in this whole narrative and an entirely different perspective of cancer?
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Ming Tu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Ahmet Murat Aydin
- Department of Urology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Sanjay Maraboyina
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Zhongning Chen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Sunny Singh
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Neriman Gokden
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Timothy Langford
- Department of Urology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Winkler F, Venkatesh HS, Amit M, Batchelor T, Demir IE, Deneen B, Gutmann DH, Hervey-Jumper S, Kuner T, Mabbott D, Platten M, Rolls A, Sloan EK, Wang TC, Wick W, Venkataramani V, Monje M. Cancer neuroscience: State of the field, emerging directions. Cell 2023; 186:1689-1707. [PMID: 37059069 PMCID: PMC10107403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 84.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
The nervous system governs both ontogeny and oncology. Regulating organogenesis during development, maintaining homeostasis, and promoting plasticity throughout life, the nervous system plays parallel roles in the regulation of cancers. Foundational discoveries have elucidated direct paracrine and electrochemical communication between neurons and cancer cells, as well as indirect interactions through neural effects on the immune system and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment in a wide range of malignancies. Nervous system-cancer interactions can regulate oncogenesis, growth, invasion and metastatic spread, treatment resistance, stimulation of tumor-promoting inflammation, and impairment of anti-cancer immunity. Progress in cancer neuroscience may create an important new pillar of cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Humsa S Venkatesh
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Moran Amit
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tracy Batchelor
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ihsan Ekin Demir
- Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benjamin Deneen
- Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shawn Hervey-Jumper
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Donald Mabbott
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto and Neuroscience & Mental Health Program, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Platten
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Asya Rolls
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Erica K Sloan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Durand M, Chateau A, Jubréaux J, Devy J, Paquot H, Laurent G, Bazzi R, Roux S, Richet N, Reinhard-Ruch A, Chastagner P, Pinel S. Radiosensitization with Gadolinium Chelate-Coated Gold Nanoparticles Prevents Aggressiveness and Invasiveness in Glioblastoma. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:243-261. [PMID: 36660336 PMCID: PMC9844821 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s375918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the radiosensitizing potential of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles when combined with conventional external X-ray irradiation (RT) to treat GBM. Methods Complementary biological models based on U87 spheroids including conventional 3D invasion assay, organotypic brain slice cultures, chronic cranial window model were implemented to investigate the impact of RT treatments (10 Gy single dose; 5×2 Gy or 2×5 Gy) combined with Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles on tumor progression. The main tumor mass and its infiltrative area were analyzed. This work focused on the invading cancer cells after irradiation and their viability, aggressiveness, and recurrence potential were assessed using mitotic catastrophe quantification, MMP secretion analysis and neurosphere assays, respectively. Results In vitro clonogenic assays showed that Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles exerted a radiosensitizing effect on U87 cells, and in vivo experiments suggested a benefit of the combined treatment "RT 2×5 Gy + Au@DTDTPA(Gd)" compared to RT alone. Invasion assays revealed that invasion distance tended to increase after irradiation alone, while the combined treatments were able to significantly reduce tumor invasion. Monitoring of U87-GFP tumor progression using organotypic cultures or intracerebral grafts confirmed the anti-invasive effect of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) on irradiated spheroids. Most importantly, the combination of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) with irradiation drastically reduced the number, the viability and the aggressiveness of tumor cells able to escape from U87 spheroids. Notably, the combined treatments significantly reduced the proportion of escaped cells with stem-like features that could cause recurrence. Conclusion Combining Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles and X-ray radiotherapy appears as an attractive therapeutic strategy to decrease number, viability and aggressiveness of tumor cells that escape and can invade the surrounding brain parenchyma. Hence, Au@DTDTPA(Gd)-enhanced radiotherapy opens up interesting perspectives for glioblastoma treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Durand
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, F-54000, France
| | - Alicia Chateau
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, F-54000, France
| | | | - Jérôme Devy
- Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, UMR CNRS/URCA 7369, MEDyC, Reims, F-51100, France
| | - Héna Paquot
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, F-54000, France
| | - Gautier Laurent
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR 6213 CNRS-UBFC, UTINAM, Besançon, F-25000, France
| | - Rana Bazzi
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR 6213 CNRS-UBFC, UTINAM, Besançon, F-25000, France
| | - Stéphane Roux
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR 6213 CNRS-UBFC, UTINAM, Besançon, F-25000, France
| | - Nicolas Richet
- Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, Plateau Technique Mobile de Cytométrie Environnementale MOBICYTE Mobicyte, Reims, F-51100, France
| | | | - Pascal Chastagner
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, F-54000, France,CHRU de Nancy, Hôpital d’enfants - Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, F-54500, France
| | - Sophie Pinel
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, F-54000, France,Correspondence: Sophie Pinel, Email
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Barin N, Balcioglu HE, de Heer I, de Wit M, Lamfers MLM, van Royen ME, French PJ, Accardo A. 3D-Engineered Scaffolds to Study Microtubes and Localization of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Patient-Derived Glioma Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2204485. [PMID: 36207287 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202204485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A major obstacle in glioma research is the lack of in vitro models that can retain cellular features of glioma cells in vivo. To overcome this limitation, a 3D-engineered scaffold, fabricated by two-photon polymerization, is developed as a cell culture model system to study patient-derived glioma cells. Scanning electron microscopy, (live cell) confocal microscopy, and immunohistochemistry are employed to assess the 3D model with respect to scaffold colonization, cellular morphology, and epidermal growth factor receptor localization. Both glioma patient-derived cells and established cell lines successfully colonize the scaffolds. Compared to conventional 2D cell cultures, the 3D-engineered scaffolds more closely resemble in vivo glioma cellular features and allow better monitoring of individual cells, cellular protrusions, and intracellular trafficking. Furthermore, less random cell motility and increased stability of cellular networks is observed for cells cultured on the scaffolds. The 3D-engineered glioma scaffolds therefore represent a promising tool for studying brain cancer mechanobiology as well as for drug screening studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Barin
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Hayri E Balcioglu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Iris de Heer
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice de Wit
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Martine L M Lamfers
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Martin E van Royen
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Pim J French
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, 3015 GD, The Netherlands
| | - Angelo Accardo
- Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Ceran Y, Ergüder H, Ladner K, Korenfeld S, Deniz K, Padmanabhan S, Wong P, Baday M, Pengo T, Lou E, Patel CB. TNTdetect.AI: A Deep Learning Model for Automated Detection and Counting of Tunneling Nanotubes in Microscopy Images. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4958. [PMID: 36230881 PMCID: PMC9562025 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are cellular structures connecting cell membranes and mediating intercellular communication. TNTs are manually identified and counted by a trained investigator; however, this process is time-intensive. We therefore sought to develop an automated approach for quantitative analysis of TNTs. METHODS We used a convolutional neural network (U-Net) deep learning model to segment phase contrast microscopy images of both cancer and non-cancer cells. Our method was composed of preprocessing and model development. We developed a new preprocessing method to label TNTs on a pixel-wise basis. Two sequential models were employed to detect TNTs. First, we identified the regions of images with TNTs by implementing a classification algorithm. Second, we fed parts of the image classified as TNT-containing into a modified U-Net model to estimate TNTs on a pixel-wise basis. RESULTS The algorithm detected 49.9% of human expert-identified TNTs, counted TNTs, and calculated the number of TNTs per cell, or TNT-to-cell ratio (TCR); it detected TNTs that were not originally detected by the experts. The model had 0.41 precision, 0.26 recall, and 0.32 f-1 score on a test dataset. The predicted and true TCRs were not significantly different across the training and test datasets (p = 0.78). CONCLUSIONS Our automated approach labeled and detected TNTs and cells imaged in culture, resulting in comparable TCRs to those determined by human experts. Future studies will aim to improve on the accuracy, precision, and recall of the algorithm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasin Ceran
- School of Information Systems and Technology, San José State University, San José, CA 95192, USA
- Department of Management Information Systems, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Hamza Ergüder
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, 34349 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Katherine Ladner
- Department of Medicine Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sophie Korenfeld
- Department of Medicine Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Karina Deniz
- Department of Medicine Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Sanyukta Padmanabhan
- Department of Medicine Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Phillip Wong
- Department of Medicine Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Murat Baday
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Precision Health and Integrated Diagnostics Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Thomas Pengo
- Informatics Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emil Lou
- Department of Medicine Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Chirag B. Patel
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas System, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gonzalez Castro LN, Liu I, Filbin M. Characterizing the biology of primary brain tumors and their microenvironment via single-cell profiling methods. Neuro Oncol 2022; 25:234-247. [PMID: 36197833 PMCID: PMC9925698 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity is prevalent among the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors in children and adults. Over the past 20 years, advances in bioengineering, biochemistry and bioinformatics have enabled the development of an array of techniques to study tumor biology at single-cell resolution. The application of these techniques to study primary brain tumors has helped advance our understanding of their intra-tumoral heterogeneity and uncover new insights regarding their co-option of developmental programs and signaling from their microenvironment to promote tumor proliferation and invasion. These insights are currently being harnessed to develop new therapeutic approaches. Here we provide an overview of current single-cell techniques and discuss relevant biology and therapeutic insights uncovered by their application to primary brain tumors in children and adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Nicolas Gonzalez Castro
- Corresponding Author: L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD, Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA ()
| | | | - Mariella Filbin
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Dart A. Impersonating neurons. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:548-549. [PMID: 36042384 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00508-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
47
|
Yang Y, Schubert MC, Kuner T, Wick W, Winkler F, Venkataramani V. Brain Tumor Networks in Diffuse Glioma. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1832-1843. [PMID: 36357661 PMCID: PMC9723066 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01320-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse gliomas are primary brain tumors associated with a poor prognosis. Cellular and molecular mechanisms driving the invasive growth patterns and therapeutic resistance are incompletely understood. The emerging field of cancer neuroscience offers a novel approach to study these brain tumors in the context of their intricate interactions with the nervous system employing and combining methodological toolsets from neuroscience and oncology. Increasing evidence has shown how neurodevelopmental and neuronal-like mechanisms are hijacked leading to the discovery of multicellular brain tumor networks. Here, we review how gap junction-coupled tumor-tumor-astrocyte networks, as well as synaptic and paracrine neuron-tumor networks drive glioma progression. Molecular mechanisms of these malignant, homo- and heterotypic networks, and their complex interplay are reviewed. Lastly, potential clinical-translational implications and resulting therapeutic strategies are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Yang
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), INF 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marc C Schubert
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), INF 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, INF 307, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, INF 307, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wick
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), INF 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Winkler
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), INF 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Varun Venkataramani
- Neurology Clinic and National Center for Tumor Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), INF 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, INF 307, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|