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Žilinskas J, Stukas D, Jasukaitienė A, Žievytė I, Balion Z, Šapauskienė J, Banienė R, Paužas H, Lizdenis P, Čėsna V, Dambrauskas Ž, Gulbinas A, Tamelis A. Assessing the Therapeutic Impacts of HAMLET and FOLFOX on BRAF-Mutated Colorectal Cancer: A Study of Cancer Cell Survival and Mitochondrial Dynamics In Vitro and Ex Vivo. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:142. [PMID: 38256402 PMCID: PMC10818271 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health challenge. The BRAF V600E mutation, found in 8-12% of CRC patients, exacerbates this by conferring poor prognosis and resistance to therapy. Our study focuses on the efficacy of the HAMLET complex, a molecular substance derived from human breast milk, on CRC cell lines and ex vivo biopsies harboring this mutation, given its previously observed selective toxicity to cancer cells. Materials and Methods: we explored the effects of combining HAMLET with the FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen on CRC cell lines and ex vivo models. Key assessments included cell viability, apoptosis/necrosis induction, and mitochondrial function, aiming to understand the mutation-specific resistance or other cellular response mechanisms. Results: HAMLET and FOLFOX alone decreased viability in CRC explants, irrespective of the BRAF mutation status. Notably, their combination yielded a marked decrease in viability, particularly in the BRAF wild-type samples, suggesting a synergistic effect. While HAMLET showed a modest inhibitory effect on mitochondrial respiration across both mutant and wild-type samples, the response varied depending on the mutation status. Significant differences emerged in the responses of the HT-29 and WiDr cell lines to HAMLET, with WiDr cells showing greater resistance, pointing to factors beyond genetic mutations influencing drug responses. A slight synergy between HAMLET and FOLFOX was observed in WiDr cells, independent of the BRAF mutation. The bioenergetic analysis highlighted differences in mitochondrial respiration between HT-29 and WiDr cells, suggesting that bioenergetic profiles could be key in determining cellular responses to HAMLET. Conclusions: We highlight the potential of HAMLET and FOLFOX as a combined therapeutic approach in BRAF wild-type CRC, significantly reducing cancer cell viability. The varied responses in CRC cell lines, especially regarding bioenergetic and mitochondrial factors, emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach considering both genetic and metabolic aspects in CRC treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justas Žilinskas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Darius Stukas
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (D.S.); (A.J.); (I.Ž.)
| | - Aldona Jasukaitienė
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (D.S.); (A.J.); (I.Ž.)
| | - Inga Žievytė
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (D.S.); (A.J.); (I.Ž.)
| | - Zbigniev Balion
- Preclinical Research Laboratory for Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Jurgita Šapauskienė
- Department of Biochemistry, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (J.Š.); (R.B.)
| | - Rasa Banienė
- Department of Biochemistry, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (J.Š.); (R.B.)
| | - Henrikas Paužas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Paulius Lizdenis
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Vaidotas Čėsna
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Žilvinas Dambrauskas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (D.S.); (A.J.); (I.Ž.)
| | - Antanas Gulbinas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (D.S.); (A.J.); (I.Ž.)
| | - Algimantas Tamelis
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania; (H.P.); (P.L.); (V.Č.); (Ž.D.); (A.G.); (A.T.)
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Žilinskas J, Stukas D, Jasukaitienė A, Šapauskienė J, Banienė R, Trumbeckaitė S, Švagždys S, Cicciu M, Dambrauskas Ž, Gulbinas A, Tamelis A. HAMLET effect on cell death and mitochondrial respiration in colorectal cancer cell lines with KRAS/BRAF mutations. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04777-0. [PMID: 37099199 PMCID: PMC10374481 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04777-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) depends on the correct selection of personalized strategies. HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells) is a natural proteolipid milk compound that might serve as a novel cancer prevention and therapy candidate. Our purpose was to investigate HAMLET effect on viability, death pathway and mitochondrial bioenergetics of CRC cells with different KRAS/BRAF mutational status in vitro. METHODS We treated three cell lines (Caco-2, LoVo, WiDr) with HAMLET to evaluate cell metabolic activity and viability, flow cytometry of apoptotic and necrotic cells, pro- and anti-apoptotic genes, and protein expressions. Mitochondrial respiration (oxygen consumption) rate was recorded by high-resolution respirometry system Oxygraph-2 k. RESULTS The HAMLET complex was cytotoxic to all investigated CRC cell lines and this effect is irreversible. Flow cytometry revealed that HAMLET induces necrotic cell death with a slight increase in an apoptotic cell population. WiDr cell metabolism, clonogenicity, necrosis/apoptosis level, and mitochondrial respiration were affected significantly less than other cells. CONCLUSION HAMLET exhibits irreversible cytotoxicity on human CRC cells in a dose-dependent manner, leading to necrotic cell death and inhibiting the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. BRAF-mutant cell line is more resistant than other type lines. HAMLET decreased mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis in CaCo-2 and LoVo cell lines but did not affect WiDr cells' respiration. Pretreatment of cancer cells with HAMLET has no impact on mitochondrial outer and inner membrane permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justas Žilinskas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Street 2, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Darius Stukas
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Aldona Jasukaitienė
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jurgita Šapauskienė
- Department of Biochemistry, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Banienė
- Department of Biochemistry, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Sonata Trumbeckaitė
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Saulius Švagždys
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Street 2, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Marco Cicciu
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences, Morphological and Functional Images, School of Dentistry, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Žilvinas Dambrauskas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Street 2, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Antanas Gulbinas
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Street 2, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
- Institute of Digestive Research, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Algimantas Tamelis
- Department of Surgery, Medical Academy, Faculty of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių Street 2, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Precision oncology using ex vivo technology: a step towards individualised cancer care? Expert Rev Mol Med 2022; 24:e39. [PMID: 36184897 PMCID: PMC9884776 DOI: 10.1017/erm.2022.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite advances in cancer genomics and the increased use of genomic medicine, metastatic cancer is still mostly an incurable and fatal disease. With diminishing returns from traditional drug discovery strategies, and high clinical failure rates, more emphasis is being placed on alternative drug discovery platforms, such as ex vivo approaches. Ex vivo approaches aim to embed biological relevance and inter-patient variability at an earlier stage of drug discovery, and to offer more precise treatment stratification for patients. However, these techniques also have a high potential to offer personalised therapies to patients, complementing and enhancing genomic medicine. Although an array of approaches are available to researchers, only a minority of techniques have made it through to direct patient treatment within robust clinical trials. Within this review, we discuss the current challenges to ex vivo approaches within clinical practice and summarise the contemporary literature which has directed patient treatment. Finally, we map out how ex vivo approaches could transition from a small-scale, predominantly research based technology to a robust and validated predictive tool. In future, these pre-clinical approaches may be integrated into clinical cancer pathways to assist in the personalisation of therapy choices and to hopefully improve patient experiences and outcomes.
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Chen J, Lobb IT, Morin P, Novo SM, Simpson J, Kennerknecht K, von Kriegsheim A, Batchelor EE, Oakley F, Stark LA. Identification of a novel TIF-IA-NF-κB nucleolar stress response pathway. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:6188-6205. [PMID: 29873780 PMCID: PMC6158704 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
p53 as an effector of nucleolar stress is well defined, but p53 independent mechanisms are largely unknown. Like p53, the NF-κB transcription factor plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress. Many stresses that stimulate NF-κB also disrupt nucleoli. However, the link between nucleolar function and activation of the NF-κB pathway is as yet unknown. Here we demonstrate that artificial disruption of the PolI complex stimulates NF-κB signalling. Unlike p53 nucleolar stress response, this effect does not appear to be linked to inhibition of rDNA transcription. We show that specific stress stimuli of NF-κB induce degradation of a critical component of the PolI complex, TIF-IA. This degradation precedes activation of NF-κB and is associated with increased nucleolar size. It is mimicked by CDK4 inhibition and is dependent upon a novel pathway involving UBF/p14ARF and S44 of the protein. We show that blocking TIF-IA degradation blocks stress effects on nucleolar size and NF-κB signalling. Finally, using ex vivo culture, we show a strong correlation between degradation of TIF-IA and activation of NF-κB in freshly resected, human colorectal tumours exposed to the chemopreventative agent, aspirin. Together, our study provides compelling evidence for a new, TIF-IA-NF-κB nucleolar stress response pathway that has in vivo relevance and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Chen
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Ian T Lobb
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Pierre Morin
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Sonia M Novo
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - James Simpson
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Kathrin Kennerknecht
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Alex von Kriegsheim
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Emily E Batchelor
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Fiona Oakley
- Liver Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, 4th Floor, William Leech Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Lesley A Stark
- University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd., Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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Rodenhizer D, Dean T, D'Arcangelo E, McGuigan AP. The Current Landscape of 3D In Vitro Tumor Models: What Cancer Hallmarks Are Accessible for Drug Discovery? Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1701174. [PMID: 29350495 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201701174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer prognosis remains a lottery dependent on cancer type, disease stage at diagnosis, and personal genetics. While investment in research is at an all-time high, new drugs are more likely to fail in clinical trials today than in the 1970s. In this review, a summary of current survival statistics in North America is provided, followed by an overview of the modern drug discovery process, classes of models used throughout different stages, and challenges associated with drug development efficiency are highlighted. Then, an overview of the cancer hallmarks that drive clinical progression is provided, and the range of available clinical therapies within the context of these hallmarks is categorized. Specifically, it is found that historically, the development of therapies is limited to a subset of possible targets. This provides evidence for the opportunities offered by novel disease-relevant in vitro models that enable identification of novel targets that facilitate interactions between the tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment. Next, an overview of the models currently reported in literature is provided, and the cancer biology they have been used to explore is highlighted. Finally, four priority areas are suggested for the field to accelerate adoption of in vitro tumour models for cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Rodenhizer
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Teresa Dean
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Elisa D'Arcangelo
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Alison P. McGuigan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry & Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Toronto 200 College Street Toronto M5S 3E5 Canada
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