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Zhang J, Zhou L, Zhao S, El-Deiry WS. Regorafenib synergizes with TAS102 against multiple gastrointestinal cancers and overcomes cancer stemness, trifluridine-induced angiogenesis, ERK1/2 and STAT3 signaling regardless of KRAS or BRAF mutational status. Oncotarget 2024; 15:424-438. [PMID: 38953895 PMCID: PMC11218792 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28602] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-agent TAS102 (trifluridine/tipiracil) and regorafenib are FDA-approved treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We previously reported that regorafenib combined with a fluoropyrimidine can delay disease progression in clinical case reports of multidrug-resistant mCRC patients. We hypothesized that the combination of TAS102 and regorafenib may be active in CRC and other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and may in the future provide a treatment option for patients with advanced GI cancer. We investigated the therapeutic effect of TAS102 in combination with regorafenib in preclinical studies employing cell culture, colonosphere assays that enrich for cancer stem cells, and in vivo. TAS102 in combination with regorafenib has synergistic activity against multiple GI cancers in vitro including colorectal and gastric cancer, but not liver cancer cells. TAS102 inhibits colonosphere formation and this effect is potentiated by regorafenib. In vivo anti-tumor effects of TAS102 plus regorafenib appear to be due to anti-proliferative effects, necrosis and angiogenesis inhibition. Growth inhibition by TAS102 plus regorafenib occurs in xenografted tumors regardless of p53, KRAS or BRAF mutations, although more potent tumor suppression was observed with wild-type p53. Regorafenib significantly inhibits TAS102-induced angiogenesis and microvessel density in xenografted tumors, as well inhibits TAS102-induced ERK1/2 activation regardless of RAS or BRAF status in vivo. TAS102 plus regorafenib is a synergistic drug combination in preclinical models of GI cancer, with regorafenib suppressing TAS102-induced increase in microvessel density and p-ERK as contributing mechanisms. The TAS102 plus regorafenib drug combination may be further tested in gastric and other GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and Lifespan Health System, RI 02912, USA
- Cancer Center at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
| | - Lanlan Zhou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and Lifespan Health System, RI 02912, USA
- Cancer Center at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
| | - Shuai Zhao
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and Lifespan Health System, RI 02912, USA
- Cancer Center at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
| | - Wafik S. El-Deiry
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- The Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Brown University and Lifespan Health System, RI 02912, USA
- Cancer Center at Brown University, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, Lifespan Health System and Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, RI 02912, USA
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Dang Q, Zuo L, Hu X, Zhou Z, Chen S, Liu S, Ba Y, Zuo A, Xu H, Weng S, Zhang Y, Luo P, Cheng Q, Liu Z, Han X. Molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer in the era of precision oncotherapy: Current inspirations and future challenges. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e70041. [PMID: 39054866 PMCID: PMC11272957 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70041] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most hackneyed malignancies. Even patients with identical clinical symptoms and the same TNM stage still exhibit radically different clinical outcomes after receiving equivalent treatment regimens, indicating extensive heterogeneity of CRC. Myriad molecular subtypes of CRC have been exploited for decades, including the most compelling consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification that has been broadly applied for patient stratification and biomarker-drug combination formulation. Encountering barriers to clinical translation, however, CMS classification fails to fully reflect inter- or intra-tumor heterogeneity of CRC. As a consequence, addressing heterogeneity and precisely managing CRC patients with unique characteristics remain arduous tasks for clinicians. REVIEW In this review, we systematically summarize molecular subtypes of CRC and further elaborate on their clinical applications, limitations, and future orientations. CONCLUSION In recent years, exploration of subtypes through cell lines, animal models, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), organoids, and clinical trials contributes to refining biological insights and unraveling subtype-specific therapies in CRC. Therapeutic interventions including nanotechnology, clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), gut microbiome, and liquid biopsy are powerful tools with the possibility to shift the immunologic landscape and outlook for CRC precise medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Dang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Department of Colorectal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Lulu Zuo
- Center for Reproductive MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Xinru Hu
- Department of Cardiology, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Shuang Chen
- Center for Reproductive MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Shutong Liu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Yuhao Ba
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Anning Zuo
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Siyuan Weng
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Yuyuan Zhang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan ProvinceZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Institute of Basic Medical SciencesChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan ProvinceZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
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3
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Chuang YT, Yen CY, Chien TM, Chang FR, Tsai YH, Wu KC, Tang JY, Chang HW. Ferroptosis-Regulated Natural Products and miRNAs and Their Potential Targeting to Ferroptosis and Exosome Biogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6083. [PMID: 38892270 PMCID: PMC11173094 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116083] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis, which comprises iron-dependent cell death, is crucial in cancer and non-cancer treatments. Exosomes, the extracellular vesicles, may deliver biomolecules to regulate disease progression. The interplay between ferroptosis and exosomes may modulate cancer development but is rarely investigated in natural product treatments and their modulating miRNAs. This review focuses on the ferroptosis-modulating effects of natural products and miRNAs concerning their participation in ferroptosis and exosome biogenesis (secretion and assembly)-related targets in cancer and non-cancer cells. Natural products and miRNAs with ferroptosis-modulating effects were retrieved and organized. Next, a literature search established the connection of a panel of ferroptosis-modulating genes to these ferroptosis-associated natural products. Moreover, ferroptosis-associated miRNAs were inputted into the miRNA database (miRDB) to bioinformatically search the potential targets for the modulation of ferroptosis and exosome biogenesis. Finally, the literature search provided a connection between ferroptosis-modulating miRNAs and natural products. Consequently, the connections from ferroptosis-miRNA-exosome biogenesis to natural product-based anticancer treatments are well-organized. This review sheds light on the research directions for integrating miRNAs and exosome biogenesis into the ferroptosis-modulating therapeutic effects of natural products on cancer and non-cancer diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ting Chuang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, PhD Program in Life Sciences, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Ching-Yu Yen
- School of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan;
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
| | - Tsu-Ming Chien
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Gangshan Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 820111, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Rong Chang
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Hong Tsai
- Department of Pharmacy and Master Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Care, Tajen University, Pingtung 907101, Taiwan;
| | - Kuo-Chuan Wu
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan;
| | - Jen-Yang Tang
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Wei Chang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, PhD Program in Life Sciences, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Center for Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
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MacLean MR, Walker OL, Arun RP, Fernando W, Marcato P. Informed by Cancer Stem Cells of Solid Tumors: Advances in Treatments Targeting Tumor-Promoting Factors and Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4102. [PMID: 38612911 PMCID: PMC11012648 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074102] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation within tumors that promote cancer progression, metastasis, and recurrence due to their self-renewal capacity and resistance to conventional therapies. CSC-specific markers and signaling pathways highly active in CSCs have emerged as a promising strategy for improving patient outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the therapeutic targets associated with CSCs of solid tumors across various cancer types, including key molecular markers aldehyde dehydrogenases, CD44, epithelial cellular adhesion molecule, and CD133 and signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and Sonic Hedgehog. We discuss a wide array of therapeutic modalities ranging from targeted antibodies, small molecule inhibitors, and near-infrared photoimmunotherapy to advanced genetic approaches like RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, aptamers, antisense oligonucleotides, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, CAR natural killer cells, bispecific T cell engagers, immunotoxins, drug-antibody conjugates, therapeutic peptides, and dendritic cell vaccines. This review spans developments from preclinical investigations to ongoing clinical trials, highlighting the innovative targeting strategies that have been informed by CSC-associated pathways and molecules to overcome therapeutic resistance. We aim to provide insights into the potential of these therapies to revolutionize cancer treatment, underscoring the critical need for a multi-faceted approach in the battle against cancer. This comprehensive analysis demonstrates how advances made in the CSC field have informed significant developments in novel targeted therapeutic approaches, with the ultimate goal of achieving more effective and durable responses in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya R. MacLean
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
| | - Olivia L. Walker
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
| | - Raj Pranap Arun
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
| | - Wasundara Fernando
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Paola Marcato
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada; (M.R.M.); (O.L.W.); (R.P.A.); (W.F.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
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5
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Ruszkowska-Ciastek B, Kwiatkowska K, Marques-da-Silva D, Lagoa R. Cancer Stem Cells from Definition to Detection and Targeted Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3903. [PMID: 38612718 PMCID: PMC11011379 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073903] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancers remain the second leading cause of mortality in the world. Preclinical and clinical studies point an important role of cancer/leukaemia stem cells (CSCs/LSCs) in the colonisation at secondary organ sites upon metastatic spreading, although the precise mechanisms for specific actions are still not fully understood. Reviewing the present knowledge on the crucial role of CSCs/LSCs, their plasticity, and population heterogeneity in treatment failures in cancer patients is timely. Standard chemotherapy, which acts mainly on rapidly dividing cells, is unable to adequately affect CSCs with a low proliferation rate. One of the proposed mechanisms of CSC resistance to anticancer agents is the fact that these cells can easily shift between different phases of the cell cycle in response to typical cell stimuli induced by anticancer drugs. In this work, we reviewed the recent studies on CSC/LSC alterations associated with disease recurrence, and we systematised the functional assays, markers, and novel methods for CSCs screening. This review emphasises CSCs' involvement in cancer progression and metastasis, as well as CSC/LSC targeting by synthetic and natural compounds aiming at their elimination or modulation of stemness properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Ruszkowska-Ciastek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kwiatkowska
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Jan Biziel University Hospital No. 2, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Dorinda Marques-da-Silva
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; (D.M.-d.-S.); (R.L.)
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Lagoa
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; (D.M.-d.-S.); (R.L.)
- Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
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Ke C, Zhou H, Xia T, Xie X, Jiang B. GTP binding protein 2 maintains the quiescence, self-renewal, and chemoresistance of mouse colorectal cancer stem cells via promoting Wnt signaling activation. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27159. [PMID: 38468952 PMCID: PMC10926081 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and the second most deadly cancer across the globe. Colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) fuel CRC growth, metastasis, relapse, and chemoresistance. A complete understanding of the modulatory mechanisms of CCSC biology is essential for developing efficacious CRC treatment. In the current study, we characterized the expression and function of GTP binding protein 2 (GTPBP2) in a chemical-induced mouse CRC model. We found that GTPBP2 was expressed at a higher level in CD133+CD44+ CCSCs compared with other CRC cells. Using a lentivirus-based Cas9/sgRNA system, GTPBP2 expression was ablated in CRC cells in vitro. GTPBP2 deficiency caused the following effects on CCSCs: 1) Significantly accelerating proliferation and increasing the proportions of cells at G1, S, and G2/M phase; 2) Impairing resistance to 5-Fluorouracil; 3) Weakening self-renewal but not impacting cell migration. In addition, GTPBP2 deficiency remarkably decreased β-catenin expression while increasing β-catenin phosphorylation in CCSCs. These effects of GTPBP2 were present in CCSCs but not in other CRC cell populations. The Wnt agonist SKL2001 completely abolished these changes in GTPBP2-deficient CCSCs. When GTPBP2-deficient CCSCs were implanted in nude mice, they exhibited consistent changes compared with GTPBP2-expressing CCSCs. Collectively, this study indicates that GTPBP2 positively modulates Wnt signaling to reinforce the quiescence, self-renewal, and chemoresistance of mouse CCSCs. Therefore, we disclose a novel mechanism underlying CCSC biology and GTPBP2 could be a therapeutic target in future CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ke
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Hongjian Zhou
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Tian Xia
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Xingwang Xie
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- The Department of Gastrointestinal, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Wuhan Third Hospital (Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University), 241 Pengliuyang Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, China
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Jagasia S, Tasci E, Zhuge Y, Camphausen K, Krauze AV. Identifying patients suitable for targeted adjuvant therapy: advances in the field of developing biomarkers for tumor recurrence following irradiation. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2023; 8:33-42. [PMID: 37982134 PMCID: PMC10655913 DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2023.2276927] [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: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Radiation therapy (RT) is commonly used to treat cancer in conjunction with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Despite the effectiveness of RT, tumor recurrence due to treatment resistance still lead to treatment failure. RT-specific biomarkers are currently lacking and remain challenging to investigate with existing data since, for many common malignancies, standard of care (SOC) paradigms involve the administration of RT in conjunction with other agents. Areas Covered Established clinically relevant biomarkers are used in surveillance, as prognostic indicators, and sometimes for treatment planning; however, the inability to intercept early recurrence or predict upfront resistance to treatment remains a significant challenge that limits the selection of patients for adjuvant therapy. We discuss attempts at intercepting early failure. We examine biomarkers that have made it into the clinic where they are used for treatment monitoring and management alteration, and novel biomarkers that lead the field with targeted adjuvant therapy seeking to harness these. Expert Opinion Given the growth of data correlating interventions with omic analysis toward identifying biomarkers of radiation resistance, more robust markers of recurrence that link to biology will increasingly be leveraged toward targeted adjuvant therapy to make a successful transition to the clinic in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jagasia
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - E Tasci
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ying Zhuge
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - K Camphausen
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - A V Krauze
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, CRC, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Skandalis SS. CD44 Intracellular Domain: A Long Tale of a Short Tail. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5041. [PMID: 37894408 PMCID: PMC10605500 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205041] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
CD44 is a single-chain transmembrane receptor that exists in multiple forms due to alternative mRNA splicing and post-translational modifications. CD44 is the main cell surface receptor of hyaluronan as well as other extracellular matrix molecules, cytokines, and growth factors that play important roles in physiological processes (such as hematopoiesis and lymphocyte homing) and the progression of various diseases, the predominant one being cancer. Currently, CD44 is an established cancer stem cell marker in several tumors, implying a central functional role in tumor biology. The present review aims to highlight the contribution of the CD44 short cytoplasmic tail, which is devoid of any enzymatic activity, in the extraordinary functional diversity of the receptor. The interactions of CD44 with cytoskeletal proteins through specific structural motifs within its intracellular domain drives cytoskeleton rearrangements and affects the distribution of organelles and transport of molecules. Moreover, the CD44 intracellular domain specifically interacts with various cytoplasmic effectors regulating cell-trafficking machinery, signal transduction pathways, the transcriptome, and vital cell metabolic pathways. Understanding the cell type- and context-specificity of these interactions may unravel the high complexity of CD44 functions and lead to novel improved therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros S Skandalis
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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9
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Cheng K, Chahdi A, Larabee SM, Tolaymat M, Sundel MH, Drachenberg CB, Zhan M, Hu S, Said AH, Shang AC, Xie G, Alizadeh M, Moura NS, Bafford AC, Williams RT, Hanna NN, Raufman JP. Muscarinic receptor agonist-induced βPix binding to β-catenin promotes colon neoplasia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16920. [PMID: 37805544 PMCID: PMC10560271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44158-8] [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: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
M3 muscarinic receptors (M3R) modulate β-catenin signaling and colon neoplasia. CDC42/RAC guanine nucleotide exchange factor, βPix, binds to β-catenin in colon cancer cells, augmenting β-catenin transcriptional activity. Using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, we explored whether these actions are regulated by M3R. At the invasive fronts of murine and human colon cancers, we detected co-localized nuclear expression of βPix and β-catenin in stem cells overexpressing M3R. Using immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation, proximity ligand, and fluorescent cell sorting assays in human tissues and established and primary human colon cancer cell cultures, we detected time-dependent M3R agonist-induced cytoplasmic and nuclear association of βPix with β-catenin. βPix knockdown attenuated M3R agonist-induced human colon cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and expression of PTGS2, the gene encoding cyclooxygenase-2, a key player in colon neoplasia. Overexpressing βPix dose-dependently augmented β-catenin binding to the transcription factor TCF4. In a murine model of sporadic colon cancer, advanced neoplasia was attenuated in conditional knockout mice with intestinal epithelial cell deficiency of βPix. Expression levels of β-catenin target genes and proteins relevant to colon neoplasia, including c-Myc and Ptgs2, were reduced in colon tumors from βPix-deficient conditional knockout mice. Targeting the M3R/βPix/β-catenin axis may have therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunrong Cheng
- VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Ahmed Chahdi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Shannon M Larabee
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Mazen Tolaymat
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Margaret H Sundel
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Cinthia B Drachenberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Min Zhan
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Shien Hu
- VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Anan H Said
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Aaron C Shang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Guofeng Xie
- VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Madeline Alizadeh
- The Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 20201, USA
| | - Natalia Sampaio Moura
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Andrea C Bafford
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Richelle T Williams
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Nader N Hanna
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Raufman
- VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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10
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Zhou G, Lv X, Zhong X, Ying W, Li W, Feng Y, Xia Q, Li J, Jian S, Leng Z. Suspension culture strategies to enrich colon cancer stem cells. Oncol Lett 2023; 25:116. [PMID: 36844615 PMCID: PMC9950343 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
How to efficiently obtain high-purity cancer stem cells (CSCs) has been the basis of CSC research, but the optimal conditions for serum-free suspension culture of CSCs are still unclear. The present study aimed to define the optimal culture medium composition and culture time for the enrichment of colon CSCs via suspension culture. Suspension cell cultures of colon cancer DLD-1 cells were prepared using serum-free medium (SFM) containing variable concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to produce spheroids. Culture times were set at 10, 20 and 30 days. A total of nine different concentrations of EGF and bFGF were added to SFM to generate nine experimental groups. The proportions of CD44+, CD133+, and CD44+CD133+ double-positive spheroid cells were detected via flow cytometry. mRNA expression of stemness-, epithelial-mesenchymal transition- and Wnt/β-catenin pathway-associated genes was determined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Self-renewal ability was evaluated by a sphere-forming assay. Tumorigenesis was studied in vitro using a colony formation assay and in vivo via subcutaneous cell injection in nude mice. It was found that the highest expression proportions of CD133+ and CD44+ spheroid cells were observed in group (G)9 (20 ng/ml EGF + 20 ng/ml bFGF) at 30 days (F=123.554 and 99.528, respectively, P<0.001), CD133+CD44+ cells were also observed in G9 at 30 days (and at 10 days in G3 and 20 days in G6; F=57.897, P<0.001). G9 at 30 days also displayed the highest expression of Krüppel-like factor 4, leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5, CD44, CD133, Vimentin and Wnt-3a (F=22.682, 25.401, 3.272, 7.852, 13.331 and 17.445, respectively, P<0.001) and the lowest expression of E-cadherin (F=10.851, P<0.001). G9 at 30 days produced the highest yield of cell spheroids, as determined by a sphere forming assay (F=19.147, P<0.001); colony formation assays also exhibited the greatest number of colonies derived from G9 spheroids at 30 days (F=60.767, P<0.01), which also generated the largest mean tumor volume in the subcutaneous tumorigenesis xenograft model (F=12.539, P<0.01). In conclusion, 20 ng/ml EGF + 20 ng/ml bFGF effectively enriched colon CSCs when added to suspension culture for 30 days, and conferred the highest efficiency compared with other combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojiang Lv
- Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaorong Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Wei Ying
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Wenbo Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Yanchao Feng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Qinghua Xia
- Department of General Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P.R. China
| | - Jianshui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Shunhai Jian
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Professor Shunhai Jian, Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, 63 Wenhua Road, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China, E-mail:
| | - Zhengwei Leng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Cancer Stem Cells Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China,Correspondence to: Professor Zhengwei Leng, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, 234, Fujiang Road, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China, E-mail:
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11
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Chen Q, Lu L, Ma W. Efficacy, Safety, and Challenges of CAR T-Cells in the Treatment of Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235983. [PMID: 36497465 PMCID: PMC9739567 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has been the fifth pillar of cancer treatment in the past decade. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a newly designed adoptive immunotherapy that is able to target and further eliminate cancer cells by engaging with MHC-independent tumor-antigens. CAR T-cell therapy has exhibited conspicuous clinical efficacy in hematological malignancies, but more than half of patients will relapse. Of note, the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy has been even more disappointing in solid tumors. These challenges mainly include (1) the failures of CAR T-cells to treat highly heterogeneous solid tumors due to the difficulty in identifying unique tumor antigen targets, (2) the expression of target antigens in non-cancer cells, (3) the inability of CAR T-cells to effectively infiltrate solid tumors, (4) the short lifespan and lack of persistence of CAR T-cells, and (5) cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. In combination with these characteristics, the ideal CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors should maintain adequate T-cell response over a long term while sparing healthy tissues. This article reviewed the status, clinical application, efficacy, safety, and challenges of CAR T-cell therapies, as well as the latest progress of CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors. In addition, the potential strategies to improve the efficacy of CAR T-cells and prevent side effects in solid tumors were also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuqiang Chen
- Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Huzhou University School of Medicine, Huzhou 313000, China
| | - Lingeng Lu
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Yale Cancer Center and Center for Biomedical Data Science, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Wenxue Ma
- Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center, Moores Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-858-246-1477
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12
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Naeimi R, Najafi R, Molaei P, Amini R, Pecic S. Nanoparticles: The future of effective diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer? Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 936:175350. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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13
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Polymer Thin Film Promotes Tumor Spheroid Formation via JAK2-STAT3 Signaling Primed by Fibronectin-Integrin α5 and Sustained by LMO2-LDB1 Complex. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112684. [DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are considered promising targets for anti-cancer therapy owing to their role in tumor progression. Extensive research is, therefore, being carried out on CSCs to identify potential targets for anti-cancer therapy. However, this requires the availability of patient-derived CSCs ex vivo, which remains restricted due to the low availability and diversity of CSCs. To address this limitation, a functional polymer thin-film (PTF) platform was invented to induce the transformation of cancer cells into tumorigenic spheroids. In this study, we demonstrated the functionality of a new PTF, polymer X, using a streamlined production process. Polymer X induced the formation of tumor spheroids with properties of CSCs, as revealed through the upregulated expression of CSC-related genes. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in the cancer cells cultured on polymer X was upregulated by the fibronectin-integrin α5-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) axis and maintained by the cytosolic LMO2/LBD1 complex. In addition, STAT3 signaling was critical in spheroid formation on polymer X. Our PTF platform allows the efficient generation of tumor spheroids from cancer cells, thereby overcoming the existing limitations of cancer research.
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14
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Abdou Hassan W, Muqresh MA, Omar M. The Potential Role of CD44 and CD133 in Colorectal Stem Cell Cancer. Cureus 2022; 14:e30509. [DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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15
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Chen L, Yang F, Chen S, Tai J. Mechanisms on chemotherapy resistance of colorectal cancer stem cells and research progress of reverse transformation: A mini-review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:995882. [PMID: 36172536 PMCID: PMC9510709 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.995882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor recurrence and chemotherapy resistance are mainly responsible for poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Cancer stem cell (CSC) has been identified in many solid tumors, including CRC. Additionally, CSC cannot be completely killed during chemotherapy and develops resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, which is the main reason for tumor recurrence. This study reviews the main mechanisms of CSC chemotherapy resistance in CRC, including activation of DNA damage checkpoints, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inhibition of the overexpression of antiapoptotic regulatory factors, overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, maintenance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the dormant state of CSC. Advances in research to reverse chemotherapy resistance are also discussed. Our study can provide the promising potential for eliminating CSC and preventing tumor progression for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Funing Yang
- Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiandong Tai
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Jiandong Tai
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16
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Disulfiram increases the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil in organotypic cultures of colorectal carcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113465. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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17
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E J, Kang Z, Yuan J, Wang Z, Tong D, Xing J. ZNF516 suppresses stem cell-like characteristics by regulating the transcription of Sox2 in colorectal cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:3745-3759. [PMID: 36119845 PMCID: PMC9442021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the biological function and the molecular mechanism of the action of zinc-finger protein 516 (ZNF516) in suppressing stem cell-like characteristics and tumor progression in colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression profiles of ZNF516 in clinical samples and from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) CRC database were analyzed. Cell transfection was used to overexpress and knockdown ZNF516 in CRC cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assays, transwell assays and flow cytometry were used to study cell proliferation, invasion and stem cell-like characteristics, respectively. Cycloheximide (CHX) was used to examine the effect of ZNF516 expression on Sox2 degradation. Finally, the effects of ZNF516 on tumor growth and metastasis were tested on xenograft tumor models and lung metastasis models in immunocompromised mice. We found that the expression level of ZNF516 was lower in TCGA CRC tissue and clinical CRC samples compared with that in normal colorectal mucosal cells. Overexpression of ZNF516 in CRC cells inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, whereas ZNF516 knockdown showed the opposite effects. In addition, ZNF516 overexpression inhibited the sphere-forming ability of CRC cells and suppressed the expression of CD133, CD44 and Oct4 in CRC cells. ZNF516 decreased the stability of Sox2 through a mechanism mediated by EGFR. By in vivo experiments using mouse tumor models, we further confirmed that ZNF516 attenuated tumor growth and alleviated lung metastasis in mice. In conclusion, ZNF516 functions as a tumor suppressor by regulating the transcription of Sox2 to inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, and the development of stem cell-like characteristics in CRC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifu E
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Zhengchun Kang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Department of Rehabilitation, Beidaihe Rehabilitation and Recuperation Center for PLA Joint Logistics Support ForceQinhuangdao, China
| | - Zhaoming Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Dafeng Tong
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Junjie Xing
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical UniversityShanghai, China
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18
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Endometrial stem/progenitor cells: Properties, origins, and functions. Genes Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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19
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Nasrollahpour H, Khalilzadeh B, Naseri A, Yousefi H, Erk N, Rahbarghazi R. Electrochemical biosensors for stem cell analysis; applications in diagnostics, differentiation and follow-up. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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20
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Sharifi-Azad M, Fathi M, Cho WC, Barzegari A, Dadashi H, Dadashpour M, Jahanban-Esfahlan R. Recent advances in targeted drug delivery systems for resistant colorectal cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:196. [PMID: 35590367 PMCID: PMC9117978 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02605-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world, the incidences and morality rate are rising and poses an important threat to the public health. It is known that multiple drug resistance (MDR) is one of the major obstacles in CRC treatment. Tumor microenvironment plus genomic instability, tumor derived exosomes (TDE), cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), as well as cellular signaling pathways are important issues regarding resistance. Since non-targeted therapy causes toxicity, diverse side effects, and undesired efficacy, targeted therapy with contribution of various carriers has been developed to address the mentioned shortcomings. In this paper the underlying causes of MDR and then various targeting strategies including exosomes, liposomes, hydrogels, cell-based carriers and theranostics which are utilized to overcome therapeutic resistance will be described. We also discuss implication of emerging approaches involving single cell approaches and computer-aided drug delivery with high potential for meeting CRC medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Sharifi-Azad
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Fathi
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - William C Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Abolfazl Barzegari
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hamed Dadashi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Dadashpour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
- Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
| | - Rana Jahanban-Esfahlan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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21
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Li Y, Wu M, Xu S, Huang H, Yan L, Gu Y. Colorectal cancer stem cell-derived exosomal long intergenic noncoding RNA 01315 (LINC01315) promotes proliferation, migration, and stemness of colorectal cancer cells. Bioengineered 2022; 13:10827-10842. [PMID: 35470736 PMCID: PMC9161962 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2065800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of long intergenic noncoding RNA 01315 (LINC01315) on colorectal cancer has widely been proved. Nevertheless, how LINC01315 functions in the stemness of colorectal cancer and whether LINC01315 exists in colorectal cancer stem-like cell-derived exosomes remain dim, which are thus investigated in this research. CD133+/CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cells were sorted and verified through flow cytometry. Exosomes derived from CD133+/CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cells were collected. The viability, proliferation, stemness and migration of CD133+/CD44+, CD133−/CD44−, and colorectal cancer cells after transfection or the co-culture with exosomes were detected by MTT, colony formation, spheroid, and wound healing assays, respectively. Expressions of LINC01315, BCL-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, MMP-9, E-cadherin, and vimentin in cells or exosomes were analyzed using western blot or qRT-PCR. Genes interacted with LINC01315 in colorectal cancer were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. The results showed that LINC01315 was high-expressed in CD133+/CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cells and exosomes. Compared with colorectal cancer cells, the viability, proliferation, stemness, and migration of CD133+/CD44+ cancer cells were stronger, while these of CD133−/CD44− cancer cells were weaker. Besides, LINC01315 silencing decreased the viability, proliferation, stemness, and migration of CD133+/CD44+ cancer cells, while sh-LINC01315 inhibited the promotive effects of CD133+/CD44+ cancer cell-derived exosomes on the viability, proliferation, stemness, and migration of colorectal cancer cells. LINC01315 was also found to be correlated with DPEP1, KRT23, ASCL2, AXIN2, and DUSP4 in colorectal cancer. In conclusion, colorectal cancer stem cell-derived exosomal LINC01315 promotes the proliferation, migration, and stemness of colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youran Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Minna Wu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Department of Anorectal, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Yan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunfei Gu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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22
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Tang S, Lian X, Cheng H, Guo J, Ni D, Huang C, Gu X, Meng H, Jiang J, Li X. Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Augmented Malignant Transformation and Promoted the Stemness in Prostate Cancer Epithelial Cells. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:5849-5862. [PMID: 34785925 PMCID: PMC8590462 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s332943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To study bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cancer stem-like transformation and to investigate the inhibitory effect of Trichostatin A (TSA) on the malignant transformation through targeting p-Stat3 signaling. Methods 2D, 3D, and serum-free suspension culture system were used to study LPS-induced malignant transformation in series malignant grade of prostate cancer (PCa) epithelial cells. Flow cytometry assay and RT-PCR were utilized to evaluate the CD44+CD133+ stem cell population, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and series tumor stemness biomarkers. Meanwhile, Western blot was used to analyze the alteration of cell signaling associated-molecules by treatment with TSA, an original antifungal antibiotic and a panel inhibitor of histone deacetylase. Results Our study found that LPS promoted the migration, invasion and stem-like tumoroshpere forming in multiple PCa cell lines including DU145, PC3, 22RV1, LNCaP. LPS also enriched CD44+CD133+ stem cell population and increased the expression of series tumor stemness biomarkers (e.g., CD44, CD133, SOX-2, α-intergrin, Nestin, etc.). TSA was found to prevent tumor cell migration, invasion and tumorosphere forming in DU145 and PC3 cells with increasing tumor suppressive Maspin and reducing both phosphorylation of Stat3 (p-Stat3) and pro-oncogene c-Myc expression in LPS-treated DU145 cells. Furthermore, blocking Stat3 signaling pathway by treatment with TSA and/or small molecule compound Stattic of an p-Stat3 inhibitor effectively abrogated LPS-induced tumorosphere forming with decrease of IL-6, IL-8 and stemness biomarkers CD44, SOX-2 expression. Conclusion Our data demonstrated that the inflammatory agent of bacterial LPS augmented malignant transformation and promoted the cancerous stemness in PCa epithelial cells. TSA could prevent, at least in part, the LPS-induced malignant transformation by targeting p-Stat3/c-Myc signaling pathway and reducing inflammatory IL-6, IL-8. In addition, the assay of LPS-induced tumorosphere forming could serve as a simple and an easy handling method for targeting cancer stem cells drug screening in vitro in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijie Tang
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China.,Department of Urology, the Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueqi Lian
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiying Cheng
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaqian Guo
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Daguang Ni
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Can Huang
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Urology, the Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Meng
- Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jiajia Jiang
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohua Li
- The Aoyang Cancer Institute, Affiliated Aoyang Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, People's Republic of China.,The Laboratory of Clinical Genomics, Hefei KingMed Diagnostics Ltd, Hefei, 230088, People's Republic of China.,National Center for Gene Testing Technology Application & Demonstration (Anhui), Hefei, 230088, People's Republic of China
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Purification of Colon Carcinoma Cells from Primary Colon Tumor Using a Filtration Method via Porous Polymeric Filters. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13193411. [PMID: 34641226 PMCID: PMC8513025 DOI: 10.3390/polym13193411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer-initiating cells (CICs) are key factors for tumor generation and metastasis. We investigated a filtration method to enhance CSCs (CICs) from colon carcinoma HT-29 cells and primary colon carcinoma cells derived from patient colon tumors using poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid)/silk screen (PLGA/SK) filters. The colon carcinoma cell solutions were permeated via porous filters to obtain a permeation solution. Then, the cell cultivation media were permeated via the filters to obtain the recovered solution, where the colon carcinoma cells that adhered to the filters were washed off into the recovered solution. Subsequently, the filters were incubated in the culture media to obtain the migrated cells via the filters. Colon carcinoma HT-29 cells with high tumorigenicity, which might be CSCs (CICs), were enhanced in the cells in the recovered solution and in the migrated cells based on the CSC (CIC) marker expression, colony-forming unit assay, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) production. Although primary colon carcinoma cells isolated from colon tumor tissues contained fibroblast-like cells, the primary colon carcinoma cells were purified from fibroblast-like cells by filtration through PLGA/SK filters, indicating that the filtration method is effective in purifying primary colon carcinoma cells.
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Liu Y, Yao X, Wang C, Wang M, Wang Y, Ye M, Liu Y. Peptide-based 68Ga-PET radiotracer for imaging CD133 expression in colorectal cancer. Nucl Med Commun 2021; 42:1144-1150. [PMID: 33958535 DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000001435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE CD133 is a demonstrated cancer stem cell marker. A small peptide LS7, screened by a phage display technique, was identified to specifically target CD133. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel and specific peptide-based PET imaging agent for CD133 imaging in colorectal cancer. METHODS The peptide LS7 was conjugated with 1,4,7,20-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and radiolabeled with 68Ga. The cellular uptake was assessed in vitro. In vivo small-animal PET/CT and ex vivo biodistribution evaluations were performed in mice bearing CD133-positive HCT116 and Lovo cell-derived tumors as well as CD133-negative DLD1 cell-derived tumors. Nonspecific uptake of the tracer in HCT116 cell-derived tumor cells and tumor models was determined by coincubation or coinjection with an excess of unlabeled DOTA-LS7 along with radiolabeled tracers. RESULTS 68Ga-DOTA-LS7 was produced with 80.0% yield and the radiochemical purity was greater than 95.0%. In vitro, 68Ga-DOTA-LS7 was selectively taken up by HCT116 and Lovo cells but not by DLD1 cells. Small-animal PET/CT clearly revealed deposition of 68Ga-DOTA-LS7 in HCT116 and Lovo cell-derived tumors with excellent contrast. Biodistribution demonstrated that the tumor uptakes were 2.24 ± 0.16, 1.76 ± 0.42, and 0.69 ± 0.28% ID/g in HCT116, Lovo and DLD1 cell-derived tumors, respectively, at 90 min post-injection. Uptake of 68Ga-DOTA-LS7 in HCT116 tumors was significantly inhibited by coinjection of excess DOTA-LS7. CONCLUSION Rapid tumor CD133 detection and selectivity were demonstrated in vitro and in vivo with PET using the specific CD133 binding peptide 68Ga-DOTA-LS7. A robust correlation was detected in vivo between tumor signals from mouse xenograft models with different cell lines and CD133 expression. The favorable characteristics of 68Ga-DOTA-LS7, such as convenient synthesis and specific uptake, warrant its further investigation for CD133 expression imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaobo Yao
- Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Auhui, China
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Azwar S, Seow HF, Abdullah M, Faisal Jabar M, Mohtarrudin N. Recent Updates on Mechanisms of Resistance to 5-Fluorouracil and Reversal Strategies in Colon Cancer Treatment. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:854. [PMID: 34571731 PMCID: PMC8466833 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) plus leucovorin (LV) remain as the mainstay standard adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for early stage colon cancer, and the preferred first-line option for metastatic colon cancer patients in combination with oxaliplatin in FOLFOX, or irinotecan in FOLFIRI regimens. Despite treatment success to a certain extent, the incidence of chemotherapy failure attributed to chemotherapy resistance is still reported in many patients. This resistance, which can be defined by tumor tolerance against chemotherapy, either intrinsic or acquired, is primarily driven by the dysregulation of various components in distinct pathways. In recent years, it has been established that the incidence of 5-FU resistance, akin to multidrug resistance, can be attributed to the alterations in drug transport, evasion of apoptosis, changes in the cell cycle and DNA-damage repair machinery, regulation of autophagy, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cell involvement, tumor microenvironment interactions, miRNA dysregulations, epigenetic alterations, as well as redox imbalances. Certain resistance mechanisms that are 5-FU-specific have also been ascertained to include the upregulation of thymidylate synthase, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and the downregulation of thymidine phosphorylase. Indeed, the successful modulation of these mechanisms have been the game plan of numerous studies that had employed small molecule inhibitors, plant-based small molecules, and non-coding RNA regulators to effectively reverse 5-FU resistance in colon cancer cells. It is hoped that these studies would provide fundamental knowledge to further our understanding prior developing novel drugs in the near future that would synergistically work with 5-FU to potentiate its antitumor effects and improve the patient's overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamin Azwar
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; (S.A.); (H.F.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Heng Fong Seow
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; (S.A.); (H.F.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Maha Abdullah
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; (S.A.); (H.F.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Mohd Faisal Jabar
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
| | - Norhafizah Mohtarrudin
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia; (S.A.); (H.F.S.); (M.A.)
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26
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Drug screening by uniform patient derived colorectal cancer hydro-organoids. Biomaterials 2021; 276:121004. [PMID: 34273688 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
As the importance of organoids increases, the need to develop organoid culture systems suitable for basic biological and clinical applications is being emphasized. However, there is still an unmet need to produce functionally complex and scalable uniform organoids. Here, we demonstrate a scalable organoid production platform with 8 well strips and a total of 8 × 9 microwells per strip using organoids derived from colorectal cancer tissue. The new culture platform is a format in which single cells are self-organized into organoids in culture medium supplemented with 2% Matrigel. It is functionally compatible with existing 96 well plates and Matrigel based conventional organoid culture methods. The consistency, uniformity and reproducibility of organoid produced on the new platform have been significantly improved compared to those of conventional plates. Importantly, Hydro-organoids are functionally identical to conventional Matrigel organoids, but show better consistency in drug screening. Our results show the possibility that Hydro-organoids can be used in high-throughput assays and incorporated into drug screening models to predict clinical outcomes.
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27
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Kholodenko IV, Kim YS, Gisina AM, Lupatov AY, Kholodenko RV, Yarygin KN. Analysis of the Correlation between CD133 Expression on Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells HT-29 and Their Resistance to Chemotherapeutic Drugs. Bull Exp Biol Med 2021; 171:156-163. [PMID: 34057619 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-021-05188-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A correlation was found between chemoresistance of HT-29CD133+ and HT-29CD133- sublines obtained after cell sorting and high expression of CD133. On the other hand, knockout of the PROM1 gene and, as a consequence, the absence of CD133 expression did not increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy, which indicates the absence of a direct effect of CD133 on the formation of chemoresistance in colorectal cancer cells. Variants of the HT-29 line with complete or partial knockout of the PROM1 gene were equally sensitive to protein kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib. Notably, the highest resistance to mTOR inhibitors, temsirolimus and everolimus, was shown by cells with complete knockout of the PROM1 gene (KO-HT-29 (P1)). These findings suggest that CD133 is associated with the chemoresistance of colorectal cancer cells, but is not involved in its formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- I V Kholodenko
- V. N. Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Ya S Kim
- V. N. Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A M Gisina
- V. N. Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A Yu Lupatov
- V. N. Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - R V Kholodenko
- M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - K N Yarygin
- V. N. Orekhovich Research Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
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28
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Sung TC, Huang WL, Ban LK, Lee HHC, Wang JH, Su HY, Jen SH, Chang YH, Yang JM, Higuchi A, Ye Q. Enrichment of cancer-initiating cells from colon cancer cells through porous polymeric membranes by a membrane filtration method. J Mater Chem B 2021; 8:10577-10585. [PMID: 33124643 DOI: 10.1039/d0tb02312d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer-initiating cells (CICs) or cancer stem cells (CSCs) are primarily responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and metastasis and represent a few percent of the total tumor cell population. We designed a membrane filtration protocol to enrich CICs (CSCs) from the LoVo colon cancer cell line via nylon mesh filter membranes with 11 and 20 μm pore sizes and poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid)/silk screen (PLGA/silk screen) porous membranes (pore sizes of 20-30 μm). The colon cancer cell solution was filtered through the membranes to obtain a permeate solution. Subsequently, the cell culture medium was filtered through the membranes to collect the recovery solution where the cells attached to the membranes were rinsed off into the recovery solution. Then, the membranes were cultivated in the cultivation medium to collect the migrated cells from the membranes. The cells migrated from any membrane had higher expression of the CSC surface markers CD44 and CD133, had higher colony formation levels, and produced more carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) than the colon cancer cells cultivated on conventional tissue culture plates (control). We established a method to enrich the CICs (CSCs) of colon cancer cells from migrated cells through porous polymeric membranes by the membrane filtration protocol developed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Cheng Sung
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan. and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Wei-Lun Huang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan.
| | - Lee-Kiat Ban
- Department of Surgery, Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital, No. 678, Sec 2, Zhonghua Rd., Hsinchu, 30060, Taiwan
| | - Henry Hsin-Chung Lee
- Department of Surgery, Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital, No. 678, Sec 2, Zhonghua Rd., Hsinchu, 30060, Taiwan and Graduate Institute of Translational and Interdisciplinary Medicine, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Hua Wang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan.
| | - Her-Young Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bobson Yuho Women and Children's Clinic, No. 182, Zhuangjing S. Rd., Zhubei City, Hsinchu 302, Taiwan
| | - Shih Hsi Jen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taiwan Landseed Hospital, 77, Kuangtai Road, Pingjen City, Taoyuan 32405, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsiang Chang
- Department of General Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Guishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Ming Yang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Guishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | - Akon Higuchi
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan. and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 270, Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China and Department of Chemical Engineering and R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan and Center for Emergent Matter Science, Riken, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan and Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Science, No. 16, Xinsan Road, Hi-tech Industry Park, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingsong Ye
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China and Skeletal Biology Research Center, OMFS, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA02114, USA and School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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29
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Zhao J, Wang R, Zhang J, Zhao Y, Qiao S, Crouzier T, Yan H, Tian W. A novel 4D cell culture mimicking stomach peristalsis altered gastric cancer spheroids growth and malignance. Biofabrication 2021; 13. [PMID: 33836517 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/abf6bf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In vitrocancer models that can largely mimic thein vivomicroenvironment are crucial for conducting more accurate research. Models of three-dimensional (3D) culture that can mimic some aspects of cancer microenvironment or cancer biopsies that can adequately represent tumor heterogeneity are intensely used currently. Those models still lack the dynamic stress stimuli in gastric carcinoma exposed to stomach peristalsisin vivo. This study leveraged a lab-developed four-dimensional (4D) culture model by a magnetic responsive alginate-based hydrogel to rotating magnets that can mimic stress stimuli in gastric cancer (GC). We used the 4D model to culture human GC cell line AGS and SGC7901, cells at the primary and metastasis stage. We revealed the 4D model altered the cancer cell growth kinetics mechanistically by alteringPCNAandp53expression compared to the 3D culture that lacks stress stimuli. We found the 4D model altered the cancer spheroids stemness as evidenced by enhanced cancer stem cells (CD44) marker expression in AGS spheroids but the expression was dampened in SGC7901 cells. We examined the multi-drug resistance (MDR1) marker expression and found the 4D model dampened the MDR1 expression in SGC7901 cell spheroids, but not in spheroids of AGS cells. Such a model provides the stomach peristalsis mimic and is promising for conducting basic or translational GC-associated research, drug screening, and culturing patient gastric biopsies to tailor the therapeutic strategies in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juzhi Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqi Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufang Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Shupei Qiao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,AIMES-Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences at Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hongji Yan
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,AIMES-Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences at Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Weiming Tian
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
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30
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Kim J, Choi KW, Lee J, Lee J, Lee S, Sun R, Kim J. Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Inhibitors suppress the Tumor-initiating properties of a CD44 +CD133 + subpopulation of Caco-2 cells. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:1644-1659. [PMID: 33994850 PMCID: PMC8120464 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.58612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-initiating cells or cancer stem cells are a subset of cancer cells that have tumorigenic potential in human cancer. Although several markers have been proposed to distinguish tumor-initiating cells from colorectal cancer cells, little is known about how this subpopulation contributes to tumorigenesis. Here, we characterized a tumor-initiating cell subpopulation from Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells. Based on the findings that Caco-2 cell subpopulations express different cell surface markers, we were able to discriminate three main fractions, CD44-CD133-, CD44-CD133+, and CD44+CD133+ subsets, and characterized their biochemical and tumorigenic properties. Our results show that CD44+CD133+ cells possessed an unusual capacity to proliferate and could form tumors when transplanted into NSG mice. Additionally, primary tumors grown from CD44+CD133+ Caco-2 cells contained mixed populations of CD44+CD133+ and non-CD44+CD133+ Caco-2 cells, indicating that the full phenotypic heterogeneity of the parental Caco-2 cells was re-created. Notably, only the CD44+CD133+ subset of Caco-2-derived primary tumors had tumorigenic potential in NSG mice, and the tumor growth of CD44+CD133+ cells was faster in secondary xenografts than in primary transplants. Gene expression analysis revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was over-activated in CD44+CD133+ cells, and the growth and tumorigenic potential of this subpopulation were significantly suppressed by small-molecule Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors. Our findings suggest that the CD44+CD133+ subpopulation from Caco-2 cells was highly enriched in tumorigenic cells and will be useful for investigating the mechanisms leading to human colorectal cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jungho Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Korea
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31
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Panina Y, Yamane J, Kobayashi K, Sone H, Fujibuchi W. Human ES and iPS cells display less drug resistance than differentiated cells, and naïve-state induction further decreases drug resistance. J Toxicol Sci 2021; 46:131-142. [PMID: 33642519 DOI: 10.2131/jts.46.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) possess unique characteristics that distinguish them from other cell types. Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are recently gaining attention as a powerful tool for human toxicity assessment without the use of experimental animals, and an embryonic stem cell test (EST) was introduced for this purpose. However, human PSCs have not been thoroughly investigated in terms of drug resistance or compared with other cell types or cell states, such as naïve state, to date. Aiming to close this gap in research knowledge, we assessed and compared several human PSC lines for their resistance to drug exposure. Firstly, we report that RIKEN-2A human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells possessed approximately the same sensitivity to selected drugs as KhES-3 human ES cells. Secondly, both ES and iPS cells were several times less resistant to drug exposure than other non-pluripotent cell types. Finally, we showed that iPS cells subjected to naïve-state induction procedures exhibited a sharp increase in drug sensitivity. Upon passage of these naïve-like cells in non-naïve PSC culture medium, their sensitivity to drug exposure decreased. We thus revealed differences in sensitivity to drug exposure among different types or states of PSCs and, importantly, indicated that naïve-state induction could increase this sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Panina
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University
| | - Junko Yamane
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University
| | - Kenta Kobayashi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University
| | - Hideko Sone
- Environmental Health and Prevention Research Unit, Yokohama University of Pharmacy
| | - Wataru Fujibuchi
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University
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32
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Tiwari A, Modi SJ, Gabhe SY, Kulkarni VM. Evaluation of piperine against cancer stem cells (CSCs) of hepatocellular carcinoma: Insights into epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Bioorg Chem 2021; 110:104776. [PMID: 33743225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet there is a lack of effective treatment that targets these CSCs. CD44+ and CD133+ CSCs are markedly expressed in HepG2 cells and were isolated and characterized using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Since piperine is known as an effective molecule against metastasis, we thought to investigate the effect of piperine against CD44+/CD133+ CSCs. Herein, piperine was found to be active against these CSCs. Also, it was found appropriate to respite at the 'subG0/G1 and G0/G1' phase of the cell cycle analysis, respectively. TGF-β activated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been involved in the invasion and metastasis of HepG2 cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, we next investigated the effect of piperine on different biomarkers that remarkably takes part in the process of EMT using flow cytometric analysis. Piperine was found able to repress the epithelial marker (E-cadherin) but was unable to restore the level of Vimentin (mesenchymal marker) and SNAIL (EMT-inducing transcription factor). Therefore, the findings of this study revealed that piperine could be an effective treatment strategy for recurrent hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshuly Tiwari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India
| | - Siddharth J Modi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India
| | - Satish Y Gabhe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Vithal M Kulkarni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune 411038, Maharashtra, India.
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Banerjee V, Sharda N, Huse J, Singh D, Sokolov D, Czinn SJ, Blanchard TG, Banerjee A. Synergistic potential of dual andrographolide and melatonin targeting of metastatic colon cancer cells: Using the Chou-Talalay combination index method. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 897:173919. [PMID: 33577837 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality has diminished for decades due to new and improved treatment profiles. However, CRC still ranks as the third most diagnosed cancer in the US. Therefore, a new therapeutic approach is needed to overcome colospheroids inhibition and drug resistance. It is well documented that andrographolide (AGP) and melatonin (MLT) have anti-carcinogenic properties. Our goal was to evaluate their synergistic effects on metastatic colon cancer cells (mCRC) and colospheroids. HT-29 and HCT-15 mCRC cells were simultaneously treated with serial dilutions of AGP and MLT for 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell viability was monitored using the MTT assay. The Chou-Talalay method for drug combination is based on the median effect equation, providing a theoretical basis for the combination index and the isobologram equation. This allows quantitative determination of drug interactions using the CompuSyn software, where CI < 1, = 1, and >1 indicates synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects respectively. Our results demonstrate that AGP and MLT in combination show synergism with CI values of 0.35293 and 0.34152 for HT-29 and HCT-15 respectively and a fractional inhibition of Fa = 0.50-0.90, as shown by the Fa-CI plot and isobologram. The synergism value was validated in colospheroids (HT-29-s and HCT-15-s) based on morphology, viability, and colony formation and in 5-FU drug resistant cell (HT-29R and HCT-116R) viability. The mechanism(s) of decreased cell viability are due to the induction of ER stress proteins and angiogenic inhibition. Our results provide rationale for using AGP in combination with MLT on mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivekjyoti Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Neha Sharda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jared Huse
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Damandeep Singh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniil Sokolov
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Steven J Czinn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas G Blanchard
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Yan X, Han D, Chen Z, Han C, Dong W, Han L, Zou L, Zhang J, Liu Y, Chai J. RUNX2 interacts with BRG1 to target CD44 for promoting invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cells. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:505. [PMID: 33071648 PMCID: PMC7559818 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01544-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. CD44 is the most commonly used marker of CSCs, with the potential to act as a determinant against the invasion and migration of CSCs and as the key factor in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like changes that occur in colorectal cancer (CRC). Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2) is a mesenchymal stem marker for cancer that is involved in stem cell biology and tumorigenesis. However, whether RUNX2 is involved in CSC and in inducing EMT-like changes in CRC remains uncertain, warranting further investigation. Methods We evaluated the role of RUNX2 in the invasion and migration of CRC cells as a promoter of CD44-induced stem cell- and EMT-like modifications. For this purpose, western blotting was employed to analyze the expression of differential proteins in CRC cells. We conducted sphere formation, wound healing, and transwell assays to investigate the biological functions of RUNX2 in CRC cells. Cellular immunofluorescence and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays were performed to study the relationship between RUNX2 and BRG1. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to analyze the expressions of RUNX2, BRG1, and CD44 in the CRC tissues. Results We found that RUNX2 could markedly induce the CRC cell sphere-forming ability and EMT. Interestingly, the RUNX2-mediated EMT in CRC cell may be associated with the activation of CD44. Furthermore, RUNX2 was found to interact with BRG1 to promote the recruitment of RUNX2 to the CD44 promoter. Conclusions Our cumulative findings suggest that RUNX2 and BRG1 can form a compact complex to regulate the transcription and expression of CD44, which has possible involvement in the invasion and migration of CRC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Yan
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069 China
| | - Dali Han
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069 China
| | - Chao Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000 Shanxi Province China
| | - Wei Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China
| | - Li Han
- Internal Medicine-Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China
| | - Lei Zou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China
| | - Jianbo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China
| | - Yan Liu
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China
| | - Jie Chai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 440 Ji-Yan Road, Jinan, 250117 Shandong Province China.,Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070 China
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Guo M, You C, Dong W, Luo B, Wu Y, Chen Y, Li J, Pan M, Li M, Zhao F, Dou J. The surface dominant antigen MUC1 is required for colorectal cancer stem cell vaccine to exert anti-tumor efficacy. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 132:110804. [PMID: 33017767 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC), initiated and maintained by colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs), ranks the third most common cancers and has drawn wide attentions worldwide. Therefore, targeting clearance of CCSCs has become an important strategy of CRC immunotherapy. Mucin1 (MUC1) is a tumor-associated cell surface antigen of CRC, but its role in CCSC vaccine remains unclear. In the study, we demonstrated that MUC1 may be a dominant antigen to exert antitumor immunity in CCSC vaccine. First, CCSCs were enriched from CT26 cell line via a serum-free sphere formation approach, and were identified by detecting expression of CD133, ALDH, and ALCAM. Then, the isolated CCSCs were frozen for 30 min and thawed for 30 min to prepare the cell lysate. The specific anti-MUC1 antibody was added to the cell lysate to neutralize the dominant antigen MUC1. Finally, mice were subcutaneously immunized with the cell lysate, followed by a challenge with CT26 cells at one week after final vaccination. Attractively, CCSC vaccine significantly activated the NK cells, T cells, and B cells, resulting in inhibiting the tumor growth via a target killing of CCSCs as evidenced by a decrease of CD133+cells in tumor compared to CCSC vaccine with specific anti-MUC1 antibody. In addition, CCSC vaccine reduced expression of inflammatory factors in vaccinated mice. As expected, neutralizing antibody against MUC1 significantly impaired the antitumor efficacy of CCSC vaccine. Overall, CCSC vaccine could serve as a potent vaccine for CRC immunotherapy. The surface dominant antigen MUC1 may play a key role in regulating immunogenicity of CCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chengzhong You
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wenqi Dong
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Biao Luo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuheng Wu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yanuo Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jianping Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Meng Pan
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Fengshu Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jun Dou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Modi SJ, Kulkarni VM. Discovery of VEGFR-2 inhibitors exerting significant anticancer activity against CD44+ and CD133+ cancer stem cells (CSCs): Reversal of TGF-β induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 207:112851. [PMID: 33002846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy characterized by neoangiogenesis, which is an augmented production of proangiogenic factors by the tumor and its adjacent infected cells. These dysregulated angiogenic factors are the therapeutic targets in anti-angiogenic drug development. The signaling pathway of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGFR-2 is crucial for controlling the angiogenic responses in endothelial cells (ECs). In this study, we carried out a rational drug design approach wherein we have identified the novel orally bioavailable compound VS 8 as a potent VEGFR-2 inhibitor, which remarkably suppresses hVEGF and hVEGFR-2 expression in HUVECs and exhibits significant anti-angiogenic effects in CAM assay. Besides, VS 8 significantly induces apoptosis in HCC cell line (Hep G2). Later we examined its effectiveness against CD44+ and CD133+ CSCs. Here, VS 8 was found to be active against CSCs, and adequate for the cessation of the cell cycle at 'G0/G1' and 'S' phase in CD44+ and CD133+ CSCs respectively. Factually, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) stimulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induces invasion and migration of HCC cells, which results in the metastasis. Therefore, we studied the effect of VS 8 on EMT markers using flow cytometry, which suggested that VS 8 significantly upregulates E-cadherin (epithelial biomarker) and downregulates vimentin (mesenchymal biomarker). Further, VS 8 downregulates the expression of EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs), i.e., SNAIL. Altogether, our findings indicate that VS 8 could be a promising drug candidate for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth J Modi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, 411038, Maharashtra, India
| | - Vithal M Kulkarni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, 411038, Maharashtra, India.
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Walcher L, Kistenmacher AK, Suo H, Kitte R, Dluczek S, Strauß A, Blaudszun AR, Yevsa T, Fricke S, Kossatz-Boehlert U. Cancer Stem Cells-Origins and Biomarkers: Perspectives for Targeted Personalized Therapies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1280. [PMID: 32849491 PMCID: PMC7426526 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 454] [Impact Index Per Article: 113.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of biomarkers in diagnosis, therapy and prognosis has gained increasing interest over the last decades. In particular, the analysis of biomarkers in cancer patients within the pre- and post-therapeutic period is required to identify several types of cells, which carry a risk for a disease progression and subsequent post-therapeutic relapse. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells that can drive tumor initiation and can cause relapses. At the time point of tumor initiation, CSCs originate from either differentiated cells or adult tissue resident stem cells. Due to their importance, several biomarkers that characterize CSCs have been identified and correlated to diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. However, CSCs have been shown to display a high plasticity, which changes their phenotypic and functional appearance. Such changes are induced by chemo- and radiotherapeutics as well as senescent tumor cells, which cause alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Induction of senescence causes tumor shrinkage by modulating an anti-tumorigenic environment in which tumor cells undergo growth arrest and immune cells are attracted. Besides these positive effects after therapy, senescence can also have negative effects displayed post-therapeutically. These unfavorable effects can directly promote cancer stemness by increasing CSC plasticity phenotypes, by activating stemness pathways in non-CSCs, as well as by promoting senescence escape and subsequent activation of stemness pathways. At the end, all these effects can lead to tumor relapse and metastasis. This review provides an overview of the most frequently used CSC markers and their implementation as biomarkers by focussing on deadliest solid (lung, stomach, liver, breast and colorectal cancers) and hematological (acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia) cancers. Furthermore, it gives examples on how the CSC markers might be influenced by therapeutics, such as chemo- and radiotherapy, and the tumor microenvironment. It points out, that it is crucial to identify and monitor residual CSCs, senescent tumor cells, and the pro-tumorigenic senescence-associated secretory phenotype in a therapy follow-up using specific biomarkers. As a future perspective, a targeted immune-mediated strategy using chimeric antigen receptor based approaches for the removal of remaining chemotherapy-resistant cells as well as CSCs in a personalized therapeutic approach are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Walcher
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Kistenmacher
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Huizhen Suo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reni Kitte
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sarah Dluczek
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexander Strauß
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - André-René Blaudszun
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tetyana Yevsa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stephan Fricke
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uta Kossatz-Boehlert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
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Guo M, Luo B, Pan M, Li M, Zhao F, Dou J. MUC1 plays an essential role in tumor immunity of colorectal cancer stem cell vaccine. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 85:106631. [PMID: 32470879 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Increasing knowledge of colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) and tumor microenvironment improves our understanding of cellular mechanisms involved in the immunity against colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumor associated antigens were evaluated via RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis, evoking promising targets for tumor immunotherapy. MUC1 has been demonstrated to participate in the maintenance, tumorigenicity, glycosylation and metastasis of CCSCs, which may provide a new priority for CSC vaccination. In the present study, the vaccination with CCSCs with high expression of MUC1 was evaluated in a murine model for the vaccine's immunogenicity and protective efficacy against CRC. CD133+ CCSCs were isolated from SW620 cell line using a magnetic-activated cell sorting system, and shMUC1 was further used to knock down the expression of MUC1 in CD133+ CCSCs. Mice were subcutaneously immunized with the cell lysates of CCSCs and shMUC1 CCSCs, followed by a challenge with SW620 cells at ten days after final vaccination. The results indicated CCSC vaccine significantly reduced the tumor growth via a target killing of CCSCs as evidenced by a decrease of CD133+ cells and ALDH+ cells in tumors. Moreover, CCSC vaccine resulted in the elevated NK cytotoxicity, production of perforin, granzyme B, IFN-γ, memory B cells, and anti-MUC1 antibodies. Of note, MUC1 knockdown partly impaired the anti-tumor efficacy of CCSC vaccine. Importantly, the CCSC vaccine has no toxic damage to organs. Overall, CCSC vaccine could serve as a potent and safe vaccine for CRC treatment, and MUC1 might play an essential role in CCSC vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Biao Luo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meng Pan
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fengshu Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Dou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Jin W. Regulation of Src Family Kinases during Colorectal Cancer Development and Its Clinical Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051339. [PMID: 32456226 PMCID: PMC7281431 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Src family kinases (SFKs) are non-receptor kinases that play a critical role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression and activity of SFKs are upregulated in patients with CRC. Activation of SFKs promotes CRC cell proliferation, metastases to other organs and chemoresistance, as well as the formation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The enhanced expression level of Src is associated with decreased survival in patients with CRC. Src-mediated regulation of CRC progression involves various membrane receptors, modulators, and suppressors, which regulate Src activation and its downstream targets through various mechanisms. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the correlations between Src and CRC progression, with a special focus on cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance, and formation of CSCs. Additionally, this review discusses preclinical and clinical strategies to improve the therapeutic efficacy of drugs targeting Src for treating patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wook Jin
- Laboratory of Molecular Disease and Cell Regulation, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 406-840, Korea
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40
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MeCP2 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Modulating ZEB1 Transcription. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030758. [PMID: 32210086 PMCID: PMC7140043 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recurrence and distant organ metastasis is a major cause of death in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating this phenomenon are poorly understood. MeCP2 is a key epigenetic regulator and is amplified in many types of cancer. Its role in CRC and the molecular mechanisms underlying its action remain unknown. Methods: We used western blot and immunohistochemistry to detect MeCP2 expression in CRC tissues, and then investigated its biological functions in vitro and in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to detect the associations among MeCP2 (Methyl-CpG binding protein 2), SPI1 (Spi-1 Proto-Oncogene), and ZEB1 (Zinc Finger E-Box Binding Homeobox 1). Results: Using the Cancer Genome Atlas and Oncomine databases, we found MeCP2 expression was upregulated in CRC tissues and this upregulation was related to poor prognosis. Meanwhile, MeCP2 depletion (KO/KD) in CRC cells significantly inhibited stem cell frequency, and invasion and migration ability in vitro, and suppressed CRC metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we show MeCP2 binds to the transcription factor SPI1, and aids its recruitment to the ZEB1 promoter. SPI1 then facilitates ZEB1 expression at the transcription level. In turn, ZEB1 induces the expression of MMP14, CD133, and SOX2, thereby maintaining CRC stemness and metastasis. Conclusions: MeCP2 is a novel regulator of CRC metastasis. MeCP2 suppression may be a promising therapeutic strategy in CRC.
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Pádua D, Barros R, Luísa Amaral A, Mesquita P, Filipa Freire A, Sousa M, Filipe Maia A, Caiado I, Fernandes H, Pombinho A, Filipe Pereira C, Almeida R. A SOX2 Reporter System Identifies Gastric Cancer Stem-Like Cells Sensitive to Monensin. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E495. [PMID: 32093282 PMCID: PMC7072720 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer remains a serious health burden with few therapeutic options. Therefore, the recognition of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as seeds of the tumorigenic process makes them a prime therapeutic target. Knowing that the transcription factors SOX2 and OCT4 promote stemness, our approach was to isolate stem-like cells in human gastric cancer cell lines using a traceable reporter system based on SOX2/OCT4 activity (SORE6-GFP). Cells transduced with the SORE6-GFP reporter system were sorted into SORE6+ and SORE6- cell populations, and their biological behavior characterized. SORE6+ cells were enriched for SOX2 and exhibited CSC features, including a greater ability to proliferate and form gastrospheres in non-adherent conditions, a larger in vivo tumor initiating capability, and increased resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment. The overexpression and knockdown of SOX2 revealed a crucial role of SOX2 in cell proliferation and drug resistance. By combining the reporter system with a high-throughput screening of pharmacologically active small molecules we identified monensin, an ionophore antibiotic, displaying selective toxicity to SORE6+ cells. The ability of SORE6-GFP reporter system to recognize cancer stem-like cells facilitates our understanding of gastric CSC biology and serves as a platform for the identification of powerful therapeutics for targeting gastric CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pádua
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Barros
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Amaral
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Mesquita
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Filipa Freire
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Sousa
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IBMC—Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - André Filipe Maia
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IBMC—Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Caiado
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; (I.C.); (H.F.); (C.F.P.)
- Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity laboratory, Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, BMC A12, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hugo Fernandes
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; (I.C.); (H.F.); (C.F.P.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Pombinho
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IBMC—Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Filipe Pereira
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal; (I.C.); (H.F.); (C.F.P.)
- Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity laboratory, Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, BMC A12, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Raquel Almeida
- i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (D.P.); (R.B.); (A.L.A.); (P.M.); (A.F.F.); (M.S.); (A.F.M.); (A.P.)
- IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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