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Tumor Temperature: Friend or Foe of Virus-Based Cancer Immunotherapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10082024. [PMID: 36009571 PMCID: PMC9405776 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10082024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The temperature of a solid tumor is often dissimilar to baseline body temperature and, compared to healthy tissues, may be elevated, reduced, or a mix of both. The temperature of a tumor is dependent on metabolic activity and vascularization and can change due to tumor progression, treatment, or cancer type. Despite the need to function optimally within temperature-variable tumors, oncolytic viruses (OVs) are primarily tested at 37 °C in vitro. Furthermore, animal species utilized to test oncolytic viruses, such as mice, dogs, cats, and non-human primates, poorly recapitulate the temperature profile of humans. In this review, we discuss the importance of temperature as a variable for OV immunotherapy of solid tumors. Accumulating evidence supports that the temperature sensitivity of OVs lies on a spectrum, with some OVs likely hindered but others enhanced by elevated temperatures. We suggest that in vitro temperature sensitivity screening be performed for all OVs destined for the clinic to identify potential hinderances or benefits with regard to elevated temperature. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for the clinical use of temperature and OVs.
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Yue K, Wei Y, Jin X, Sun X, Zhang X. Molecular mechanism of thermal sensitization effect of potential materials for microwave hyperthermia. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2020.1792901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Yue
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Shunde Graduate School of University of Science and Technology Beijing, Shunde, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiang Wei
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiucheng Jin
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaochen Sun
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Shunde Graduate School of University of Science and Technology Beijing, Shunde, People’s Republic of China
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Tutter M, Schug C, Schmohl KA, Urnauer S, Schwenk N, Petrini M, Lokerse WJM, Zach C, Ziegler S, Bartenstein P, Weber WA, Wagner E, Lindner LH, Nelson PJ, Spitzweg C. Effective control of tumor growth through spatial and temporal control of theranostic sodium iodide symporter ( NIS) gene expression using a heat-inducible gene promoter in engineered mesenchymal stem cells. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:4490-4506. [PMID: 32292510 PMCID: PMC7150485 DOI: 10.7150/thno.41489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The tumor homing characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) make them attractive vehicles for the tumor-specific delivery of therapeutic agents, such as the sodium iodide symporter (NIS). NIS is a theranostic protein that allows non-invasive monitoring of the in vivo biodistribution of functional NIS expression by radioiodine imaging as well as the therapeutic application of 131I. To gain local and temporal control of transgene expression, and thereby improve tumor selectivity, we engineered MSCs to express the NIS gene under control of a heat-inducible HSP70B promoter (HSP70B-NIS-MSCs). Experimental Design: NIS induction in heat-treated HSP70B-NIS-MSCs was verified by 125I uptake assay, RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. HSP70B-NIS-MSCs were then injected i.v. into mice carrying subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma HuH7 xenografts, and hyperthermia (1 h at 41°C) was locally applied to the tumor. 0 - 72 h later radioiodine uptake was assessed by 123I-scintigraphy. The most effective uptake regime was then selected for 131I therapy. Results: The HSP70B promoter showed low basal activity in vitro and was significantly induced in response to heat. In vivo, the highest tumoral iodine accumulation was seen 12 h after application of hyperthermia. HSP70B-NIS-MSC-mediated 131I therapy combined with hyperthermia resulted in a significantly reduced tumor growth with prolonged survival as compared to control groups. Conclusions: The heat-inducible HSP70B promoter allows hyperthermia-induced spatial and temporal control of MSC-mediated theranostic NIS gene radiotherapy with efficient tumor-selective and temperature-dependent accumulation of radioiodine in heat-treated tumors.
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Voellmy R, Zürcher O, Zürcher M, de Viragh PA, Hall AK, Roberts SM. Targeted heat activation of HSP promoters in the skin of mammalian animals and humans. Cell Stress Chaperones 2018; 23:455-466. [PMID: 29417383 PMCID: PMC6045553 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-018-0875-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Revised: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of highly inducible HSP promoters for exerting spatial and/or temporal control over the expression of therapeutic transgenes has long been discussed. Localized and time-limited induction of the heat shock response may potentially also be of medical interest. However, such applications would require targeted delivery of heat doses capable of activating HSP promoters in tissues or organs of interest. Accessible areas, including the skin and tissues immediately underneath it, may be most readily targeted. A few applications for heat-directed or heat-controlled therapy in the skin might involve expression of proteins to restore or protect normal skin function, protein antigens for vaccination/immunotherapy, vaccine viruses or even systemically active proteins, e.g., cytokines and chemokines. A review of the literature relating to localized heat activation of HSP promoters and HSP genes in the skin revealed that a multitude of different technologies has been explored in small animal models. In contrast, we uncovered few publications that examine HSP promoter activation in human skin. None of these publications has a therapeutic focus. We present herein two, clinically relevant, developments of heating technologies that effectively activate HSP promoters in targeted regions of human skin. The first development advances a system that is capable of reliably activating HSP promoters in human scalp, in particular in hair follicles. The second development outlines a simple, robust, and inexpensive methodology for locally activating HSP promoters in small, defined skin areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Voellmy
- HSF Pharmaceuticals S.A., 1814 La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - Olivier Zürcher
- HSF Pharmaceuticals S.A., 1814 La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland
| | - Manon Zürcher
- HSF Pharmaceuticals S.A., 1814 La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland
| | - Pierre A. de Viragh
- Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexis K. Hall
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - Stephen M. Roberts
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
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Li Y, Zhang T, Zhang X, Wang G, Wang Y, Zhang Z. Heat shock cognate 70 gene in Haliotis diversicolor: responses to pathogen infection and environmental stresses and its transcriptional regulation analysis. Cell Stress Chaperones 2018; 23:335-346. [PMID: 28939948 PMCID: PMC5904075 DOI: 10.1007/s12192-017-0842-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70) is a class of highly conserved proteins which functions as a molecular chaperon, participates in tolerance processes, and is involved in protein folding, degradation, targeting, translocation, and protein complex remodeling. In this study, the mRNA expression level of the Haliotis diversicolor HSC70 (HdHSC70) gene was detected by quantitative real-time PCR in different tissues and under different stresses. The results showed that the HdHSC70 gene was ubiquitously expressed in seven selected tissues. The highest expression level was detected in gills (P < 0.05). The expression level of the HdHSC70 gene was significantly upregulated by thermal stress, hypoxia stress, Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection, and combined thermal and hypoxia stress. The upregulation occurred at the early stage of stress. These results indicated that the HdHSC70 is an important component in the immune system of H. diversicolor and is involved in the early stress response. Meanwhile, 5'-flanking region sequence (2013 bp) of the HdHSC70 gene was cloned; it contains a putative core promoter region, heat shock element, CpG, and transcription elements including NF-1, Sp1, Oct-1, interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP), etc. In HEK 293T cells, the 5'-flanking region sequence is able to drive expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), proving its promoter function. The promoter activity increased after high-temperature treatment, which may be the immediate reason why the expression of the HdHSC70 gene was significantly upregulated by thermal stress. After the ICSBP-binding site was mutated, we found the luciferase activity significantly reduced, which suggested that the ICSBP-binding site has a certain enhancement effect on the activity of the HdHSC70 promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Li
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture; Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture; Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Guodong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture; Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yilei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture; Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China.
| | - Ziping Zhang
- College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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Surface chemistry for cytosolic gene delivery and photothermal transgene expression by gold nanorods. Sci Rep 2017; 7:4694. [PMID: 28680130 PMCID: PMC5498644 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-04912-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Light-inducible gene regulation has great potential for remote and noninvasive control of the fate and function of target cells. One method to achieve such control is delivery of heat shock protein (HSP) promoter-driven protein expression vectors and photothermal heaters into the cells, followed by activation by illumination. In this study, we show that gold nanorods (AuNRs) functionalized with two conventional lipids, oleate and 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), are capable of efficient transfection and quick photoactivation of the HSP promoter. Use of our AuNRs (DOTAP-AuNRs) was comparable to Lipofectamine 2000 in terms of transfection efficiency, while lower in cytotoxicity. Subsequent near-infrared laser (NIR) illumination of the cells transfected by DOTAP-AuNRs for 10 s induced time- and site-specific transgene expression without significant phototoxicity, to a degree similar to that of heating the entire culture dish for 30 min. Our mechanistic studies suggest that efficient transfection and quick photoactivation of the HSP promoter (HSP70b’) are due to the promoted endosomal escape of DOTAP-AuNRs. We propose a novel protocol for NIR-inducible, site-directed gene expression using an unprecedented complex of the three conventional components capable of both transfection and photothermal heating.
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Wang X, Sun L, Sun X, Yu J, Wang K, Wu Y, Gao Q, Zheng J. Antitumor effects of a dual-specific lentiviral vector carrying the Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase gene. Int J Oncol 2017; 50:1612-1622. [PMID: 28393254 PMCID: PMC5403222 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.3949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Escherichia coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase/Fludarabine phosphate (ePNP/Fludara) suicide system has several drawbacks, such as side-effects and the low efficiency of ePNP expression. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor effects of the dual-specific 8HSEs-hTERTp-ePNP/Fludara suicide system under hyperthermia in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase activities from the 8HSEs‑hTERT and CMV promoters were compared using the dual luciferase assay in SW480 (high hTERT expression) and MKN74 cells (hTERT-negative) in the presence and absence of hyperthermia. Then, we investigated the effects of overexpressing the suicide gene ePNP using 8HSEs‑hTERT-driven lentiviral vectors with Fludara on in vitro cell viability, side-effects, apoptosis, cycle distribution, colony formation and in vivo xenograft tumor growth. At 43˚C, luciferase activity from the 8HSEs‑hTERT promoter was significantly increased in SW480 cells, but not in MKN74 cells. Importantly, luciferase activities from the 8HSEs‑hTERT promoter were much higher than from the CMV promoter in hTERT-expressing SW480 cells under heated conditions. The in vitro quantitative analysis showed a 4-fold higher ePNP protein expression from the 8HSEs‑hTERT promoter at 43˚C than at 37˚C in SW480 cells and the ePNP mRNA expression in SW480 cells at 43˚C was also higher than at 37˚C. Conversely, ePNP mRNA and protein expression were low, almost absent, in hTERT-negative MKN74 cells with or without hyperthermia. After Fludara addition, cell cytotoxicity assays showed that the significant inhibitory effect of the 8HSEs‑hTERTp-ePNP on SW480 cells was dose- and time-dependent with hyperthermia. The 8HSEs‑hTERTp-ePNP/Fludara suicide system significantly inhibited SW480 cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis in vitro, but also induced significant bystander effects, especially under the heated conditions. At the protein level, the suicide system significantly promoted Bax, caspase-3 and p53 expression and suppressed Bcl-2 expression. In sections from mouse xenografts, TUNEL assays showed that the suicide system reduced xenograft growth and induced SW480 apoptosis. These results indicated that the combinatorial cancer- and heat-specific promoter system has great potential for improving the efficacy of cancer treatment with hyperthermia. The 8HSEs‑hTERTp-ePNP/Fludara system may serve as a powerful strategy for cancer gene therapy combined with hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China
| | - Xuejun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Junhui Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yunhua Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Qi Gao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Jianbao Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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Wang X, Zhou P, Sun X, Wei G, Zhang L, Wang H, Yao J, Jia P, Zheng J. Modification of the hTERT promoter by heat shock elements enhances the efficiency and specificity of cancer targeted gene therapy. Int J Hyperthermia 2016; 32:244-53. [PMID: 26981638 DOI: 10.3109/02656736.2015.1128569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE One of the current challenges facing cancer gene therapy is the tumour-specific targeting of therapeutic genes. Effective targeting in gene therapy requires accurate spatial and temporal control of gene expression. To develop a sufficient and accurate tumour-targeting method for cancer gene therapy, we have investigated the use of hyperthermia to control the expression of a transgene under the control of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter and eight heat shock elements (8HSEs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Luciferase reporters were constructed by inserting eight HSEs and the hTERT promoter (8HSEs-hTERTp) upstream of the pGL4.20 vector luciferase gene. The luciferase activity of the hTERT promoter and 8HSEs-hTERT promoter were then compared in the presence and absence of heat. The differences in luciferase activity were analysed using dual luciferase assays in SW480 (high hTERT expression), MKN28 and MRC-5 cells (low hTERT expression). The luciferase activity of the Hsp70B promoter was also compared to the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter in the above listed cell lines. Lentiviral vector and heat-induced expression of EGFP expression under the control of the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter in cultured cells and mouse tumour xenografts was measured by reverse transcription polymerase (RT-PCR), Western blot and immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS hTERT promoter activity was higher in SW480 cells than in MKN28 or MRC-5 cells. At 43 °C, the luciferase activity of the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter was significantly increased in SW480 cells, but not in MKN28 or MRC-5 cells. Importantly, the differences in luciferase activity were much more obvious in both high (SW480) and low (MKN28 and MRC-5) hTERT expressing cells when the activity of the 8HSEs-hTERT promoter was compared to the Hsp70B promoter. Moreover, under the control of 8HSEs-hTERT promoter in vitro and in vivo, EGFP expression was obviously increased by heat treatment in SW480 cells but not in MKN28 or MRC-5 cells, nor was expression increased under normal temperature conditions. CONCLUSIONS The hTERT promoter is a potentially powerful tumour-specific promoter and gene therapy tool for cancer treatment. Incorporating heat-inducible therapeutic elements (8HSEs) into the hTERT promoter may enhance the efficiency and specificity of cancer targeting gene therapy under hyperthermic clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wang
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - PeiHua Zhou
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - XueJun Sun
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - GuangBing Wei
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - Li Zhang
- b Department of General Surgery , Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
| | - Hui Wang
- c Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital , Xi'an , Shaanxi , and
| | - JianFeng Yao
- c Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital , Xi'an , Shaanxi , and
| | - PengBo Jia
- d First People's Hospital of XianYang City , XianYang , Shaanxi , China
| | - JianBao Zheng
- a Department of General Surgery , First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an , Shaanxi
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Heat-inducible transgene expression system incorporating a positive feedback loop of transcriptional amplification for hyperthermia-induced gene therapy. J Biosci Bioeng 2012; 114:460-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2012.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2012] [Revised: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Kaur P, Hurwitz MD, Krishnan S, Asea A. Combined hyperthermia and radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:3799-823. [PMID: 24213112 PMCID: PMC3763397 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3043799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is used to treat approximately 50% of all cancer patients, with varying success. Radiation therapy has become an integral part of modern treatment strategies for many types of cancer in recent decades, but is associated with a risk of long-term adverse effects. Of these side effects, cardiac complications are particularly relevant since they not only adversely affect quality of life but can also be potentially life-threatening. The dose of ionizing radiation that can be given to the tumor is determined by the sensitivity of the surrounding normal tissues. Strategies to improve radiotherapy therefore aim to increase the effect on the tumor or to decrease the effects on normal tissues, which must be achieved without sensitizing the normal tissues in the first approach and without protecting the tumor in the second approach. Hyperthermia is a potent sensitizer of cell killing by ionizing radiation (IR), which can be attributed to the fact that heat is a pleiotropic damaging agent, affecting multiple cell components to varying degrees by altering protein structures, thus influencing the DNA damage response. Hyperthermia induces heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70; HSPA1A) synthesis and enhances telomerase activity. HSPA1A expression is associated with radioresistance. Inactivation of HSPA1A and telomerase increases residual DNA DSBs post IR exposure, which correlates with increased cell killing, supporting the role of HSPA1A and telomerase in IR-induced DNA damage repair. Thus, hyperthermia influences several molecular parameters involved in sensitizing tumor cells to radiation and can enhance the potential of targeted radiotherapy. Therapy-inducible vectors are useful for conditional expression of therapeutic genes in gene therapy, which is based on the control of gene expression by conventional treatment modalities. The understanding of the molecular response of cells and tissues to ionizing radiation has lead to a new appreciation of the exploitable genetic alterations in tumors and the development of treatments combining pharmacological interventions with ionizing radiation that more specifically target either tumor or normal tissue, leading to improvements in efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Punit Kaur
- Department of Pathology, Scott & White Hospital and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Mark D. Hurwitz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; E-Mail:
| | - Alexzander Asea
- Department of Pathology, Scott & White Hospital and the Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76504, USA; E-Mail:
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: or ; Tel: +1 (254) 743-0201; Fax: +1 (254) 743-0247
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11
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Hauck ML, Zalutsky MR. Enhanced tumour uptake of radiolabelled antibodies by hyperthermia: Part I: Timing of injection relative to hyperthermia. Int J Hyperthermia 2009; 21:1-11. [PMID: 15764347 DOI: 10.1080/02656730410001695906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Improving drug and macromolecular delivery of anti-cancer agents to tumours results in greater efficacy without increased toxicity. The current study was undertaken to assess the effects of the timing of injection of tumour specific and non-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) relative to a hyperthermia treatment on tumour and normal tissue uptake. Using a local hyperthermia protocol of 45 min at 43 degrees C, uptake in tumour and normal tissues was measured at 1, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after injection. An anti-tenascin chimeric mAb, ch81C6, served as the specific mAb in a D-54 MG glioma xenograft mouse model. The chimeric mAb chTPS3.2 served as the control. A five-to-eight-fold increase in uptake of the tumour-targeted mAb was achieved in the heated tumours when compared with the non-heated tumours at 1 h. Differences in absolute tumour uptake of the specific mAb between the mice injected prior to hyperthermia and mice injected post-hyperthermia were seen only at 1 and 12 h. The median uptakes in the tumours of mice injected pre-heat were 25%ID/g at 1 h and 43.5%ID/g at 12 h, while in the animals injected post-hyperthermia the median uptakes were 45.5%ID/g and 80.2%ID/g, respectively. Blood levels of both the specific and non-specific mAbs were consistently higher over the initial 12 h period in the mice injected post-hyperthermia. Normal tissue uptake was also increased at most time points in the mice injected post-hyperthermia. The clinical importance of the differences in specific mAb uptake in tumour detected statistically at 1 and 12 h is questionable, given the highly variable nature of mAb uptake in vivo. Tumour targeting mAbs administered in combination with heat may be injected either prior to or immediately following hyperthermia treatment, with the expectation that levels of uptake in tumour will be relatively equivalent. Absolute normal tissue levels will be higher in patients receiving the mAb post-hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Hauck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
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12
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Hauck ML, Zalutsky MR. Enhanced tumour uptake of radiolabelled antibodies by hyperthermia. Part II: Application of the thermal equivalency equation. Int J Hyperthermia 2009; 21:13-27. [PMID: 15764348 DOI: 10.1080/02656730400011032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical application of local hyperthermia as a means for modulating drug and macro-molecular tumour uptake have been slow to develop, due in part to the difficulty in designing and comparing heating protocols. The thermal isodose formula developed by Sapareto and Dewey is used in cytotoxicity and radiosensitization hyperthermia protocols to compare different time/temperature combinations; however, its relevance to other end-points has not been evaluated. The current study was undertaken to determine whether heating protocols of different time and temperature, but predicted to be thermally equivalent by this formula, had similar effects on the tumour and normal tissue distribution of radiolabelled tumour-specific (anti-tenascin 81C6) and non-specific (anti-dansyl TPS3.2) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Two thermally equivalent heating protocols, 4 h at 41.8 degrees C and 45 min at 43 degrees C, were compared in mice with subcutaneous D54 MG human glioma xenografts. A 4-fold increase in xenograft localization of 81C6 mAb was achieved relative to that in non-heated control groups with both heating protocols. Both hyperthermia protocols also resulted in improved tumour:normal tissue ratios. However, differences in absolute tumour and normal tissue uptake were seen, suggesting that the thermal isodose formula has limited usefulness in the design and comparison of hyperthermia protocols for enhancing the tumour uptake of radiolabelled mAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Hauck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
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Walther W, Stein U. Heat-responsive gene expression for gene therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2009; 61:641-9. [PMID: 19394378 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2009.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2008] [Accepted: 02/05/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Therapy-inducible vectors are useful for conditional expression of therapeutic genes in gene therapy, which is based on the control of gene expression by conventional treatment modalities. By this approach, combination of chemotherapy, radiation or hyperthermia with gene therapy can result in considerable, additive or synergistic improvement of therapeutic efficacy. This concept has been successfully tested in particular for gene therapy of cancer. The identification of efficient heat-responsive gene promoters provided the rationale for heat-regulated gene therapy. The objective of this review is to provide insights into the cellular mechanisms of heat-shock response, as prerequisite for therapeutic actions of hyperthermia and into the field of heat-responsive gene therapy. Furthermore, the major strategies of heat-responsive gene therapy systems in particular for cancer treatment are summarized. The developments for heat-responsive vector systems for in vitro and in vivo approaches are discussed. This review will provide an overview for this gene therapy strategy and its potential for multimodal therapeutic concepts in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Walther
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Niu G, Chen X. From protein–protein interaction to therapy response: Molecular imaging of heat shock proteins. Eur J Radiol 2009; 70:294-304. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2009] [Accepted: 01/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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15
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Lu X, Sankin G, Pua EC, Madden J, Zhong P. Activation of transgene expression in skeletal muscle by focused ultrasound. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 379:428-33. [PMID: 19118526 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.12.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2008] [Accepted: 12/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
To correlate thermal dose from focused ultrasound (FUS) with gene expression and tissue injury, a temperature plateau strategy was employed. Plasmids encoding luciferase gene under the control of hsp70B promoter were transfected into the right gastrocnemius muscle in a rat via electroporation. One day after transfection, hind limbs were treated with 3.3-MHz focused ultrasound, using one of four different temperature plateaus with spatial-peak time-average focal temperatures (T(SPTA)) of 46 degrees C, 48 degrees C, 51 degrees C and 62 degrees C. The treatment duration at the plateau temperature was varied from 0 to 30s. Gene expression was analyzed in vivo one day following FUS treatment, and H&E staining was employed to assess tissue injury. Gene activation and tissue damage correlated closely with thermal dose. The highest level of gene activation was induced by FUS at T(SPTA)=51 degrees C for 20s, which was found to be statistically equivalent to that produced by water-bath hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Lu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Sciences, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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16
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PET imaging of heat-inducible suicide gene expression in mice bearing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenografts. Cancer Gene Ther 2008; 16:161-70. [PMID: 18758434 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2008.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The ability to achieve tumor selective expression of therapeutic genes is an area that needs improvement for cancer gene therapy to be successful. One approach to address this is through the use of promoters that can be controlled by external means, such as hyperthermia. In this regard, we constructed a replication-deficient adenovirus that consists of a mutated herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (mTK) fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the full-length human heat shock (HS) 70b promoter. The virus (AdHSmTK-EGFP) was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo in oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC-9 cells for expression of both mTK and EGFP. The in vitro expression of mTK-EGFP was validated using both (3)H-penciclovir and fluorescence-activated cell sorting assays. These studies show that specific expression could be achieved by heating the cells at 41 degrees C for 1 h, whereas little expression was observed using high doses of virus without hyperthermia. The vector was also evaluated in vivo by direct intratumoral injection into mice bearing SCC-9 xenografts. These studies demonstrated tumor expression of mTK-EGFP after ultrasound heating of the tumors by radioactive biodistribution assays, histology and microPET imaging. These in vivo results, which demonstrate HS-inducible transgene expression using PET imaging, provide a means for noninvasive monitoring of heat-induced gene therapy in local tumors, such as oral squamous cell carcinomas.
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17
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Frenkel V. Ultrasound mediated delivery of drugs and genes to solid tumors. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2008; 60:1193-208. [PMID: 18474406 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2008.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2008] [Accepted: 03/04/2008] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
It has long been shown that therapeutic ultrasound can be used effectively to ablate solid tumors, and a variety of cancers are presently being treated in the clinic using these types of ultrasound exposures. There is, however, an ever-increasing body of preclinical literature that demonstrates how ultrasound energy can also be used non-destructively for increasing the efficacy of drugs and genes for improving cancer treatment. In this review, a summary of the most important ultrasound mechanisms will be given with a detailed description of how each one can be employed for a variety of applications. This includes the manner by which acoustic energy deposition can be used to create changes in tissue permeability for enhancing the delivery of conventional agents, as well as for deploying and activating drugs and genes via specially tailored vehicles and formulations.
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18
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Magadala P, van Vlerken LE, Shahiwala A, Amiji MM. Multifunctional Polymeric Nanosystems for Tumor-Targeted Delivery. MULTIFUNCTIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL NANOCARRIERS 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-76554-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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19
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Rohmer S, Mainka A, Knippertz I, Hesse A, Nettelbeck DM. Insulated hsp70B′ promoter: stringent heat-inducible activity in replication-deficient, but not replication-competent adenoviruses. J Gene Med 2008; 10:340-54. [DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
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20
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Chuang KH, Ho SH, Song YL. Cloning and expression analysis of heat shock cognate 70 gene promoter in tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Gene 2007; 405:10-8. [PMID: 17931801 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2007.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2007] [Revised: 07/04/2007] [Accepted: 08/10/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70) functions as a molecular chaperon and plays an important role in protein folding. HSC70 cDNA of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) was cloned and characterized in our previous study. After shrimps were treated with the 1-hr heat shock, the HSC70 mRNA level in hemocytes increased (approximately 8 fold) using real-time quantitative PCR. An hsc70 clone was obtained from genomic library screening. The gene contains 2 exons separated by a 1557-bp intron. The 5'-flanking region sequence (approximately 1 kb) ahead of the hsc70 gene contains a putative core promoter region and transcription elements including perfect heat shock element (HSE), imperfect HSE, CAAT elements, SP1, NF-kappaB and GC box. In insect Sf21 cells, the region could drive expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and luciferase gene to verify its promoter function. In the luciferase assay system, the effects of serial deletions on the hsc70 promoter were elucidated. Autographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus infection (MOI=0.1) on Sf21 cells significantly increased the hsc70 promoter activity. In addition, the effects of amino acid analogs and arsenic acid incubation with the cells on the hsc70 promoter activity were examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Hung Chuang
- Institute of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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21
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Walther W, Arlt F, Fichtner I, Aumann J, Stein U, Schlag PM. Heat-inducible in vivo gene therapy of colon carcinoma by human mdr1 promoter-regulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression. Mol Cancer Ther 2007; 6:236-43. [PMID: 17237282 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-06-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The promoter of the human multidrug resistance gene (mdr1) harbors defined heat-responsive elements, which could be exploited for construction of heat-inducible expression vectors. To analyze the hyperthermia inducibility of the mdr1 promoter in vitro and in vivo, we used the pcDNA3-mdrp-hTNF vector construct for heat-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression in transfected HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells at mRNA level by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR and at protein level by TNF-alpha ELISA. For the in vitro studies, the pcDNA3-mdrp-hTNF-transfected tumor cells were treated with hyperthermia at 43 degrees C for 2 h. In the animal studies, stably transfected or in vivo jet-injected tumor-bearing Ncr:nu/nu mice were treated for 60 min at 42 degrees C to induce TNF-alpha expression. Both the in vitro and in vivo experiments show that hyperthermia activates the mdr1 promoter in a temperature- and time-dependent manner, leading to an up to 4-fold increase in mdr1 promoter-driven TNF-alpha expression at mRNA and an up to 3-fold increase at protein level. The in vivo heat-induced TNF-alpha expression combined with Adriamycin (8 mg/kg) treatment leads to the inhibition of tumor growth in the animals. These experiments support the idea that heat-induced mdr1 promoter-driven expression of therapeutic genes is efficient and feasible for combined cancer gene therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Walther
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
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22
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Vilaboa N, Fenna M, Munson J, Roberts SM, Voellmy R. Novel Gene Switches for Targeted and Timed Expression of Proteins of Interest. Mol Ther 2005; 12:290-8. [PMID: 15925546 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2004] [Revised: 03/02/2005] [Accepted: 03/07/2005] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This article reports on the construction and analysis in vitro and in vivo of novel gene switches that can be used to achieve spatial as well as temporal control over the expression of a transgene of interest. The switches are expected to be functional in virtually any tissue and cell type. They consist of (a) a foreign or modified transactivator expressed under the dual control of a promoter or promoter cassette that is responsive to heat and the transactivator and (b) a promoter responsive to the transactivator for controlling the transgene of interest. A preferred gene switch of this type incorporated a mifepristone-dependent transactivator. This gene switch could be activated by a transient heat treatment in the presence of mifepristone. Activity increased with the intensity of the activating heat treatment and was found to persist for more than 6 days. The gene switch was essentially inactive prior to an activating heat treatment, in the absence or presence of mifepristone. Activated gene switch could be silenced by removal/withdrawal of mifepristone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Vilaboa
- Laboratorio de Metabolismo Oseo, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain
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23
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Silcox CE, Smith RC, King R, McDannold N, Bromley P, Walsh K, Hynynen K. MRI-guided ultrasonic heating allows spatial control of exogenous luciferase in canine prostate. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2005; 31:965-70. [PMID: 15972202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2005.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2004] [Revised: 03/12/2005] [Accepted: 03/17/2005] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The need for efficient and controlled delivery is one of the major obstacles to clinical use of gene therapy. In this study, we investigated the use of magnetic resonance imaging-monitored ultrasound (US) to induce expression of luciferase after local injection of the construct Ad-HSP-Luc, an adenoviral vector containing a transgene encoding firefly luciferase under the control of the human hsp70B promoter. The hsp promoter allows induction of the associated transgene only in areas that are subsequently heated after infection. US imaging was used to guide the injection of purified virus into both lobes of the prostates of three beagles. At 48 h after injection, the left lobe of the prostate was heated using a 1.5-MHz US transducer driven by a multichannel radiofrequency system and employing an magnetic resonance imaging guidance system. High levels of luciferase expression were observed only in areas exposed to ultrasonic heating. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using ultrasonic heating to control transgene expression spatially using a minimally-invasive approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina E Silcox
- Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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24
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Abstract
Cancer gene therapy has been one of the most exciting areas of therapeutic research in the past decade. In this review, we discuss strategies to restrict transcription of transgenes to tumour cells. A range of promoters which are tissue-specific, tumour-specific, or inducible by exogenous agents are presented. Transcriptional targeting should prevent normal tissue toxicities associated with other cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. In addition, the specificity of these strategies should provide improved targeting of metastatic tumours following systemic gene delivery. Rapid progress in the ability to specifically control transgenes will allow systemic gene delivery for cancer therapy to become a real possibility in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Robson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - David G. Hirst
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland, UK
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25
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Brade AM, Szmitko P, Ngo D, Liu FF, Klamut HJ. Heat-directed suicide gene therapy for breast cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2003; 10:294-301. [PMID: 12679802 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Adjuvant hyperthermia can improve treatment outcome for locally recurrent breast cancer (LRBC). Previously, we demonstrated that infection of human breast cancer cells with a recombinant adenovirus expressing beta-galactosidase from the human hsp70b gene promoter (Ad.70b.betagal) results in 50- to 800-fold increases in reporter gene expression following heat treatment (30 minutes at 43 degrees C). Here, we describe a heat-directed suicide gene therapy strategy based on an adenoviral vector (Ad.70b.CDTK) in which expression of the dual prodrug-activating E. coli cytosine deaminase/herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (CDTK) fusion gene is under the control of the hsp70b promoter. Treatment of T47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cells with mild hyperthermia (43 degrees C/30 minutes) and prodrugs (100 microg/ml 5-fluorocytosine and 10 microg/ml ganciclovir) following infection with Ad.70b.CDTK (10-100 PFU/cell) resulted in 30- to 60-fold decreases in clonogenic survival relative to control cultures treated with heat or prodrugs alone. Clonogenic survival declined even further (up to 240-fold) following heat treatment at 41.5 degrees C for 120 minutes. A decreased clonogenic survival was accompanied by tumor cell apoptosis. These results demonstrate that this combined treatment strategy can be highly effective against heat- and radiation-resistant breast tumor cells and supports the continued development of heat-directed CDTK suicide gene therapy strategies for LRBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Brade
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9 Canada
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26
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Guilhon E, Voisin P, de Zwart JA, Quesson B, Salomir R, Maurange C, Bouchaud V, Smirnov P, de Verneuil H, Vekris A, Canioni P, Moonen CTW. Spatial and temporal control of transgene expression in vivo using a heat-sensitive promoter and MRI-guided focused ultrasound. J Gene Med 2003; 5:333-42. [PMID: 12692867 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the techniques used to induce and control gene expression, a non-invasive, physical approach based on local heat in combination with a heat-sensitive promoter represents a promising alternative but requires accurate temperature control in vivo. MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRI-FUS) with real-time feedback control allows automatic execution of a predefined temperature-time trajectory. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate temporal and spatial control of transgene expression based on a well-defined local hyperthermia generated by MRI-FUS. METHODS Expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker gene was used. Two cell lines were derived from C6 glioma cells. The GFP expression of the first one is under the control of the CMV promoter, whereas it is under the control of the HSP70 promoter in the second one and thus inducible by heat. Subcutaneous tumours were generated by injection in immuno-deficient mice and rats. Tumours were subjected to temperatures varying from 42 to 50 degrees C for 3 to 25 min controlled by MRI-FUS and analyzed 24 h after the heat-shock. Endogenous HSP70 expression and C6 cell distribution were also analyzed. RESULTS The results demonstrate strong expression at 50 degrees C applied during a short time period (3 min) without affecting cell viability. Induced expression was also clearly shown for temperature in the range 44-48 degrees C but not at 42 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS Heating with MRI-FUS allows a tight and non-invasive control of transgene expression in a tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Guilhon
- Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR 5536 CNRS/Victor Segalen Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
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27
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Abstract
In previous studies we demonstrated that a modified human HSP70b promoter (HSE.70b) directs high levels of gene expression to tumor cells after mild hyperthermia treatment in the range of 41.5-44 degrees C. This transcriptional targeting system exhibits low basal activity at 37 degrees C, is highly induced (950-fold) after mild heat treatment (43 degrees C/30 min), and returns to basal activity levels within 12-24 hours of activation. Here we describe heat-directed targeting of an activated form of the Gibbon ape leukemia virus env protein (GALV FMG) to tumor cells. GALV FMG mediates cell-cell fusion, and when expressed in tumor cells can produce bystander effects of up to 1:200. Transient transfection of a HSE70b.GALV FMG minigene caused extensive syncytia formation in HeLa and HT-1080 cells following mild heat treatment (44 degrees C/30 min). Stable transfection into HT-1080 cells produced a cell line (HG5) that exhibits massive syncytia formation and a 60% reduction in viability relative to a vector-only control (CI1) following heat treatment in vitro. Mild hyperthermia also resulted in syncytia formation, necrosis, and complete macroscopic regression of HG5 xenograft tumors grown in the footpads of mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disorders (SCID). Median survival increased from 12.5 (in heated CI1 controls) to 52 days after a single heat treatment. Heat-directed tumor cell fusion may prove to be a highly beneficial adjunct to existing cancer treatment strategies that take advantage of the synergistic interaction between mild hyperthermia and radiation or chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Brade
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
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28
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Abstract
This article will provide an overview on the status of cancer gene therapy, focussed specifically on its potential application in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The concepts and strategies behind the design of therapeutic targets such as p53, p16, and death genes will be described. One of the major challenges in cancer gene therapy is tumor-specific expression of therapeutic genes, and a transcriptional targeting approach will be reviewed, in reference to NPC. Specifically, the ability to exploit the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) will be emphasized. The currently available preclinical data on genetic therapeutic approaches for NPC will be reviewed, and an outline for its future role in management of NPC, in conjunction with existing cytotoxic modalities of ionizing radiation and chemotherapy will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Fei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Networks, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ont, Canada M5G 2M9.
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29
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Smith RC, Machluf M, Bromley P, Atala A, Walsh K. Spatial and temporal control of transgene expression through ultrasound-mediated induction of the heat shock protein 70B promoter in vivo. Hum Gene Ther 2002; 13:697-706. [PMID: 11936969 DOI: 10.1089/104303402317322267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenoviral vectors have been constructed that express the transgenes luciferase (Adeno-HSP-Luc) or Fas ligand (Adeno-HSP-FasL) under the control of the heat shock protein 70B (hsp70B) promoter. Cultures infected with Adeno-HSP-Luc transiently expressed high levels of luciferase after heat shock. When cultures infected with Adeno-HSP-FasL were maintained at 37 degrees C, no transgene expression was observed, but when cultures were exposed to heat stress, transgene expression resulted in apoptotic cell death. In vivo, transgene expression was induced by ultrasound-mediated heating of adenovirus-infected tissue. In mice or rats injected with the Adeno-HSP-Luc construct, high levels of localized expression of luciferase activity were observed in regions subjected to ultrasound-mediated irradiation. Adeno-HSP-FasL was administered systemically to mice via the tail vein to evaluate safety. Animals receiving Adeno-HSP-FasL in the absence of ultrasound treatment did not display liver toxicity, whereas animals receiving ultrasound treatment to induce the expression of Fas ligand from the hsp70B promoter had significant increases in serum levels of liver enzymes. These data demonstrate that combining the inducible hsp70B promoter with ultrasound induction allows safe local expression of cytotoxic genes with possible therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy C Smith
- Molecular Cardiology/CVI, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 75 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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30
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Walther W, Stein U, Schlag PM. Use of the human MDR1 promoter for heat-inducible expression of therapeutic genes. Int J Cancer 2002; 98:291-6. [PMID: 11857422 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.10174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The promoter of the human multidrug resistance gene (mdr1) harbors stress-responsive elements, which can be induced e.g., by heat or cytostatic drugs. In previous studies the drug-responsiveness of the mdr1 promoter was successfully used for the drug-inducible expression of the human TNF-alpha gene in vitro and in vivo. Beside the drug-responsive elements of the mdr1 promoter, heat-shock responsive elements have also been identified, which could be exploited for construction of heat-inducible expression vectors. To analyze the hyperthermia-inducibility of the mdr1 promoter we used the pmdr-p-CAT and pM3mdr-p-hTNF vector constructs. Both constructs carry the mdr1 promoter fragment spanning from -207 to +153 to drive expression of the CAT-reporter or TNF-alpha gene. We tested the heat-induced CAT-reporter and TNF-alpha expression in vitro in transduced HCT15 and HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells. For the studies the transduced tumor cells were treated with hyperthermia at 41.5 degrees C or 43 degrees C for 2 hr to induce CAT or TNF-alpha expression. Cells and supernatants were harvested before hyperthermia and at certain time points (0-120 hr) after heat shock. The heat-induced CAT-reporter expression or TNF-alpha secretion was determined by specific ELISA. The experiments indicate that hyperthermia activates the mdr1 promoter in a temperature and time dependent manner. This induction leads to an 2- to 4-fold increase in CAT-reporter or 2- to 7-fold increase in TNF alpha expression in the tumor cell lines. These experiments reveal that the mdr1 promoter driven expression of therapeutic genes can be employed for combined cancer gene therapy approaches.
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31
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Abstract
The delineation of the molecular basis of neoplasia provides the possibility of specific intervention by gene therapy through the introduction of genetic material for therapeutic purposes. In this regard, several gene therapy approaches have been developed for the treatment of cancer: mutation compensation, genetic immunopotentiation, molecular chemotherapy, inhibition of angiogenesis, replicative vector oncolysis, and chemosensitization or radiosensitization. Clinical trials have been initiated to evaluate safety, toxicity, and efficacy of each of these approaches, based on promising preclinical results. Various limitations that have been identified include lack of in vivo selective tumor delivery of vectors, minimal expression of therapeutic genes, immune response against vectors, and normal tissue toxicity. Combined modality therapy with gene therapy and chemotherapy or radiation therapy has shown promising results. It is expected that as new therapeutic targets and approaches are identified, combined with advances in vector design, that gene therapy will play an increasing role in clinical cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Buchsbaum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, WTI 674, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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