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Abo Qoura L, Morozova E, Ramaa СS, Pokrovsky VS. Smart nanocarriers for enzyme-activated prodrug therapy. J Drug Target 2024:1-23. [PMID: 39045650 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2024.2383688] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Exogenous enzyme-activated prodrug therapy (EPT) is a potential cancer treatment strategy that delivers non-human enzymes into or on the surface of the cell and subsequently converts a non-toxic prodrug into an active cytotoxic substance at a specific location and time. The development of several pharmacological pairs based on EPT has been the focus of anticancer research for more than three decades. Numerous of these pharmacological pairs have progressed to clinical trials, and a few have achieved application in specific cancer therapies. The current review highlights the potential of enzyme-activated prodrug therapy as a promising anticancer treatment. Different microbial, plant, or viral enzymes and their corresponding prodrugs that advanced to clinical trials have been listed. Additionally, we discuss new trends in the field of enzyme-activated prodrug nanocarriers, including nanobubbles combined with ultrasound (NB/US), mesoscopic-sized polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes), nanoparticles, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), with special emphasis on smart stimuli-triggered drug release, hybrid nanocarriers, and the main application of nanotechnology in improving prodrugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louay Abo Qoura
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena Morozova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - С S Ramaa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth's College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
| | - Vadim S Pokrovsky
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
- Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Chartouni A, Mouawad A, Boutros M, Attieh F, Medawar N, Kourie HR. Mesenchymal stem cells: a trojan horse to treat glioblastoma. Invest New Drugs 2023; 41:240-250. [PMID: 37017885 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01352-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary tumor of the central nervous system. What makes it so dreadful is the very low survival rate, despite the existence of a standard treatment plan. An innovative and more effective way to treat glioblastoma based on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) has been explored recently. MSCs are a group of endogenous multipotent stem cells that could mainly be harvested from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord. Having the ability to migrate toward the tumor using multiple types of binding receptors, they could be used either as a direct treatment (whether they are enhanced or not) or as a delivery vehicle carrying various anti-tumoral agents. Some of these agents are: chemotherapy drugs, prodrug activating therapy, oncolytic viruses, nanoparticles, human artificial chromosome… Promising results have started to surface; however, more evidence is needed to perfect their use as a glioblastoma multiforme treatment option. Alternative treatment, using unloaded or loaded MSCs, leading to a better outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Chartouni
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, 11 - 5076, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Antoine Mouawad
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, 11 - 5076, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Marc Boutros
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, 11 - 5076, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Fouad Attieh
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, 11 - 5076, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nicolas Medawar
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, 11 - 5076, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hampig Raphaël Kourie
- Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, 11 - 5076, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of hematology-oncology, Faculty of medicine, Saint-joseph university of beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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3
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Xu N, Tian H, Po Fung C, Lin Y, Chen Y, Zhu G, Shen Y, Guo C, Yang H. Inhibition of human oral squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and migration by prodrug-activating suicide gene therapies. Exp Ther Med 2023; 25:92. [PMID: 36761002 PMCID: PMC9905654 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.11790] [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: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which originates from mucosal epithelium in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx, is the sixth most common malignancy in the world. The prognosis of HNSCC is not satisfactory due to metastasis, resulting in 5-year survival rates ranging from 65.9 to 67.2%. Previously, we developed a method to evaluate the effect prodrug-activating suicide gene (PA-SG) therapy on the proliferation of HNSCC. The present study investigated PA-SG therapy on metastatic HNSCC by wound-healing assay and our previously established method. HSC-3 cells with stable expression of suicide genes thymidine kinase (TK) or cytosine deaminase (CD) were treated with prodrugs ganciclovir (GCV) or 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), respectively. Both GCV and 5-FC inhibited HSC-3 proliferation while the bystander effect of CD/5-FC was greater compared with that of TK/GCV. GCV showed a greater anti-migration effect compared with that of 5-FC. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to evaluate the anti-migratory and anti-proliferative effects of PA-SG therapies on metastatic HNSCC. This may also serve as a general method to quantify other types of PA-SC therapy. The present results demonstrated that PA-SG therapy is a promising treatment for anti-metastatic HNSCC therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naining Xu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
| | - Honglei Tian
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Chun Po Fung
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Yuntao Lin
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
| | - Yuling Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
| | - Guang Zhu
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, P.R. China
| | - Yuehong Shen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
| | - Chuanbin Guo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, P.R. China
| | - Hongyu Yang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial High-level Clinical Key Specialty, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center of Oral Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518001, P.R. China
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4
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Tirgar F, Azizi Z, Hosseindoost S, Hadjighassem M. Preclinical gene therapy in glioblastoma multiforme: Using olfactory ensheathing cells containing a suicide gene. Life Sci 2022; 311:121132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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5
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Hosseindoost S, Mousavi SM, Dehpour AR, Javadi SA, Arjmand B, Fallah A, Hadjighassem M. β2-Adrenergic receptor agonist enhances the bystander effect of HSV-TK/GCV gene therapy in glioblastoma multiforme via upregulation of connexin 43 expression. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 26:76-87. [PMID: 35795095 PMCID: PMC9233183 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most invasive form of primary brain astrocytoma. Gene therapy using the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) is a new strategy for GBM treatment. As the connexin 43 (Cx43) levels are downregulated in GBM cells, it seems that the upregulation of Cx43 could improve the efficacy of the gene therapy. This study aims to evaluate the effect of clenbuterol hydrochloride (Cln) as a β2-adrenergic receptor agonist on HSV-TK/GCV gene therapy efficacy in human GBM cells using olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) as vectors. The lentivirus containing the thymidine kinase gene was transduced to OECs and the effective dose of GCV on cells was measured by MTT assay. We found that Cln upregulated Cx43 expression in human GBM cells and OECs and promoted the cytotoxic effect of GCV on the co-culture cells. Western blot results showed that Cln increased the cleaved caspase-3 expression and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio in the co-culture of GBM cells and OEC-TK. Also, the flow cytometry results revealed that Cln increased apoptosis in the co-culture of GBM cells and OEC-TK cells. This study showed that Cln via upregulation of Cx43 expression could enhance the bystander effect of HSVTK-GCV gene therapy in human GBM cells.
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6
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Lou Z, Post A, Rodgers CE, Chamankhah M, Hong J, Ahuja CS, Khazaei M, Fehlings MG. Neural Progenitor Cells Expressing Herpes Simplex Virus-Thymidine Kinase for Ablation Have Differential Chemosensitivity to Brivudine and Ganciclovir. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:638021. [PMID: 34938162 PMCID: PMC8685296 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.638021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplants are a promising therapy for treating spinal cord injury (SCI), however, their long-term role after engraftment and the relative contribution to ongoing functional recovery remains a key knowledge gap. Selective human cell ablation techniques, currently being developed to improve the safety of progenitor cell transplant therapies in patients, may also be used as tools to probe the regenerative effects attributable to individual grafted cell populations. The Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase (HSV-TK) and ganciclovir (GCV) system has been extensively studied in the context of SCI and broader CNS disease. However, the efficacy of brivudine (BVDU), another HSV-TK prodrug with potentially reduced bystander cytotoxic effects and in vivo toxicity, has yet to be investigated for NPC ablation. In this study, we demonstrate successful generation and in vitro ablation of HSV-TK-expressing human iPSC-derived NPCs with a >80% reduction in survival over controls. We validated an HSV-TK and GCV/BVDU synergistic system with iPSC-NPCs using an efficient gene-transfer method and in vivo ablation in a translationally relevant model of SCI. Our findings demonstrate enhanced ablation efficiency and reduced bystander effects when targeting all rapidly dividing cells with combinatorial GCV and BVDU treatment. However, for use in loss of function studies, BVDU alone is optimal due to reduced nonselective cell ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Lou
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander Post
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher E Rodgers
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mahmood Chamankhah
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Hong
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christopher S Ahuja
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohamad Khazaei
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Emamian M, Abbaspour A, Shahani T, Biglari A, Sharafi A. Non-viral Suicide Gene Therapy: Cytosine Deaminase Gene Directed by VEGF Promoter and 5-fluorocytosine as a Gene Directed Enzyme/prodrug System in Breast Cancer Model. Drug Res (Stuttg) 2021; 71:395-406. [PMID: 34182589 DOI: 10.1055/a-1488-6054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigated the potential of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter to derive cytosine deaminase (CD) transfected by polyamidoamine (G4-PAMAM) dendrimers to 4T1 murine breast cancer cell line as gene-directed enzyme/prodrug therapy. The VEGF promoter and cytosine deaminase gene were cloned into the pEGFP-N1vector from the genomic DNA of 4T1 and E. coli, respectively. The frequency of transfection for VEGF-CD-pEGFP-N1 and pEGFP-N1- CD treated groups was 35±3 and 36±4, respectively. MTT assay was perform to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of converted 5-flurocytosine on 4T1 cells. Also, the optimal concentration of 5-FC in 4T1 cells transfected by VEGF-CD-pEGFP-N1 plasmid was evaluated. The GFP expression of transfected 4T1 cells by VEGF-CD-pEGFP-N1were observed by fluorescent microscopy and flowcytometry. Results demonstrated that the suicide CD gene was successfully expressed in 4T1 cells determined by RT-PCR and GFP expression. A concentration of 200 μg/ml 5-FC was identified as optimal dose of prodrug. Furthermore, the CD/5-FC enzyme/prodrug system not only demonstrated toxicity on transformed 4T1 cells but also exerted a 'bystander effect' determined by MTT assay. The results showed that by 35% transfection with VEGF-CD-pEGFP-N1and CD-pEGFP-N1 plasmids, 80% and 90% inhibition of the cells growth occurred, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manouchehr Emamian
- Department of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Akbar Abbaspour
- Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Tina Shahani
- Department of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Alireza Biglari
- Department of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Ali Sharafi
- Cancer Gene Therapy Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Zanjan Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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8
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Ross JL, Vega JV, Plant A, MacDonald TJ, Becher OJ, Hambardzumyan D. Tumor immune landscape of paediatric high-grade gliomas. Brain 2021; 144:2594-2609. [PMID: 33856022 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made towards elucidating the origin and genomic landscape of childhood high-grade brain tumors. It has become evident that pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) differ from adult HGGs with respect to multiple defining aspects including: DNA copy number, gene expression profiles, tumor locations within the central nervous system, and genetic alterations such as somatic histone mutations. Despite these advances, clinical trials for children with glioma have historically been based on ineffective adult regimens that fail to take into consideration the fundamental biological differences between the two. Additionally, although our knowledge of the intrinsic cellular mechanisms driving tumor progression has considerably expanded, little is known concerning the dynamic tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in pHGGs. In this review, we explore the genetic and epigenetic landscape of pHGGs and how this drives the creation of specific tumor sub-groups with meaningful survival outcomes. Further, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the pHGG TIME and discuss emerging therapeutic efforts aimed at exploiting the immune functions of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Ross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jose Velazquez Vega
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashley Plant
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tobey J MacDonald
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Oren J Becher
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dolores Hambardzumyan
- Department of Oncological Sciences, The Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Engineered microtissues for the bystander therapy against cancer. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2021; 121:111854. [PMID: 33579487 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Thymidine kinase expressing human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (TK-hAMSCs) in combination with ganciclovir (GCV) are an effective platform for antitumor bystander therapy in mice models. However, this strategy requires multiple TK-hAMSCs administrations and a substantial number of cells. Therefore, for clinical translation, it is necessary to find a biocompatible scaffold providing TK-hAMSCs retention in the implantation site against their rapid wash-out. We have developed a microtissue (MT) composed by TKhAMSCs and a scaffold made of polylactic acid microparticles and cell-derived extracellular matrix deposited by hAMSCs. The efficacy of these MTs as vehicles for TK-hAMSCs/GCV bystander therapy was evaluated in a rodent model of human prostate cancer. Subcutaneously implanted MTs were integrated in the surrounding tissue, allowing neovascularization and maintenance of TK-hAMSCs viability. Furthermore, MTs implanted beside tumors allowed TK-hAMSCs migration towards tumor cells and, after GCV administration, inhibited tumor growth. These results indicate that TK-hAMSCs-MTs are promising cell reservoirs for clinical use of therapeutic MSCs in bystander therapies.
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10
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Parkins KM, Dubois VP, Kelly JJ, Chen Y, Knier NN, Foster PJ, Ronald JA. Engineering Circulating Tumor Cells as Novel Cancer Theranostics. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:7925-7937. [PMID: 32685030 PMCID: PMC7359075 DOI: 10.7150/thno.44259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
New ways to target and treat metastatic disease are urgently needed. Tumor “self-homing” describes the recruitment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) back to a previously excised primary tumor location, contributing to tumor recurrence, as well as their migration to established metastatic lesions. Recently, self-homing CTCs have been exploited as delivery vehicles for anti-cancer therapeutics in preclinical primary tumor models. However, the ability of CTCs to self-home and treat metastatic disease is largely unknown. Methods: Here, we used bioluminescence imaging (BLI) to explore whether systemically administered CTCs home to metastatic lesions and if CTCs armed with both a reporter gene and a cytotoxic prodrug gene therapy can be used to visualize and treat metastatic disease. Results: BLI performed over time revealed a remarkable ability of CTCs to home to and treat tumors throughout the body. Excitingly, metastatic tumor burden in mice that received therapeutic CTCs was lower compared to mice receiving control CTCs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the noteworthy ability of experimental CTCs to home to disseminated breast cancer lesions. Moreover, by incorporating a prodrug gene therapy system into our self-homing CTCs, we show exciting progress towards effective and targeted delivery of gene-based therapeutics to treat both primary and metastatic lesions.
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Efficacy and Safety of Oncolytic Viruses in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061416. [PMID: 32486227 PMCID: PMC7352817 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising antitumor therapeutic strategy. It is based on the ability of viruses to selectively kill cancer cells and induce host antitumor immune responses. However, the clinical outcomes of oncolytic viruses (OVs) vary widely. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to illustrate the efficacy and safety of oncolytic viruses. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to 31 January 2020. The data for objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events (AEs) were independently extracted by two investigators from 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria. In subgroup analyses, the objective response rate benefit was observed in patients treated with oncolytic DNA viruses (odds ratio (OR) = 4.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.96–8.33; p = 0.0002), but not in those treated with oncolytic RNA viruses (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.66–1.52, p = 0.99). Moreover, the intratumoral injection arm yielded a statistically significant improvement (OR = 4.05, 95% CI: 1.96–8.33, p = 0.0002), but no such improvement was observed for the intravenous injection arm (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.66–1.52, p = 0.99). Among the five OVs investigated in RCTs, only talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) effectively prolonged the OS of patients (hazard ratio (HR), 0.79; 95% CI: 0.63–0.99; p = 0.04). None of the oncolytic virotherapies improved the PFS (HR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.85–1.19, p = 0.96). Notably, the pooled rate of severe AEs (grade ≥3) was higher for the oncolytic virotherapy group (39%) compared with the control group (27%) (risk difference (RD), 12%; risk ratio (RR), 1.44; 95% CI: 1.17–1.78; p = 0.0006). This review offers a reference for fundamental research and clinical treatment of oncolytic viruses. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to verify these results.
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12
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Nivajärvi R, Olsson V, Hyppönen V, Bowen S, Leinonen HM, Lesch HP, Ardenkjaer-Larsen JH, Gröhn OHJ, Ylä-Herttuala S, Kettunen MI. Detection of lentiviral suicide gene therapy in C6 rat glioma using hyperpolarised [1- 13 C]pyruvate. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2020; 33:e4250. [PMID: 31909530 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Hyperpolarised [1-13 C]pyruvate MRI has shown promise in monitoring therapeutic efficacy in a number of cancers including glioma. In this study, we assessed the pyruvate response to the lentiviral suicide gene therapy of herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase with the prodrug ganciclovir (HSV-TK/GCV) in C6 rat glioma and compared it with traditional MR therapy markers. Female Wistar rats were inoculated with 106 C6 glioma cells. Treated animals received intratumoural lentiviral HSV-TK gene transfers on days 7 and 8 followed by 2-week GCV therapy starting on day 10. Animals were repeatedly imaged during therapy using volumetric MRI, diffusion and relaxation mapping, as well as metabolic [1-13 C]pyruvate MRS imaging. Survival (measured as time before animals reached a humane endpoint and were euthanised) was assessed up to day 30 posttherapy. HSV-TK/GCV gene therapy lengthened the median survival time from 12 to 25 days. This was accompanied by an apparent tumour growth arrest, but no changes in diffusion or relaxation parameters in treated animals. The metabolic response was more evident in the case-by-case analysis than in the group-level analysis. Treated animals also showed a 37 ± 15% decrease (P < 0.05, n = 5) in lactate-to-pyruvate ratio between therapy weeks, whereas a 44 ± 18% increase (P < 0.05, n = 6) was observed in control animals. Hyperpolarised [1-13 C]pyruvate MRI can offer complementary metabolic information to traditional MR methods to give a more comprehensive picture of the slowly developing gene therapy response. This may benefit the detection of the successful therapy response in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka Nivajärvi
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Venla Olsson
- Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Viivi Hyppönen
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sean Bowen
- Center for Hyperpolarization in Magnetic Resonance, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Hanna M Leinonen
- FinVector Oy, Kuopio, Finland
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hanna P Lesch
- FinVector Oy, Kuopio, Finland
- Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jan Henrik Ardenkjaer-Larsen
- Center for Hyperpolarization in Magnetic Resonance, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olli H J Gröhn
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mikko I Kettunen
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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13
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Ultrasound-mediated nanobubble destruction (UMND) facilitates the delivery of VEGFR2-targeted CD-TK-loaded cationic nanobubbles in the treatment of bladder cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2020; 146:1415-1426. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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14
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Hossain JA, Marchini A, Fehse B, Bjerkvig R, Miletic H. Suicide gene therapy for the treatment of high-grade glioma: past lessons, present trends, and future prospects. Neurooncol Adv 2020; 2:vdaa013. [PMID: 32642680 PMCID: PMC7212909 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy has represented an experimental cancer treatment modality for nearly 40 years. Among the various cancers experimentally treated by suicide gene therapy, high-grade gliomas have been the most prominent both in preclinical and clinical settings. Failure of a number of promising suicide gene therapy strategies in the clinic pointed toward a bleak future of this approach for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. Nevertheless, the development of new vectors and suicide genes, better prodrugs, more efficient delivery systems, and new combinatorial strategies represent active research areas that may eventually lead to better efficacy of suicide gene therapy. These trends are evident by the current increasing focus on suicide gene therapy for high-grade glioma treatment both in the laboratory and in the clinic. In this review, we give an overview of different suicide gene therapy approaches for glioma treatment and discuss clinical trials, delivery issues, and immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jubayer A Hossain
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Antonio Marchini
- Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Boris Fehse
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rolf Bjerkvig
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Hrvoje Miletic
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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15
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Sun B, Xi Z, Wu F, Song S, Huang X, Chu X, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Meng N, Zhou N, Shen J. Quaternized Chitosan-Coated Montmorillonite Interior Antimicrobial Metal-Antibiotic in Situ Coordination Complexation for Mixed Infections of Wounds. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:15275-15286. [PMID: 31665888 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Conventional drug delivery systems for natural clay materials still face critical challenges in their practical application, including multiple bacterial infections, combined infection of bacteria and fungi, and low sterilization efficiency. In this work, we address these challenges using the multifunctional montmorillonite nanosheet-based (MMT-based) drug nanoplatform, which involves the antibiotic 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), antibacterial metal copper ions, and quaternized chitosan (QCS). Composite material QCS/MMT/5-FCCu can can strongly inhibit Staphylococcus aureus (a typical Gram-positive bacterium), Escherichia coli (a typical Gram-negative bacterium), and Candida albicans (a fungus) because 5-FC coordinates with copper ions in situ and due to the deposition of QCS. The subsequent drug release behavior of 5-FCCu was studied, and the results show an initial high concentration kills microorganisms and long-acting sustained release inhibition. Moreover, in vivo wound experiments and toxicity experiments show the promotion of wound healing and excellent biocompatibility. As a demonstration of the utility of the latter, we have shown that the MMT-based smart platform can be used for the treatment of mixed infections of wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohong Sun
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Zhenhua Xi
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Fan Wu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Central South University , Changsha 410083 , China
| | - Saijie Song
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Xinrong Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Xiaohong Chu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Zhixuan Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Yuli Wang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Qicheng Zhang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Na Meng
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Ninglin Zhou
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Jian Shen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bio-functional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science , Nanjing Normal University , Nanjing 210023 , China
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16
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ElMallah MK, Kalfopolous M, Flotte TR. GENE THERAPY. Cancer 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/9781119645214.ch28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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17
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Zhang H, Wang R, Yu Y, Liu J, Luo T, Fan F. Glioblastoma Treatment Modalities besides Surgery. J Cancer 2019; 10:4793-4806. [PMID: 31598150 PMCID: PMC6775524 DOI: 10.7150/jca.32475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is commonly known as the most aggressive primary CNS tumor in adults. The mean survival of it is 14 to 15 months, following the standard therapy from surgery, chemotherapy, to radiotherapy. Efforts in recent decades have brought many novel therapies to light, however, with limitations. In this paper, authors reviewed current treatments for GBM besides surgery. In the past decades, only radiotherapy, temozolomide (TMZ), and tumor treating field (TTF) were approved by FDA. Though promising in preclinical experiments, therapeutic effects of other novel treatments including BNCT, anti-angiogenic therapy, immunotherapy, epigenetic therapy, oncolytic virus therapy, and gene therapy are still either uncertain or discouraging in clinical results. In this review, we went through current clinical trials, underlying causes, and future therapy designs to present neurosurgeons and researchers a sketch of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Ruizhe Wang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yuanqiang Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jinfang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Tianmeng Luo
- Department of Medical Affairs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Chang Sha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Fan Fan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.,Center for Medical Genetics & Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University Changsha, China
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Jain S, LaFrancois JJ, Botterill JJ, Alcantara-Gonzalez D, Scharfman HE. Adult neurogenesis in the mouse dentate gyrus protects the hippocampus from neuronal injury following severe seizures. Hippocampus 2019; 29:683-709. [PMID: 30672046 PMCID: PMC6640126 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that reducing the numbers of adult-born neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the mouse increases susceptibility to severe continuous seizures (status epilepticus; SE) evoked by systemic injection of the convulsant kainic acid (KA). However, it was not clear if the results would be the same for other ways to induce seizures, or if SE-induced damage would be affected. Therefore, we used pilocarpine, which induces seizures by a different mechanism than KA. Also, we quantified hippocampal damage after SE. In addition, we used both loss-of-function and gain-of-function methods in adult mice. We hypothesized that after loss-of-function, mice would be more susceptible to pilocarpine-induced SE and SE-associated hippocampal damage, and after gain-of-function, mice would be more protected from SE and hippocampal damage after SE. For loss-of-function, adult neurogenesis was suppressed by pharmacogenetic deletion of dividing radial glial precursors. For gain-of-function, adult neurogenesis was increased by conditional deletion of pro-apoptotic gene Bax in Nestin-expressing progenitors. Fluoro-Jade C (FJ-C) was used to quantify neuronal injury and video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) was used to quantify SE. Pilocarpine-induced SE was longer in mice with reduced adult neurogenesis, SE had more power and neuronal damage was greater. Conversely, mice with increased adult-born neurons had shorter SE, SE had less power, and there was less neuronal damage. The results suggest that adult-born neurons exert protective effects against SE and SE-induced neuronal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Jain
- Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute of Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - John J. LaFrancois
- Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute of Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - Justin J. Botterill
- Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute of Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - David Alcantara-Gonzalez
- Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute of Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - Helen E. Scharfman
- Center for Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute of Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
- Departments of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuroscience & Physiology, and Psychiatry, New York Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Novel Semi-Replicative Retroviral Vector Mediated Double Suicide Gene Transfer Enhances Antitumor Effects in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Models. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081090. [PMID: 31370279 PMCID: PMC6721803 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
As glioblastomas are mostly localized infiltrative lesions, gene therapy based on the retroviral replicating vector (RRV) system is considered an attractive strategy. Combinations of multiple suicide genes can circumvent the limitations associated with each gene, achieving direct and synergistic cytotoxic effects, along with bystander cell killing. In this study, we constructed a semi-and pseudotyped-RRV (sp-RRV) system harboring two suicide genes—herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (TK) and yeast cytosine deaminase (CD)—to verify the dissemination and antitumor efficacy of our sp-RRV system (spRRVe-sEF1α-TK/sRRVgp-sEF1α-CD) in seven patient-derived glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). Flow cytometry and high-content analysis revealed a wide range of transduction efficiency and good correlation between the delivery of therapeutic genes and susceptibility to the prodrugs ganciclovir and 5-fluorocytosine in patient-derived GSCs in vitro. Intra-tumoral delivery of spRRVe-sEF1α-TK/sRRVgp-sEF1α-CD, combined with prodrug treatment, synergistically inhibited cell proliferation and angiogenesis while increasing apoptosis and the depletion of tumor-associated macrophages in orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts. Genomic profiling of patient-derived GSCs revealed that the key genes preventing sp-RRV infection and transmission were associated with cell adhesion, migration, development, differentiation, and proliferation. This is the first report demonstrating that a novel sp-RRV-mediated TK/CD double suicide gene transfer system has high oncolytic power against extremely heterogeneous and treatment-refractory glioblastomas.
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20
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Gerace D, Martiniello-Wilks R, Habib R, Simpson AM. Luciferase-based reporting of suicide gene activity in murine mesenchymal stem cells. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220013. [PMID: 31318955 PMCID: PMC6638968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to their ease of isolation, gene modification and tumor-homing properties, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive cellular vehicle for the delivery of toxic suicide genes to a variety of cancers in pre-clinical models. In addition, the incorporation of suicide genes in stem cell-derived cell replacement therapies improves their safety profile by permitting graft destruction in the event of unexpected tumorigeneses or unwanted differentiation. Due to the functional requirement of ATP for the Firefly luciferase gene Luc2 to produce light, luciferase-based reporting of cytotoxicity can be engineered into potential cell therapies. Consequently, we nucleofected mammalian expression plasmids containing both the Luc2 and the yeast fusion cytosine deaminase uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (CDUPRT) genes for expression in murine MSCs to assess luciferase as a reporter of suicide gene cytotoxicity, and MSC as vehicles of suicide gene therapy. In vitro bioluminescence imaging (BLI) showed that following the addition of the non-toxic prodrug fluorocytosine (5-FC), CDUPRT-expressing MSCs displayed enhanced cytotoxicity in comparison to Luc2 reporter MSC controls. This study demonstrates the utility of luciferase as a reporter of CDUPRT-mediated cytotoxicity in murine MSC using BLI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Gerace
- The School of Life Sciences and the Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rosetta Martiniello-Wilks
- The School of Life Sciences and the Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Translational Cancer Research Group, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rosaline Habib
- The School of Life Sciences and the Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ann Margaret Simpson
- The School of Life Sciences and the Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
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21
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Kazlauskas A, Darinskas A, Meškys R, Tamašauskas A, Urbonavičius J. Isocytosine deaminase Vcz as a novel tool for the prodrug cancer therapy. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:197. [PMID: 30832616 PMCID: PMC6399854 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5409-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The cytosine deaminase (CD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) system is among the best explored enzyme/prodrug systems in the field of the suicide gene therapy. Recently, by the screening of the environmental metagenomic libraries we identified a novel isocytosine deaminase (ICD), termed Vcz, which is able of specifically converting a prodrug 5-fluoroisocytosine (5-FIC) into toxic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the ICD Vcz / 5-FIC pair as a potential suicide gene therapy tool. Methods Vcz-expressing human glioblastoma U87 and epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells were treated with 5-FIC, and the Vcz-mediated cytotoxicity was evaluated by performing an MTT assay. In order to examine anti-tumor effects of the Vcz/5-FIC system in vivo, murine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were transduced with the Vcz-coding lentivirus and co-injected with 5-FIC or control reagents into subcutaneous GL261 tumors evoked in C57/BL6 mice. Results 5-FIC alone showed no significant toxic effects on U87 and Caco-2 cells at 100 μM concentration, whereas the number of cells of both cell lines that express Vcz cytosine deaminase gene decreased by approximately 60% in the presence of 5-FIC. The cytotoxic effects on cells were also induced by media collected from Vcz-expressing cells pre-treated with 5-FIC. The co-injection of the Vcz-transduced mesenchymal stem cells and 5-FIC have been shown to augment tumor necrosis and increase longevity of tumorized mice by 50% in comparison with control group animals. Conclusions We have confirmed that the novel ICD Vcz together with the non-toxic prodrug 5-FIC has a potential of being a new enzyme/prodrug system for suicide gene therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-5409-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunas Kazlauskas
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Adas Darinskas
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Cancer Institute, Santariskiu Str. 1, LT-08660, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rolandas Meškys
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al.7, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arimantas Tamašauskas
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eiveniu str. 4, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Jaunius Urbonavičius
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Sauletekio al.7, LT-10222, Vilnius, Lithuania.,Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio al.11, LT-10221, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Zhang H, Qin L, Li C, Jiang J, Sun L, Zhao X, Li N. Adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy combined with ganciclovir induces hepatoma cell apoptosis. Exp Ther Med 2019; 17:1649-1655. [PMID: 30783433 PMCID: PMC6364201 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7147] [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: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the apoptotic effects of adenovirus (ADV)-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (ADV-TK) combined with ganciclovir (GCV) in tissues obtained from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in order to provide a theoretical basis for the development of this gene therapy program. Apoptosis detection was conducted using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling assay and the apoptosis index was compared between the experimental; and control groups. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-assoicated protein X (Bax) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were examined in pathological specimens using immunohistochemical staining. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the release of cytochrome c were examined using western blot analysis. Results indicated that combined ADV-TK and GCV treatment significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells compared with the control group (P<0.05). Immunohistological analysis revealed that ADV-TK and GCV treatment significantly increased the number of caspase-3-positive cells, reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and NF-κB expression levels and promoted the release of cytochrome c compared with the control group (P<0.01). In conclusion, the present results suggest that combined ADV-TK and GCV treatment exerts its effect through the apoptotic signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Biomedical Information Center, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Chaolu Li
- Department of Surgery, Shijingshan Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 100040, P.R. China
| | - Jianyi Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Libo Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
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23
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Tumoricidal effect of human olfactory ensheathing cell mediated suicide gene therapy in human glioblastoma cells. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:2263-2273. [PMID: 30242665 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4388-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The potential of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-tk)-expressing olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) treated with ganciclovir (GCV) to induce cell death in adjacent HSV-tk-negative cells (bystander effect) has been well demonstrated. Although it has been shown that bystander effect occurs through the delivery of phosphorylated GCV, the bystander effect mechanism and the role of gap junctions for human OECs mediated suicide gene therapy in primary astrocytes of human glioblastma remain obscure. In the present study, the efficacy of a new method for the transfer of phosphorylated GCV from OECs into primary astrocytes was evaluated. Surgical biopsy of glioblastoma was used to isolate primary astrocyte. Biopsy of olfactory mucosa was applied to isolate olfactory ensheathing cell. Expression of S100-beta antigen was confirmed immunocytochemically in astrocytes and OECs. OECs were transduced to lentiviral containing thymidine kinase gene (TK) and co-cultured with astrocytes. Fluorescent dye transfer and western blot analysis indicated the expression of connexin43 between olfactory ensheathing cells and astrocytes whereas, expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 was inhibited by the gap junction inhibitor 18α-glycyrrhethinic acid (AGA, 20 µg/ml). Furthermore, co-culture of astrocytes with OEC-TK in the presence of concentration of 30 µg/ml GCV led to a decrease in astrocytes survival rate. Also, apoptosis hallmarks, including DNA fragmentation in cell nuclear, expression increase of Bax to Bcl-2 ratio and increase of caspase3 activation were observed in this study. Our findings suggest that human olfactory ensheathing cells can deliver phosphorylated GCV into the glioblastoma derived astrocytes through gap junction communication for apoptosis induction.
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Han SW, Kim YY, Kang WJ, Kim HC, Ku SY, Kang BC, Yun JW. The Use of Normal Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells for Potential Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Strategy. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2018; 15:365-380. [PMID: 30603561 PMCID: PMC6171655 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-018-0128-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recent advance in conventional cancer therapies including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy to reduce tumor size, unfortunately cancer mortality and metastatic cancer incidence remain high. Along with a deeper understanding of stem cell biology, cancer stem cell (CSC) is important in targeted cancer therapy. Herein, we review representative patents using not only normal stem cells as therapeutics themselves or delivery vehicles, but also CSCs as targets for anti-cancer strategy. METHODS Relevant patent literatures published between 2005 and 2017 are discussed to present developmental status and experimental results on using normal stem cells and CSCs for cancer therapy and explore potential future directions in this field. RESULTS Stem cells have been considered as important element of regenerative therapy by promoting tissue regeneration. Particularly, there is a growing trend to use stem cells as a target drug-delivery system to reduce undesirable side effects in non-target tissues. Noteworthy, studies on CSC-specific markers for distinguishing CSCs from normal stem cells and mature cancer cells have been conducted as a selective anti-cancer therapy with few side effects. Many researchers have also reported the development of various substances with anticancer effects by targeting CSCs from cancer tissues. CONCLUSION There has been a continuing increase in the number of studies on therapeutic stem cells and CSC-specific markers for selective diagnosis and therapy of cancer. This review focuses on the current status in the use of normal stem cells and CSCs for targeted cancer therapy. Future direction is also proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Woo Han
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibongro, Bucheon, 14662 Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Young Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Ju Kang
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibongro, Bucheon, 14662 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung-Chin Kim
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 30 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 28116 Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Yup Ku
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
| | - Byeong-Cheol Kang
- Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Center for Animal Resource and Development, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080 Republic of Korea
- Designed Animal and Transplantation Research Institute, Institute of GreenBio Science Technology, Seoul National University, 1447 Pyeongchang-daero, Daehwa-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do 25354 Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Won Yun
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibongro, Bucheon, 14662 Republic of Korea
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Mooney R, Majid AA, Mota D, He A, Aramburo S, Flores L, Covello-Batalla J, Machado D, Gonzaga J, Aboody KS. Bcl-2 Overexpression Improves Survival and Efficacy of Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Enzyme Prodrug Therapy. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:7047496. [PMID: 30026762 PMCID: PMC6031202 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7047496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-tropic neural stem cells (NSCs) can be engineered to localize gene therapies to invasive brain tumors. However, like other stem cell-based therapies, survival of therapeutic NSCs after transplantation is currently suboptimal. One approach to prolonging cell survival is to transiently overexpress an antiapoptotic protein within the cells prior to transplantation. Here, we investigate the utility and safety of this approach using a clinically tested, v-myc immortalized, human NSC line engineered to contain the suicide gene, cytosine deaminase (CD-NSCs). We demonstrate that both adenoviral- and minicircle-driven expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 can partially rescue CD-NSCs from transplant-associated insults. We further demonstrate that the improved CD-NSC survival afforded by transient Bcl-2 overexpression results in decreased tumor burden in an orthotopic xenograft glioma mouse model following administrations of intracerebral CD-NSCs and systemic prodrug. Importantly, no evidence of CD-NSC transformation was observed upon transient overexpression of Bcl-2. This research highlights a critical need to develop clinically relevant strategies to improve survival of therapeutic stem cell posttransplantation. We demonstrate for the first time in this disease setting that improving CD-NSC survival using Bcl-2 overexpression can significantly improve therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Mooney
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Asma Abdul Majid
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Daniel Mota
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Adam He
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Soraya Aramburo
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Linda Flores
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Jennifer Covello-Batalla
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Diana Machado
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Joanna Gonzaga
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Karen S. Aboody
- Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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miRNA122a regulation of gene therapy vectors targeting hepatocellular cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 2018; 9:23577-23588. [PMID: 29805757 PMCID: PMC5955118 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report a miRNA122a based targeted gene therapy for hepatocellular cancer stem cells (CSCs). First, we assessed the levels of miRNA122a in normal human hepatocytes, a panel of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and hepatocellular CSCs observing its significant downregulation in HCC and CSCs. The miRNA122a binding site was then incorporated at the 3'-UTR of reporter genes gaussia luciferase (GLuc) and eGFP which resulted in significant hepatocyte detargeting. Using this strategy for the delivery of gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) utilizing the cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) system, we showed significant killing in cells with low or no miRNA122a while those cells, such as hepatocytes with high miRNA122a were largely spared. Next, we showed that CSC enriched tumorspheres exhibit a significant downregulation of miRNA122a expression providing a rational to exploit its binding site for targeted gene delivery. Using plasmids harboring reporters GLuc and eGFP with or without miR122a binding sites, we showed high reporter expression in the CSCs and little reported expression in the non-enriched cultures. Finally, we demonstrate the efficacy of miRNA122a based post-transcriptionally targeted GDEPT for hepatocellular CSCs.
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Komissarov A, Demidyuk I, Safina D, Roschina M, Shubin A, Lunina N, Karaseva M, Kostrov S. Cytotoxic effect of co-expression of human hepatitis A virus 3C protease and bifunctional suicide protein FCU1 genes in a bicistronic vector. Mol Biol Rep 2017; 44:323-332. [PMID: 28748410 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-017-4113-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Recent reports on various cancer models demonstrate a great potential of cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine suicide system in cancer therapy. However, this approach has limited success and its application to patients has not reached the desirable clinical significance. Accordingly, the improvement of this suicide system is an actively developing trend in gene therapy. The purpose of this study was to explore the cytotoxic effect observed after co-expression of hepatitis A virus 3C protease (3C) and yeast cytosine deaminase/uracil phosphoribosyltransferase fusion protein (FCU1) in a bicistronic vector. A set of mono- and bicistronic plasmid constructs was generated to provide individual or combined expression of 3C and FCU1. The constructs were introduced into HEK293 and HeLa cells, and target protein synthesis as well as the effect of 5-fluorocytosine on cell death and the time course of the cytotoxic effect was studied. The obtained vectors provide for the synthesis of target proteins in human cells. The expression of the genes in a bicistronic construct provide for the cytotoxic effect comparable to that observed after the expression of genes in monocistronic constructs. At the same time, co-expression of FCU1 and 3C recapitulated their cytotoxic effects. The combined effect of the killer and suicide genes was studied for the first time on human cells in vitro. The integration of different gene therapy systems inducing cell death (FCU1 and 3C genes) in a bicistronic construct allowed us to demonstrate that it does not interfere with the cytotoxic effect of each of them. A combination of cytotoxic genes in multicistronic vectors can be used to develop pluripotent gene therapy agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey Komissarov
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Ilya Demidyuk
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182.
| | - Dina Safina
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Marina Roschina
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Andrey Shubin
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Nataliya Lunina
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Maria Karaseva
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
| | - Sergey Kostrov
- Laboratory of Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, 2 Kurchatova Sq., Moscow, Russia, 123182
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Chen R, Lee WYW, Zhang XH, Zhang JT, Lin S, Xu LL, Huang B, Yang FY, Liu HL, Wang B, Tsang LL, Willaime-Morawek S, Li G, Chan HC, Jiang X. Epigenetic Modification of the CCL5/CCR1/ERK Axis Enhances Glioma Targeting in Dedifferentiation-Reprogrammed BMSCs. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:743-757. [PMID: 28216148 PMCID: PMC5355636 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of stem cell-mediated gene therapy in cancer treatment largely depends on the specific homing ability of stem cells. We have previously demonstrated that after in vitro induction of neuronal differentiation and dedifferentiation, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) revert to a primitive stem cell population (De-neu-BMSCs) distinct from naive BMSCs. We report here that De-neu-BMSCs express significantly higher levels of chemokines, and display enhanced homing abilities to glioma, the effect of which is mediated by the activated CCL5/CCR1/ERK axis. Intriguingly, we find that the activated chemokine axis in De-neu-BMSCs is epigenetically regulated by histone modifications. On the therapeutic front, we show that De-neu-BMSCs elicit stronger homing and glioma-killing effects together with cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine compared with unmanipulated BMSCs in vivo. Altogether, the current study provides an insight into chemokine regulation in BMSCs, which may have more profound effects on BMSC function and their application in regenerative medicine and cancer targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Wayne Yuk-Wai Lee
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Xiao Hu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Jie Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Sien Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Liang Liang Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Biao Huang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Fu Yuan Yang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Hai Long Liu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Lai Ling Tsang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | | | - Gang Li
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057 PR China
| | - Hsiao Chang Chan
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057 PR China.
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057 PR China.
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Jäkel S, Dimou L. Glial Cells and Their Function in the Adult Brain: A Journey through the History of Their Ablation. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:24. [PMID: 28243193 PMCID: PMC5303749 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glial cells, consisting of microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte lineage cells as their major components, constitute a large fraction of the mammalian brain. Originally considered as purely non-functional glue for neurons, decades of research have highlighted the importance as well as further functions of glial cells. Although many aspects of these cells are well characterized nowadays, the functions of the different glial populations in the brain under both physiological and pathological conditions remain, at least to a certain extent, unresolved. To tackle these important questions, a broad range of depletion approaches have been developed in which microglia, astrocytes, or oligodendrocyte lineage cells (i.e., NG2-glia and oligodendrocytes) are specifically ablated from the adult brain network with a subsequent analysis of the consequences. As the different glial populations are very heterogeneous, it is imperative to specifically ablate single cell populations instead of inducing cell death in all glial cells in general. Thanks to modern genetic manipulation methods, the approaches can now directly be targeted to the cell type of interest making the ablation more specific compared to general cell ablation approaches that have been used earlier on. In this review, we will give a detailed summary on different glial ablation studies, focusing on the adult mouse central nervous system and the functional readouts. We will also provide an outlook on how these approaches could be further exploited in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jäkel
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians UniversityMunich, Germany; MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of EdinburghEdinburgh, UK
| | - Leda Dimou
- Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians UniversityMunich, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems NeurologyMunich, Germany; Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of UlmUlm, Germany
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Furukawa J, Inoue K, Ohta K, Yasujima T, Mimura Y, Yuasa H. Role of Equilibrative Nucleobase Transporter 1/SLC43A3 as a Ganciclovir Transporter in the Induction of Cytotoxic Effect of Ganciclovir in a Suicide Gene Therapy with Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2016; 360:59-68. [PMID: 27807008 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.236984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A suicide gene therapy using herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) with ganciclovir (GCV) has been under development as a tumor-targeted therapy; however, the mechanism of cellular GCV uptake, which is prerequisite in the therapy, has not been clarified. In an attempt to resolve this situation and gain information to optimize HSV-TK/GCV system for cancer therapy, we found that human equilibrative nucleobase transporter 1 (ENBT1) can transport GCV with a Michaelis constant of 2.75 mM in Madin-Darby canine kidney II (MDCKII) cells stably transfected with this transporter. In subsequent experiments using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged ENBT1 (GFP-ENBT1) and HSV-TK, the uptake of GCV (30 μM), which was minimal in MDCKII cells and unchanged by their transfection with HSV-TK alone, was increased extensively by their transfection with GFP-ENBT1, together with HSV-TK. Accordingly, cytotoxicity, which was assessed by the WST-8 cell viability assay after the treatment of those cells with GCV (30 μM) for 72 hours, was induced in those transfected with GFP-ENBT1, together with HSV-TK but not in those transfected with HSV-TK alone. These results suggest that ENBT1 could facilitate GCV uptake and thereby enhance cytotoxicity in HSV-TK/GCV system. We also identified Helacyton gartleri (HeLa) and HepG2 as cancer cell lines that are rich with ENBT1 and A549, HCT-15 and MCF-7 as those poor with ENBT1. Accordingly, the HSV-TK/GCV system was effective in inducing cytotoxicity in the former but not in the latter. Thus, ENBT1 was found to be a GCV transporter that could enhance the performance of HSV-TK/GCV suicide gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junji Furukawa
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (J.F., T.Y., Y.M., H.Y.); College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya (K.O.); and Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan (K.I.)
| | - Katsuhisa Inoue
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (J.F., T.Y., Y.M., H.Y.); College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya (K.O.); and Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan (K.I.)
| | - Kinya Ohta
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (J.F., T.Y., Y.M., H.Y.); College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya (K.O.); and Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan (K.I.)
| | - Tomoya Yasujima
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (J.F., T.Y., Y.M., H.Y.); College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya (K.O.); and Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan (K.I.)
| | - Yoshihisa Mimura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (J.F., T.Y., Y.M., H.Y.); College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya (K.O.); and Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan (K.I.)
| | - Hiroaki Yuasa
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya (J.F., T.Y., Y.M., H.Y.); College of Pharmacy, Kinjo Gakuin University, Nagoya (K.O.); and Department of Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan (K.I.)
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Malekshah OM, Chen X, Nomani A, Sarkar S, Hatefi A. Enzyme/Prodrug Systems for Cancer Gene Therapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 2:299-308. [PMID: 28042530 DOI: 10.1007/s40495-016-0073-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The use of enzyme/prodrug system has gained attention because it could help improve the efficacy and safety of conventional cancer chemotherapies. In this approach, cancer cells are first transfected with a gene that can express an enzyme with ability to convert a non-toxic prodrug into its active cytotoxic form. As a result, the activated prodrug could kill the transfected cancer cells. Despite the significant progress of different suicide gene therapy protocols in preclinical studies and early clinical trials, none has reached the clinic due to several shortcomings. These include slow prodrug-drug conversion rate, low transfection/transduction efficiency of the vectors and nonspecific toxicity/immunogenicity related to the delivery systems, plasmid DNA, enzymes and/or prodrugs. This mini review aims at providing an overview of the most widely used enzyme/prodrug systems with emphasis on reporting the results of the recent preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obeid M Malekshah
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Xuguang Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Alireza Nomani
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Siddik Sarkar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Arash Hatefi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States; Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, United States
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Chen Y, Huang H, Yao C, Su F, Guan W, Yan S, Ni Z. Antitumor activity of combined endostatin and thymidine kinase gene therapy in C6 glioma models. Cancer Med 2016; 5:2477-86. [PMID: 27366865 PMCID: PMC5055148 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of Endostatin (ES) and Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase (HSV‐TK) gene therapy is known to have antitumor activity in bladder cancer. The potential effect of ES and TK therapy in glioma has not yet been investigated. In this study, pTK‐internal ribosome entry site (IRES), pIRES‐ES, and pTK‐IRES‐ES plasmids were constructed; pIRES empty vector served as the negative control. The recombinant constructs were transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) ECV304 and C6 rat glioma cell line. Ganciclovir (GCV) was used to induce cell death in transfected C6 cells. We found that ECV304 cells expressing either ES or TK‐ES showed reduced proliferation, decreased migration capacity, and increased apoptosis, as compared to untransfected cells or controls. pTK‐IRES‐ES/GCV or pTK‐IRES/GCV significantly suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in C6 cells, as compared to the control. In addition, the administration of pIRES‐ES, pTK‐IRES/GCV, or pTK‐IRES‐ES/GCV therapy improved animal activity and behavior; was associated with prolonged animal survival, and a lower microvessel density (MVD) value in tumor tissues of C6 glioma rats. In comparison to others, dual gene therapy in form of pTK‐IRES‐ES/GCV had a significant antitumor activity against C6 glioma. These findings indicate combined TK and ES gene therapy was associated with a superior antitumor efficacy as compared to single gene therapy in C6 glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China
| | - Honglan Huang
- Department of Pathogenobiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China
| | - Chunshan Yao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China
| | - Fengbo Su
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China
| | - Wenming Guan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China
| | - Shijun Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China
| | - Zhaohui Ni
- Department of Pathogenobiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, P. R. China.
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Rennert RC, Santiago-Dieppa DR, Figueroa J, Sanai N, Carter BS. Future directions of operative neuro-oncology. J Neurooncol 2016; 130:377-382. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-016-2180-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Kumar MD, Dravid A, Kumar A, Sen D. Gene therapy as a potential tool for treating neuroblastoma-a focused review. Cancer Gene Ther 2016; 23:115-24. [PMID: 27080224 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2016.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma, a solid tumor caused by rapid division of undifferentiated neuroblasts, is the most common childhood malignancy affecting children aged <5 years. Several approaches and strategies developed and tested to cure neuroblastoma have met with limited success due to different reasons. Many oncogenes are deregulated during the onset and development of neuroblastoma and thus offer an opportunity to circumvent this disease if the expression of these genes is restored to normalcy. Gene therapy is a powerful tool with the potential to inhibit the deleterious effects of oncogenes by inserting corrected/normal genes into the genome. Both viral and non-viral vector-based gene therapies have been developed and adopted to deliver the target genes into neuroblastoma cells. These attempts have given hope to bringing in a new regime of treatment against neuroblastoma. A few gene-therapy-based treatment strategies have been tested in limited clinical trials yielding some positive results. This mini review is an attempt to provide an overview of the available options of gene therapy to treat neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Kumar
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - A Dravid
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - A Kumar
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - D Sen
- School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.,Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Biomaterials, Cellular and Molecular Theranostics, Vellore Institute of Technology University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
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Wu K, Yang L, Huang Z, Zhao H, Wang J, Xu S. A double suicide gene system driven by vascular endothelial growth factor promoter selectively kills human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Oncol Lett 2016; 11:3152-3160. [PMID: 27123081 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.4360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the selective killing effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells of an adenovirus (Ad)-mediated cytosine deaminase (CD) in combination with thymidine kinase (TK) suicide gene system, driven by the vascular endothelial growth factor promoter (VEGFp), in vitro and in vivo. A double suicide gene system with VEGFp, named Ad-VEGFp-CDglyTK, was constructed and transfected into human HCC cells (BEL-7402 or HepG2; the latter cell type is deficient in VEGF) and human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). Green fluorescent protein expression was detected by fluoroscopy to verify transfection efficiency, and CDglyTK gene expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The selective killing effect of Ad-VEGFp-CDglyTK was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry (FCM) in vitro and by xenograft studies in vivo. PCR revealed that the transgenic CDglyTK gene was expressed in BEL-7402 cells and HUVEC, but not in HepG2 cells. The cell survival rate significantly decreased in line with increasing concentrations of the prodrugs, ganciclovir (GCV) alone, 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) alone or a combination of the two, in HUVEC and BEL-7402 cells with the transfected CDglyTK gene, but not in untransfected HUVEC or BEL-7402 cells, or in transfected or untransfected HepG2 cells. This result was additionally confirmed by FCM. GCV and 5-FC inhibited the HUVEC and BEL-7402 cells containing the transfected CDglyTK gene and also inhibited adjacent unmodified cells via the 'bystander effect'. No similar results were observed in HepG2 cells. Compared with the control group, tumors with the transfected CDglyTK gene were smaller and the microvessel density of the tumor tissue was significantly decreased. It was concluded that a combination TK/GCV and CD/5-FC suicide gene system driven by VEGFp may provide a promising treatment strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wu
- Department of Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
| | - Liucheng Yang
- Department of Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
| | - Zonghai Huang
- Department of Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
| | - Haijun Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Department of Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Xu
- Department of Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510282, P.R. China
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NAMBA HIROKI, KAWAJI HIROSHI, YAMASAKI TOMOHIRO. Use of genetically engineered stem cells for glioma therapy. Oncol Lett 2016; 11:9-15. [PMID: 26870161 PMCID: PMC4726949 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma, the most common and most malignant type of primary brain tumor, is associated with poor prognosis, even when treated using combined therapies, including surgery followed by concomitant radiotherapy with temozolomide-based chemotherapy. The invasive nature of this type of tumor is a major reason underlying treatment failure. The tumor-tropic ability of neural and mesenchymal stem cells offers an alternative therapeutic approach, where these cells may be used as vehicles for the invasion of tumors. Stem cell-based therapy is particularly attractive due to its tumor selectivity, meaning that the stem cells are able to target tumor cells without harming healthy brain tissue, as well as the extensive tumor tropism of stem cells when delivering anti-tumor substances, even to distant tumor microsatellites. Stem cells have previously been used to deliver cytokine genes, suicide genes and oncolytic viruses. The present review will summarize current trends in experimental studies of stem cell-based gene therapy against gliomas, and discuss the potential concerns for translating these promising strategies into clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- HIROKI NAMBA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - HIROSHI KAWAJI
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
| | - TOMOHIRO YAMASAKI
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
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Kane JR, Miska J, Young JS, Kanojia D, Kim JW, Lesniak MS. Sui generis: gene therapy and delivery systems for the treatment of glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol 2015; 17 Suppl 2:ii24-ii36. [PMID: 25746089 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nou355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy offers a multidimensional set of approaches intended to treat and cure glioblastoma (GBM), in combination with the existing standard-of-care treatment (surgery and chemoradiotherapy), by capitalizing on the ability to deliver genes directly to the site of neoplasia to yield antitumoral effects. Four types of gene therapy are currently being investigated for their potential use in treating GBM: (i) suicide gene therapy, which induces the localized generation of cytotoxic compounds; (ii) immunomodulatory gene therapy, which induces or augments an enhanced antitumoral immune response; (iii) tumor-suppressor gene therapy, which induces apoptosis in cancer cells; and (iv) oncolytic virotherapy, which causes the lysis of tumor cells. The delivery of genes to the tumor site is made possible by means of viral and nonviral vectors for direct delivery of therapeutic gene(s), tumor-tropic cell carriers expressing therapeutic gene(s), and "intelligent" carriers designed to increase delivery, specificity, and tumoral toxicity against GBM. These vehicles are used to carry genetic material to the site of pathology, with the expectation that they can provide specific tropism to the desired site while limiting interaction with noncancerous tissue. Encouraging preclinical results using gene therapies for GBM have led to a series of human clinical trials. Although there is limited evidence of a therapeutic benefit to date, a number of clinical trials have convincingly established that different types of gene therapies delivered by various methods appear to be safe. Due to the flexibility of specialized carriers and genetic material, the technology for generating new and more effective therapies already exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Robert Kane
- Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jason Miska
- Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jacob S Young
- Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Deepak Kanojia
- Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Julius W Kim
- Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maciej S Lesniak
- Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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A New Approach in Gene Therapy of Glioblastoma Multiforme: Human Olfactory Ensheathing Cells as a Novel Carrier for Suicide Gene Delivery. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:5118-28. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9412-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Ghosh AC, Shimell M, Leof ER, Haley MJ, O'Connor MB. UPRT, a suicide-gene therapy candidate in higher eukaryotes, is required for Drosophila larval growth and normal adult lifespan. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13176. [PMID: 26271729 PMCID: PMC4536494 DOI: 10.1038/srep13176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) is a pyrimidine salvage pathway enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of uracil to uridine monophosphate (UMP). The enzyme is highly conserved from prokaryotes to humans and yet phylogenetic evidence suggests that UPRT homologues from higher-eukaryotes, including Drosophila, are incapable of binding uracil. Purified human UPRT also do not show any enzymatic activity in vitro, making microbial UPRT an attractive candidate for anti-microbial drug development, suicide-gene therapy, and cell-specific mRNA labeling techniques. Nevertheless, the enzymatic site of UPRT remains conserved across the animal kingdom indicating an in vivo role for the enzyme. We find that the Drosophila UPRT homologue, krishah (kri), codes for an enzyme that is required for larval growth, pre-pupal/pupal viability and long-term adult lifespan. Our findings suggest that UPRT from all higher eukaryotes is likely enzymatically active in vivo and challenges the previous notion that the enzyme is non-essential in higher eukaryotes and cautions against targeting the enzyme for therapeutic purposes. Our findings also suggest that expression of the endogenous UPRT gene will likely cause background incorporation when using microbial UPRT as a cell-specific mRNA labeling reagent in higher eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan C Ghosh
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - MaryJane Shimell
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emma R Leof
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Macy J Haley
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Michael B O'Connor
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Zhang J, Kale V, Chen M. Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. AAPS J 2015; 17:102-10. [PMID: 25338741 PMCID: PMC4287286 DOI: 10.1208/s12248-014-9675-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As one targeting strategy of prodrug delivery, gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) promises to realize the targeting through its three key features in cancer therapy-cell-specific gene delivery and expression, controlled conversion of prodrugs to drugs in target cells, and expanded toxicity to the target cells' neighbors through bystander effects. After over 20 years of development, multiple GDEPT systems have advanced into clinical trials. However, no GDEPT product is currently marketed as a drug, suggesting that there are still barriers to overcome before GDEPT becomes a standard therapy. In this review, we first provide a general introduction of this prodrug targeting strategy. Then, we utilize the four most thoroughly studied systems to illustrate components, mechanisms, preclinical and clinical results, and further development directions of GDEPT. These four systems are herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir, cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine, cytochrome P450/oxazaphosphorines, and nitroreductase/CB1954 system. Later, we focus our discussion on bystander effects including local and distant bystander effects. Lastly, we discuss carriers that are used to deliver genes for GDEPT including virus carriers and non-virus carriers. Among these carriers, the stem cell-based gene delivery system represents one of the newest carriers under development, and may brought about a breakthrough to the gene delivery issue of GDEPT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- />The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993 USA
| | - Vijay Kale
- />College of Pharmacy, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 10920 S. Riverfront Pkwy, South Jordan, Utah 84095 USA
| | - Mingnan Chen
- />Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah, 30 S 2000 E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 USA
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An armed, YB-1-dependent oncolytic adenovirus as a candidate for a combinatorial anti-glioma approach of virotherapy, suicide gene therapy and chemotherapeutic treatment. Cancer Gene Ther 2014; 22:30-43. [PMID: 25501992 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2014.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the novel recombinant oncolytic adenovirus Ad-delo-sr39TK-RGD, armed with a mutant herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-sr39TK) as a suicide gene, and explored its antitumor efficacy in combination with HSV1-sr39TK/ganciclovir (GCV) gene therapy and temozolomide (TMZ). Ad-delo-sr39TK-RGD is an E1-mutated conditionally replicating adenovirus dependent on the human Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1). Thus, we utilized the YB-1 dependency of the vector to target human glioma cells in vitro, using two-dimensional cell culture and three-dimensional multicellular spheroids, and demonstrated the strong replication competence and oncolytic potential of the virus. The cytotoxicity mediated by HSV1-sr39TK and its prodrug GCV enhanced the oncolytic effect even at <0.1 μg ml(-1) GCV and induced cell killing of > 95% after adding GCV 0-1 days following infection. An increased bystander effect of viral replication and GCV in co-cultured infected and uninfected cells was observed. Co-administrating Ad-delo-sr39TK-RGD with TMZ and GCV, spheroid growth was reduced drastically. Gamma counting of infected spheroids demonstrated successful accumulation of the radiotracer (18)F-labeled 9-[4-fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine mediated by HSV1-sr39TK. Hence, our results show that the combination of YB-1-dependent virotherapy with suicide genes and TMZ effectively induces glioma cell killing and may allow for in vivo non-invasive imaging within a limited time frame.
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Kim JH, Lee HJ, Song YS. Stem cell based gene therapy in prostate cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:549136. [PMID: 25121103 PMCID: PMC4120795 DOI: 10.1155/2014/549136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Current prostate cancer treatment, especially hormone refractory cancer, may create profound iatrogenic outcomes because of the adverse effects of cytotoxic agents. Suicide gene therapy has been investigated for the substitute modality for current chemotherapy because it enables the treatment targeting the cancer cells. However the classic suicide gene therapy has several profound side effects, including immune-compromised due to viral vector. Recently, stem cells have been regarded as a new upgraded cellular vehicle or vector because of its homing effects. Suicide gene therapy using genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells or neural stem cells has the advantage of being safe, because prodrug administration not only eliminates tumor cells but consequently kills the more resistant therapeutic stem cells as well. The attractiveness of prodrug cancer gene therapy by stem cells targeted to tumors lies in activating the prodrug directly within the tumor mass, thus avoiding systemic toxicity. Therapeutic achievements using stem cells in prostate cancer include the cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine prodrug system, herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir, carboxyl esterase/CPT11, and interferon-beta. The aim of this study is to review the stem cell therapy in prostate cancer including its proven mechanisms and also limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Heon Kim
- Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University, College of Medicine, Soonchunyang University Hospital, Seoul 140-743, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Jun Lee
- Medical Research Institute, Chung-Ang School of Medicine, Seoul 156-756, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Seob Song
- Department of Urology, Soonchunhyang University, College of Medicine, Soonchunyang University Hospital, Seoul 140-743, Republic of Korea
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Okura H, Smith CA, Rutka JT. Gene therapy for malignant glioma. MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR THERAPIES 2014; 2:21. [PMID: 26056588 PMCID: PMC4451964 DOI: 10.1186/2052-8426-2-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent and devastating primary brain tumor in adults. Despite current treatment modalities, such as surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, only modest improvements in median survival have been achieved. Frequent recurrence and invasiveness of GBM are likely due to the resistance of glioma stem cells to conventional treatments; therefore, novel alternative treatment strategies are desperately needed. Recent advancements in molecular biology and gene technology have provided attractive novel treatment possibilities for patients with GBM. Gene therapy is defined as a technology that aims to modify the genetic complement of cells to obtain therapeutic benefit. To date, gene therapy for the treatment of GBM has demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy in pre-clinical studies and promising safety profiles in clinical studies. However, while this approach is obviously promising, concerns still exist regarding issues associated with transduction efficiency, viral delivery, the pathologic response of the brain, and treatment efficacy. Tumor development and progression involve alterations in a wide spectrum of genes, therefore a variety of gene therapy approaches for GBM have been proposed. Improved viral vectors are being evaluated, and the potential use of gene therapy alone or in synergy with other treatments against GBM are being studied. In this review, we will discuss the most commonly studied gene therapy approaches for the treatment of GBM in preclinical and clinical studies including: prodrug/suicide gene therapy; oncolytic gene therapy; cytokine mediated gene therapy; and tumor suppressor gene therapy. In addition, we review the principles and mechanisms of current gene therapy strategies as well as advantages and disadvantages of each.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehiro Okura
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada ; Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421 Japan
| | - Christian A Smith
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada
| | - James T Rutka
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4 Canada ; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, 149 College Street, 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1P5 Canada ; Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Suite 1503, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8 Canada
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Castro MG, Candolfi M, Wilson TJ, Calinescu A, Paran C, Kamran N, Koschmann C, Moreno-Ayala MA, Assi H, Lowenstein PR. Adenoviral vector-mediated gene therapy for gliomas: coming of age. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2014; 14:1241-57. [PMID: 24773178 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2014.915307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and it carries a dismal prognosis. Adenoviral vector (Ad)-mediated gene transfer is being developed as a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM. Preclinical studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy of adenovirus administration into the brain and tumor mass in rodents and into the non-human primates' brain. Importantly, Ads have been safely administered within the tumor resection cavity in humans. AREAS COVERED This review gives background on GBM and Ads; we describe gene therapy strategies for GBM and discuss the value of combination approaches. Finally, we discuss the results of the human clinical trials for GBM that have used Ads. EXPERT OPINION The transduction characteristics of Ads, and their safety profile, added to their capacity to achieve high levels of transgene expression have made them powerful vectors for the treatment of GBM. Recent gene therapy successes in the treatment of retinal diseases and systemic brain metabolic diseases encourage the development of gene therapy for malignant glioma. Exciting clinical trials are currently recruiting patients; although, it is the large randomized Phase III controlled clinical trials that will provide the final decision on the success of gene therapy for the treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Castro
- University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Neurosurgery , 4570 MSRB II, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5689 , USA +734 764 0850 ; +734 764 7051 ;
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Castro MG, Candolfi M, Wilson TJ, Calinescu A, Paran C, Kamran N, Koschmann C, Moreno-Ayala MA, Assi H, Lowenstein PR. Adenoviral vector-mediated gene therapy for gliomas: coming of age. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2014. [PMID: 24773178 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2014.91530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and it carries a dismal prognosis. Adenoviral vector (Ad)-mediated gene transfer is being developed as a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM. Preclinical studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy of adenovirus administration into the brain and tumor mass in rodents and into the non-human primates' brain. Importantly, Ads have been safely administered within the tumor resection cavity in humans. AREAS COVERED This review gives background on GBM and Ads; we describe gene therapy strategies for GBM and discuss the value of combination approaches. Finally, we discuss the results of the human clinical trials for GBM that have used Ads. EXPERT OPINION The transduction characteristics of Ads, and their safety profile, added to their capacity to achieve high levels of transgene expression have made them powerful vectors for the treatment of GBM. Recent gene therapy successes in the treatment of retinal diseases and systemic brain metabolic diseases encourage the development of gene therapy for malignant glioma. Exciting clinical trials are currently recruiting patients; although, it is the large randomized Phase III controlled clinical trials that will provide the final decision on the success of gene therapy for the treatment of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Castro
- University of Michigan Medical School, Department of Neurosurgery , 4570 MSRB II, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5689 , USA +734 764 0850 ; +734 764 7051 ;
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Lai CH, Ho TJ, Kuo WW, Day CH, Pai PY, Chung LC, Liao PH, Lin FH, Wu ET, Huang CY. Exercise training enhanced SIRT1 longevity signaling replaces the IGF1 survival pathway to attenuate aging-induced rat heart apoptosis. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2014; 36:9706. [PMID: 25148910 PMCID: PMC4453937 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-014-9706-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death (9.1 %) in Taiwan. Heart function deteriorates with age at a rate of 1 % per year. As society ages, we must study the serious problem of cardiovascular disease. SIRT1 regulates important cellular processes, including anti-apoptosis, neuronal protection, cellular senescence, aging, and longevity. In our previous studies, rats with obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes exhibiting slowed myocardial performance and induced cell apoptosis were reversed via sports training through IGF1 survival signaling compensation. This study designed a set of experiments with rats, in aging and exercise groups, to identify changes in myocardial cell signaling transduction pathways. Three groups of three different aged rats, 3, 12, and 18 months old, were randomly divided into aging groups (C3, A12, and A18) and exercise groups (E3, AE12, and AE18). The exercise training consisted of swimming five times a week with gradual increases from the first week from 20 to 60 min for 12 weeks. After the sports training process was completed, tissue sections were taken to observe cell organization (hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain) and apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays) and to observe any changes in the myocardial tissues and proteins (Western blotting). The experimental results show that cardiomyocyte apoptotic pathway protein expression increased with age in the aging groups (C3, A12, and A18), with improvement in the exercise group (E3, AE12, and AE18). However, the expression of the pro-survival p-Akt protein decreased significantly with age and reduced performance. The IGF1R/PI3K/Akt survival pathway in the heart of young rats can indeed be increased through exercise training. As rats age, this pathway loses its original function, even with increasing upstream IGF1. However, levels of SIRT1 and its downstream target PGC-1α were found to increase with age and compensatory performance. Moreover, exercise training enhanced the SIRT longevity pathway compensation instead of IGF1 survival signaling to improve cardiomyocyte survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Hung Lai
- />Graduate Institute of Aging Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- />Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Force Taichung General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Jung Ho
- />School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- />Chinese Medicine Department, China Medical University Beijing Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Wen Kuo
- />Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | - Pei-ying Pai
- />Division of Cardiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chin Chung
- />Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, Tainan County, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsiang Liao
- />Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Huei Lin
- />Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - En-Ting Wu
- />Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yang Huang
- />Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- />Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- />Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- />Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University and Hospital, No. 91, Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 404 Taiwan
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Enhancement of expression of survivin promoter-driven CD/TK double suicide genes by the nuclear matrix attachment region in transgenic gastric cancer cells. Gene 2013; 534:177-82. [PMID: 24220851 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.10.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Revised: 10/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This work aimed to study a novel transgenic expression system of the CD/TK double suicide genes enhanced by the nuclear matrix attachment region (MAR) for gene therapy. The recombinant vector pMS-CD/TK containing the MAR-survivin promoter-CD/TK cassette was developed and transfected into human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. Expression of the CD/TK genes was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis were measured using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow cytometry. When the MAR fragment was inserted into the upstream of the survivin promoter, the qPCR result showed that the expression of the CD/TK genes significantly increased 7.7-fold in the transgenic SGC-7901 cells with plasmid pMS-CD/TK compared with that without MAR. MTT and flow cytometry analyses indicated that treatment with the prodrugs (5-FC+GCV) significantly decreased the cellular survival rate and enhanced the cellular apoptosis in the SGC-7901 cells. The expression of the CD/TK double suicide genes driven by the survivin promoter can be enhanced by the MAR fragment in human gastric cancer cells.
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Zarogoulidis P, Darwiche K, Sakkas A, Yarmus L, Huang H, Li Q, Freitag L, Zarogoulidis K, Malecki M. Suicide Gene Therapy for Cancer - Current Strategies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 4. [PMID: 24294541 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7412.1000139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Current cancer treatments may create profound iatrogenic outcomes. The adverse effects of these treatments still remain, as the serious problems that practicing physicians have to cope with in clinical practice. Although, non-specific cytotoxic agents constitute an effective treatment modality against cancer cells, they also tend to kill normal, quickly dividing cells. On the other hand, therapies targeting the genome of the tumors are both under investigation, and some others are already streamlined to clinical practice. Several approaches have been investigated in order to find a treatment targeting the cancer cells, while not affecting the normal cells. Suicide gene therapy is a therapeutic strategy, in which cell suicide inducing transgenes are introduced into cancer cells. The two major suicide gene therapeutic strategies currently pursued are: cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine and the herpes simplex virus/ganciclovir. The novel strategies include silencing gene expression, expression of intracellular antibodies blocking cells' vital pathways, and transgenic expression of caspases and DNases. We analyze various elements of cancer cells' suicide inducing strategies including: targets, vectors, and mechanisms. These strategies have been extensively investigated in various types of cancers, while exploring multiple delivery routes including viruses, non-viral vectors, liposomes, nanoparticles, and stem cells. We discuss various stages of streamlining of the suicide gene therapy into clinical oncology as applied to different types of cancer. Moreover, suicide gene therapy is in the center of attention as a strategy preventing cancer from developing in patients participating in the clinical trials of regenerative medicine. In oncology, these clinical trials are aimed at regenerating, with the aid of stem cells, of the patients' organs damaged by pathologic and/or iatrogenic factors. However, the stem cells carry the risk of neoplasmic transformation. We discuss cell suicide inducing strategies aimed at preventing stem cell-originated cancerogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Zarogoulidis
- Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, EU ; Department of Interventional Pneumology, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany, EU
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50
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Bexell D, Svensson A, Bengzon J. Stem cell-based therapy for malignant glioma. Cancer Treat Rev 2012; 39:358-65. [PMID: 22795538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2012.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Revised: 06/13/2012] [Accepted: 06/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells have been extensively investigated as tumour-tropic vectors for gene delivery to solid tumours. In this review, we discuss the potential for using stem cells as cellular vector systems in gene therapy for malignant gliomas, with a focus on neural stem cells, and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells. Tumour cell-derived substances and factors associated with tumour-induced inflammation and tumour neovascularisation can specifically attract stem cells to invasive gliomas. Injected stem cells engineered to produce anti-tumour substances have shown strong therapeutic effects in experimental glioma models. However, the potential caveats include the immunosuppressive functions of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, the contribution of stem cells to the pro-tumourigenic stroma, and the malignant transformation of implanted stem cells. In addition, it is not yet known which stem cell types and therapeutic genes will be most effective for the treatment of glioma patients. Here, we highlight the possibilities and problems for translating promising experimental findings in glioma models into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bexell
- Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC B10, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Molecular Medicine, Center for Molecular Pathology, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
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