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Banchi M, Cox MC, Bocci G. Metronomic chemotherapy in hematology: Lessons from preclinical and clinical studies to build a solid rationale for future schedules. Cancer Lett 2024; 591:216900. [PMID: 38636896 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Metronomic chemotherapy (mCHEMO), based on frequent, regular administration of low, but pharmacologically active drug doses, optimizes antitumor efficacy by targeting multiple targets and reducing toxicity of antineoplastic drugs. This minireview will summarize preclinical and clinical studies on cytotoxic drugs given at weekly, daily, or at continuous metronomic schedules alone or in combination with novel targeted agents for hematological malignancies, including lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Most of the preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have reported a significant benefit of both mCHEMO monotherapy and combinatorial regimens compared with chemotherapy at the maximum tolerated dose. However, the combination of mCHEMO with targeted drugs is still little explored in the hematologic clinical setting. Data obtained from preclinical studies on low dose metronomic chemotherapy in hematological malignancies clearly suggested the possibility to clinically investigate more tolerable and effective strategies for the treatment of patients with advanced hematological malignancies, or at least for those frail and elderly patients, who are not eligible or resistant to standard treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Banchi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Guido Bocci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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2
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Yue X, Ling Ma N, Zhong J, Yang H, Chen H, Yang Y, Lam SS, Yan L, Styrishave B, Ciesielski TM, Peng WX, Sonne C. Ancient forest plants possess cytotoxic properties causing liver cancer HepG2 cell apoptosis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 241:117474. [PMID: 37879390 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Here, we collected 154 plant species in China ancient forests looking for novel efficient bioactive compounds for cancer treatments. We found 600 bioactive phyto-chemicals that induce apoptosis of liver cancer cell in vitro. First, we screen the plant extract's in vitro cytotoxicity inhibition of cancer cell growth using in vitro HepG2 cell lines and MTT cytotoxicity. The results from these initial MTT in vitro cytotoxicity tests show that the most efficient plants towards hepatoma cytoxicity is Cephalotaxus sinensis, mint bush (Elsholtzia stauntonii) and winged spindle tree (Euonymus alatus). We then used in cell-counting kit-8 (CCK-8) to further understand in vivo tumor growth using nude mice and GC-MS and LC-QTOF-MS to analyze the composition of compounds in the extracts. Extracted chemically active molecules analyzed by network pharmacology showed inhibition on the growth of liver cancer cells by acting on multiple gene targets, which is different from the currently used traditional drugs acting on only one target of liver cancer cells. Extracts from Cephalotaxus sinensis, mint bush (Elsholtzia stauntonii) and winged spindle tree (Euonymus alatus) induce apoptosis in hepatoma cancer cell line HepG2 with a killing rate of more than 83% and a tumor size decrease by 62-67% and a killing rate of only 6% of normal hepatocyte LO2. This study highlight efficient candidate species for cancer treatment providing a basis for future development of novel plant-based drugs to help meeting several of the UN SDGs and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Yue
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Forestry College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Nyuk Ling Ma
- BIOSES Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science & Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Center for Global Health Research (CGHR), Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Jiateng Zhong
- Department of Pathology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Han Yang
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Forestry College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Huiling Chen
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Forestry College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Yafeng Yang
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Forestry College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Lijun Yan
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Forestry College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Bjarne Styrishave
- Toxicology and Drug Metabolism Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Tomasz Maciej Ciesielski
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 5, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Arctic Technology, The University Center in Svalbard, 9171, Longyearbyen, Norway
| | - Wan-Xi Peng
- Henan Province Engineering Research Center for Biomass Value-added Products, Forestry College, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
| | - Christian Sonne
- Aarhus University, Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India.
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3
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Heuberger DM, Wolint P, Jang JH, Itani S, Jungraithmayr W, Waschkies CF, Meier-Bürgisser G, Andreoli S, Spanaus K, Schuepbach RA, Calcagni M, Fahrni CJ, Buschmann J. High-Affinity Cu(I)-Chelator with Potential Anti-Tumorigenic Action-A Proof-of-Principle Experimental Study of Human H460 Tumors in the CAM Assay. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14205122. [PMID: 36291910 PMCID: PMC9600560 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human lung cancer ranks among the most frequently treated cancers worldwide. As copper appears critical to angiogenesis and tumor growth, selective removal of copper represents a promising strategy to restrict tumor growth. To this end, we explored the activity of the novel high-affinity membrane-permeant Cu(I) chelator PSP-2 featuring a low-zeptomolar dissociation constant. Using H460 human lung cancer cells, we generated small tumors on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken embryo (CAM assay) and studied the effects of topical PSP-2 application on their weight and vessel density after one week. We observed a significant angiosuppression along with a marked decrease in tumor weight under PSP-2 application compared to controls. Moreover, PSP-2 exposure resulted in lower ki67+ cell numbers at a low dose but increased cell count under a high dose. Moreover, HIF-1α+ cells were significantly reduced with low-dose PSP-2 exposure compared to high-dose and control. The total copper content was considerably lower in PSP-2 treated tumors, although statistically not significant. Altogether, PSP-2 shows promising potential as an anti-cancer drug. Nevertheless, further animal experiments and application to different tumor types are mandatory to support these initial findings, paving the way toward clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea M. Heuberger
- Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Wolint
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jae-Hwi Jang
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Saria Itani
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Jungraithmayr
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Conny F. Waschkies
- Division of Radiation Protection, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriella Meier-Bürgisser
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Andreoli
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Spanaus
- Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto A. Schuepbach
- Institute of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maurizio Calcagni
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph J. Fahrni
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, USA
| | - Johanna Buschmann
- Division of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Sternwartstrasse 14, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-442559895
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4
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Gamal-Eldeen AM, Agwa HS, Zahran MAH, Raafat BM, El-Daly SM, Banjer HJ, Almehmadi MM, Alharthi A, Hawsawi NM, Althobaiti F, Abo-Zeid MAM. Phthalimide Analogs Enhance Genotoxicity of Cyclophosphamide and Inhibit Its Associated Hypoxia. Front Chem 2022; 10:890675. [PMID: 35518717 PMCID: PMC9065290 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.890675] [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: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a mutagen that is used in cancer chemotherapy, due to its genotoxicity and as an immunosuppressive agent. Thalidomide (TH) is another cancer chemotherapeutic drug. In this study, the cytogenotoxicity and hypoxia modulatory activities of two phthalimide analogs of TH have been evaluated with/without CP. Both analogs have increased CP-stimulated chromosomal aberrations than those induced by TH, including gaps, breaks/fragments, deletions, multiple aberrations, and tetraploidy. The analogs have elevated the cytotoxic effect of CP by inhibiting the mitotic activity, in which analog 2 showed higher mitosis inhibition. CP has induced binucleated and polynucleated bone marrow cells (BMCs), while micronuclei (MN) are absent. TH and analogs have elevated the CP-stimulated binucleated BMCs, while only analogs have increased the CP-induced polynucleated BMCs and inhibited the mononucleated BMCs. MN-BMCs were shown together with mononucleated, binucleated, and polynucleated cells in the CP group. Both analogs have elevated mononucleated and polynucleated MN-BMCs, whereas in presence of CP, TH and analogs have enhanced mononucleated and binucleated MN-BMCs. The analogs significantly induce DNA fragmentation in a comet assay, where analog 1 is the strongest inducer. The treatment of mice with CP has resulted in a high hypoxia status as indicated by high pimonidazole adducts and high HIF-1α and HIF-2α concentrations in lymphocytes. Analogs/CP-treated mice showed low pimonidazole adducts. Both analogs have inhibited HIF-1α concentration but not HIF-2α. Taken together, the study findings suggest that both analogs have a higher potential to induce CP-genotoxicity than TH and that both analogs inhibit CP-hypoxia via the HIF-1α-dependent mechanism, in which analog 1 is a more potent anti-hypoxic agent than analog 2. Analog 1 is suggested as an adjacent CP-complementary agent to induce CP-genotoxicity and to inhibit CP-associated hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira M Gamal-Eldeen
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.,High Altitude Research Center, Prince Sultan Medical Complex, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussein S Agwa
- Research & Development Department, Pharco B International Company for Pharmaceutical Industries, Borg El-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Magdy A-H Zahran
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufiya University, Menoufiya, Egypt
| | - Bassem M Raafat
- Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherien M El-Daly
- Medical Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.,Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hamsa J Banjer
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen M Almehmadi
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afaf Alharthi
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahed M Hawsawi
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fayez Althobaiti
- High Altitude Research Center, Prince Sultan Medical Complex, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.,Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona A M Abo-Zeid
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.,Department of Cytology and Genetics, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
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5
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Mainetti LE, Rico MJ, Kaufman CD, Grillo MC, Guercetti J, Baglioni MV, Del Giúdice A, Capitani MC, Fusini M, Rozados VR, Scharovsky OG. Losartan improves the therapeutic effect of metronomic cyclophosphamide in triple negative mammary cancer models. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3048-3060. [PMID: 32850009 PMCID: PMC7429183 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Metronomic chemotherapy refers to the minimum biologically effective doses of a chemotherapy agent given as a continuous regimen without extended rest periods. Drug repurposing is defined as the use of an already known drug for a new medical indication, different from the original one. In oncology the combination of these two therapeutic approaches is called "Metronomics". The aim of this work is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of cyclophosphamide in a metronomic schedule in combination with the repurposed drug losartan in two genetically different mice models of triple negative breast cancer. Our findings showed that adding losartan to metronomic cyclophosphamide significantly improved the therapeutic outcome. In both models the combined treatment increased the mice's survival without sings of toxicity. Moreover, we elucidated some of the mechanisms of action involved, which include a decrease of intratumor hypoxia, stimulation of the immune response and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. The remarkable therapeutic effect, the lack of toxicity, the low cost of the drugs and its oral administration, strongly suggest its translation to the clinical setting in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro E. Mainetti
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- These authors contributed equally and are co-first authors
| | - María José Rico
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- These authors contributed equally and are co-first authors
| | - Cintia Daniela Kaufman
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Monica Carolina Grillo
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Julian Guercetti
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - María Virginia Baglioni
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonela Del Giúdice
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Celeste Capitani
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Matias Fusini
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Viviana Rosa Rozados
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- These authors contributed equally and are co-senior authors
| | - O. Graciela Scharovsky
- Instituto de Genética Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Metronomics Global Health Initiative, Marseille, France
- These authors contributed equally and are co-senior authors
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6
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Fang Z, Wen C, Chen X, Yin R, Zhang C, Wang X, Huang Y. Myeloid-derived suppressor cell and macrophage exert distinct angiogenic and immunosuppressive effects in breast cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:54173-54186. [PMID: 28903332 PMCID: PMC5589571 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment is a key obstacle to hinder a cancer immunotherapy. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been considered as a major player in immunosuppression. In this study, we find that tumor-infiltrating MDSCs (tiMDSCs) are less immunosuppressive than tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in multiple murine orthotopic breast tumor models. Compared to TAMs, tiMDSCs produce higher levels of pro-inflammatory factors and lower levels of anti-inflammatory factors. Furthermore, tiMDSCs are preferentially located in hypoxic areas and are more pro-angiogenic than TAMs. Consistent with these functional disparities, a shift from tiMDSCs to TAMs is observed during the progression of breast cancer. Moreover, infiltration of tiMDSCs is also noted in distal colonization of breast cancer cells in the lung. Taken together, our findings indicate that tiMDSCs are more pro-angiogenic and promote tumor initiation, while TAMs are more immunosuppressive and facilitate tumor immune evasion. This study suggests that selectively targeting on TAMs could alleviate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and potentiate cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxu Fang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chengwen Wen
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaolan Chen
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Affiliated Children's Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rongping Yin
- School of Nursing, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | | | - Xiaohua Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University/School of Nursing, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuhui Huang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Biomedical Materials of Jiangsu Province and Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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7
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Wu J, Waxman DJ. Metronomic cyclophosphamide schedule-dependence of innate immune cell recruitment and tumor regression in an implanted glioma model. Cancer Lett 2014; 353:272-80. [PMID: 25069038 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Metronomic cyclophosphamide (CPA) treatment activates robust innate anti-tumor immunity and induces major regression of large, implanted brain tumor xenografts when administered on an intermittent, every 6-day schedule, but not on a daily low-dose or a maximum-tolerated dose CPA schedule. Here, we used an implanted GL261 glioma model to compare five intermittent metronomic CPA schedules to elucidate the kinetics and schedule dependence of innate immune cell recruitment and tumor regression. Tumor-recruited natural killer cells induced by two every 6-day treatment cycles were significantly ablated 1 day after a third CPA treatment, but largely recovered several days later. Natural killer and other tumor-infiltrating innate immune cells peaked 12 days after the last CPA treatment on the every 6-day schedule, suggesting that drug-free intervals longer than 6 days may show increased efficacy. Metronomic CPA treatments spaced 9 or 12 days apart, or on an alternating 6 and 9 day schedule, induced extensive tumor regression, similar to the 6-day schedule; however, the tumor-infiltrating natural killer cell responses were not sustained, leading to rapid resumption of tumor growth after day 24, despite ongoing metronomic CPA treatment. Increasing the CPA dose prolonged the period of tumor regression on the every 9-day schedule, but natural killer cell activation was markedly decreased. Thus, while several intermittent metronomic CPA treatment schedules can activate innate immune cell recruitment leading to major tumor regression, sustained immune and anti-tumor responses are only achieved on the 6-day schedule. However, even with this schedule, some tumors eventually relapse, indicating a need for further improvements in this immunogenic metronomic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Wu
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David J Waxman
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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8
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El-Kenawi AE, El-Remessy AB. Angiogenesis inhibitors in cancer therapy: mechanistic perspective on classification and treatment rationales. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 170:712-29. [PMID: 23962094 PMCID: PMC3799588 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Revised: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, a process of new blood vessel formation, is a prerequisite for tumour growth to supply the proliferating tumour with oxygen and nutrients. The angiogenic process may contribute to tumour progression, invasion and metastasis, and is generally accepted as an indicator of tumour prognosis. Therefore, targeting tumour angiogenesis has become of high clinical relevance. The current review aimed to highlight mechanistic details of anti-angiogenic therapies and how they relate to classification and treatment rationales. Angiogenesis inhibitors are classified into either direct inhibitors that target endothelial cells in the growing vasculature or indirect inhibitors that prevent the expression or block the activity of angiogenesis inducers. The latter class extends to include targeted therapy against oncogenes, conventional chemotherapeutic agents and drugs targeting other cells of the tumour micro-environment. Angiogenesis inhibitors may be used as either monotherapy or in combination with other anticancer drugs. In this context, many preclinical and clinical studies revealed higher therapeutic effectiveness of the combined treatments compared with individual treatments. The proper understanding of synergistic treatment modalities of angiogenesis inhibitors as well as their wide range of cellular targets could provide effective tools for future therapies of many types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa E El-Kenawi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura UniversityMansoura, Egypt
| | - Azza B El-Remessy
- Center for Pharmacy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of GeorgiaAugusta, GA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Georgia Regents UniversityAugusta, GA, USA
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical CenterAugusta, GA, USA
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9
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Penel N, Adenis A, Bocci G. Cyclophosphamide-based metronomic chemotherapy: After 10 years of experience, where do we stand and where are we going? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2012; 82:40-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2011.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2010] [Revised: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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10
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Abu Lila AS, Okada T, Doi Y, Ichihara M, Ishida T, Kiwada H. Combination therapy with metronomic S-1 dosing and oxaliplatin-containing PEG-coated cationic liposomes in a murine colorectal tumor model: synergy or antagonism? Int J Pharm 2012; 426:263-270. [PMID: 22310465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Combination therapy with 2 or more drugs with different mechanisms of action has been considered a promising strategy for the effective treatment of advanced and metastatic cancers. However, the rational design of combination therapy represents a potential prerequisite for its effectiveness. Recently, we showed that the combination of oral metronomic S-1 dosing with oxaliplatin (l-OHP)-containing PEG-coated "neutral" liposomes exerted excellent antitumor activity. In addition, we recently designed a PEG-coated "cationic" liposome for dual-targeting delivery of l-OHP to tumor endothelial cells and tumor cells in a solid tumor. This targeted liposomal l-OHP formulation showed efficient antitumor activity in a murine tumor model, compared with l-OHP-containing PEG-coated "neutral" liposomes. In the present study, we investigated the issue of whether metronomic S-1 dosing with l-OHP-containing PEG-coated "cationic" liposomes creates synergy. Unfortunately, metronomic S-1 dosing resulted in impaired delivery of PEG-coated "cationic" liposomes into tumor tissue, presumably by decreasing the binding sites on tumor blood vessels available for the liposomes. The anticipated cytotoxic synergistic effect of the combination treatment was not achieved. Instead, the combination treatment showed lower antitumor efficacy than l-OHP-containing PEG-coated "cationic" liposomes alone. These results suggest that the combined treatment of S-1 and l-OHP-containing PEG-coated "cationic" liposomes seems to be antagonistic rather than synergistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr S Abu Lila
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Subdivision of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1, Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Tomoko Okada
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Subdivision of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1, Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Yusuke Doi
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Subdivision of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1, Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Masako Ichihara
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Subdivision of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1, Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Ishida
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Subdivision of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1, Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Kiwada
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, Subdivision of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78-1, Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
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Patten SG, Adamcic U, Lacombe K, Minhas K, Skowronski K, Coomber BL. VEGFR2 heterogeneity and response to anti-angiogenic low dose metronomic cyclophosphamide treatment. BMC Cancer 2010; 10:683. [PMID: 21159176 PMCID: PMC3009683 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2010] [Accepted: 12/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Targeting tumor vasculature is a strategy with great promise in the treatment of many cancers. However, anti-angiogenic reagents that target VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling have met with variable results clinically. Among the possible reasons for this may be heterogeneous expression of the target protein. Methods Double immunofluorescent staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded sections of treated and control SW480 (colorectal) and WM239 (melanoma) xenografts, and tissue microarrays of human colorectal carcinoma and melanoma. Xenografts were developed using RAG1-/- mice by injection with WM239 or SW480 cells and mice were treated with 20 mg/kg/day of cyclophosphamide in their drinking water for up to 18 days. Treated and control tissues were characterized by double immunofluorescence using the mural cell marker α-SMA and CD31, while the ratio of desmin/CD31 was also determined by western blot. Hypoxia in treated and control tissues were quantified using both western blotting for HIF-1α and immunohistochemistry of CA-IX. Results VEGFR2 is heterogeneously expressed in tumor vasculature in both malignant melanoma and colorectal carcinoma. We observed a significant decrease in microvascular density (MVD) in response to low dose metronomic cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in both malignant melanoma (with higher proportion VEGFR2 positive blood vessels; 93%) and colorectal carcinoma (with lower proportion VEGFR2 positive blood vessels; 60%) xenografts. This reduction in MVD occurred in the absence of a significant anti-tumor effect. We also observed less hypoxia in treated melanoma xenografts, despite successful anti-angiogenic blockade, but no change in hypoxia of colorectal xenografts, suggesting that decreases in tumor hypoxia reflect a complex relationship with vascular density. Based on α-SMA staining and the ratio of desmin to CD31 expression as markers of tumor blood vessel functionality, we found evidence for increased stabilization of colorectal microvessels, but no such change in melanoma vessels. Conclusions Overall, our study suggests that while heterogeneous expression of VEGFR2 is a feature of human tumors, it may not affect response to low dose metronomic cyclophosphamide treatment and possibly other anti-angiogenic approaches. It remains to be seen whether this heterogeneity is partly responsible for the variable clinical success seen to date with targeted anti-VEGFR2 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven G Patten
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON Canada N1G 2W1
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Skowronski K, Dubey S, Rodenhiser D, Coomber B. Ischemia dysregulates DNA methyltransferases and p16INK4a methylation in human colorectal cancer cells. Epigenetics 2010; 5:547-56. [PMID: 20543577 DOI: 10.4161/epi.5.6.12400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. Expression patterns and activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are strictly controlled in normal cells, however, regulation of these enzymes is lost in cancer cells due to unknown reasons. Cancer therapies which target DNMTs are promising treatments of hematologic cancers, but they lack effectiveness in solid tumors. Solid tumors exhibit areas of hypoxia and hypoglycaemia due to their irregular and dysfunctional vasculature, and we previously showed that hypoxia reduces global DNA methylation. Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells (HCT116 and 379.2; p53+/+ and p53-/-, respectively) were subjected to ischemia (hypoxia and hypoglycaemia) in vitro, and levels of DNMTs were assessed. We found a significant decrease in mRNA for DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b, and similar reductions in DNMT1 and DNMT3a protein levels were detected by western blotting. In addition, total activity levels of DNMTs (as measured by an ELISA-based DNMT activity assay) were reduced in cells exposed to hypoxic and hypoglycaemic conditions. Immunofluorescence of HCT116 tumor xenografts demonstrated an inverse relationship between ischemia (as revealed by carbonic anhydrase IX staining) and DNMT1 protein. Bisulfite sequencing of the proximal promoter region of p16INK4a showed a decrease in 5-methylcytosine following in vitro exposure to ischemia. These studies provide evidence for the down-regulation of DNMTs and modulation of methylation patterns by hypoxia and hypoglycaemia in human CRC cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that ischemia, either intrinsic or induced through the use of anti-angiogenic drugs, may influence epigenetic patterning and hence tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Skowronski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, CA, USA
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Plumb CL, Adamcic U, Shahrzad S, Minhas K, Adham SAI, Coomber BL. Modulation of the tumor suppressor protein alpha-catenin by ischemic microenvironment. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2009; 175:1662-74. [PMID: 19745064 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2009.090007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation or mislocalization of cell adhesion molecules and their regulators, such as E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and alpha-catenin, usually correlates with loss of polarity, dedifferentiation, invasive tumor growth, and metastasis. A subpopulation of alpha-catenin-negative cells within the DLD-1 colorectal carcinoma cell line causes it to display a heterogeneous morphological makeup, thus providing an excellent model system in which to investigate the role of alpha-catenin in tumorigenesis. We re-established expression of alpha-catenin protein in an alpha-catenin-deficient subpopulation of the DLD-1 cell line and used it to demonstrate that loss of alpha-catenin resulted in increased in vitro tumorigenic characteristics (increased soft agarose colony formation, clonogenic survival after suspension, and survival in suspension). When the cells were used to form tumor xenografts, those lacking alpha-catenin showed faster growth rates because of increased cellular cycling but not increased tumor microvascular recruitment. alpha-Catenin-expressing cells were preferentially located in well perfused areas of xenografts when tumors were formed from mixed alpha-catenin-positive and -negative cells. We therefore evaluated the role of the ischemic tumor microenvironment on alpha-catenin expression and demonstrated that cells lose expression of alpha-catenin after prolonged exposure in vitro to hypoglycemic conditions. Our findings illustrate that the tumor microenvironment is a potent modulator of tumor suppressor expression, which has implications for localized nutrient deficiency and ischemia-induced cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L Plumb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Low-dose metronomic chemotherapy of paclitaxel synergizes with cetuximab to suppress human colon cancer xenografts. Anticancer Drugs 2009; 20:355-63. [PMID: 19318912 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0b013e3283299f36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Low-dose metronomic (LDM) chemotherapy represents a new strategy to treat solid tumors by stronger antiangiogenic activity and lower side effects, especially in combination with other antiangiogenic agents. This study aims to investigate whether LDM chemotherapy of paclitaxel could synergize with cetuximab, an antiangiogenic agent to suppress HT-29 human colon tumors in BALB/c nude mice. To explore its possible mechanism, the tumor vascular status was detected by staining with anti-CD31 Ab and the tumoral expression of thrombospondin-1 was examined by immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, and real-time PCR. Our results showed that empirical metronomic paclitaxel regimens in combination with cetuximab induces significant and durable antitumor responses without overt toxicity. Paclitaxel LDM chemotherapy displayed stronger antiangiogenic activity than maximum tolerable dose (MTD) chemotherapy, whereas MTD chemotherapy induced more apoptotic cells. The combinational therapy with LDM and cetuximab showed the strongest antiangiogenic activity among all the groups. Paclitaxel LDM chemotherapy also dramatically upregulated the expression of thrombospondin-1, but MTD chemotherapy did not. These results suggest that the combination of paclitaxel LDM chemotherapy and cetuximab represents a potent strategy to combat colon cancers.
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Progression and metastasis in a transgenic mouse breast cancer model: effects of exposure to in vivo hypoxia. Cancer Lett 2009; 282:98-108. [PMID: 19356843 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2008] [Revised: 02/27/2009] [Accepted: 03/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a predictor of poor patient survival in several cancers, including breast carcinomas. One possible mechanism is genomic instability induced by oxic stress. In this study we examined this possible mechanism by exposing an in vivo breast cancer model to hypoxia/reoxygenation. MMTV-Neu transgenic mice were exposed to cycling acute (AH) or chronic hypoxia (CH) before (early) or after (late) tumour detection to study effects of hypoxia on tumour initiation and progression, respectively. We observed no effect of the hypoxic exposures on times to first tumour detection, but we saw a trend of early AH-exposed mice to develop more tumours and macrometastases than CH-exposed mice. Unexpectedly, but consistent with these findings, we observed significantly reduced 8-oxo-dG lesions levels in the mammary tissue with the greatest difference observed between the air control (AC) and AH-exposed groups. In the late gassing group, there was a similar trend for reduced 8-oxo-dG lesion levels, but interestingly mice that developed macroscopic lung metastases demonstrated significantly increased levels of 8-oxo-dG lesions in their tumours relative to those that did not, irrespective of the gassing exposure. A trend for increased macrophage content was observed in tumours from mice exposed to acute hypoxia. Our results indicate that oxic stress induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation is unlikely to be a major factor driving tumour progression of established MMTV-Neu tumours but suggest that acute and chronic hypoxia may affect tumour incidence and metastasis when applied prior to tumour development.
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Dhanabal M, Karumanchi SA, Sukhatme VP. Targeting tumor vascular endothelium: an emerging concept for cancer therapy. Drug Dev Res 2008. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.20266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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