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Schnoor B, Morris K, Kottana RK, Muldoon R, Barron J, Papa AL. Fibrinolytic Platelet Decoys Reduce Cancer Metastasis by Dissociating Circulating Tumor Cell Clusters. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2304374. [PMID: 39075814 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
During metastasis, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can travel in the bloodstream as individual cells or clusters, associated with fibrin and platelets. Clusters have a higher metastatic potential due to their increased ability to withstand shear stress and arrest in small vessels. Moreover, CTC-platelet interaction protects CTCs from shear stress and immune detection. The objective of this project is to develop a fibrinolytic platelet system to leverage platelet-CTC interactions and dissociate CTC clusters. For this approach, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is loaded onto two modified platelet systems: platelet Decoys and lyophilized platelets. The activities of the systems are characterized using a Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based assay and an angiogenic assay. Furthermore, the ability of the system to dissociate cancer cell clusters in vitro is assessed using light transmission aggregometry. The data demonstrates that the fibrinolytic platelets can maintain tPA activity, interact with CTCs, and dissociate cancer cell clusters. Finally, fibrinolytic platelets are assessed in vivo, demonstrating a decreased tumor load and increased survival with tPA-Decoy treatment, which is selected as the optimal treatment based on favorable in vitro results and in vivo trials. Therefore, this fibrinolytic platelet approach is a promising method for leveraging platelet-CTC interactions to disperse CTC clusters and reduce metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Schnoor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Kenise Morris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Regina K Kottana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Rebekah Muldoon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Jaeden Barron
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Anne-Laure Papa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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2
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Wang X, Bai L, Kong L, Guo Z. Advances in circulating tumor cells for early detection, prognosis and metastasis reduction in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1411731. [PMID: 38974237 PMCID: PMC11224453 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1411731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, lung cancer stands as the leading type of cancer in terms of incidence and is the major source of mortality attributed to cancer. We have outlined the molecular biomarkers for lung cancer that are available clinically. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) spread from the original location, circulate in the bloodstream, extravasate, and metastasize, forming secondary tumors by invading and establishing a favorable environment. CTC analysis is considered a common liquid biopsy method for lung cancer. We have enumerated both in vivo and ex vivo techniques for CTC separation and enrichment, examined the advantages and limitations of these methods, and also discussed the detection of CTCs in other bodily fluids. We have evaluated the value of CTCs, as well as CTCs in conjunction with other biomarkers, for their utility in the early detection and prognostic assessment of patients with lung cancer. CTCs engage with diverse cells of the metastatic process, interfering with the interaction between CTCs and various cells in metastasis, potentially halting metastasis and enhancing patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Wang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Linghui Kong
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Zhijuan Guo
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
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3
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Li D, Jiang L, Zhou W, Huang Y, Yang Y, Li J, Yang J, Wang F, Li J, Zhang Y, Yan F, Gao H, Guo X, Xu Q, Tan S, Wei YQ, Wang W. Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cell Therapy Decreases Distant Metastasis and Inhibits Local Recurrence Post-surgery in Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:1248-1256. [PMID: 37917093 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.144] [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] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Distant metastasis and primary tumor relapse are the two main hurdles to the success of surgical treatment for cancer patients. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and incomplete surgical resection are the primary cause of distant metastasis and local recurrence of tumors, respectively. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells target residual carcinomas and CTCs hold the potential to inhibit primary recurrence and reduce tumor metastasis, but the experimental evidence is lacking. Here, we developed a surgery-induced tumor metastasis model in immunocompetent mice to investigate the efficacy of CAR-T cells therapy in preventing metastasis and local recurrence. We observed that subcutaneous tumor resection has induced a large number of CTCs intravasated into circulation. EpCAM-specific CAR-T was effective in clearing CTCs following surgical removal of the tumor. This resulted in less pulmonary metastasis and longer survival in mice when compared to mice treated with surgery followed by Mock-T cells infusion. In addition, the local relapse was obviously inhibited at the surgical site followed by EpCAM-CAR-T cell treatment. This study demonstrated that CAR-T cell therapy can be an adjuvant treatment following surgery to prevent tumor metastasis and inhibit primary tumor relapse for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weilin Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuening Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinrong Yang
- Department of Hematology, Hematology Research Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fengling Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiaqian Li
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yalan Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Feiyang Yan
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Haozhan Gao
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianling Guo
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth Peoples' Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth Peoples' Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shisheng Tan
- Department of Oncology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Yu-Quan Wei
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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4
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Lopez-Cavestany M, Wright OA, Cassidy AM, Carter AT, King MR. Dual Affinity Nanoparticles for the Transport of Therapeutics from Carrier Cells to Target Cells under Physiological Flow Conditions. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:42748-42761. [PMID: 38024679 PMCID: PMC10652824 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a novel two-stage nanoparticle delivery platform was developed based on the dual functionalization of a liposome with moieties that have fundamentally different strengths of adhesion and binding kinetics. The essential concept of this system is that the nanoparticles are designed to loosely bind to the carrier cell until they come into contact with the target cell, to which they bind with greater strength. This allows the nanoparticle to be transferred from one cell to another, circulating for longer periods of time in the blood and delivering the therapeutic agent to the target circulating tumor cell. Liposomes were prepared using the lipid cake and extrusion technique, then functionalized with E-selectin (ES), anti-cell surface vimentin antibody fragments, and TRAIL via click chemistry. The binding of dual affinity (DA) liposomes was confirmed with the neutrophil-like cell line PLB985, the colorectal cancer cell line HCT116, and healthy granulocytes isolated from peripheral whole blood under physiologically relevant fluid shear stress (FSS) in a cone-and-plate viscometer. Transfer of the DA liposomes from PLB985 to HCT116 cells under FSS was greater compared to all of the control liposome formulations. Additionally, DA liposomes demonstrated enhanced apoptotic effects on HCT116 cells in whole blood under FSS, surpassing the efficacy of the ES/TRAIL liposomes previously developed by the King Lab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lopez-Cavestany
- Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Olivia A. Wright
- Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Ava M. Cassidy
- Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Alexandria T. Carter
- Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
| | - Michael R. King
- Department of Biomedical
Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States
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Cacic D, Hervig T, Reikvam H. Platelets for advanced drug delivery in cancer. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2023; 20:673-688. [PMID: 37212640 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2023.2217378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cancer-related drug expenses are rising with the increasing cancer incidence and cost may represent a severe challenge for drug access for patients with cancer. Consequently, strategies for increasing therapeutic efficacy of already available drugs may be essential for the future health-care system. AREAS COVERED In this review, we have investigated the potential for the use of platelets as drug-delivery systems. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar to identify relevant papers written in English and published up to January 2023. Papers were included at the authors' discretion to reflect an overview of state of the art. EXPERT OPINION It is known that cancer cells interact with platelets to gain functional advantages including immune evasion and metastasis development. This platelet-cancer interaction has been the inspiration for numerous platelet-based drug delivery systems using either drug-loaded or drug-bound platelets, or platelet membrane-containing hybrid vesicles combining platelet membranes with synthetic nanocarriers. Compared to treatment with free drug or synthetic drug vectors, these strategies may improve pharmacokinetics and selective cancer cell targeting. There are multiple studies showing improved therapeutic efficacy using animal models, however, no platelet-based drug delivery systems have been tested in humans, meaning the clinical relevance of this technology remains uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cacic
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Tor Hervig
- Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Håkon Reikvam
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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6
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Chao CJ, Zhang E, Zhao Z. Engineering cells for precision drug delivery: New advances, clinical translation, and emerging strategies. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 197:114840. [PMID: 37088403 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Cells have emerged as a promising new form of drug delivery carriers owing to their distinguished advantages such as naturally bypassing immune recognition, intrinsic capability to navigate biological barriers, and access to hard-to-reach tissues via onboarding sensing and active motility. Over the past two decades, a large body of work has focused on understanding the ability of cell carriers to breach biological barriers and to modulate drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. These efforts have led to the engineering of various cells for tissue-specific drug delivery. Despite exciting advances, clinical translation of cell-based drug carriers demands a thorough understanding of the pressing challenges and potential strategies to overcome them. Here, we summarize recent advances and new concepts in cell-based drug carriers and their clinical translation. We also discuss key considerations and emerging strategies to engineering the next-generation cell-based delivery technologies for more precise, targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Jia Chao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Endong Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Zongmin Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Translational Oncology Program, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612.
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7
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Li X, Hu L, Tan C, Wang X, Ran Q, Chen L, Li Z. Platelet-promoting drug delivery efficiency for inhibition of tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence. Front Oncol 2022; 12:983874. [PMID: 36276066 PMCID: PMC9582853 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.983874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicines are considered one of the promising strategies for anticancer therapy; however, the low targeting efficiency of nanomedicines in vivo is a great obstacle to their clinical applications. Camouflaging nanomedicines with either platelet membrane (PM) or platelet would significantly prolong the retention time of nanomedicines in the bloodstream, enhance the targeting ability of nanomedicines to tumor cells, and reduce the off-target effect of nanomedicines in major organs during the anticancer treatment. In the current review, the advantages of using PM or platelet as smart carriers for delivering nanomedicines to inhibit tumor growth, metastasis, and recurrence were summarized. The opportunities and challenges of this camouflaging strategy for anticancer treatment were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Li
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lanyue Hu
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chengning Tan
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qian Ran
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Chen
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Li Chen, ; Zhongjun Li,
| | - Zhongjun Li
- Laboratory of Radiation Biology, Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injuries, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Li Chen, ; Zhongjun Li,
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8
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Morris K, Schnoor B, Papa AL. Platelet cancer cell interplay as a new therapeutic target. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188770. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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9
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Vu TQ, Peruzzi JA, Sant'Anna LE, Roth EW, Kamat NP. Lipid Phase Separation in Vesicles Enhances TRAIL-Mediated Cytotoxicity. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:2627-2634. [PMID: 35298184 PMCID: PMC9680886 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Ligand spatial presentation and density play important roles in signaling pathways mediated by cell receptors and are critical parameters when designing protein-conjugated therapeutic nanoparticles. Here, we harness lipid phase separation to spatially control the protein presentation on lipid vesicles. We use this system to improve the cytotoxicity of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), a therapeutic anticancer protein. Vesicles with phase-separated TRAIL presentation induce more cell death in Jurkat cancer cells than vesicles with uniformly presented TRAIL, and cytotoxicity is dependent on TRAIL density. We assess this relationship in other cancer cell lines and demonstrate that phase-separated vesicles with TRAIL only enhance cytotoxicity through one TRAIL receptor, DR5, while another TRAIL receptor, DR4, is less sensitive to TRAIL density. This work demonstrates a rapid and accessible method to control protein conjugation and density on vesicles that can be adopted to other nanoparticle systems to improve receptor signaling by nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Q Vu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Justin A Peruzzi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Lucas E Sant'Anna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Eric W Roth
- Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization and Experimentation Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Center for Synthetic Biology, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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10
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An Immunological Perspective of Circulating Tumor Cells as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020323. [PMID: 35207611 PMCID: PMC8878951 DOI: 10.3390/life12020323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune modulation is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer–immune interaction shapes the course of disease progression at every step of tumorigenesis, including metastasis, of which circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are regarded as an indicator. These CTCs are a heterogeneous population of tumor cells that have disseminated from the tumor into circulation. They have been increasingly studied in recent years due to their importance in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment response. Ample evidence demonstrates that CTCs interact with immune cells in circulation, where they must evade immune surveillance or modulate immune response. The interaction between CTCs and the immune system is emerging as a critical point by which CTCs facilitate metastatic progression. Understanding the complex crosstalk between the two may provide a basis for devising new diagnostic and treatment strategies. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of CTCs and the complex immune-CTC interactions. We also present novel options in clinical interventions, targeting the immune-CTC interfaces, and provide some suggestions on future research directions.
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11
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Yu W, Hu C, Gao H. Advances of nanomedicines in breast cancer metastasis treatment targeting different metastatic stages. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 178:113909. [PMID: 34352354 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women, and the metastasis further increases the malignancy with extremely high mortality. However, there is almost no effective method in the clinic to completely inhibit breast cancer metastasis due to the dynamic multistep process with complex pathways and scattered occurring site. Nowadays, nanomedicines have been evidenced with great potential in treating cancer metastasis. In this review, we summarize the latest research advances of nanomedicines in anti-metastasis treatment. Strategies are categorized according to the metastasis dynamics, including primary tumor, circulating tumor cells, pre-metastatic niches and secondary tumor. In each different stage of metastasis process, nanomedicines are designed specifically with different functions. At the end of the review, we give our perspectives on current limitations and future directions in anti-metastasis therapy. We expect the review provides comprehensive understandings of anti-metastasis therapy for breast cancer, and boosts the clinical translation in the future to improve women's health.
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12
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Dombroski JA, Hope JM, Sarna NS, King MR. Channeling the Force: Piezo1 Mechanotransduction in Cancer Metastasis. Cells 2021; 10:2815. [PMID: 34831037 PMCID: PMC8616475 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, motivating research into identifying new methods of preventing cancer metastasis. Recently there has been increasing interest in understanding how cancer cells transduce mechanical forces into biochemical signals, as metastasis is a process that consists of a wide range of physical forces. For instance, the circulatory system through which disseminating cancer cells must transit is an environment characterized by variable fluid shear stress due to blood flow. Cancer cells and other cells can transduce physical stimuli into biochemical responses using the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1, which is activated by membrane deformations that occur when cells are exposed to physical forces. When active, Piezo1 opens, allowing for calcium flux into the cell. Calcium, as a ubiquitous second-messenger cation, is associated with many signaling pathways involved in cancer metastasis, such as angiogenesis, cell migration, intravasation, and proliferation. In this review, we discuss the roles of Piezo1 in each stage of cancer metastasis in addition to its roles in immune cell activation and cancer cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Michael R. King
- King Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, 5824 Stevenson Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; (J.A.D.); (J.M.H.); (N.S.S.)
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13
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Li K, Wu R, Zhou M, Tong H, Luo KQ. Desmosomal proteins of DSC2 and PKP1 promote cancer cells survival and metastasis by increasing cluster formation in circulatory system. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabg7265. [PMID: 34586853 PMCID: PMC8480931 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg7265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
To study how cancer cells can withstand fluid shear stress (SS), we isolated SS-resistant breast and lung cancer cells using a microfluidic circulatory system. These SS-resistant cells showed higher abilities to form clusters, survive in circulation, and metastasize in mice. These SS-resistant cells expressed 4.2- to 5.3-fold more desmocollin-2 (DSC2) and plakophilin-1 (PKP1) proteins. The high expression of DSC2 and PKP1 facilitated cancer cells to form clusters in circulation, and also activated PI3K/AKT/Bcl-2–mediated pathway to increase cell survival. The high levels of DSC2 and PKP1 are also important for maintaining high expression of vimentin, which stimulates fibronectin/integrin β1/FAK/Src/MEK/ERK/ZEB1–mediated metastasis. Moreover, higher levels of DSC2 and PKP1 were detected in tumor samples from patients with breast and lung cancer, and their high expression was correlated with lower overall survival and worse disease progression. DSC2 and PKP1 may serve as new biomarkers for detecting and targeting metastatic circulating tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koukou Li
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Renfei Wu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Muya Zhou
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Haibo Tong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Kathy Q. Luo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
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14
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Neinavaie F, Ibrahim-Hashim A, Kramer AM, Brown JS, Richards CL. The Genomic Processes of Biological Invasions: From Invasive Species to Cancer Metastases and Back Again. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.681100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of invasion is useful across a broad range of contexts, spanning from the fine scale landscape of cancer tumors up to the broader landscape of ecosystems. Invasion biology provides extraordinary opportunities for studying the mechanistic basis of contemporary evolution at the molecular level. Although the field of invasion genetics was established in ecology and evolution more than 50 years ago, there is still a limited understanding of how genomic level processes translate into invasive phenotypes across different taxa in response to complex environmental conditions. This is largely because the study of most invasive species is limited by information about complex genome level processes. We lack good reference genomes for most species. Rigorous studies to examine genomic processes are generally too costly. On the contrary, cancer studies are fortified with extensive resources for studying genome level dynamics and the interactions among genetic and non-genetic mechanisms. Extensive analysis of primary tumors and metastatic samples have revealed the importance of several genomic mechanisms including higher mutation rates, specific types of mutations, aneuploidy or whole genome doubling and non-genetic effects. Metastatic sites can be directly compared to primary tumor cell counterparts. At the same time, clonal dynamics shape the genomics and evolution of metastatic cancers. Clonal diversity varies by cancer type, and the tumors’ donor and recipient tissues. Still, the cancer research community has been unable to identify any common events that provide a universal predictor of “metastatic potential” which parallels findings in evolutionary ecology. Instead, invasion in cancer studies depends strongly on context, including order of events and clonal composition. The detailed studies of the behavior of a variety of human cancers promises to inform our understanding of genome level dynamics in the diversity of invasive species and provide novel insights for management.
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15
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Puleri DF, Balogh P, Randles A. Computational models of cancer cell transport through the microcirculation. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:1209-1230. [PMID: 33765196 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01452-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The transport of cancerous cells through the microcirculation during metastatic spread encompasses several interdependent steps that are not fully understood. Computational models which resolve the cellular-scale dynamics of complex microcirculatory flows offer considerable potential to yield needed insights into the spread of cancer as a result of the level of detail that can be captured. In recent years, in silico methods have been developed that can accurately and efficiently model the circulatory flows of cancer and other biological cells. These computational methods are capable of resolving detailed fluid flow fields which transport cells through tortuous physiological geometries, as well as the deformation and interactions between cells, cell-to-endothelium interactions, and tumor cell aggregates, all of which play important roles in metastatic spread. Such models can provide a powerful complement to experimental works, and a promising approach to recapitulating the endogenous setting while maintaining control over parameters such as shear rate, cell deformability, and the strength of adhesive binding to better understand tumor cell transport. In this review, we present an overview of computational models that have been developed for modeling cancer cells in the microcirculation, including insights they have provided into cell transport phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel F Puleri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Peter Balogh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Amanda Randles
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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Zhang Z, Patel SB, King MR. Micelle-in-Liposomes for Sustained Delivery of Anticancer Agents That Promote Potent TRAIL-Induced Cancer Cell Apoptosis. Molecules 2020; 26:E157. [PMID: 33396409 PMCID: PMC7795772 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26010157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and has garnered intense interest as a promising agent for cancer treatment. However, the development of TRAIL has been hampered in part because most human cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL. A few small molecules including natural compounds such as piperlongumine (PL) have been reported to sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL. We prepared a novel type of nanomaterial, micelle-in-liposomes (MILs) for solubilization and delivery of PL. PL-loaded MILs were used to sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL. As visualized by cryo-TEM, micelles were successfully loaded inside the aqueous core of liposomes. The MILs increased the water solubility of PL by ~20 fold. A sustained PL release from MILs in physiologically relevant buffer over 7 days was achieved, indicating that the liposomes prevented premature drug release from the micelles in the MILs. Also demonstrated is a potent synergistic apoptotic effect in cancer cells by PL MILs in conjunction with liposomal TRAIL. MILs provide a new formulation and delivery vehicle for hydrophobic anticancer agents, which can be used alone or in combination with TRAIL to promote cancer cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael R. King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA; (Z.Z.); (S.B.P.)
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Ortiz-Otero N, Marshall JR, Lash B, King MR. Chemotherapy-induced release of circulating-tumor cells into the bloodstream in collective migration units with cancer-associated fibroblasts in metastatic cancer patients. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:873. [PMID: 32917154 PMCID: PMC7488506 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07376-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that chemotherapy destabilizes the blood vasculature and increases circulating tumor cell (CTC) influx into the circulation of metastatic cancer patients (Met-pa). CTCs are a precursor of cancer metastasis, in which they can migrate as single CTCs or as CTC clusters with stromal cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as cell aggregates. METHODS Blood samples were collected from 52 Met-pa, and the number of CTC and CAF was determined along with the temporal fluctuation of these through the chemotherapy treatment. RESULTS In this study, CTC level was found to increase two-fold from the initial level after 1 cycle of chemotherapy and returned to baseline after 2 cycles of chemotherapy. Importantly, we determined for the first time that circulating CAF levels correlate with worse prognosis and a lower probability of survival in Met-pa. Based on the CTC release induced by chemotherapy, we evaluated the efficacy of our previously developed cancer immunotherapy to eradicate CTCs from Met-pa blood using an ex vivo approach and demonstrate this could kill over 60% of CTCs. CONCLUSION Collectively, we found that CAF levels in Met-pa serve as a predictive biomarker for cancer prognosis. Additionally, we demonstrate the efficacy of our therapy to kill primary CTCs for a range of cancer types, supporting its potential use as an anti-metastasis therapy in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerymar Ortiz-Otero
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Jocelyn R Marshall
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Bradley Lash
- Guthrie Clinical Research Center, Sayre, PA, 18840, USA
| | - Michael R King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.
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