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Danishuddin, Haque MA, Malik MZ, Arya R, Singh P, Lee JS, Kim JJ, Lee KW, Jung TS. Unveiling the Mechanisms Underlying the Immunotherapeutic Potential of Gene-miRNA and Drugs in Head and Neck Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:921. [PMID: 39065771 PMCID: PMC11280033 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer ranks as the sixth-most common malignancy worldwide, characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Research studies indicate that molecular diagnostics play a crucial role in the early detection and prognostic evaluation of these diseases. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for head and neck cancer and elucidate their interactions with miRNAs and possible therapeutic drugs. Four drivers, namely, FN1, IL1A, COL1A1, and MMP9, were identified using network biology and machine learning approaches. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) showed that these genes were significantly involved in different biological processes and pathways, including coagulation, UV-response-down, apoptosis, NOTCH signaling, Wnt-beta catenin, and other signal pathways. The diagnostic value of these hub genes was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The top interactive miRNAs, including miR-128-3p, miR-218-5p, miR-214-3p, miR-124-3p, miR-129-2-3p, and miR-1-3p, targeted the key genes. Furthermore, the interaction between the key genes and drugs was also identified. In summary, the key genes and miRNAs or drugs reported in this study might provide valuable information for potential biomarkers to increase the prognosis and diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danishuddin
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea; (D.); (M.A.H.); (R.A.)
| | - Md Azizul Haque
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea; (D.); (M.A.H.); (R.A.)
| | - Md. Zubbair Malik
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI), Dasman 15462, Kuwait;
| | - Rakesh Arya
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea; (D.); (M.A.H.); (R.A.)
| | - Pooja Singh
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jeong-Sang Lee
- GSCRO, Research Spin-Off Company, Innopolis Jeonbuk, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Medical Science, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Joo Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea; (D.); (M.A.H.); (R.A.)
| | - Keun-Woo Lee
- Korea Quantum Computing (KQC), Busan 48058, Republic of Korea
- Angel i-Drug Design (AiDD), Jinju 52650, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Sung Jung
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Diseases, Research Institute of Natural Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea
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Allen JL, Hames RA, Mastroianni NM, Greenstein AE, Weed SA. Evaluation of the matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) inhibitor Andecaliximab as an Anti-invasive therapeutic in Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol 2022; 132:106008. [PMID: 35803110 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.106008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Locoregional and lymphovascular involvement of invasive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) complicates curative treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 is a negative prognostic marker in HNSCC and targets multiple extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates, where it contributes to breaching basement membrane and stromal barriers enabling invasive spread. Andecaliximab (ADX) is a second-generation MMP9 inhibitor well tolerated in clinical trials of gastric and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The impact of selective MMP9 targeting by ADX in HNSCC has not been evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Established and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cell lines were utilized in HNSCC invasion assays to determine the inhibitory ability of MMP9-mediated invasion by ADX. MMP9 expression was confirmed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunoblotting. ECM degradation was evaluated with confocal microscopy. Cell invasion from tumor spheroids was monitored by phase microscopy. Histological evaluation was used to determine ADX efficacy in three-dimensional organotypic cultures containing cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). RESULTS MMP9 was expressed in all established and PDX-derived cell lines. While the broad spectrum clinical MMP inhibitor marimastat (BB2516) blocked HNSCC invadopodia function and tumor spheroid invasion, ADX treatment failed to inhibit invadopodia-based matrix degradation, tumor cell or fibroblast-driven ECM invasion in collagen I-based matrices. CONCLUSION ADX monotherapy was ineffective at blocking initial MMP-dependent events of HNSCC invasion, likely due to redundant functions of additional non-targeted MMPs produced by tumor cells and microenvironment. Combination of ADX with existing and emerging therapies targeting additional MMP activation pathways may warrant future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Allen
- Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, United States
| | - River A Hames
- Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, United States
| | - Natalie M Mastroianni
- Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, United States
| | | | - Scott A Weed
- Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, United States.
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Abstract
EGFR is a member of the ERBB family. It plays a significant role in cellular processes such as growth, survival and differentiation via the activation of various signaling pathways. EGFR deregulation is implicated in various human malignancies, and therefore EGFR has emerged as an attractive anticancer target. EGFR inhibition using strategies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies hinders cellular proliferation and promotes apoptosis in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. EGFR inhibition by tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been shown to be a better treatment option than chemotherapy for advanced-stage EGFR-driven non-small-cell lung cancer, yet de novo and acquired resistance limits the clinical benefit of these therapeutic molecules. This review discusses the cellular signaling pathways activated by EGFR. Further, current therapeutic strategies to target aberrant EGFR signaling in cancer and mechanisms of resistance to them are highlighted.
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Effect of PAIP1 on the metastatic potential and prognostic significance in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oral Sci 2022; 14:9. [PMID: 35153296 PMCID: PMC8841500 DOI: 10.1038/s41368-022-00162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractPoly Adenylate Binding Protein Interacting protein 1 (PAIP1) plays a critical role in translation initiation and is associated with the several cancer types. However, its function and clinical significance have not yet been described in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its associated features like lymph node metastasis (LNM). Here, we used the data available from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) to analyze PAIP1 expression in oral cancer. The publicly available data suggests that PAIP1 mRNA and protein levels were increased in OSCC. The high PAIP1 expression was more evident in samples with advanced stage, LNM, and worse pattern of invasion. Moreover, the in vitro experiments revealed that PAIP1 knockdown attenuated colony forming, the aggressiveness of OSCC cell lines, decreasing MMP9 activity and SRC phosphorylation. Importantly, we found a correlation between PAIP1 and pSRC through the analysis of the IHC scores and CPTAC data in patient samples. Our findings suggest that PAIP1 could be an independent prognostic factor in OSCC with LNM and a suitable therapeutic target to improve OSCC patient outcomes.
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Nimotuzumab therapy in the treatment of pediatric central nervous system tumors: single-center experience. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2021; 394:1769-1777. [PMID: 34151393 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-021-02109-y] [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: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Relapsed or refractory central nervous system (CNS) tumors still have poor prognosis, and, therefore, new treatment options are required. We retrospectively researched treatment results of patients with CNS tumors treated with nimotuzumab from 2010 to 2015. The study included nine patients with the diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; eight with medulloblastoma; three each with anaplastic ependymoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumor (CNS PNET); two patients with gliomatosis cerebri; and one patient each with other tumor types, including atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, thalamic astrocytoma, low-grade glial tumor, high-grade glial tumor, and cribriform neuroepithelial tumor. An objective response was observed in 10 of 33 patients with four patients showing a complete response, three a partial response, and three patients had stable disease. The 2-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 35 ±9% and 19 ±8%, respectively. Due to the objective response in medulloblastoma, CNS PNET, and anaplastic ependymoma (MED group), survival rates of this group were analyzed. The 2-year OS and PFS for the MED group were 71 ±12% and 30 ±13%, respectively. The treatment was well tolerated. The treatment responses for medulloblastoma, CNS PNET, and anaplastic ependymoma have been promising. Likewise, some patients with relapsed or progressive CNS tumors may benefit through nimotuzumab-containing regimen.
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Gudi RR, Janakiraman H, Howe PH, Palanisamy V, Vasu C. Loss of CPAP causes sustained EGFR signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral cancer. Oncotarget 2021; 12:807-822. [PMID: 33889303 PMCID: PMC8057274 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling can contribute to tumor metastasis and resistance to therapies in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). EGFR signaling can promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSCC. EMT is a process by which epithelial cells acquire invasive properties and it can contribute to tumor metastasis. Not only do the abnormal functions of microtubule and microtubule-organizing centers (MTOC) such as centrosomes lead to cancers, but also the malignant tissues are characterized by aberrant centriolar features and amplified centrosomes. Microtubule inhibition therapies increase the sensitivity to EGFR targeting drugs in various cancers. In this study, we show that the loss of expression of a microtubule/tubulin binding protein, centrosomal protein 4.1-associated protein (CPAP), which is critical for centriole biogenesis and normal functioning of the centrosome, caused an increase in the EGFR levels and its signaling and, enhanced the EMT features and invasiveness of OSCC cells. Further, depletion of CPAP enhanced the tumorigenicity of these cells in a xeno-transplant model. Importantly, CPAP loss-associated EMT features and invasiveness of multiple OSCC cells were attenuated upon depletion of EGFR in them. On the other hand, we found that CPAP protein levels were higher in EGF treated OSCC cells as well as in oral cancer tissues, suggesting that the frequently reported aberrant centriolar features of tumors are potentially a consequence, but not the cause, of tumor progression. Overall, our novel observations show that, in addition to its known indispensable role in centrosome biogenesis, CPAP also plays a vital role in suppressing tumorigenesis in OSCC by facilitating EGFR homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika R Gudi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Philip H Howe
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Viswanathan Palanisamy
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Chenthamarakshan Vasu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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HNC0014, a Multi-Targeted Small-Molecule, Inhibits Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Suppressing c-Met/STAT3/CD44/PD-L1 Oncoimmune Signature and Eliciting Antitumor Immune Responses. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123759. [PMID: 33327484 PMCID: PMC7764918 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer stem cells (CSCs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) possess unlimited self-renewal capacity, resist treatments and induce tumor repopulation after interventions. Here, we observed HNSCC CSCs secreted exosomes containing c-Met, STAT3 (also the phosphorylated form of c-Met and STAT3), CD44, and PD-L1 oncogenic signaling molecules. CSC-derived exosomes, in part, transform fibroblasts (NFs) into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), establish drug resistance, and an immune-evasive tumor microenvironment (TME). We demonstrated HNC0014, a novel small-molecule drug, suppresses HNSCC tumorigenesis, CSC generation and prevents CAF transformation by decreasing the aforementioned oncogenic signaling molecules’ expression in both HNSCC cells and CSC-derived exosomes. Abstract Despite advancements in diagnostic and standard treatment modalities, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, overall survival rates of advanced-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients have remained stagnant for over three decades. Failure of these treatment modalities, coupled with post-therapy complications, underscores the need for alternative interventions and an in-depth understanding of the complex signaling networks involved in developing treatment resistance. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified an increased expression of c-Met, STAT3, and CD44 corresponding to a poor prognosis and malignant phenotype of HNSCC. Subsequently, we showed that tumorsphere-derived exosomes promoted cisplatin (CDDP) resistance and colony and tumorsphere formation in parental HNSCC cells, accompanied by an increased level of oncogenic/immune evasive markers, namely, c-Met, STAT3, CD44, and PD-L1. We then evaluated the therapeutic potential of a new small molecule, HNC0014. The molecular docking analysis suggested strong interactions between HNC0014 and oncogenic molecules; c-Met, STAT3, CD44, and PD-L1. Subsequently, we demonstrated that HNC0014 treatment suppressed HNSCC tumorigenic and expression of stemness markers; HNC0014 also reduced cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) transformation by Exosp- and CAF-induced tumorigenic properties. HNC0014 treatment alone suppressed tumor growth in a cisplatin-resistant (SAS tumorspheres) mouse xenograft model and with higher inhibitory efficacy when combined with CDDP. More importantly, HNC0014 treatment significantly delayed tumor growth in a syngeneic mouse HNSCC model, elicited an antitumor immune profile, and reduced the total c-Met, STAT3, and their phosphorylated forms, PD-L1 and CD44, contents in serum exosomes. Collectively, our findings provide supports for HNC0014 as a multi-targeted immunotherapeutic lead compound for further development.
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Abstract
Non-communicable diseases contribute to 71% of the deaths worldwide, of which cancers rank second after cardiovascular diseases. Among all the cancers, head and neck cancers (HNC) are consequential in augmenting the global cancer incidence as well as mortality. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are emphatic for the matter that they serve as biomarkers aiding the analysis of tumor progression and metastasis as well as diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic progression in the patients. The extensive researches on HNC have made significant furtherance in numerous targeted therapies, but for the escalating therapeutic resistance. This review explicates RTKs in HNC, their signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis and stemness induction, the association of non-coding RNAs with RTKs, an overview of RTK based therapy and associated resistance in HNC, as well as a sneak peek into the HPV positive HNC and its therapy. The review extrapolates the cardinal role of RTKs and RTK based therapy as superior to other existing therapeutic interventions for HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Revathy Nadhan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Priya Srinivas
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
| | - M Radhakrishna Pillai
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
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Xie YH, Chen YX, Fang JY. Comprehensive review of targeted therapy for colorectal cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:22. [PMID: 32296018 PMCID: PMC7082344 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-0116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 804] [Impact Index Per Article: 201.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most lethal and prevalent malignancies in the world and was responsible for nearly 881,000 cancer-related deaths in 2018. Surgery and chemotherapy have long been the first choices for cancer patients. However, the prognosis of CRC has never been satisfying, especially for patients with metastatic lesions. Targeted therapy is a new optional approach that has successfully prolonged overall survival for CRC patients. Following successes with the anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) agent cetuximab and the anti-angiogenesis agent bevacizumab, new agents blocking different critical pathways as well as immune checkpoints are emerging at an unprecedented rate. Guidelines worldwide are currently updating the recommended targeted drugs on the basis of the increasing number of high-quality clinical trials. This review provides an overview of existing CRC-targeted agents and their underlying mechanisms, as well as a discussion of their limitations and future trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Hong Xie
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Ministry of Health, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 145 Middle Shandong Road, 200001, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Xuan Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Ministry of Health, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 145 Middle Shandong Road, 200001, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jing-Yuan Fang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Ministry of Health, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 145 Middle Shandong Road, 200001, Shanghai, China.
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Usman M, Tanveer F, Ilyas A, Zarina S. Varlitinib Mediates Its Activity Through Down Regulating MAPK/EGFR Pathway in Oral Cancer. CURR PROTEOMICS 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1570164616666190516114749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is a major sub-type of oral cancer
that shares 90% proportion of oral cavity cancers. It is declared as the sixth most frequent cancer
among all cancer types throughout the world. Higher morbidity in Asian countries is reported due to
frequent use of Smokeless Tobacco (SLT) products besides exposure to other risk factors. Hyperactivation
of epidermal growth factor receptors is a molecular event in many solid tumors including
oral cancer making them potential therapeutic targets.
Objective:
Current study was designed to explore the effect of varlitinib, a pan-HER inhibitor, on oral
cancer cell line. We investigated key regulatory genes in downstream pathway in response to drug
treatment. Furthermore, we also examined expression profile of these genes in malignant and healthy
oral tissue.
Method:
Gene expression pattern in drug treated and untreated cancer cell line along with OSCC tumor
samples (n=45) and adjacent normal tissues was studied using real time PCR.
Results:
In response to varlitinib treatment, significant suppression of oncogenes (IGF1R, MAPK1,
SFN and CDK2) was observed. Interestingly, mRNA expression level of CDKN1A and Akt1 was found
to be the opposite of what was expected. In case of malignant tissue, over expression of oncogenes
(IGF1R, Akt1, MAPK1, SFN and CDK2) with simultaneous down expression of tumor suppressor
genes (Tp53 and CDKN1A) was noted. STRING analysis indicated a strong association among differentially
expressed genes suggesting their combined role in carcinogenesis.
Conclusion:
In summary, our results indicate that varlitinib can be considered as a potential therapeutic
agent in oral cancer due to its antitumor potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman
- National Center for Proteomics, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Tanveer
- National Center for Proteomics, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Amber Ilyas
- National Center for Proteomics, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Shamshad Zarina
- National Center for Proteomics, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
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Lang L, Shay C, Zhao X, Xiong Y, Wang X, Teng Y. Simultaneously inactivating Src and AKT by saracatinib/capivasertib co-delivery nanoparticles to improve the efficacy of anti-Src therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:132. [PMID: 31805962 PMCID: PMC6896687 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0827-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Src, an oncoprotein that drives progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), is commonly hyperactivated in this disease. Unfortunately, the clinical benefit of targeting Src is significantly dampened in HNSCC patients, because the cytotoxic effects of anti-Src therapy and tumor resistance to it are less predictable. Thus, understanding the mechanism of tumor resistance to Src inhibition and seeking a way to overcome it are warranted. METHODS Dual drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were developed to co-deliver Src inhibitor saracatinib (AZD0530) and AKT inhibitor capivasertib (AZD5363) into the same population of tumor cells. An orthotopic tongue tumor model was generated to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic effects. Cell growth was determined by CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Kit, colony formation, and 3D culture, and tumor growth was determined by bioluminescence and tumor size. The molecular changes induced by the treatments were assessed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Capivasertib inactivated the AKT-S6 signaling and re-sensitized saracatinib-resistant HNSCC cells to saracatinib. Combination of capivasertib with saracatinib suppressed HNSCC growth more efficiently than either drug alone. Cathepsin B-sensitive NPs for co-delivering saracatinib and capivasertib significantly improved the efficacy of tumor repression without increasing side effects, which were due to highly specific tumor-targeting drug delivery system and synergistic anticancer effects by co-inactivation of AKT and Src in HNSCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Addition of AKT blockade improves anti-HNSCC efficacy of anti-Src therapy, and co-delivery of capivasertib and saracatinib by tumor-targeting NPs has the potential to achieve better treatment outcomes than the free drug combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory Children's Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xiangdong Zhao
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Yuanping Xiong
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Xuli Wang
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA. .,Department of Medical Laboratory, Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, College of Allied Health, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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Perumal V, Corica T, Dharmarajan AM, Sun Z, Dhaliwal SS, Dass CR, Dass J. Circulating Tumour Cells (CTC), Head and Neck Cancer and Radiotherapy; Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E367. [PMID: 30875950 PMCID: PMC6468366 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer in Australia and globally. Despite the current improved treatment modalities, there is still up to 50⁻60% local regional recurrence and or distant metastasis. High-resolution medical imaging technologies such as PET/CT and MRI do not currently detect the early spread of tumour cells, thus limiting the potential for effective minimal residual detection and early diagnosis. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are a rare subset of cells that escape from the primary tumour and enter into the bloodstream to form metastatic deposits or even re-establish themselves in the primary site of the cancer. These cells are more aggressive and accumulate gene alterations by somatic mutations that are the same or even greater than the primary tumour because of additional features acquired in the circulation. The potential application of CTC in clinical use is to acquire a liquid biopsy, by taking a reliable minimally invasive venous blood sample, for cell genotyping during radiotherapy treatment to monitor the decline in CTC detectability, and mutational changes in response to radiation resistance and radiation sensitivity. Currently, very little has been published on radiation therapy, CTC, and circulating cancer stem cells (CCSCs). The prognostic value of CTC in cancer management and personalised medicine for head and neck cancer radiotherapy patients requires a deeper understanding at the cellular level, along with other advanced technologies. With this goal, this review summarises the current research of head and neck cancer CTC, CCSC and the molecular targets for personalised radiotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanathi Perumal
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
- Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Cancer Centre, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
| | - Tammy Corica
- Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Cancer Centre, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Arun M Dharmarajan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
| | - Zhonghua Sun
- Discipline of Medical Radiation Sciences, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
| | - Satvinder S Dhaliwal
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
| | - Crispin R Dass
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia.
| | - Joshua Dass
- Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Cancer Centre, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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13
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Sola AM, Johnson DE, Grandis JR. Investigational multitargeted kinase inhibitors in development for head and neck neoplasms. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2019; 28:351-363. [PMID: 30753792 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1581172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite advances in treatment, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survival rates remain stagnant. Current treatment is associated with significant toxicities and includes chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and few targeted treatments. Targeted treatments, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted agent, cetuximab, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, show improved toxicity profiles and modestly improved survival in select patients. An urgent need remains to identify novel targeted treatments for single-agent or combined therapy use. AREAS COVERED Multitargeted kinase inhibitors are small molecule inhibitors with limited toxicity. This review will focus on early-stage investigations of multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (m-TKIs) (those that target at least two tyrosine kinases) for HNSCC. Preclinical and early trials investigating m-TKIs for various disease settings of HNSCC will be evaluated for efficacy, identification of significant biomarkers and potential for combination therapy. EXPERT OPINION Few single agent m-TKIs have demonstrated efficacy in unselected HNSCC populations. The most promising clinical results have been obtained when m-TKIs are tested in combination with other therapies, including immunotherapy, or in mutation-defined subgroups of patients. The future success of m-TKIs will rely on identification, in preclinical models and clinical trials, of predictive biomarkers of response and mechanisms of innate and acquired resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Marija Sola
- a Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Daniel E Johnson
- a Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- a Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA
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14
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Saleh AD, Cheng H, Martin SE, Si H, Ormanoglu P, Carlson S, Clavijo PE, Yang X, Das R, Cornelius S, Couper J, Chepeha D, Danilova L, Harris TM, Prystowsky MB, Childs GJ, Smith RV, Robertson AG, Jones SJM, Cherniack AD, Kim SS, Rait A, Pirollo KF, Chang EH, Chen Z, Van Waes C. Integrated Genomic and Functional microRNA Analysis Identifies miR-30-5p as a Tumor Suppressor and Potential Therapeutic Nanomedicine in Head and Neck Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:2860-2873. [PMID: 30723145 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify deregulated and inhibitory miRNAs and generate novel mimics for replacement nanomedicine for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We integrated miRNA and mRNA expression, copy number variation, and DNA methylation results from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), with a functional genome-wide screen. RESULTS We reveal that the miR-30 family is commonly repressed, and all 5 members sharing these seed sequence similarly inhibit HNSCC proliferation in vitro. We uncover a previously unrecognized inverse relationship with overexpression of a network of important predicted target mRNAs deregulated in HNSCC, that includes key molecules involved in proliferation (EGFR, MET, IGF1R, IRS1, E2F7), differentiation (WNT7B, FZD2), adhesion, and invasion (ITGA6, SERPINE1). Reexpression of the most differentially repressed family member, miR-30a-5p, suppressed this mRNA program, selected signaling proteins and pathways, and inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Furthermore, a novel miR-30a-5p mimic formulated into a targeted nanomedicine significantly inhibited HNSCC xenograft tumor growth and target growth receptors EGFR and MET in vivo. Significantly decreased miR-30a/e family expression was related to DNA promoter hypermethylation and/or copy loss in TCGA data, and clinically with decreased disease-specific survival in a validation dataset. Strikingly, decreased miR-30e-5p distinguished oropharyngeal HNSCC with poor prognosis in TCGA (P = 0.002) and validation (P = 0.007) datasets, identifying a novel candidate biomarker and target for this HNSCC subset. CONCLUSIONS We identify the miR-30 family as an important regulator of signal networks and tumor suppressor in a subset of HNSCC patients, which may benefit from miRNA replacement nanomedicine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D Saleh
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,miRecule, Inc. Rockville, Maryland
| | - Hui Cheng
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Scott E Martin
- RNAi Screening Facility, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Han Si
- Molecular Characterization & Clinical Assay Development Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Pinar Ormanoglu
- RNAi Screening Facility, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sophie Carlson
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Paul E Clavijo
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Xinping Yang
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Rita Das
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shaleeka Cornelius
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jamie Couper
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Douglas Chepeha
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ludmila Danilova
- Department of Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Thomas M Harris
- Department of Pathology, Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | | | - Geoffrey J Childs
- Department of Pathology, Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Richard V Smith
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - A Gordon Robertson
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steven J M Jones
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew D Cherniack
- Cancer Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sang S Kim
- Departments of Oncology and Otolaryngology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown, Washington DC
| | - Antonina Rait
- Departments of Oncology and Otolaryngology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown, Washington DC
| | - Kathleen F Pirollo
- Departments of Oncology and Otolaryngology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown, Washington DC
| | - Esther H Chang
- Departments of Oncology and Otolaryngology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown, Washington DC
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT In head and neck cancer, we continue to work towards a more personalized approach to treatment of patients, where analysis of a patient's tumor guides targeting of molecular or immunologic pathways. Critically important to this pursuit is a better understanding of the direct biologic effect of a drug or combination on the tumor microenvironment in humans, as well as biomarker discovery. These goals are consistent with the primary purpose of a "window of opportunity" trial and while conduct of these trials requires a careful balance of benefits and potential risks, to date these trials have been both feasible and safe in HNSCC in the curative intent setting. In the era of immunotherapy, with countless possible combinations and ongoing clinical trials, window trials are even more important for informing clinical trial design and appropriate combination therapy, and ultimately a more personalized approach to our patients that leads to improvement in outcomes.
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Srivastava K, Pickard A, Craig SG, Quinn GP, Lambe SM, James JA, McDade SS, McCance DJ. ΔNp63γ/SRC/Slug Signaling Axis Promotes Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Cancers. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3917-3927. [PMID: 29739791 PMCID: PMC6098695 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its importance in tumor invasion.Experimental Design: We use a three-dimensional invasive organotypic raft culture model of human foreskin keratinocytes expressing the E6/E7 genes of the human papilloma virus-16, coupled with bioinformatic and IHC analysis of patient samples to investigate the role played by EMT in invasion and identify effectors and upstream regulatory pathways.Results: We identify SNAI2 (Slug) as a critical effector of EMT-activated downstream of TP63 overexpression in HNSCC. Splice-form-specific depletion and rescue experiments further identify the ΔNp63γ isoform as both necessary and sufficient to activate the SRC signaling axis and SNAI2-mediated EMT and invasion. Moreover, elevated SRC levels are associated with poor outcome in patients with HNSCC in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Importantly, the effects on EMT and invasions and SNAI2 expression can be reversed by genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of SRC.Conclusions: Overexpression of ΔNp63γ modulates cell invasion by inducing targetable SRC-Slug-evoked EMT in HNSCC, which can be reversed by inhibitors of the SRC signaling. Clin Cancer Res; 24(16); 3917-27. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirtiman Srivastava
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
| | - Adam Pickard
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie G Craig
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Gerard P Quinn
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shauna M Lambe
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline A James
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Simon S McDade
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
| | - Dennis J McCance
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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17
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Braun AC, de Mello CAL, Corassa M, Abdallah EA, Urvanegia AC, Alves VS, Flores BCTCP, Díaz M, Nicolau UR, Silva VSE, Calsavara V, Paterlini-Brechót P, Chinen LTD. EGFR expression in circulating tumor cells from high-grade metastatic soft tissue sarcomas. Cancer Biol Ther 2018; 19:454-460. [PMID: 29394136 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2018.1433498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Soft tissue Sarcomas (STS) are rare malignances, with high mortality rates. Half of patients develop metastasis. The presence of isolated Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Circulating Tumor Microemboli (CTM) in the blood may be early markers of tumor invasion. Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) family receptors can also influence this process. OBJECTIVES to quantify CTCs and identify CTM as well as the EGF Receptor (EGFR) protein expression in these cells and correlate with clinical outcome in metastatic STS. MATERIALS AND METHODS Approximately 8mL of blood was prospectively collected from patients with different types of high-grade STS, before the beginning of chemotherapy. The samples were processed and filtered by ISET (Rarecells, France) for the isolation and quantification of CTCs and CTMs. EGFR expression was analyzed by immunocytochemistry (ICC) on CTCs/ CTMs. RESULTS We analyzed 18 patients with median age of 49 years (18-77 y). The positivity for EGFR protein expression in CTCs was observed in 93.75% of the patients. This result shows that targeting EGFR positive CTCs from STS origen can be translated in clinical benefit for some patients. In addition, if target therapy is chosen, the EGFR expression in CTCs can be used in follow-up to measure treatment effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate the expression of EGFR protein in CTCs from sarcoma patients. It may open an area for future investigations. The next step is to characterize CTCs in a larger cohort of patients to better understand the role of EGFR in sustaining tumor metastasis in sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexcia Camila Braun
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Corassa
- b Department of Clinical Oncology , A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Emne Ali Abdallah
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Ana Cláudia Urvanegia
- b Department of Clinical Oncology , A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Vanessa Silva Alves
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Bianca C T C P Flores
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Mônica Díaz
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | | | - Virgilio Souza E Silva
- b Department of Clinical Oncology , A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Vinicius Calsavara
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | | | - Ludmilla Thomé Domingos Chinen
- a International Research Center; A. C. Camargo Cancer Center , São Paulo , SP , Brazil.,d National Institute for Science and Technology in Oncogenomics and Therapeutic Innovation
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18
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Targeted Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer: An Update on Current Clinical Developments in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapies. Drugs 2017; 77:843-857. [PMID: 28382569 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-017-0734-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Most patients diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) will present with locally advanced disease, requiring multimodality therapy. Despite this curative approach, a significant subset of these patients will develop locoregional failure and/or distant metastases. Despite significant progress in the treatment and subsequent prognosis of locally advanced HNSCC, the prognosis of those patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) HNSCC is poor, with short-lived responses to palliative chemotherapy and few therapeutic agents available. The discovery of the integral role of epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, coupled with emerging data on the role of tumor evasion of the immune system, has opened new pathways in the development of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of R/M HNSCC. As a result, cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor, as well as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, monoclonal antibodies targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), are now US Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of R/M HNSCC. This review will detail the data supporting the use of these agents, as well as clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of other novel and promising drugs.
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19
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Abstract
The ErbB receptor family, also known as the EGF receptor family or type I receptor family, includes the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) or ErbB1/Her1, ErbB2/Her2, ErbB3/Her3, and ErbB4/Her4. Among all RTKs, EGFR was the first RTK identified and the first one linked to cancer. Thus, EGFR has also been the most intensively studied among all RTKs. ErbB receptors are activated after homodimerization or heterodimerization. The ErbB family is unique among the various groups of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in that ErbB3 has impaired kinase activity, while ErbB2 does not have a direct ligand. Therefore, heterodimerization is an important mechanism that allows the activation of all ErbB receptors in response to ligand stimulation. The activated ErbB receptors bind to many signaling proteins and stimulate the activation of many signaling pathways. The specificity and potency of intracellular signaling pathways are determined by positive and negative regulators, the specific composition of activating ligand(s), receptor dimer components, and the diverse range of proteins that associate with the tyrosine phosphorylated C-terminal domain of the ErbB receptors. ErbB receptors are overexpressed or mutated in many cancers, especially in breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. The overexpression and overactivation of ErbB receptors are correlated with poor prognosis, drug resistance, cancer metastasis, and lower survival rate. ErbB receptors, especially EGFR and ErbB2 have been the primary choices as targets for developing cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiang Wang
- Signal Transduction Research Group, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 835 MSB, 114 St NW, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2H7.
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20
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Kaddi CD, Wang MD. Models for predicting stage in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using proteomic data. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2016; 2014:5216-9. [PMID: 25571169 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2014.6944801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) that is detected at an advanced stage is associated with much worse patient outcomes than if detected at early stages. This study uses reverse phase protein array (RPPA) data to build predictive models that discriminate between early and advanced stage HNSCC. Individual and ensemble binary classifiers, using filter-based and wrapper-based feature selection, are used to build several models which achieve moderate MCC and AUC values. This study identifies informative protein feature sets which may contribute to an increased understanding of the molecular basis of HNSCC.
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21
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Spinato C, Perez Ruiz de Garibay A, Kierkowicz M, Pach E, Martincic M, Klippstein R, Bourgognon M, Wang JTW, Ménard-Moyon C, Al-Jamal KT, Ballesteros B, Tobias G, Bianco A. Design of antibody-functionalized carbon nanotubes filled with radioactivable metals towards a targeted anticancer therapy. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:12626-12638. [PMID: 26733445 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07923c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In the present work we have devised the synthesis of a novel promising carbon nanotube carrier for the targeted delivery of radioactivity, through a combination of endohedral and exohedral functionalization. Steam-purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been initially filled with radioactive analogues (i.e. metal halides) and sealed by high temperature treatment, affording closed-ended CNTs with the filling material confined in the inner cavity. The external functionalization of these filled CNTs was then achieved by nitrene cycloaddition and followed by the derivatization with a monoclonal antibody (Cetuximab) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), overexpressed by several cancer cells. The targeting efficiency of the so-obtained conjugate was evaluated by immunostaining with a secondary antibody and by incubation of the CNTs with EGFR positive cells (U87-EGFR+), followed by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy or elemental analyses. We demonstrated that our filled and functionalized CNTs can internalize more efficiently in EGFR positive cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Spinato
- CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Laboratoire d'Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
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22
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Veracini L, Grall D, Schaub S, Beghelli-de la Forest Divonne S, Etienne-Grimaldi MC, Milano G, Bozec A, Babin E, Sudaka A, Thariat J, Van Obberghen-Schilling E. Elevated Src family kinase activity stabilizes E-cadherin-based junctions and collective movement of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Oncotarget 2016; 6:7570-83. [PMID: 25779657 PMCID: PMC4480700 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpression is thought to drive head and neck carcinogenesis however clinical responses to EGFR-targeting agents have been modest and alternate targets are actively sought to improve results. Src family kinases (SFKs), reported to act downstream of EGFR are among the alternative targets for which increased expression or activity in epithelial tumors is commonly associated to the dissolution of E-cadherin-based junctions and acquisition of a mesenchymal-like phenotype. Robust expression of total and activated Src was observed in advanced stage head and neck tumors (N=60) and in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma lines. In cultured cancer cells Src co-localized with E-cadherin in cell-cell junctions and its phosphorylation on Y419 was both constitutive and independent of EGFR activation. Selective inhibition of SFKs with SU6656 delocalized E-cadherin and disrupted cellular junctions without affecting E-cadherin expression and this effect was phenocopied by knockdown of Src or Yes. These findings reveal an EGFR-independent role for SFKs in the maintenance of intercellular junctions, which likely contributes to the cohesive invasion E-cadherin-positive cells in advanced tumors. Further, they highlight the need for a deeper comprehension of molecular pathways that drive collective cell invasion, in absence of mesenchymal transition, in order to combat tumor spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Veracini
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France
| | - Dominique Grall
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France
| | - Sébastien Schaub
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France
| | - Stéphanie Beghelli-de la Forest Divonne
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France.,Department of Pathology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | | | - Gérard Milano
- Laboratory of Oncopharmacology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Alexandre Bozec
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Emmanuel Babin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, CHU, Caen, France
| | - Anne Sudaka
- Department of Pathology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Juliette Thariat
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France.,Laboratory of Oncopharmacology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Ellen Van Obberghen-Schilling
- University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, UFR Sciences, Nice, France.,CNRS, UMR7277, Nice, France.,Inserm, U1091, Nice, France.,Department of Pathology, Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
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23
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Sacco AG, Worden FP. Molecularly targeted therapy for the treatment of head and neck cancer: a review of the ErbB family inhibitors. Onco Targets Ther 2016; 9:1927-43. [PMID: 27110122 PMCID: PMC4831599 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s93720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) present with locally advanced disease, which requires site-specific combinations of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Despite aggressive therapy, survival outcomes remain poor, and treatment-related morbidity is not negligible. For patients with recurrent or metastatic disease, therapeutic options are further limited and prognosis is dismal. With this in mind, molecularly targeted therapy provides a promising approach to optimizing treatment efficacy while minimizing associated toxicity. The ErbB family of receptors (ie, epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], ErbB2/human epidermal growth factor receptor [HER]-2, ErbB3/HER3, and ErbB4/HER4) is known to contribute to oncogenic processes, such as cellular proliferation and survival. EGFR, specifically, is upregulated in more than 90% of HNSCC, has been implicated in radiation resistance, and correlates with poorer clinical outcomes. The central role of EGFR in the pathogenesis of HNSCC suggests that inhibition of this pathway represents an attractive treatment strategy. As a result, EGFR inhibition has been extensively studied, with the emergence of two classes of drug therapy: monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. While the monoclonal antibody cetuximab is currently the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved EGFR inhibitor for the treatment of HNSCC, numerous investigational drugs are being evaluated in clinical trials. This paper will review the role of the ErbB family in the pathogenesis of HNSCC, as well as the evidence-based data for the use of ErbB family inhibition in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assuntina G Sacco
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Francis P Worden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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24
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Spleen Tyrosine Kinase Mediates EGFR Signaling to Regulate Keratinocyte Terminal Differentiation. J Invest Dermatol 2016; 136:192-201. [DOI: 10.1038/jid.2015.381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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25
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Zhang H, Forman HJ. 4-Hydroxynonenal activates Src through a non-canonical pathway that involves EGFR/PTP1B. Free Radic Biol Med 2015; 89:701-7. [PMID: 26453921 PMCID: PMC4684732 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Src, a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase involved in many biological processes, can be activated through both redox-dependent and independent mechanisms. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) is a lipid peroxidation product that is increased in pathophysiological conditions associated with Src activation. This study examined how HNE activates human c-Src. In the canonical pathway Src activation is initiated by dephosphorylation of pTyr530 followed by conformational change that causes Src auto-phosphorylation at Tyr419 and its activation. HNE increased Src activation in both dose- and time-dependent manner, while it also increased Src phosphorylation at Tyr530 (pTyr530 Src), suggesting that HNE activated Src via a non-canonical mechanism. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitor (539741), at concentrations that increased basal pTyr530 Src, also increased basal Src activity and significantly reduced HNE-mediated Src activation. The EGFR inhibitor, AG1478, and EGFR silencing, abrogated HNE-mediated EGFR activation and inhibited basal and HNE-induced Src activity. In addition, AG1478 also eliminated the increase of basal Src activation by a PTP1B inhibitor. Taken together these data suggest that HNE can activate Src partly through a non-canonical pathway involving activation of EGFR and inhibition of PTP1B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongqiao Zhang
- Andrus Gerontology Center, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern, California
| | - Henry Jay Forman
- Andrus Gerontology Center, Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern, California.
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Moser R, Xu C, Kao M, Annis J, Lerma LA, Schaupp CM, Gurley KE, Jang IS, Biktasova A, Yarbrough WG, Margolin AA, Grandori C, Kemp CJ, Méndez E. Functional kinomics identifies candidate therapeutic targets in head and neck cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 20:4274-88. [PMID: 25125259 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-2858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify novel therapeutic drug targets for p53-mutant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RNAi kinome viability screens were performed on HNSCC cells, including autologous pairs from primary tumor and recurrent/metastatic lesions, and in parallel on murine squamous cell carcinoma (MSCC) cells derived from tumors of inbred mice bearing germline mutations in Trp53, and p53 regulatory genes: Atm, Prkdc, and p19(Arf). Cross-species analysis of cell lines stratified by p53 mutational status and metastatic phenotype was used to select 38 kinase targets. Both primary and secondary RNAi validation assays were performed on additional HNSCC cell lines to credential these kinase targets using multiple phenotypic endpoints. Kinase targets were also examined via chemical inhibition using a panel of kinase inhibitors. A preclinical study was conducted on the WEE1 kinase inhibitor, MK-1775. RESULTS Our functional kinomics approach identified novel survival kinases in HNSCC involved in G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint, SFK, PI3K, and FAK pathways. RNAi-mediated knockdown and chemical inhibition of the WEE1 kinase with a specific inhibitor, MK-1775, had a significant effect on both viability and apoptosis. Sensitivity to the MK-1775 kinase inhibitor is in part determined by p53 mutational status, and due to unscheduled mitotic entry. MK-1775 displays single-agent activity and potentiates the efficacy of cisplatin in a p53-mutant HNSCC xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS WEE1 kinase is a potential therapeutic drug target for HNSCC. This study supports the application of a functional kinomics strategy to identify novel therapeutic targets for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell Moser
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Chang Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Michael Kao
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - James Annis
- Quellos High Throughput Facility, Institute for Stem Cell And Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington Medicine Research, Seattle, Washington
| | - Luisa Angelica Lerma
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Christopher M Schaupp
- Toxicology Program, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kay E Gurley
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Asel Biktasova
- Deparment of Surgery, Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Deparment of Surgery, Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Carla Grandori
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington. Quellos High Throughput Facility, Institute for Stem Cell And Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington Medicine Research, Seattle, Washington
| | - Christopher J Kemp
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Eduardo Méndez
- Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington. Surgery and Perioperative Care Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.
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Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and characterized by aggressive biologic behavior of metastatic propensity to the lung. Change of treatment paradigm brings survival benefit; however, 5-year survival rate is still low in patients having metastastatic foci at diagnosis for a few decades. Metastasis-associated protein (MTA) family is a group of ubiquitously expressed coregulators, which influences on tumor invasiveness or metastasis. MTA1 has been investigated in various cancers including osteosarcoma, and its overexpression is associated with high-risk features of cancers. In this review, we described various molecular studies of osteosarcoma, especially associated with MTA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Sun Kim
- Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160, Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju, 501-757, Korea,
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28
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HPV in oropharyngeal cancer: the basics to know in clinical practice. ACTA OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGICA ITALICA : ORGANO UFFICIALE DELLA SOCIETA ITALIANA DI OTORINOLARINGOLOGIA E CHIRURGIA CERVICO-FACCIALE 2014; 34:299-309. [PMID: 25709145 PMCID: PMC4299160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is rising in contrast to the decreasing incidence of carcinomas in other subsites of the head and neck, in spite of the reduced prevalence of smoking. Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, and in particular type 16 (HPV-16), is now recognized as a significant player in the onset of HPV positive OPSCC, with different epidemiological, clinical, anatomical, radiological, behavioural, biological and prognostic characteristics from HPV negative OPSCC. Indeed, the only subsite in the head and neck with a demonstrated aetiological viral link is, at present, the oropharynx. These observations lead to questions regarding management choices for patients based on tumour HPV status with important consequences on treatment, and on the role of vaccines and targeted therapy over the upcoming years.
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Selection of DNA aptamers against epidermal growth factor receptor with high affinity and specificity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 453:681-5. [PMID: 25242523 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1/c-ErbB1), is overexpressed in many solid cancers, such as epidermoid carcinomas, malignant gliomas, etc. EGFR plays roles in proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis of malignant cancer cells and is the ideal antigen for clinical applications in cancer detection, imaging and therapy. Aptamers, the output of the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), are DNA/RNA oligonucleotides which can bind protein and other substances with specificity. RNA aptamers are undesirable due to their instability and high cost of production. Conversely, DNA aptamers have aroused researcher's attention because they are easily synthesized, stable, selective, have high binding affinity and are cost-effective to produce. In this study, we have successfully identified DNA aptamers with high binding affinity and selectivity to EGFR. The aptamer named TuTu22 with Kd 56±7.3nM was chosen from the identified DNA aptamers for further study. Flow cytometry analysis results indicated that the TuTu22 aptamer was able to specifically recognize a variety of cancer cells expressing EGFR but did not bind to the EGFR-negative cells. With all of the aforementioned advantages, the DNA aptamers reported here against cancer biomarker EGFR will facilitate the development of novel targeted cancer detection, imaging and therapy.
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30
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Williams JP, Kim I, Ito E, Shi W, Yue S, Siu LL, Waldron J, O'Sullivan B, Yip KW, Liu FF. Pre-clinical characterization of Dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible pan-ErbB inhibitor, combined with ionizing radiation for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98557. [PMID: 24853121 PMCID: PMC4031184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is over-expressed in nearly all cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), and is an important driver of disease progression. EGFR targeted therapies have demonstrated clinical benefit for SCCHN treatment. In this report, we investigated the pre-clinical efficacy of Dacomitinib (PF-00299804), an irreversible pan-ErbB inhibitor, both alone and in combination with ionizing radiation (IR), a primary curative modality for SCCHN. One normal oral epithelial (NOE) and three SCCHN (FaDu, UT-SCC-8, UT-SCC-42a) cell lines were used to conduct cell viability, clonogenic survival, cell cycle, and immunoblotting assays in vitro, using increasing doses of Dacomitinib (10–500 nM), both with and without IR (2–4 Gy). The FaDu xenograft model was utilized for tumor growth delay assays in vivo, and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted on extracted tumors. A dose-dependent reduction in cell viability and clonogenic survival after Dacomitinib treatment was observed in all three SCCHN models. Treatment led to a significant reduction in EGFR signalling, with a subsequent decrease in phosphorylation of downstream targets such as ERK, AKT, and mTOR. In vivo, Dacomitinib treatment delayed tumor growth, while decreasing phospho-EGFR and Ki-67 immunoexpression. These effects were further enhanced when combined with IR, both in vitro and in vivo. The preclinical data support the further evaluations of Dacomitinib combined with IR for the future management of patients with SCCHN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P. Williams
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Inki Kim
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Emma Ito
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wei Shi
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shijun Yue
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lillian L. Siu
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Waldron
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian O'Sullivan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kenneth W. Yip
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fei-Fei Liu
- Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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31
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Joannes A, Grelet S, Duca L, Gilles C, Kileztky C, Dalstein V, Birembaut P, Polette M, Nawrocki-Raby B. Fhit Regulates EMT Targets through an EGFR/Src/ERK/Slug Signaling Axis in Human Bronchial Cells. Mol Cancer Res 2014; 12:775-83. [DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-13-0386-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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32
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Xu Y, Fisher GJ. Role of met axis in head and neck cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2013; 5:1601-18. [PMID: 24287743 PMCID: PMC3875956 DOI: 10.3390/cancers5041601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Revised: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. Despite advances in aggressive multidisciplinary treatments, the 5-year survival rate for this dreadful disease is only 50%, mostly due to high rate of recurrence and early involvement of regional lymph nodes and subsequent metastasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for invasion and metastasis is one of the most pressing goals in the field of head and neck cancer. Met, also known as hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), is a member of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RPTK) family. There is compelling evidence that Met axis is dysregulated and plays important roles in tumorigenesis, progression, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance in head and neck cancer. We describe in this review current understanding of Met axis in head and neck cancer biology and development of therapeutic inhibitors targeting Met axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiru Xu
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (Y.X.); (G.J.F.); Tel.: +1-734-763-1469 (G.J.F.); Fax: +1-734-647-0076 (G.J.F.)
| | - Gary J. Fisher
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (Y.X.); (G.J.F.); Tel.: +1-734-763-1469 (G.J.F.); Fax: +1-734-647-0076 (G.J.F.)
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33
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Lee PC, Chiou YC, Wong JM, Peng CL, Shieh MJ. Targeting colorectal cancer cells with single-walled carbon nanotubes conjugated to anticancer agent SN-38 and EGFR antibody. Biomaterials 2013; 34:8756-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.07.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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34
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Man YKS, DiCara D, Chan N, Vessillier S, Mather SJ, Rowe ML, Howard MJ, Marshall JF, Nissim A. Structural guided scaffold phage display libraries as a source of bio-therapeutics. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70452. [PMID: 23950939 PMCID: PMC3739823 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a structurally-guided scaffold phage display strategy for identification of ligand mimetic bio-therapeutics. As a proof of concept we used the ligand of integrin αvβ6, a tumour cell surface receptor and a major new target for imaging and therapy of many types of solid cancer. NMR structure analysis showed that RGD-helix structures are optimal for αvβ6 ligand-interaction, so we designed novel algorithms to generate human single chain fragment variable (scFv) libraries with synthetic VH-CDR3 encoding RGD-helix hairpins with helices of differing pitch, length and amino acid composition. Study of the lead scFv clones D25scFv and D34scFv and their corresponding VH-CDR3 derived peptides, D25p and D34p, demonstrated: specific binding to recombinant and cellular αvβ6; inhibition of αvβ6-dependent cell and ligand adhesion, αvβ6-dependent cell internalisation; and selective retention by αvβ6-expressing, but not αvβ6-negative, human xenografts. NMR analysis established that both the D25p and D34p retained RGD-helix structures confirming the success of the algorithm. In conclusion, scFv libraries can be engineered based on ligand structural motifs to increase the likelihood of developing powerful bio-therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. K. Stella Man
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle DiCara
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Chan
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sandrine Vessillier
- Bone and Joint Research, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J. Mather
- Centre for Molecular Oncology and Imaging, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle L. Rowe
- Biological NMR Spectroscopy, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Howard
- Biological NMR Spectroscopy, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - John F. Marshall
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JM); (AN)
| | - Ahuva Nissim
- Bone and Joint Research, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary's University of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JM); (AN)
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35
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Friedman JA, Wise SC, Hu M, Gouveia C, Vander Broek R, Freudlsperger C, Kannabiran VR, Arun P, Mitchell JB, Chen Z, Van Waes C. HSP90 Inhibitor SNX5422/2112 Targets the Dysregulated Signal and Transcription Factor Network and Malignant Phenotype of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Transl Oncol 2013; 6:429-41. [PMID: 23908686 PMCID: PMC3730018 DOI: 10.1593/tlo.13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a chaperone protein that stabilizes proteins involved in oncogenic and therapeutic resistance pathways of epithelial cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Here, we characterized the molecular, cellular, and preclinical activity of HSP90 inhibitor SNX5422/2112 in HNSCC overexpressing HSP90. SNX2112 inhibited proliferation, induced G2/M block, and enhanced cytotoxicity, chemosensitivity, and radiosensitivity between 25 and 250 nM in vitro. SNX2112 showed combinatorial activity with paclitaxel in wild-type (wt) TP53-deficient and cisplatin in mutant (mt) TP53 HNSCC lines. SNX2112 decreased expression or phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-MET, v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and 2, inhibitor κB kinase, and signal transducer and transcription factor 3 (STAT3), corresponding downstream nuclear factor κB, activator protein-1, and STAT3 reporter genes, and target oncogenes and angiogenic cytokines. Furthermore, SNX2112 enhanced re-expression of TP53 and targets p21WAF1 and PUMA, while TP53 inhibitor Pifithrin or siRNA attenuated the antiproliferative activity of SNX2112 in wtTP53 HNSCC in vitro. Prodrug SNX5422 similarly down-modulated key signal targets, enhanced TP53 expression and apoptosis, and inhibited proliferation, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis in a wtTP53-deficient HNSCC xenograft model. Thus, HSP90 inhibitor SNX5422/2112 broadly modulates multiple key nodes within the dysregulated signaling network, with corresponding effects upon the malignant phenotype. Our data support investigation of SNX5422/2112 in combination with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and radiotherapy in HNSCC with different TP53 status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay A Friedman
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Stephanie C Wise
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Michael Hu
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Chris Gouveia
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Robert Vander Broek
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Christian Freudlsperger
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vishnu R Kannabiran
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Pattatheyil Arun
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - James B Mitchell
- Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Zhong Chen
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Carter Van Waes
- Tumor Biology Section, Head and Neck Surgery Branch, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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Zhao H, Wu G, Cao X. EGFR dependent subcellular communication was responsible for morphine mediated AC superactivation. Cell Signal 2012; 25:417-28. [PMID: 23142605 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2012.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Compensatory adenylyl cyclase (AC) superactivation has been postulated to be responsible for the development of morphine tolerance and dependence, the underlying mechanism was demonstrated to comprise c-Src-dependent upregulation of AC5 within the lipid rafts. In the present study, we demonstrated that chronic morphine treatment sensitized EGFR signaling by augmenting EGFR phosphorylation and translocation into ER, which was essential for CRT-MOR tethering within the lipid rafts and AC5 superactivation. Intriguingly, synaptic clustering of CRT-MOR was dependent on EGFR phosphorylation and presumed to implicate in alignment and organization of synaptic compartments. Taken together, our data raised the possibility that an adaptive change in MOR and EGFR signal systems might establish CRT related subcellular communication, the signaling network within brain synaptic zone was proposed to implicate in morphine tolerance and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- Department of Integrative Medicine and Neurobiology, National Key lab of Medical Neurobiology, Institute of Brain Research Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, PR China.
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37
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Perisanidis C, Savarese-Brenner B, Würger T, Wrba F, Huynh A, Schopper C, Kornek G, Selzer E, Ewers R, Psyrri A, Krainer M, Filipits M. HCRP1 expression status is a significant prognostic marker in oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Oral Dis 2012; 19:206-11. [PMID: 22891969 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2012.01972.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The hepatocellular carcinoma-related protein 1 (HCRP1) is a key factor in the degradation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. In this study, we assessed the prognostic significance of HCRP1 expression in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOSCC). METHODS HCRP1 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry on tissue biopsy sections of 111 patients with locally advanced OOSCC undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models were used for survival analyses. RESULTS Low HCRP1 expression was associated with poor recurrence-free survival (P = 0.046) and overall survival (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that low HCRP1 expression remained an independent risk factor for relapse (HR 2.98, 95% CI 1.19-7.49, P = 0.02) and death (HR 3.04, 95% CI 1.19-7.79, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Low HCRP1 expression was found to be of adverse prognostic significance in patients with OOSCC who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Perisanidis
- Departments of Cranio-, Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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38
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Tinhofer I, Hristozova T, Stromberger C, Keilhoiz U, Budach V. Monitoring of circulating tumor cells and their expression of EGFR/phospho-EGFR during combined radiotherapy regimens in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2012; 83:e685-90. [PMID: 22583603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Revised: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The numbers of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and their expression/activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) during the course of combined chemo- or bioradiotherapy regimens as potential biomarkers of treatment efficacy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were determined. METHODS AND MATERIALS Peripheral blood samples from SCCHN patients with locally advanced stage IVA/B disease who were treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy or induction chemotherapy followed by bioradiation with cetuximab were included in this study. Using flow cytometry, the absolute number of CTCs per defined blood volume as well as their expression of EGFR and its phosphorylated form (pEGFR) during the course of treatment were assessed. RESULTS Before treatment, we detected ≥1 CTC per 3.75 mL blood in 9 of 31 patients (29%). Basal expression of EGFR was detected in 100% and pEGFR in 55% of the CTC+ cases. The frequency of CTC detection was not influenced by induction chemotherapy. However, the number of CTC+ samples significantly increased after radiotherapy. This radiation-induced increase in CTC numbers was less pronounced when radiotherapy was combined with cetuximab compared to its combination with cisplatin/5-fluorouracil. The former treatment regimen was also more effective in reducing pEGFR expression in CTCs. CONCLUSIONS Definitive radiotherapy regimens of locally advanced SCCHN can increase the number of CTCs and might thus contribute to a systemic spread of tumor cells. Further studies are needed to evaluate the predictive value of the radiation-induced increase in CTC numbers and the persistent activation of the EGFR signalling pathway in individual CTC+ cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg Tinhofer
- Translational Radiooncology Laboratory, Department of Radiooncology and Radiotherapy, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Multidrug-resistant cells overexpressing P-glycoprotein are susceptible to DNA crosslinking agents due to attenuated Src/nuclear EGFR cascade-activated DNA repair activity. Oncogene 2012; 32:1144-54. [PMID: 22525278 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We synthesized several novel bifunctional alkylating derivatives of 3a-aza-cyclopenta[a]indene (BO-1012, BO-1005, BO-1099 and BO-1101) that are potent DNA interstrand crosslinking agents. In in vitro cytotoxicity assay, these compounds were more cytotoxic to multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells, such as KBvin10, KBtax50 and CEM/VBL, than their parental cells. Using a xenograft model, BO-1012, at a dose of 5 mg/kg, partially suppressed the growth of parental KB cells but completely suppressed the growth of KBvin10 cells in nude mice. In exploring the possible mechanism, we found that DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair activity in MDR cells, KBvin10 and CEM/VBL, was significantly reduced compared with their parental cells, KB and CEM. Reduced DSB repair activity in KBvin10 cells was likely due to a defect in nuclear translocation of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), a component of the non-homologous end-joining repair machinery. Furthermore, BO-1012-induced DNA-PK translocation from the cytosol into the nucleus in KB cells is associated with the activation of the Src/nuclear epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) cascade, which is defective in MDR cells. As knockdown of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by siRNA reactivated the Src/nuclear EGFR cascade, DNA-PK translocation and DNA repair activity in MDR cells, overexpression of P-gp attenuates the activity of DNA DSB repair through suppression of Src/nuclear EGFR cascade. Therefore, DNA interstrand crosslinking agents may have potential therapeutic use against P-gp-overexpressing MDR cells.
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40
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López F, Llorente JL, Oviedo CM, Vivanco B, Álvarez Marcos C, García-Inclán C, Scola B, Hermsen MA. Gene amplification and protein overexpression of EGFR and ERBB2 in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer 2012; 118:1818-1826. [DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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41
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Yamashita M, Chattopadhyay S, Fensterl V, Zhang Y, Sen GC. A TRIF-independent branch of TLR3 signaling. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2012; 188:2825-33. [PMID: 22323545 PMCID: PMC3386560 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
dsRNA is a common pathogen-associated molecular pattern that is recognized by cellular TLR3 and used by virus-infected cells to activate specific transcription factors and trigger induction of antiviral genes. In this article, we report a new branch of TLR3 signaling that does not lead to gene induction but affects many cellular properties, such as cell migration, adhesion, and proliferation. We demonstrated that the migration of multiple cell lineages was affected by dsRNA treatment or influenza virus infection in a TLR3-dependent fashion. Surprisingly, for this effect of TLR3 signaling, the adaptor proteins, TRIF and MyD88, were not required. The effects of the new pathway were mediated by the proto-oncoprotein c-Src, which bound to TLR3 after dsRNA stimulation of cells. The response was biphasic: upon dsRNA treatment, we observed an immediate increase in cell motility followed by its strong inhibition. Our results indicate that the first phase was mediated by dsRNA-induced phosphorylation and activation of Src, whereas the second phase resulted from the sequestration of activated Src in lipid rafts, thus decreasing its active cytoplasmic pool. As expected, two other functions of Src, its effect on cell adhesion and cell proliferation, were also inhibited by dsRNA treatment. These results demonstrate that activated TLR3 can engage Src to trigger multiple cellular effects and reveal a possible link between innate immune response and cell growth regulation. This study also provides a rare example of TLR-mediated cellular effects that do not require gene induction and the first example, to our knowledge, of an adaptor-independent effect of any TLR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michifumi Yamashita
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Saurabh Chattopadhyay
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Volker Fensterl
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Ganes C. Sen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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Abstract
Several molecular pathways are deregulated and activated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck making this disease attractive for targeted molecular therapies. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor, improves the overall survival when combined with radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Novels agents targeting different molecular pathways in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are currently under development. Among them, dual (epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2) or pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and drugs that target the insulin growth factor-1 receptor, the MET receptor, or the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway have shown either interesting preclinical activity or promising preliminary clinical efficacy. Angiogenesis inhibitors should be used with caution in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck due to the risk of tumor bleeding. However, only a minority of patients seems to benefit from these new approaches. Understanding the primary and acquired resistance mechanisms to predict the treatment efficacy is of crucial importance to allow a better patient selection.
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Abstract
Src-family Kinases (SFKs) participate in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, autophagy, adhesion, migration, invasion and angiogenesis in normal and cancer cells. Abnormal expression of SFKs has been documented in cancers that arise in breast, colon, ovary, melanocyte, gastric mucosa, head and neck, pancreas, lung, and brain. Targeting SFKs in cancer cells has been shown to be a promising therapeutic strategy in solid tumors, particularly in ovarian, colon and breast cancers. Paclitaxel is one of most widely used chemotherapeutic agents for the management of ovarian, breast, lung and head/neck cancers. As a microtubule-stabilizing agent, paclitaxel possesses both mitosis-dependent and mitosis-independent activities against cancer cells. A variety of mechanisms such as deregulation of P-glycoprotein, alteration of tubulin isotypes, alteration of microtubule-regulatory proteins, deregulation of apoptotic signaling pathways, mutation of tubulins and overexpression of copper transporters have been implicated in the development of primary or secondary resistance to paclitaxel. By affecting cancer cell survival, proliferation, autophagy, microtubule stability, motility, and/or angiogenesis, SFKs interact with mechanisms that regulate paclitaxel sensitivity. Inhibition of SFKs can potentiate the anti-tumor activity of paclitaxel by enhancing apoptosis, autophagy and microtubule stability. Based on pre-clinical observations, administration of SFK inhibitors in combination with paclitaxel could improve treatment for ovarian, breast, lung and head/neck cancers. Identification and validation of predictive biomarkers could also permit personalization of the therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Feng Le
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
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Filosto S, Khan EM, Tognon E, Becker C, Ashfaq M, Ravid T, Goldkorn T. EGF receptor exposed to oxidative stress acquires abnormal phosphorylation and aberrant activated conformation that impairs canonical dimerization. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23240. [PMID: 21853092 PMCID: PMC3154401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Crystallographic studies have offered understanding of how receptor tyrosine kinases from the ErbB family are regulated by their growth factor ligands. A conformational change of the EGFR (ErbB1) was shown to occur upon ligand binding, where a solely ligand-mediated mode of dimerization/activation was documented. However, this dogma of dimerization/activation was revolutionized by the discovery of constitutively active ligand-independent EGFR mutants. In addition, other ligand-independent activation mechanisms may occur. We have shown that oxidative stress (ox-stress), induced by hydrogen peroxide or cigarette smoke, activates EGFR differently than its ligand, EGF, thereby inducing aberrant phosphorylation and impaired trafficking and degradation of EGFR. Here we demonstrate that ox-stress activation of EGFR is ligand-independent, does not induce "classical" receptor dimerization and is not inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1478. Thus, an unprecedented, apparently activated, state is found for EGFR under ox-stress. Furthermore, this activation mechanism is temperature-dependent, suggesting the simultaneous involvement of membrane structure. We propose that ceramide increase under ox-stress disrupts cholesterol-enriched rafts leading to EGFR re-localization into the rigid, ceramide-enriched rafts. This increase in ceramide also supports EGFR aberrant trafficking to a peri-nuclear region. Therefore, the EGFR unprecedented and activated conformation could be sustained by simultaneous alterations in membrane structure under ox-stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Filosto
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Elaine M. Khan
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Emiliana Tognon
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Cathleen Becker
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Majid Ashfaq
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Tommer Ravid
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Tzipora Goldkorn
- Center for Comparative Respiratory Biology and Medicine, Genome and Biomedical Sciences Facility, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, California, United States of America
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Hunt JL. An update on molecular diagnostics of squamous and salivary gland tumors of the head and neck. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2011; 135:602-9. [PMID: 21526958 DOI: 10.5858/2010-0655-rair.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Molecular testing in anatomic pathology is becoming standardized and can contribute valuable diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic information for the clinical management of patients. In head and neck pathology, recent advances in molecular testing have provided important targets in several different diagnostic areas, with particular emerging clinical applications in squamous and salivary gland pathology. In squamous mucosal-derived lesions, human papilloma virus has emerged as an important pathogenic etiology in a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Within the category of salivary gland tumors, 3 tumors have recently been recognized that contain oncogenic translocations. OBJECTIVE To describe the current state of information about the molecular alterations in squamous lesions and in salivary gland tumors of the head and neck. DATA SOURCES Published literature on squamous and salivary gland tumors of the head and neck. CONCLUSIONS The different approaches to identification of viral-associated tumors include assays using polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Most mucoepidermoid carcinomas harbor MECT1-MAML2 gene rearrangement. The MYB-NFIB translocations have recently been identified in adenoid cystic carcinomas. Finally, a newly described tumor of salivary gland, mammary analogue secretory carcinoma, harbors the ETV6-NTRK3 translocation. Although these translocations are just emerging as diagnostic targets, future roles may evolve as potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Hunt
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Walk EL, Weed SA. Recently identified biomarkers that promote lymph node metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2011; 3:747-72. [PMID: 24212639 PMCID: PMC3756388 DOI: 10.3390/cancers3010747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 02/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a heterogeneous cancer that arises in the upper aerodigestive tract. Despite advances in knowledge and treatment of this disease, the five-year survival rate after diagnosis of advanced (stage 3 and 4) HNSCC remains approximately 50%. One reason for the large degree of mortality associated with late stage HNSCC is the intrinsic ability of tumor cells to undergo locoregional invasion. Lymph nodes in the cervical region are the primary sites of metastasis for HNSCC, occurring before the formation of distant metastases. The presence of lymph node metastases is strongly associated with poor patient outcome, resulting in increased consideration being given to the development and implementation of anti-invasive strategies. In this review, we focus on select proteins that have been recently identified as promoters of lymph node metastasis in HNSCC. The discussed proteins are involved in a wide range of critical cellular functions, and offer a more comprehensive understanding of the factors involved in HNSCC metastasis while additionally providing increased options for consideration in the design of future therapeutic intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse L Walk
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Program in Cancer Cell Biology, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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Schmitz S, Machiels JP. Molecular biology of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: relevance and therapeutic implications. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2011; 10:1471-84. [PMID: 20836682 DOI: 10.1586/era.10.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
More than 90% of all head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. Despite advances in the management of patients with this disease, the survival rate has not been significantly improved. Several mechanisms of carcinogenesis have been elucidated and molecular targeted agents seem to be promising therapeutic tools. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody inhibitor of the EGF receptor, improves survival rates in association with radiotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) or in palliative disease, and is nowadays the only targeted agent approved in this indication. Other targeted agents are also clinically relevant to the treatment of different malignancies, including SCCHN. This article focuses on the major molecular pathways implicated in SCCHN carcinogenesis and provides an overview of their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Schmitz
- Centre du Cancer, Department of Medical Oncology, Clinique de Cancérologie Cervico-Maxillo-Faciale, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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STAT-Related Profiles Are Associated with Patient Response to Targeted Treatments in Locally Advanced SCCHN. Transl Oncol 2011; 4:47-58. [PMID: 21286377 DOI: 10.1593/tlo.10217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Revised: 11/08/2010] [Accepted: 11/18/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody cetuximab (Erbitux, CTX) is currently used for the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN), as yet with modest effectiveness, prompting for the identification of response predictors to this treatment and for the targeting of additional pathways implicated in this disease. Within this scope, we investigated the effect of SRC/STAT pathway components on LA-SCCHN patient outcome. SRC, STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A, STAT5B, ANXA1, CAV1, IGFBP2, EPHA2, EPHB2, and MSN relative gene expression, as well as Stat protein activation, were assessed on LA-SCCHN tumor tissues from 35 patients treated with combined radiotherapy (RT) and CTX-based regimens. Stat1, Stat3, and Stat5 proteins were usually found activated in neoplastic nuclei (70.4%, 85.7%, and 70.8%, respectively). Activated Stat3 and Stat5 were associated with each other (P = .017) and with a CAV1(high)/MSN(high)/IGFBP2(low) profile. All patients with tumors expressing high STAT5A/EPHA2 experienced a complete response on RT-CTX-based treatments (12/15 complete responders, P < .0001) and a longer progression-free survival (P = .024). Few tumors expressed high ANXA1/CAV1/EPHA2 and low IGFBP2, a putative dasatinib response-related profile, whereas high ANXA1 was associated with shorter overall survival (P = .003). In conclusion, Stat activation is common in LA-SCCHN, where overexpression of STAT5A and EPHA2 may predict for response to RT-CTX treatments. The STAT5A/EPHA2 profile seems of particular interest for validation in larger cohorts and in multiple tumor types because markers for the positive selection of patients to benefit from CTX-containing treatments are currently lacking.
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Van Tubergen E, Vander Broek R, Lee J, Wolf G, Carey T, Bradford C, Prince M, Kirkwood KL, D'Silva NJ. Tristetraprolin regulates interleukin-6, which is correlated with tumor progression in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer 2011; 117:2677-89. [PMID: 21656745 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2010] [Revised: 10/24/2010] [Accepted: 11/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-derived cytokines play a significant role in the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Targeting proteins, such as tristetraprolin (TTP), that regulate multiple inflammatory cytokines may inhibit the progression of HNSCC. However, TTP's role in cancer is poorly understood. The goal of the current study was to determine whether TTP regulates inflammatory cytokines in patients with HNSCC. METHODS TTP messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were determined by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. mRNA stability and cytokine secretion were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay, respectively, after overexpression or knockdown of TTP in HNSCC. HNSCC tissue microarrays were immunostained for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TTP. RESULTS TTP expression in HNSCC cell lines was found to be inversely correlated with the secretion of IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2) )(.) Knockdown of TTP increased mRNA stability and the secretion of cytokines. Conversely, overexpression of TTP in HNSCC cells led to decreased secretion of IL-6, VEGF, and PGE(2) . Immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays for IL-6 demonstrated that staining intensity is prognostic for poor disease-specific survival (P = .023), tumor recurrence and development of second primary tumors (P = .014), and poor overall survival (P = .019). CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study demonstrated that down-regulation of TTP in HNSCC enhances mRNA stability and promotes secretion of IL-6, VEGF, and PGE(2) . Furthermore, high IL-6 secretion in HNSCC tissue is a biomarker for poor prognosis. In as much as enhanced cytokine secretion is associated with poor prognosis, TTP may be a therapeutic target to reduce multiple cytokines concurrently in patients with HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Van Tubergen
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA
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Liao C, Sun Q, Liang B, Shen J, Shuai X. Targeting EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells using Cetuximab-immunomicelles loaded with doxorubicin and superparamagnetic iron oxide. Eur J Radiol 2010; 80:699-705. [PMID: 20810233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2010.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2010] [Revised: 07/26/2010] [Accepted: 08/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a cellular transmembrane receptor, plays a key role in cell proliferation and is linked to a poor prognosis in various human cancers. In this study, we constructed Cetuximab-immunomicelles in which the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody was linked to poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) nanomicelles that were loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). The specific interactions between EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells (A431) and immunomicelles were observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the capacity of transporting SPIO into tumor cells using these immunomicelles was evaluated with a 1.5 T clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. It was found that the acquired MRI T2 signal intensity of A431 cells that were treated with the SPIO-loaded and antibody-functionalized micelles decreased significantly. Using the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we also demonstrated that the immunomicelles inhibited cell proliferation more effectively than their nontargeting counterparts. Our results suggest that Cetuximab-immunomicelles are a useful delivery vehicle for DOX and SPIO to EGFR-overexpressing tumor cells in vitro and that Cetuximab-immunomicelles can serve as a MRI-visible and targeted drug delivery agent for better tumor imaging and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengde Liao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
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