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Bhoopathi P, Mannangatti P, Pradhan AK, Kumar A, Maji S, Lang FF, Klibanov AL, Madan E, Cavenee WK, Keoprasert T, Sun D, Bjerkvig R, Thorsen F, Gogna R, Das SK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. Noninvasive therapy of brain cancer using a unique systemic delivery methodology with a cancer terminator virus. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31302. [PMID: 38775127 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Primary, glioblastoma, and secondary brain tumors, from metastases outside the brain, are among the most aggressive and therapeutically resistant cancers. A physiological barrier protecting the brain, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), functions as a deterrent to effective therapies. To enhance cancer therapy, we developed a cancer terminator virus (CTV), a unique tropism-modified adenovirus consisting of serotype 3 fiber knob on an otherwise Ad5 capsid that replicates in a cancer-selective manner and simultaneously produces a potent therapeutic cytokine, melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24). A limitation of the CTV and most other viruses, including adenoviruses, is an inability to deliver systemically to treat brain tumors because of the BBB, nonspecific virus trapping, and immune clearance. These obstacles to effective viral therapy of brain cancer have now been overcome using focused ultrasound with a dual microbubble treatment, the focused ultrasound-double microbubble (FUS-DMB) approach. Proof-of-principle is now provided indicating that the BBB can be safely and transiently opened, and the CTV can then be administered in a second set of complement-treated microbubbles and released in the brain using focused ultrasound. Moreover, the FUS-DMB can be used to deliver the CTV multiple times in animals with glioblastoma growing in their brain thereby resulting in a further enhancement in survival. This strategy permits efficient therapy of primary and secondary brain tumors enhancing animal survival without promoting harmful toxic or behavioral side effects. Additionally, when combined with a standard of care therapy, Temozolomide, a further increase in survival is achieved. The FUS-DMB approach with the CTV highlights a noninvasive strategy to treat brain cancers without surgery. This innovative delivery scheme combined with the therapeutic efficacy of the CTV provides a novel potential translational therapeutic approach for brain cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bhoopathi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Padmanabhan Mannangatti
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Anjan K Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Santanu Maji
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Frederick F Lang
- Department of Neurosurgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexander L Klibanov
- Biomedical Engineering, Radiology and Medical Imaging, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Esha Madan
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Webster K Cavenee
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Timothy Keoprasert
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Dong Sun
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Rolf Bjerkvig
- Department of Biomedicine, Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Frits Thorsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rajan Gogna
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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MacKenzie TMG, Cisneros R, Maynard RD, Snyder MP. Reverse-ChIP Techniques for Identifying Locus-Specific Proteomes: A Key Tool in Unlocking the Cancer Regulome. Cells 2023; 12:1860. [PMID: 37508524 PMCID: PMC10377898 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141860] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A phenotypic hallmark of cancer is aberrant transcriptional regulation. Transcriptional regulation is controlled by a complicated array of molecular factors, including the presence of transcription factors, the deposition of histone post-translational modifications, and long-range DNA interactions. Determining the molecular identity and function of these various factors is necessary to understand specific aspects of cancer biology and reveal potential therapeutic targets. Regulation of the genome by specific factors is typically studied using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq) that identifies genome-wide binding interactions through the use of factor-specific antibodies. A long-standing goal in many laboratories has been the development of a 'reverse-ChIP' approach to identify unknown binding partners at loci of interest. A variety of strategies have been employed to enable the selective biochemical purification of sequence-defined chromatin regions, including single-copy loci, and the subsequent analytical detection of associated proteins. This review covers mass spectrometry techniques that enable quantitative proteomics before providing a survey of approaches toward the development of strategies for the purification of sequence-specific chromatin as a 'reverse-ChIP' technique. A fully realized reverse-ChIP technique holds great potential for identifying cancer-specific targets and the development of personalized therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rocío Cisneros
- Sarafan ChEM-H/IMA Postbaccalaureate Fellow in Target Discovery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rajan D Maynard
- Genetics Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael P Snyder
- Genetics Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Kumar A, Das SK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. Applications of tissue-specific and cancer-selective gene promoters for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 160:253-315. [PMID: 37704290 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Current treatment of solid tumors with standard of care chemotherapies, radiation therapy and/or immunotherapies are often limited by severe adverse toxic effects, resulting in a narrow therapeutic index. Cancer gene therapy represents a targeted approach that in principle could significantly reduce undesirable side effects in normal tissues while significantly inhibiting tumor growth and progression. To be effective, this strategy requires a clear understanding of the molecular biology of cancer development and evolution and developing biological vectors that can serve as vehicles to target cancer cells. The advent and fine tuning of omics technologies that permit the collective and spatial recognition of genes (genomics), mRNAs (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics), metabolites (metabolomics), epiomics (epigenomics, epitranscriptomics, and epiproteomics), and their interactomics in defined complex biological samples provide a roadmap for identifying crucial targets of relevance to the cancer paradigm. Combining these strategies with identified genetic elements that control target gene expression uncovers significant opportunities for developing guided gene-based therapeutics for cancer. The purpose of this review is to overview the current state and potential limitations in developing gene promoter-directed targeted expression of key genes and highlights their potential applications in cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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Vaughan HJ, Zamboni CG, Hassan LF, Radant NP, Jacob D, Mease RC, Minn I, Tzeng SY, Gabrielson KL, Bhardwaj P, Guo X, Francisco D, Pomper MG, Green JJ. Polymeric nanoparticles for dual-targeted theranostic gene delivery to hepatocellular carcinoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo6406. [PMID: 35857843 PMCID: PMC9299552 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo6406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops predominantly in the inflammatory environment of a cirrhotic liver caused by hepatitis, toxin exposure, or chronic liver disease. A targeted therapeutic approach is required to enable cancer killing without causing toxicity and liver failure. Poly(beta-amino-ester) (PBAE) nanoparticles (NPs) were used to deliver a completely CpG-free plasmid harboring mutant herpes simplex virus type 1 sr39 thymidine kinase (sr39) DNA to human HCC cells. Transfection with sr39 enables cancer cell killing with the prodrug ganciclovir and accumulation of 9-(4-18F-fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)guanine (18F-FHBG) for in vivo imaging. Targeting was achieved using a CpG-free human alpha fetoprotein (AFP) promoter (CpGf-AFP-sr39). Expression was restricted to AFP-producing HCC cells, enabling selective transfection of orthotopic HCC xenografts. CpGf-AFP-sr39 NP treatment resulted in 62% reduced tumor size, and therapeutic gene expression was detectable by positron emission tomography (PET). This systemic nanomedicine achieved tumor-specific delivery, therapy, and imaging, representing a promising platform for targeted treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J. Vaughan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Camila G. Zamboni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Laboni F. Hassan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Nicholas P. Radant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Desmond Jacob
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Ronnie C. Mease
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Il Minn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Stephany Y. Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Kathleen L. Gabrielson
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Pranshu Bhardwaj
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Xin Guo
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - David Francisco
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Martin G. Pomper
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology, and Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Conversion of a Non-Cancer-Selective Promoter into a Cancer-Selective Promoter. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061497. [PMID: 35326649 PMCID: PMC8946048 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The rat progression elevated gene-3 (PEG-3) promoter displays cancer-selective expression, whereas the rat growth arrest and DNA damage inducible gene-34 (GADD34) promoter lacks cancer specificity. PEG-3 and GADD34 minimal promoters display strong sequence homology except for two single point mutations. Since mutations are prevalent in many gene promoters resulting in significant alterations in promoter specificity and activity, we have explored the relevance of these two nucleotide alterations in determining cancer-selective gene expression. We demonstrate that these two point mutations are required to transform a non-cancer-specific promoter (pGADD) into a cancer-selective promoter (pGAPE). Additionally, we found GATA2 transcription factor binding sites in the GAPE-Prom, which regulates pGAPE activity selectively in cancer cells. This newly created pGAPE has all the necessary elements making it an appropriate genetic tool to noninvasively deliver imaging agents to follow tumor growth and progression to metastasis and for generating conditionally replicating adenoviruses that can express and deliver their payload exclusively in cancer. Abstract Progression-elevated gene-3 (PEG-3) and rat growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene-34 (GADD34) display significant sequence homology with regulation predominantly transcriptional. The rat full-length (FL) and minimal (min) PEG-3 promoter display cancer-selective expression in rodent and human tumors, allowing for cancer-directed regulation of transgenes, viral replication and in vivo imaging of tumors and metastases in animals, whereas the FL- and min-GADD34-Prom lack cancer specificity. Min-PEG-Prom and min-GADD34-Prom have identical sequences except for two single-point mutation differences (at −260 bp and +159 bp). Engineering double mutations in the min-GADD34-Prom produce the GAPE-Prom. Changing one base pair (+159) or both point mutations in the min-GADD34-Prom, but not the FL-GADD34-Prom, results in cancer-selective transgene expression in diverse cancer cells (including prostate, breast, pancreatic and neuroblastoma) vs. normal counterparts. Additionally, we identified a GATA2 transcription factor binding site, promoting cancer specificity when both min-PEG-Prom mutations are present in the GAPE-Prom. Taken together, introducing specific point mutations in a rat min-GADD34-Prom converts this non-cancer-specific promoter into a cancer-selective promoter, and the addition of GATA2 with existing AP1 and PEA3 transcription factors enhances further cancer-selective activity of the GAPE-Prom. The GAPE-Prom provides a genetic tool to specifically regulate transgene expression in cancer cells.
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Insights into the Mechanisms of Action of MDA-7/IL-24: A Ubiquitous Cancer-Suppressing Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010072. [PMID: 35008495 PMCID: PMC8744595 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24), a secreted protein of the IL-10 family, was first identified more than two decades ago as a novel gene differentially expressed in terminally differentiating human metastatic melanoma cells. MDA-7/IL-24 functions as a potent tumor suppressor exerting a diverse array of functions including the inhibition of tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis, and induction of potent "bystander" antitumor activity and synergy with conventional cancer therapeutics. MDA-7/IL-24 induces cancer-specific cell death through apoptosis or toxic autophagy, which was initially established in vitro and in preclinical animal models in vivo and later in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced cancers. This review summarizes the history and our current understanding of the molecular/biological mechanisms of MDA-7/IL-24 action rendering it a potent cancer suppressor.
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Ahn HH, Carrington C, Hu Y, Liu HW, Ng C, Nam H, Park A, Stace C, West W, Mao HQ, Pomper MG, Ullman CG, Minn I. Nanoparticle-mediated tumor cell expression of mIL-12 via systemic gene delivery treats syngeneic models of murine lung cancers. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9733. [PMID: 33958660 PMCID: PMC8102550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89124-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of cancers in the lung remains a critical challenge in the clinic for which gene therapy could offer valuable options. We describe an effective approach through systemic injection of engineered polymer/DNA nanoparticles that mediate tumor-specific expression of a therapeutic gene, under the control of the cancer-selective progression elevated gene 3 (PEG-3) promoter, to treat tumors in the lungs of diseased mice. A clinically tested, untargeted, polyethylenimine carrier was selected to aid rapid transition to clinical studies, and a CpG-free plasmid backbone and coding sequences were used to reduce inflammation. Intravenous administration of nanoparticles expressing murine single-chain interleukin 12, under the control of PEG-3 promoter, significantly improved the survival of mice in both an orthotopic and a metastatic model of lung cancer with no marked symptoms of systemic toxicity. These outcomes achieved using clinically relevant nanoparticle components raises the promise of translation to human therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Hyun Ahn
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Yizong Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Heng-Wen Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Christy Ng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Hwanhee Nam
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Andrew Park
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- AstraZeneca (MedImmune), One Medimmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Catherine Stace
- Cancer Targeting Systems, 1188 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459, USA
- Platform First Ltd, 1 Station Road, Sutton, Cambridge, CB6 2RL, UK
| | - Will West
- Cancer Targeting Systems, 1188 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459, USA
| | - Hai-Quan Mao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Christopher G Ullman
- Cancer Targeting Systems, 1188 Centre Street, Newton Centre, MA, 02459, USA.
- Paratopix Ltd., Bishop's Stortford, CM23 5JD, UK.
| | - Il Minn
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Russel H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
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Bhoopathi P, Pradhan AK, Maji S, Das SK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. Theranostic Tripartite Cancer Terminator Virus for Cancer Therapy and Imaging. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040857. [PMID: 33670594 PMCID: PMC7922065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040857] [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: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary An optimum cancer therapeutic virus should embody unique properties, including an ability to: Selectively procreate and kill tumor but not normal cells; produce a secreted therapeutic molecule (with broad-acting anti-cancer effects on primary and distant metastatic cells because of potent “bystander” activity); and monitor therapy non-invasively by imaging primary and distant metastatic cancers. We previously created a broad-spectrum, cancer-selective and replication competent therapeutic adenovirus that embodies two of these properties, i.e., specifically reproduces in cancer cells and produces a therapeutic cytokine, MDA-7/IL-24, a “cancer terminator virus” (CTV). We now expand on this concept and demonstrate the feasibility of producing a tripartite CTV (TCTV) selectively expressing three genes from three distinct promoters that replicate in the cancer cells while producing MDA-7/IL-24 and an imaging gene (i.e., luciferase). This novel first-in-class tripartite “theranostic” TCTV expands the utility of therapeutic viruses to non-invasively image and selectively destroy primary tumors and metastases. Abstract Combining cancer-selective viral replication and simultaneous production of a therapeutic cytokine, with potent “bystander” anti-tumor activity, are hallmarks of the cancer terminator virus (CTV). To expand on these attributes, we designed a next generation CTV that additionally enables simultaneous non-invasive imaging of tumors targeted for eradication. A unique tripartite CTV “theranostic” adenovirus (TCTV) has now been created that employs three distinct promoters to target virus replication, cytokine production and imaging capabilities uniquely in cancer cells. Conditional replication of the TCTV is regulated by a cancer-selective (truncated PEG-3) promoter, the therapeutic component, MDA-7/IL-24, is under a ubiquitous (CMV) promoter, and finally the imaging capabilities are synchronized through another cancer selective (truncated tCCN1) promoter. Using in vitro studies and clinically relevant in vivo models of breast and prostate cancer, we demonstrate that incorporating a reporter gene for imaging does not compromise the exceptional therapeutic efficacy of our previously reported bipartite CTV. This TCTV permits targeted treatment of tumors while monitoring tumor regression, with potential to simultaneously detect metastasis due to the cancer-selective activity of reporter gene expression. This “theranostic” virus provides a new genetic tool for distinguishing and treating localized and metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bhoopathi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- Correspondence: (P.B.); (P.B.F.)
| | - Anjan K. Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
| | - Santanu Maji
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
| | - Swadesh K. Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Paul B. Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Correspondence: (P.B.); (P.B.F.)
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9
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Emdad L, Bhoopathi P, Talukdar S, Pradhan AK, Sarkar D, Wang XY, Das SK, Fisher PB. Recent insights into apoptosis and toxic autophagy: The roles of MDA-7/IL-24, a multidimensional anti-cancer therapeutic. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 66:140-154. [PMID: 31356866 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis and autophagy play seminal roles in maintaining organ homeostasis. Apoptosis represents canonical type I programmed cell death. Autophagy is viewed as pro-survival, however, excessive autophagy can promote type II cell death. Defective regulation of these two obligatory cellular pathways is linked to various diseases, including cancer. Biologic or chemotherapeutic agents, which can reprogram cancer cells to undergo apoptosis- or toxic autophagy-mediated cell death, are considered effective tools for treating cancer. Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7 (mda-7) selectively promotes these effects in cancer cells. mda-7 was identified more than two decades ago by subtraction hybridization showing elevated expression during induction of terminal differentiation of metastatic melanoma cells following treatment with recombinant fibroblast interferon and mezerein (a PKC activating agent). MDA-7 was classified as a member of the IL-10 gene family based on its chromosomal location, and the presence of an IL-10 signature motif and a secretory sequence, and re-named interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24). Multiple studies have established MDA-7/IL-24 as a potent anti-cancer agent, which when administered at supra-physiological levels induces growth arrest and cell death through apoptosis and toxic autophagy in a wide variety of tumor cell types, but not in corresponding normal/non-transformed cells. Furthermore, in a phase I/II clinical trial, MDA-7/IL-24 administered by means of a non-replicating adenovirus was well tolerated and displayed significant clinical activity in patients with multiple advanced cancers. This review examines our current comprehension of the role of MDA-7/IL-24 in mediating cancer-specific cell death via apoptosis and toxic autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Praveen Bhoopathi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sarmistha Talukdar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Anjan K Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
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10
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Gulei D, Berindan-Neagoe I. Activation of Necroptosis by Engineered Self Tumor-Derived Exosomes Loaded with CRISPR/Cas9. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 17:448-451. [PMID: 31323464 PMCID: PMC6639591 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 has proved its efficiency in vitro, where we now know that this tool can efficiently target specific parts of the genome. These modifications can be used to generate advanced models of human diseases, address specific functions of genes, and develop new therapeutic strategies. Even if these advancements are promising, there are still two great issues associated with CRISPR/Cas9: how we can specifically and safely deliver the editing tool in vivo and how we can address the impossibility of CRISPR/Cas9 to attack all the cells within the targeted pool? This work presents an alternative method for engagement of cell death in cancer cells with immediate application in the preclinical sector and significant translational relevance toward clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Gulei
- MEDFUTURE - Research Center for Advanced Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Marinescu 23 Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- MEDFUTURE - Research Center for Advanced Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Marinescu 23 Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Marinescu 23 Street, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, The Oncology Institute Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta, Republicii 34-36 Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
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11
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Development of a Transcriptional Amplification System Based on the PEG3 Promoter to Target Androgen Receptor-Positive and -Negative Prostate Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20010216. [PMID: 30626088 PMCID: PMC6337121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Localized prostate cancer (PCa) is often curable, whereas metastatic disease treated by castration inevitably progresses toward castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Most CRPC treatments target androgen receptor (AR) signaling. However, not all CRPC cells rely on AR activity for survival and proliferation. With advances in immunotherapy and fluid biopsies for cancer management, expression systems specific for both AR-positive and -negative PCa are required for virus-based vaccines and cell imaging. To target both AR-responsive and non-responsive cells, we developed a three-step transcriptional amplification (3STA) system based on the progression elevated gene-3 (PEG3) promoter named PEG3AP1-3STA. Notably, we report on different genetic modifications that significantly improved PEG3 promoter's strength in PCa cells. Adenoviruses incorporating PEG3 promoter with and without transcriptional amplification systems were generated. The potential of PEG3AP1-3STA to target PCa cells was then evaluated in vitro and in vivo in androgen-responsive and non-responsive PCa cell lines. PEG3AP1-3STA was shown to be active in all PCa cell lines and not regulated by androgens, and its activity was amplified 97-fold compared to that of a non-amplified promoter. The PEG3AP1-3STA system can thus be used to target advanced AR+ and AR- cells for imaging or immunovirotherapy in advanced PCa.
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12
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Benskey MJ, Sandoval IM, Miller K, Sellnow RL, Gezer A, Kuhn NC, Vashon R, Manfredsson FP. Basic Concepts in Viral Vector-Mediated Gene Therapy. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1937:3-26. [PMID: 30706387 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9065-8_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Today any researcher with the desire can easily purchase a viral vector. However, despite the availability of viral vectors themselves, the requisite knowledge that is absolutely essential to conducting a gene therapy experiment remains somewhat obscure and esoteric. To utilize viral vectors to their full potential, a large number of decisions must be made, in some instances prior to even obtaining the vector itself. For example, critical decisions include selection of the proper virus, selection of the proper expression cassette, whether to produce or purchase a viral vector, proper viral handling and storage, the most appropriate delivery method, selecting the proper controls, how to ensure your virus is expressing properly, and many other complex decisions that are essential to performing a successful gene therapy experiment. The need to make so many important decisions can be overwhelming and potentially prohibitive, especially to the novice gene therapist. In order to aid in this challenging process, here we provide an overview of basic gene therapy modalities and a decision tree that can be used to make oneself aware of the options available to the beginning gene therapist. This information can be used as a road map to help navigate the complex and perhaps confusing process of designing a successful gene therapy experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Benskey
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Ivette M Sandoval
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Kathryn Miller
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Rhyomi L Sellnow
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Aysegul Gezer
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Nathan C Kuhn
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Roslyn Vashon
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Fredric P Manfredsson
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
- Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
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13
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Emdad L, Das SK, Wang XY, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Cancer terminator viruses (CTV): A better solution for viral-based therapy of cancer. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:5684-5695. [PMID: 29278667 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In principle, viral gene therapy holds significant potential for the therapy of solid cancers. However, this promise has not been fully realized and systemic administration of viruses has not proven as successful as envisioned in the clinical arena. Our research is focused on developing the next generation of efficacious viruses to specifically treat both primary cancers and a major cause of cancer lethality, metastatic tumors (that have spread from a primary site of origin to other areas in the body and are responsible for an estimated 90% of cancer deaths). We have generated a chimeric tropism-modified type 5 and 3 adenovirus that selectively replicates in cancer cells and simultaneously produces a secreted anti-cancer toxic cytokine, melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/Interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24), referred to as a Cancer Terminator Virus (CTV) (Ad.5/3-CTV). In preclinical animal models, injection into a primary tumor causes selective cell death and therapeutic activity is also observed in non-injected distant tumors, that is, "bystander anti-tumor activity." To enhance the impact and therapeutic utility of the CTV, we have pioneered an elegant approach in which viruses are encapsulated in microbubbles allowing "stealth delivery" to tumor cells that when treated with focused ultrasound causes viral release killing tumor cells through viral replication, and producing and secreting MDA-7/IL-24, which stimulates the immune system to attack distant cancers, inhibits tumor angiogenesis and directly promotes apoptosis in distant cancer cells. This strategy is called UTMD (ultrasound-targeted microbubble-destruction). This novel CTV and UTMD approach hold significant promise for the effective therapy of primary and disseminated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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14
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Cai Z, Lv H, Cao W, Zhou C, Liu Q, Li H, Zhou F. Targeting strategies of adenovirus‑mediated gene therapy and virotherapy for prostate cancer (Review). Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:6443-6458. [PMID: 28901490 PMCID: PMC5865813 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) poses a high risk to older men and it is the second most common type of male malignant tumor in western developed countries. Additionally, there is a lack of effective therapies for PCa at advanced stages. Novel treatment strategies such as adenovirus-mediated gene therapy and virotherapy involve the expression of a specific therapeutic gene to induce death in cancer cells, however, wild-type adenoviruses are also able to infect normal human cells, which leads to undesirable toxicity. Various PCa-targeting strategies in adenovirus-mediated therapy have been developed to improve tumor-targeting effects and human safety. The present review summarizes the relevant knowledge regarding available adenoviruses and PCa-targeting strategies. In addition, future directions in this area are also discussed. In conclusion, although they remain in the early stages of basic research, adenovirus-mediated gene therapy and virotherapy are expected to become important therapies for tumors in the future due to their potential targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglin Cai
- Department of Urology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Command, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, P.R. China
| | - Haidi Lv
- Department of Urology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Command, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, P.R. China
| | - Wenjuan Cao
- Department of Urology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Command, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, P.R. China
| | - Chuan Zhou
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Qiangzhao Liu
- Department of Urology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Command, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, P.R. China
| | - Fenghai Zhou
- Department of Urology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Command, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, P.R. China
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15
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Glaser T, Han I, Wu L, Zeng X. Targeted Nanotechnology in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:166. [PMID: 28408882 PMCID: PMC5374154 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas, and in particular glioblastoma multiforme, are aggressive brain tumors characterized by a poor prognosis and high rates of recurrence. Current treatment strategies are based on open surgery, chemotherapy (temozolomide) and radiotherapy. However, none of these treatments, alone or in combination, are considered effective in managing this devastating disease, resulting in a median survival time of less than 15 months. The efficiency of chemotherapy is mainly compromised by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that selectively inhibits drugs from infiltrating into the tumor mass. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), with their unique biology and their resistance to both radio- and chemotherapy, compound tumor aggressiveness and increase the chances of treatment failure. Therefore, more effective targeted therapeutic regimens are urgently required. In this article, some well-recognized biological features and biomarkers of this specific subgroup of tumor cells are profiled and new strategies and technologies in nanomedicine that explicitly target CSCs, after circumventing the BBB, are detailed. Major achievements in the development of nanotherapies, such as organic poly(propylene glycol) and poly(ethylene glycol) or inorganic (iron and gold) nanoparticles that can be conjugated to metal ions, liposomes, dendrimers and polymeric micelles, form the main scope of this summary. Moreover, novel biological strategies focused on manipulating gene expression (small interfering RNA and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats [CRISPR]/CRISPR associated protein 9 [Cas 9] technologies) for cancer therapy are also analyzed. The aim of this review is to analyze the gap between CSC biology and the development of targeted therapies. A better understanding of CSC properties could result in the development of precise nanotherapies to fulfill unmet clinical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Inbo Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical CenterSeongnam, South Korea
| | - Liquan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Xiang Zeng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China
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16
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Menezes ME, Das SK, Minn I, Emdad L, Wang XY, Sarkar D, Pomper MG, Fisher PB. Detecting Tumor Metastases: The Road to Therapy Starts Here. Adv Cancer Res 2016; 132:1-44. [PMID: 27613128 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the complex process by which primary tumor cells migrate and establish secondary tumors in an adjacent or distant location in the body. Early detection of metastatic disease and effective therapeutic options for targeting these detected metastases remain impediments to effectively treating patients with advanced cancers. If metastatic lesions are identified early, patients might maximally benefit from effective early therapeutic interventions. Further, monitoring patients whose primary tumors are effectively treated for potential metastatic disease onset is also highly valuable. Finally, patients with metastatic disease can be monitored for efficacy of specific therapeutic interventions through effective metastatic detection techniques. Thus, being able to detect and visualize metastatic lesions is key and provides potential to greatly improve overall patient outcomes. In order to achieve these objectives, researchers have endeavored to mechanistically define the steps involved in the metastatic process as well as ways to effectively detect metastatic progression. We presently overview various preclinical and clinical in vitro and in vivo assays developed to more efficiently detect tumor metastases, which provides the foundation for developing more effective therapies for this invariably fatal component of the cancerous process.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Menezes
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - S K Das
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - I Minn
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - L Emdad
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - X-Y Wang
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - D Sarkar
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - M G Pomper
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - P B Fisher
- Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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17
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Bhoopathi P, Lee N, Pradhan AK, Shen XN, Das SK, Sarkar D, Emdad L, Fisher PB. mda-7/IL-24 Induces Cell Death in Neuroblastoma through a Novel Mechanism Involving AIF and ATM. Cancer Res 2016; 76:3572-82. [PMID: 27197168 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-2959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Advanced stages of neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial malignant solid tumor of the central nervous system in infants and children, are refractive to therapy. Ectopic expression of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) promotes broad-spectrum antitumor activity in vitro, in vivo in preclinical animal models, and in a phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced cancers without harming normal cells. mda-7/IL-24 exerts cancer-specific toxicity (apoptosis or toxic autophagy) by promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress and modulating multiple signal transduction pathways regulating cancer cell growth, invasion, metastasis, survival, and angiogenesis. To enhance cancer-selective expression and targeted anticancer activity of mda-7/IL-24, we created a tropism-modified cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3-CTV), which selectively replicates in cancer cells producing robust expression of mda-7/IL-24 We now show that Ad.5/3-CTV induces profound neuroblastoma antiproliferative activity and apoptosis in a caspase-3/9-independent manner, both in vitro and in vivo in a tumor xenograft model. Ad.5/3-CTV promotes these effects through a unique pathway involving apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation into the nucleus. Inhibiting AIF rescued neuroblastoma cells from Ad.5/3-CTV-induced cell death, whereas pan-caspase inhibition failed to promote survival. Ad.5/3-CTV infection of neuroblastoma cells increased ATM phosphorylation instigating nuclear translocation and increased γ-H2AX, triggering nuclear translocation and intensified expression of AIF. These results were validated further using two ATM small-molecule inhibitors that attenuated PARP cleavage by inhibiting γ-H2AX, which in turn inhibited AIF changes in Ad.5/3-CTV-infected neuroblastoma cells. Taken together, we elucidate a novel pathway for mda-7/IL-24-induced caspase-independent apoptosis in neuroblastoma cells mediated through modulation of AIF, ATM, and γ-H2AX. Cancer Res; 76(12); 3572-82. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bhoopathi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Nathaniel Lee
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Health Systems, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Anjan K Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xue-Ning Shen
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
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18
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Williford JM, Archang MM, Minn I, Ren Y, Wo M, Vandermark J, Fisher PB, Pomper MG, Mao HQ. Critical Length of PEG Grafts on lPEI/DNA Nanoparticles for Efficient in Vivo Delivery. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2016; 2:567-578. [PMID: 27088129 PMCID: PMC4829937 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Nanoparticle-mediated
gene delivery is a promising alternative
to viral methods; however, its use in vivo, particularly following
systemic injection, has suffered from poor delivery efficiency. Although
PEGylation of nanoparticles has been successfully demonstrated as
a strategy to enhance colloidal stability, its success in improving
delivery efficiency has been limited, largely due to reduced cell
binding and uptake, leading to poor transfection efficiency. Here
we identified an optimized PEGylation scheme for DNA micellar nanoparticles
that delivers balanced colloidal stability and transfection activity.
Using linear polyethylenimine (lPEI)-g-PEG as a carrier,
we characterized the effect of graft length and density of polyethylene
glycol (PEG) on nanoparticle assembly, micelle stability, and gene
delivery efficiency. Through variation of PEG grafting degree, lPEI
with short PEG grafts (molecular weight, MW 500–700 Da) generated
micellar nanoparticles with various shapes including spherical, rodlike,
and wormlike nanoparticles. DNA micellar nanoparticles prepared with
short PEG grafts showed comparable colloidal stability in salt and
serum-containing media to those prepared with longer PEG grafts (MW
2 kDa). Corresponding to this trend, nanoparticles prepared with short
PEG grafts displayed significantly higher in vitro transfection efficiency
compared to those with longer PEG grafts. More importantly, short
PEG grafts permitted marked increase in transfection efficiency following
ligand conjugation to the PEG terminal in metastatic prostate cancer-bearing
mice. This study identifies that lPEI-g-PEG with
short PEG grafts (MW 500–700 Da) is the most effective to ensure
shape control and deliver high colloidal stability, transfection activity,
and ligand effect for DNA nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo following
intravenous administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- John-Michael Williford
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Maani M Archang
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Il Minn
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions , 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Yong Ren
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Mark Wo
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - John Vandermark
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 East Marshall Street, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, Richmond, Virginia 23298, United States
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
| | - Hai-Quan Mao
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Institute for NanoBioTechnology and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States; Translational Tissue Engineering Center and Whitaker Biomedical Engineering Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 400 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
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19
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Therapy of prostate cancer using a novel cancer terminator virus and a small molecule BH-3 mimetic. Oncotarget 2016; 6:10712-27. [PMID: 25926554 PMCID: PMC4484414 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances, treatment options for advanced prostate cancer (CaP) remain limited. We are pioneering approaches to treat advanced CaP that employ conditionally replication-competent oncolytic adenoviruses that simultaneously produce a systemically active cancer-specific therapeutic cytokine, mda-7/IL-24, Cancer Terminator Viruses (CTV). A truncated version of the CCN1/CYR61 gene promoter, tCCN1-Prom, was more active than progression elevated gene-3 promoter (PEG-Prom) in regulating transformation-selective transgene expression in CaP and oncogene-transformed rat embryo cells. Accordingly, we developed a new CTV, Ad.tCCN1-CTV-m7, which displayed dose-dependent killing of CaP without harming normal prostate epithelial cells in vitro with significant anti-cancer activity in vivo in both nude mouse CaP xenograft and transgenic Hi-Myc mice (using ultrasound-targeted microbubble (MB)-destruction, UTMD, with decorated MBs). Resistance to mda-7/IL-24-induced cell deathcorrelated with overexpression of Bcl-2 family proteins. Inhibiting Mcl-1 using an enhanced BH3 mimetic, BI-97D6, sensitized CaP cell lines to mda-7/IL-24-induced apoptosis. Combining BI-97D6 with Ads expressing mda-7/IL-24promoted ER stress, decreased anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 expression and enhanced mda-7/IL-24expression through mRNA stabilization selectively in CaP cells. In Hi-myc mice, the combination induced enhanced apoptosis and tumor growth suppression. These studies highlight therapeutic efficacy of combining a BH3 mimetic with a novel CTV, supporting potential clinical applications for treating advanced CaP.
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20
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Menezes ME, Shen XN, Das SK, Emdad L, Guo C, Yuan F, Li YJ, Archer MC, Zacksenhaus E, Windle JJ, Subler MA, Ben-David Y, Sarkar D, Wang XY, Fisher PB. MDA-7/IL-24 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in vivo in transgenic mouse models of breast cancer. Oncotarget 2015; 6:36928-42. [PMID: 26474456 PMCID: PMC4741906 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/Interleukin-24 (MDA-7/IL-24) is a novel member of the IL-10 gene family that selectively induces apoptosis and toxic autophagy in a broad spectrum of human cancers, including breast cancer, without harming normal cells or tissues. The ability to investigate the critical events underlying cancer initiation and progression, as well as the capacity to test the efficacy of novel therapeutics, has been significantly advanced by the development of genetically engineered mice (GEMs) that accurately recapitulate specific human cancers. We utilized three transgenic mouse models to better comprehend the in vivo role of MDA-7/IL-24 in breast cancer. Using the MMTV-PyMT spontaneous mammary tumor model, we confirmed that exogenously introducing MDA-7/IL-24 using a Cancer Terminator Virus caused a reduction in tumor burden and also produced an antitumor "bystander" effect. Next we performed xenograft studies in a newly created MMTV-MDA-7 transgenic model that over-expresses MDA-7/IL-24 in the mammary glands during pregnancy and lactation, and found that MDA-7/IL-24 overexpression delayed tumor growth following orthotopic injection of a murine PDX tumor cell line (mPDX) derived from a tumor formed in an MMTV-PyMT mouse. We also crossed the MMTV-MDA-7 line to MMTV-Erbb2 transgenic mice and found that MDA-7/IL-24 overexpression delayed the onset of mammary tumor development in this model of spontaneous mammary tumorigenesis as well. Finally, we assessed the role of MDA-7/IL-24 in immune regulation, which can potentially contribute to tumor suppression in vivo. Our findings provide further direct in vivo evidence for the role of MDA-7/IL-24 in tumor suppression in breast cancer in immune-competent transgenic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell E. Menezes
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Xue-Ning Shen
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Swadesh K. Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Chunqing Guo
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Fang Yuan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - You-Jun Li
- Department of Anatomy, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Michael C. Archer
- Departments of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eldad Zacksenhaus
- Departments of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Research Institute - University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jolene J. Windle
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark A. Subler
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Yaacov Ben-David
- Departments of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Biology, the Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul B. Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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21
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Das SK, Menezes ME, Bhatia S, Wang XY, Emdad L, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Gene Therapies for Cancer: Strategies, Challenges and Successes. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:259-71. [PMID: 25196387 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy, which involves replacement of a defective gene with a functional, healthy copy of that gene, is a potentially beneficial cancer treatment approach particularly over chemotherapy, which often lacks selectivity and can cause non-specific toxicity. Despite significant progress pre-clinically with respect to both enhanced targeting and expression in a tumor-selective manner several hurdles still prevent success in the clinic, including non-specific expression, low-efficiency delivery and biosafety. Various innovative genetic approaches are under development to reconstruct vectors/transgenes to make them safer and more effective. Utilizing cutting-edge delivery technologies, gene expression can now be targeted in a tissue- and organ-specific manner. With these advances, gene therapy is poised to become amenable for routine cancer therapy with potential to elevate this methodology as a first line therapy for neoplastic diseases. This review discusses recent advances in gene therapy and their impact on a pre-clinical and clinical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Mitchell E Menezes
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Shilpa Bhatia
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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22
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Abstract
In this article, advances in designing polymeric nanoparticles for targeted cancer gene therapy are reviewed. Characterization and evaluation of biomaterials, targeting ligands, and transcriptional elements are each discussed. Advances in biomaterials have driven improvements to nanoparticle stability and tissue targeting, conjugation of ligands to the surface of polymeric nanoparticles enable binding to specific cancer cells, and the design of transcriptional elements has enabled selective DNA expression specific to the cancer cells. Together, these features have improved the performance of polymeric nanoparticles as targeted non-viral gene delivery vectors to treat cancer. As polymeric nanoparticles can be designed to be biodegradable, non-toxic, and to have reduced immunogenicity and tumorigenicity compared to viral platforms, they have significant potential for clinical use. Results of polymeric gene therapy in clinical trials and future directions for the engineering of nanoparticle systems for targeted cancer gene therapy are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayoung Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David R. Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Camila G. Zamboni
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jordan J. Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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23
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Minn I, Bar-Shir A, Yarlagadda K, Bulte JWM, Fisher PB, Wang H, Gilad AA, Pomper MG. Tumor-specific expression and detection of a CEST reporter gene. Magn Reson Med 2015; 74:544-9. [PMID: 25919119 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Revised: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop an imaging tool that enables the detection of malignant tissue with enhanced specificity using the exquisite spatial resolution of MRI. METHODS Two mammalian gene expression vectors were created for the expression of the lysine-rich protein (LRP) under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and the progression elevated gene-3 promoter (PEG-3 promoter) for constitutive and tumor-specific expression of LRP, respectively. Using those vectors, stable cell lines of rat 9L glioma, 9L(CMV-LRP) and 9L(PEG-LRP) , were established and tested for CEST contrast in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS 9L(PEG-LRP) cells showed increased CEST contrast compared with 9L cells in vitro. Both 9L(CMV-LRP) and 9L(PEG-LRP) cells were capable of generating tumors in the brains of mice, with a similar growth rate to tumors derived from wild-type 9L cells. An increase in CEST contrast was clearly visible in tumors derived from both 9L(CMV-LRP) and 9L(PEG-LRP) cells at 3.4 ppm. CONCLUSION The PEG-3 promoter:LRP system can be used as a cancer-specific, molecular-genetic imaging reporter system in vivo. Because of the ubiquity of MR imaging in clinical practice, sensors of this class can be used to translate molecular-genetic imaging rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Minn
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amnon Bar-Shir
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Keerthi Yarlagadda
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeff W M Bulte
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Assaf A Gilad
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Cellular Imaging Section, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Martin G Pomper
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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24
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Glinka EM. Killing of cancer cells through the use of eukaryotic expression vectors harbouring genes encoding nucleases and ribonuclease inhibitor. Tumour Biol 2015; 36:3147-57. [PMID: 25874497 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3360-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer gene therapy vectors are promising tools for killing cancer cells with the purpose of eradicating malignant tumours entirely. Different delivery methods of vectors into the cancer cells, including both non-viral and viral, as well as promoters for the targeted expression of genes encoding anticancer proteins were developed for effective and selective killing of cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Many vectors have been created to kill cancer cells, and some vectors suppress malignant tumours with high efficiency. This review is focused on vectors bearing genes for nucleases such as deoxyribonucleases (caspase-activated DNase, deoxyribonuclease I-like 3, endonuclease G) and ribonucleases (human polynucleotide phosphorylase, ribonuclease L, α-sarcin, barnase), as well as vectors harbouring gene encoding ribonuclease inhibitor. The data concerning the functionality and the efficacy of such vectors are presented.
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25
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Bhatnagar A, Wang Y, Mease RC, Gabrielson M, Sysa P, Minn I, Green G, Simmons B, Gabrielson K, Sarkar S, Fisher PB, Pomper MG. AEG-1 promoter-mediated imaging of prostate cancer. Cancer Res 2014; 74:5772-81. [PMID: 25145668 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We describe a new imaging method for detecting prostate cancer, whether localized or disseminated and metastatic to soft tissues and bone. The method relies on the use of imaging reporter genes under the control of the promoter of AEG-1 (MTDH), which is selectively active only in malignant cells. Through a systemic, nanoparticle-based delivery of the imaging construct, lesions can be identified through bioluminescence imaging and single-photon emission computed tomography in the PC3-ML murine model of prostate cancer at high sensitivity. This approach is applicable for the detection of prostate cancer metastases, including bone lesions for which there is no current reliable agent for noninvasive clinical imaging. Furthermore, the approach compares favorably with accepted and emerging clinical standards, including PET with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose and [(18)F]sodium fluoride. Our results offer a preclinical proof of concept that rationalizes clinical evaluation in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akrita Bhatnagar
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yuchuan Wang
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ronnie C Mease
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Matthew Gabrielson
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Polina Sysa
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Il Minn
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gilbert Green
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brian Simmons
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kathleen Gabrielson
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Siddik Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.
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26
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Minn I, Menezes ME, Sarkar S, Yarlagadda K, Das SK, Emdad L, Sarkar D, Fisher PB, Pomper MG. Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2014; 124:131-69. [PMID: 25287688 PMCID: PMC4339000 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-411638-2.00004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer using nonviral delivery systems has great potential for clinical application as a safe, efficient, noninvasive tool for visualization of various cellular processes including detection of cancer, and its attendant metastases. In recent years, significant effort has been expended in overcoming technical hurdles to enable clinical adoption of molecular-genetic imaging. This chapter will provide an introduction to the components of molecular-genetic imaging and recent advances on each component leading to safe, efficient clinical applications for detecting cancer. Combination with therapy, namely, generating molecular-genetic theranostic constructs, will provide further impetus for clinical translation of this promising technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Il Minn
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Siddik Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Keerthi Yarlagadda
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Martin G Pomper
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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27
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Azab BM, Dash R, Das SK, Bhutia SK, Sarkar S, Shen XN, Quinn BA, Dent P, Dmitriev IP, Wang XY, Curiel DT, Pellecchia M, Reed JC, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Enhanced prostate cancer gene transfer and therapy using a novel serotype chimera cancer terminator virus (Ad.5/3-CTV). J Cell Physiol 2013; 229:34-43. [PMID: 23868767 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Few options are available for treating patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC). As PC is a slow growing disease and accessible by ultrasound, gene therapy could provide a viable option for this neoplasm. Conditionally replication-competent adenoviruses (CRCAs) represent potentially useful reagents for treating PC. We previously constructed a CRCA, cancer terminator virus (CTV), which showed efficacy both in vitro and in vivo for PC. The CTV was generated on a serotype 5-background (Ad.5-CTV) with infectivity depending on Coxsackie-Adenovirus Receptors (CARs). CARs are frequently reduced in many tumor types, including PCs thereby limiting effective Ad-mediated therapy. Using serotype chimerism, a novel CTV (Ad.5/3-CTV) was created by replacing the Ad.5 fiber knob with the Ad.3 fiber knob thereby facilitating infection in a CAR-independent manner. We evaluated Ad.5/3-CTV in comparison with Ad.5-CTV in low CAR human PC cells, demonstrating higher efficiency in inhibiting cell viability in vitro. Moreover, Ad.5/3-CTV potently suppressed in vivo tumor growth in a nude mouse xenograft model and in a spontaneously induced PC that develops in Hi-myc transgenic mice. Considering the significant responses in a Phase I clinical trial of a non-replicating Ad.5-mda-7 in advanced cancers, Ad.5/3-CTV may exert improved therapeutic benefit in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belal M Azab
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
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Abstract
Malignant brain cancer treatment is limited by a number of barriers, including the blood-brain barrier, transport within the brain interstitium, difficulties in delivering therapeutics specifically to tumor cells, the highly invasive quality of gliomas and drug resistance. As a result, the prognosis for patients with high-grade gliomas is poor and has improved little in recent years. Nanomedicine approaches have been developed in the laboratory, with some technologies being translated to the clinic, in order to address these needs. This review discusses the obstacles to effective treatment that are currently faced in the field, as well as various nanomedicine techniques that have been used or are being explored to overcome them, with a focus on liposomal and polymeric nanoparticles.
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29
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Hamed HA, Das SK, Sokhi UK, Park MA, Cruickshanks N, Archer K, Ogretmen B, Grant S, Sarkar D, Fisher PB, Dent P. Combining histone deacetylase inhibitors with MDA-7/IL-24 enhances killing of renal carcinoma cells. Cancer Biol Ther 2013; 14:1039-49. [PMID: 24025359 PMCID: PMC3925659 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.26110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study we show that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) enhance the anti-tumor effects of melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin 24 (mda-7/IL-24) in human renal carcinoma cells. Similar data were obtained in other GU tumor cells. Combination of these two agents resulted in increased autophagy that was dependent on expression of ceramide synthase 6, with HDACIs enhancing MDA-7/IL-24 toxicity by increasing generation of ROS and Ca2+. Knock down of CD95 protected cells from HDACI and MDA-7/IL-24 lethality. Sorafenib treatment further enhanced (HDACI + MDA-7/IL-24) lethality. Anoikis resistant renal carcinoma cells were more sensitive to MDA-7/IL-24 that correlated with elevated SRC activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of CD95. We employed a recently constructed serotype 5/3 adenovirus, which is more effective than a serotype 5 virus in delivering mda-7/IL-24 to renal carcinoma cells and which conditionally replicates (CR) in tumor cells expressing MDA-7/IL-24 by virtue of placing the adenoviral E1A gene under the control of the cancer-specific promoter progression elevated gene-3 (Ad.5/3-PEG-E1A-mda-7; CRAd.5/3-mda-7, Ad.5/3-CTV), to define efficacy in renal carcinoma cells. Ad.5/3-CTV decreased the growth of renal carcinoma tumors to a significantly greater extent than did a non-replicative virus Ad.5/3-mda-7. In contralateral uninfected renal carcinoma tumors Ad.5/3-CTV also decreased the growth of tumors to a greater extent than did Ad.5/3-mda-7. In summation, our data demonstrates that HDACIs enhance MDA-7/IL-24-mediated toxicity and tumor specific adenoviral delivery and viral replication of mda-7/IL-24 is an effective pre-clinical renal carcinoma therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein A Hamed
- Department of Neurosurgery; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond, VA USA
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30
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Hedvat M, Emdad L, Das SK, Kim K, Dasgupta S, Thomas S, Hu B, Zhu S, Dash R, Quinn BA, Oyesanya RA, Kegelman TP, Sokhi UK, Sarkar S, Erdogan E, Menezes ME, Bhoopathi P, Wang XY, Pomper MG, Wei J, Wu B, Stebbins JL, Diaz PW, Reed JC, Pellecchia M, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Selected approaches for rational drug design and high throughput screening to identify anti-cancer molecules. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2013; 12:1143-55. [PMID: 22931411 DOI: 10.2174/187152012803529709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Revised: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Structure-based modeling combined with rational drug design, and high throughput screening approaches offer significant potential for identifying and developing lead compounds with therapeutic potential. The present review focuses on these two approaches using explicit examples based on specific derivatives of Gossypol generated through rational design and applications of a cancer-specificpromoter derived from Progression Elevated Gene-3. The Gossypol derivative Sabutoclax (BI-97C1) displays potent anti-tumor activity against a diverse spectrum of human tumors. The model of the docked structure of Gossypol bound to Bcl-XL provided a virtual structure-activity-relationship where appropriate modifications were predicted on a rational basis. These structure-based studies led to the isolation of Sabutoclax, an optically pure isomer of Apogossypol displaying superior efficacy and reduced toxicity. These studies illustrate the power of combining structure-based modeling with rational design to predict appropriate derivatives of lead compounds to be empirically tested and evaluated for bioactivity. Another approach to cancer drug discovery utilizes a cancer-specific promoter as readouts of the transformed state. The promoter region of Progression Elevated Gene-3 is such a promoter with cancer-specific activity. The specificity of this promoter has been exploited as a means of constructing cancer terminator viruses that selectively kill cancer cells and as a systemic imaging modality that specifically visualizes in vivo cancer growth with no background from normal tissues. Screening of small molecule inhibitors that suppress the Progression Elevated Gene-3-promoter may provide relevant lead compounds for cancer therapy that can be combined with further structure-based approaches leading to the development of novel compounds for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hedvat
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
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Hamed HA, Yacoub A, Park MA, Archer K, Das SK, Sarkar D, Grant S, Fisher PB, Dent P. Histone deacetylase inhibitors interact with melanoma differentiation associated-7/interleukin-24 to kill primary human glioblastoma cells. Mol Pharmacol 2013; 84:171-81. [PMID: 23661648 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.086553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We presently demonstrate that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) enhance toxicity of melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin 24 (mda-7/IL-24) in invasive primary human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. Additionally, a method is described to augment the efficacy of adenoviral delivery of mda-7/IL-24 in these cells. HDACIs synergized with melanoma differentiation-associated (MDA)-7/IL-24 killing GBM cells. Enhanced lethality correlated with increased autophagy that was dependent on the expression of ceramide synthase 6. HDACIs interacted with MDA-7/IL-24 prolonging generation of reactive oxygen species and Ca(2+). Quenching of reactive oxygen species and Ca(2+) blocked HDACI and MDA-7/IL-24 killing. In vivo MDA-7/IL-24 prolonged the survival of animals carrying orthotopic tumors, and HDACIs enhanced survival further. A serotype 5/3 adenovirus more effectively delivers mda-7/IL-24 to GBM tumors than a serotype 5 virus. Hence, we constructed a serotype 5/3 adenovirus that conditionally replicates in tumor cells expressing MDA-7/IL-24, in which the adenoviral early region 1A (E1A) gene was driven by the cancer-specific promoter progression elevated gene-3 [Ad.5/3 (INGN 241)-PEG-E1A-mda-7; also called Ad.5/3-CTV (cancer terminator virus)]. Ad.5/3-CTV increased the survival of mice carrying GBM tumors to a significantly greater extent than did a nonreplicative virus Ad.5/3-mda-7. Ad.5/3-CTV exhibited no toxicity in the brains of Syrian hamsters. Collectively our data demonstrate that HDACIs enhance MDA-7/IL-24 lethality, and adenoviral delivery of mda-7/IL-24 combined with tumor-specific viral replication is an effective preclinical GBM therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein A Hamed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Tzeng SY, Higgins LJ, Pomper MG, Green JJ. Student award winner in the Ph.D. category for the 2013 society for biomaterials annual meeting and exposition, april 10-13, 2013, Boston, Massachusetts : biomaterial-mediated cancer-specific DNA delivery to liver cell cultures using synthetic poly(beta-amino ester)s. J Biomed Mater Res A 2013; 101:1837-45. [PMID: 23559534 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer death. Most patients are treated by arterial injection of chemoembolizing agents, providing a convenient avenue for local treatment by novel therapies, including gene therapy. Poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs) were synthesized and used to form nanoparticles for non-viral transfection of buffalo rat hepatoma (MCA-RH7777) and hepatocyte (BRL-3A) lines with eGFP and luciferase DNA. Hepatoma cells were transfected with up to (98 ± 0.4)% efficacy with no measurable cytotoxicity. Hepatocytes were transfected with as high as (73 ± 0.4)% efficacy with (10 ± 4)% non-specific cytotoxicity. In contrast, positive controls (branched polyethylenimine, Lipofectamine™ 2000, and X-tremeGENE(®) DNA HP) caused 30-90% toxicity in BRL-3A cells at doses required for >50% transfection. Of the 21 optimized PBAE-DNA formulations tested, 12 showed significant specificity for hepatoma cells over hepatocytes in monoculture (p < 0.05 for both percentage transfected and eGFP expression intensity). Top polymers from eGFP studies also delivered luciferase DNA with 220 ± 30-fold and 470 ± 30-fold greater specificity for hepatoma cells than hepatocytes. Transfections of co-cultures of hepatoma and hepatocytes with eGFP DNA also showed high specificity (1.9 ± 0.1- to 5.8± 1.4-fold more transfected hepatoma cells than hepatocytes, measured by percentage transfected and flow cytometry). By eGFP intensity, up to 530 ±60-fold higher average expression per cell was measured in hepatoma cells. One top formulation caused (95 ± 0.2)% transfection in hepatoma cells and (27 ± 0.2)% in hepatocytes [(96 ± 9)% relative hepatocyte viability]. PBAE-based nanoparticles are a viable strategy for liver cancer treatment, delivering genes to nearly 100% of cancer cells while maintaining high biomaterial-mediated specificity to prevent toxic side-effects on healthy hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephany Y Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Das SK, Sarkar S, Dash R, Dent P, Wang XY, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Chapter One---Cancer terminator viruses and approaches for enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Adv Cancer Res 2013; 115:1-38. [PMID: 23021240 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398342-8.00001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
No single or combinatorial therapeutic approach has proven effective in decreasing morbidity or engendering a cure of metastatic cancer. In principle, conditionally replication-competent adenoviruses that induce tumor oncolysis through cancer-specific replication hold promise for cancer therapy. However, a single-agent approach may not be adequate to completely eradicate cancer in a patient because most cancers arise from abnormalities in multiple genetic and signal transduction pathways and targeting disseminated metastases is difficult to achieve. Based on these considerations, a novel class of cancer destroying adenoviruses have been produced, cancer terminator viruses (CTVs), in which cancer-specific replication is controlled by the progression-elevated gene-3 promoter and replicating viruses produce a second transgene encoding an apoptosis-inducing and immunomodulatory cytokine, either melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) or interferon-γ. This review focuses on these viruses and ways to improve their delivery systemically and enhance their therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Das SK, Bhutia SK, Sokhi UK, Azab B, Su ZZ, Boukerche H, Anwar T, Moen EL, Chatterjee D, Pellecchia M, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Raf kinase inhibitor RKIP inhibits MDA-9/syntenin-mediated metastasis in melanoma. Cancer Res 2012; 72:6217-26. [PMID: 23066033 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-0402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation associated gene-9 (MDA-9), also known as syntenin, functions as a positive regulator of melanoma progression and metastasis. In contrast, the Raf kinase inhibitor, RKIP, a negative modulator of RAF-stimulated MEKK activation, is strongly downregulated in metastatic melanoma cells. In this study, we explored a hypothesized inverse relationship between MDA-9 and RKIP in melanoma. Tumor array and cell line analyses confirmed an inverse relationship between expression of MDA-9 and RKIP during melanoma progression. We found that MDA-9 transcriptionally downregulated RKIP in support of a suggested cross-talk between these two proteins. Furthermore, MDA-9 and RKIP physically interacted in a manner that correlated with a suppression of FAK and c-Src phosphorylation, crucial steps necessary for MDA-9 to promote FAK/c-Src complex formation and initiate signaling cascades that drive the MDA-9-mediated metastatic phenotype. Finally, ectopic RKIP expression in melanoma cells overrode MDA-9-mediated signaling, inhibiting cell invasion, anchorage-independent growth, and in vivo dissemination of tumor cells. Taken together, these findings establish RKIP as an inhibitor of MDA-9-dependent melanoma metastasis, with potential implications for targeting this process therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Jiang ZK, Sato M, Wu L. Chapter five--The development of transcription-regulated adenoviral vectors with high cancer-selective imaging capabilities. Adv Cancer Res 2012; 115:115-46. [PMID: 23021244 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398342-8.00005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A clear benefit of molecular imaging is to enable noninvasive, repetitive monitoring of intrinsic signals within tumor cells as a means to identify the lesions as malignant or to assess the ability of treatment to perturb key pathways within the tumor cells. Due to the promising utility of molecular imaging in oncology, preclinical research to refine molecular imaging techniques in small animals is a blossoming field. We will first discuss the several imaging modalities such as fluorescent imaging, bioluminescence imaging, and positron emission tomography that are now commonly used in small animal settings. The indirect imaging approach, which can be adapted to a wide range of imaging reporter genes, is a useful platform to develop molecular imaging. In particular, reporter gene-based imaging is well suited for transcriptional-targeted imaging that can be delivered by recombinant adenoviral vectors. In this review, we will summarize transcription-regulated strategies used in adenoviral-mediated molecular imaging to visualize metastasis and monitor oncolytic therapy in preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyue Karen Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Brader P, Wong RJ, Horowitz G, Gil Z. Combination of pet imaging with viral vectors for identification of cancer metastases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2012; 64:749-55. [PMID: 21565234 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2011.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2011] [Revised: 04/22/2011] [Accepted: 04/24/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
There are three main ways for dissemination of solid tumors: direct invasion, lymphatic spread and hematogenic spread. The presence of metastases is the most significant factor in predicting prognosis and therefore evidence of metastases will influence decision-making regarding treatment. Conventional imaging techniques are limited in the evaluation and localization of metastases due to their restricted ability to identify subcentimeter neoplastic disease. Hence, there is a need for an effective noninvasive modality that can accurately identify occult metastases in cancer patients. One such method is the combination of positron emission tomography (PET) with vectors designed for delivery of reporter genes into target cells. Vectors expressing the herpes simplex virus-1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter system have recently been shown to allow localization of micrometastases in animal models of cancer using non invasive imaging. Combination of HSV1-tk and PET imaging is based on the virtues of vectors which can carry and selectively express the HSV1-tk reporter gene in a variety of cancer cells but not in normal tissue. A radioactive tracer which is applied systemically is phosphorylated by the HSV1-tk enzyme, and as a consequence, the tracer accumulates in proportion to the level of HSV1-tk expression which can be imaged by PET. In this paper we review the recent developments in molecular imaging of micrometastases using replication-competent viral or nonviral vectors carrying the HSV1-tk gene using PET imaging. These diagnostic paradigms introduce an advantageous new concept in noninvasive molecular imaging with the potential benefits for improving patient care by providing guidance for therapy to patients with risk for metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Brader
- Molecular and Gender Imaging, Universitätsklinik für Radiologie, Medical University Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Austria
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Bhang HEC, Pomper MG. Cancer imaging: Gene transcription-based imaging and therapeutic systems. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44:684-9. [PMID: 22349219 PMCID: PMC3324783 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2012.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2011] [Revised: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Molecular-genetic imaging of cancer is in its infancy. Over the past decade gene reporter systems have been optimized in preclinical models and some have found their way into the clinic. The search is on to find the best combination of gene delivery vehicle and reporter imaging system that can be translated safely and quickly. The goal is to have a combination that can detect a wide variety of cancers with high sensitivity and specificity in a way that rivals the current clinical standard, positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose. To do so will require systemic delivery of reporter genes for the detection of micrometastases, and a nontoxic vector, whether viral or based on nanotechnology, to gain widespread acceptance by the oncology community. Merger of molecular-genetic imaging with gene therapy, a strategy that has been employed in the past, will likely be necessary for such imaging to reach widespread clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-eun C Bhang
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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38
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Dalton LE, Healey E, Irving J, Marciniak SJ. Phosphoproteins in stress-induced disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2012; 106:189-221. [PMID: 22340719 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-396456-4.00003-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The integrated stress response (ISR) is an evolutionarily conserved homeostatic program activated by specific pathological states. These include amino acid deprivation, viral infection, iron deficiency, and the misfolding of proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the so-called ER stress. Although apparently disparate, each of these stresses induces phosphorylation of a translation initiation factor, eIF2α, to attenuate new protein translation while simultaneously triggering a transcriptional program. This is achieved by four homologous stress-sensing kinases: GCN2, PKR, HRI, and PERK. In addition to these kinases, mammals possess two specific eIF2α phosphatases, GADD34 and CReP, which play crucial roles in the recovery of protein synthesis following the initial insult. They are not only important in embryonic development but also appear to play important roles in disease, particularly cancer. In this chapter, we discuss each of the eIF2α kinases, in turn, with particular emphasis on their regulation and the new insights provided by recent structural studies. We also discuss the potential for developing novel drug therapies that target the ISR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy E Dalton
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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39
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Day CP, Merlino G. Illuminating progression: tracking melanoma metastasis in a gene therapy setting. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2011; 24:260-1. [PMID: 21226857 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2011.00826.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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40
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Yuen HF, McCrudden CM, Chan KK, Chan YP, Wong MLY, Chan KYK, Khoo US, Law S, Srivastava G, Lappin TR, Chan KW, El-Tanani M. The role of Pea3 group transcription factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2011; 179:992-1003. [PMID: 21689625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2010] [Revised: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factors Pea3, Erm, and Er81 can promote cancer initiation and progression in various types of solid tumors. However, their role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has not been elucidated. In this study, we found that the expression levels of Pea3 and Erm, but not that of Er81, were significantly higher in ESCC compared with nontumor esophageal epithelium. A high level of Pea3 expression was significantly correlated with a shorter overall survival in a cohort of 81 patients with ESCC and the subgroup with N1 stage tumor (Wilcoxon-Gehan test, P = 0.016 and P = 0.001, respectively). Pea3 was overexpressed in seven ESCC cell lines compared with two immortalized esophageal cell lines. Pea3 knockdown reduced cell proliferation and suppressed nonadherent growth, migration, and invasion in ESCC cells in vitro. In addition, Pea3 knockdown in ESCC cells resulted in a down-regulation of phospho-Akt and matrix metalloproteinase 13, whereas a significant positive correlation in the expression levels was observed between Pea3 and phospho-Akt (r = 0.281, P < 0.013) and between Pea3 and matrix metalloproteinase 13 in the human specimens (r = 0.462, P < 0.001). Moreover, Pea3 modulated the sensitivity of EC109 cells to doxorubicin, probably via reduced activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt-mammalian target of Rapamycin complex 1 pathway on Pea3 knockdown. In conclusion, our results suggest that Pea3 plays an important role in the progression of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiu-Fung Yuen
- Center for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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41
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Dash R, Bhutia SK, Azab B, Su ZZ, Quinn BA, Kegelmen TP, Das SK, Kim K, Lee SG, Park MA, Yacoub A, Rahmani M, Emdad L, Dmitriev IP, Wang XY, Sarkar D, Grant S, Dent P, Curiel DT, Fisher PB. mda-7/IL-24: a unique member of the IL-10 gene family promoting cancer-targeted toxicity. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2011; 21:381-91. [PMID: 20926331 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2010.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) is a unique member of the IL-10 gene family that displays nearly ubiquitous cancer-specific toxicity, with no harmful effects toward normal cells or tissues. mda-7/IL-24 was cloned from human melanoma cells by differentiation induction subtraction hybridization (DISH) and promotes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress culminating in apoptosis or toxic autophagy in a broad-spectrum of human cancers, when assayed in cell culture, in vivo in human tumor xenograft mouse models and in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced cancers. This therapeutically active cytokine also induces indirect antitumor activity through inhibition of angiogenesis, stimulation of an antitumor immune response, and sensitization of cancer cells to radiation-, chemotherapy- and antibody-induced killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupesh Dash
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
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IL-6 promotes prostate tumorigenesis and progression through autocrine cross-activation of IGF-IR. Oncogene 2011; 30:2345-55. [PMID: 21258401 PMCID: PMC3112005 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2010.605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
As an established mediator of inflammation, IL-6 is implicated to facilitate prostate cancer progression to androgen independence through transactivation of the androgen receptor. However, whether IL-6 plays a causative role in de novo prostate tumorigenesis was never investigated. We now provide the first evidence that IL-6 can induce tumorigenic conversion and further progression to an invasive phenotype of non-tumorigenic benign prostate epithelial cells. Moreover, we find that paracrine IL-6 stimulates autocrine IL-6 loop and autocrine activation of IGF-IR to confer the tumorigenic property and that activation of STAT3 is critical in these processes. Inhibition of STAT3 activation or IGF-IR signaling suppresses IL-6-mediated malignant conversion and the associated invasive phenotype. Inhibition of STAT3 activation suppresses IL-6-induced upregulation of IGF-IR and its ligands IGF-I and IGF-II. These findings indicate IL-6 signaling cooperates with IGF-IR signaling in the prostate microenvironment to promote prostate tumorigenesis and progression to aggressiveness. Our findings suggest that STAT3 and IGF-IR may represent potential effective targets for prevention or treatment of prostate cancer.
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Dash R, Azab B, Shen XN, Sokhi UK, Sarkar S, Su ZZ, Wang XY, Claudio PP, Dent P, Dmitriev IP, Curiel DT, Grant S, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Developing an effective gene therapy for prostate cancer: New technologies with potential to translate from the laboratory into the clinic. DISCOVERY MEDICINE 2011; 11:46-56. [PMID: 21276410 PMCID: PMC4348040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in the U.S. At present, no single or combination therapy has shown efficacy in decreasing disease progression in patients with metastatic disease. A potentially viable approach for treating late-stage prostate cancer is gene therapy. Adenoviruses (Ad) are the most commonly used mode of gene delivery, but progress using this vector has been hampered by concerns over the safety and practicality of viruses including conditionally replicating Ads (CRAds), particularly for intravenous delivery, and the inefficiency of non-viral transfection techniques. Major challenges for effective gene therapy using Ads are the limited infectivity of regular Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) and the inability to specifically deliver the therapeutic directly into diseased tissue without trapping in the liver or elimination by the immune system. The shortcoming in using Ad5 is mostly attributed to a reduction in Coxsackie-adenovirus receptors (CAR) on the surface of cancer cells, which can be mitigated by generating tropism-modified Ads permitting CAR-independent infection of tumor cells. The limitations of systemic gene delivery can now be overcome by using a novel targeted-delivery approach such as ultrasound (US) contrast agents (microbubbles) to deliver effective therapeutic reagents, Ads, or recombinant proteins, combined with ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD), to develop a site-specific therapy in immune competent transgenic mouse models. These unique strategies for enhancing the efficacy of gene therapy provide a direct path to translation from the laboratory into the clinic for developing an effective gene therapy of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupesh Dash
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, 23298, USA
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Tumor-specific imaging through progression elevated gene-3 promoter-driven gene expression. Nat Med 2010; 17:123-9. [PMID: 21151140 PMCID: PMC3057477 DOI: 10.1038/nm.2269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2009] [Accepted: 08/11/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Molecular-genetic imaging is advancing from a valuable preclinical tool to guiding patient management. The strategy involves pairing an imaging reporter gene with a complementary imaging agent in a system that can be used to measure gene expression, protein interaction or track gene-tagged cells in vivo. Tissue-specific promoters can be used to delineate gene expression in certain tissues, particularly when coupled with an appropriate amplification mechanism. Here we show that the progression elevated gene-3 promoter (PEG-Prom), derived from a rodent gene mediating the malignant phenotype, can be used to drive imaging reporters selectively to enable detection of micrometastatic disease in murine models of human melanoma and breast cancer using bioluminescence and radionuclide-based molecular imaging techniques. Because of its strong promoter, tumor specificity and capacity for clinical translation, PEG-Prom-driven gene expression may represent a practical, new system for facilitating cancer imaging and therapy.
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Peterson RA, Gabrielson KL, Allan Johnson G, Pomper MG, Coatney RW, Winkelmann CT. Continuing education course #1: non-invasive imaging as a problem-solving tool and translational biomarker strategy in toxicologic pathology. Toxicol Pathol 2010; 39:267-72. [PMID: 21147931 DOI: 10.1177/0192623310390392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The continuing education course "Non-Invasive Imaging as a Problem-Solving Tool and Translational Biomarker Strategy in Toxicologic Pathology" provided a thorough overview of commonly used imaging modalities and the logistics required for integration of small animal imaging into toxicologic pathology. Non-invasive imaging (NIN) is gaining acceptance as an important modality in toxicologic pathology. This technology allows nonterminal, time-course evaluation of functional and morphologic endpoints and can be used to translate biomarkers between preclinical animal models and human patients. NIN can support drug development as well as basic research in academic or industrial environments. An initial overview of theoretical principles was followed by focused presentations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), positron emission tomography (PET)/single proton emission computed tomography (SPECT), ultrasonography (US, primarily focused on echocardiography), optical (bioluminescent) imaging, and computed tomography (CT). The choice of imaging modality will depend on the research question and the needed resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Peterson
- GlaxoSmithKline Safety Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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46
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Wei J, Stebbins JL, Kitada S, Dash R, Placzek W, Rega MF, Wu B, Cellitti J, Zhai D, Yang L, Dahl R, Fisher PB, Reed JC, Pellecchia M. BI-97C1, an optically pure Apogossypol derivative as pan-active inhibitor of antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) family proteins. J Med Chem 2010; 53:4166-76. [PMID: 20443627 DOI: 10.1021/jm1001265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In our continued attempts to identify novel and effective pan-Bcl-2 antagonists, we have recently reported a series of compound 2 (Apogossypol) derivatives, resulting in the chiral compound 4 (8r). We report here the synthesis and evaluation on its optically pure individual isomers. Compound 11 (BI-97C1), the most potent diastereoisomer of compound 4, inhibits the binding of BH3 peptides to Bcl-X(L), Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bfl-1 with IC(50) values of 0.31, 0.32, 0.20, and 0.62 microM, respectively. The compound also potently inhibits cell growth of human prostate cancer, lung cancer, and lymphoma cell lines with EC(50) values of 0.13, 0.56, and 0.049 microM, respectively, and shows little cytotoxicity against bax(-/-)bak(-/-) cells. Compound 11 displays in vivo efficacy in transgenic mice models and also demonstrated superior single-agent antitumor efficacy in a prostate cancer mouse xenograft model. Therefore, compound 11 represents a potential drug lead for the development of novel apoptosis-based therapies against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wei
- Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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47
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Greco A, Di Benedetto A, Howard CM, Kelly S, Nande R, Dementieva Y, Miranda M, Brunetti A, Salvatore M, Claudio L, Sarkar D, Dent P, Curiel DT, Fisher PB, Claudio PP. Eradication of therapy-resistant human prostate tumors using an ultrasound-guided site-specific cancer terminator virus delivery approach. Mol Ther 2009; 18:295-306. [PMID: 19888195 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral injections of a replication-incompetent adenovirus (Ad) expressing melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (Ad.mda-7), a secreted cytokine displaying cancer-selective, apoptosis-inducing properties, profoundly inhibits prostate cancer (PC) growth in immune-incompetent animals. In contrast, Ad.mda-7 is ineffective in PCs overexpressing antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 or Bcl-x(L). However, intratumoral injections of a conditionally replication-competent Ad (CRCA) in which expression of the adenoviral E1A gene is driven by the cancer-specific promoter of progression-elevated gene-3 (PEG-3) and which simultaneously expresses mda-7/interleukin (IL)-24 in the E3 region of the Ad (Ad.PEG-E1A-mda-7), a cancer terminator virus (CTV), is highly active in these cells. A major challenge for gene therapy is systemic delivery of nucleic acids directly into an affected tissue. Ultrasound (US) contrast agents (microbubbles-MBs) are viable candidates for gene delivery/therapy. Here, we show that MB/Ad.mda-7 complexes targeted to DU-145 cells using US dramatically reduced tumor burden in xenografted nude mice. Additionally, US-guided MB/CTV delivery completely eradicated not only targeted DU-145/Bcl-x(L)-therapy-resistant tumors, but also nontargeted distant tumors (established in the opposite flank), thereby implementing a cure. These findings highlight potential therapeutic applications of this novel image-guided gene therapy technology for advanced PC patients with metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide Greco
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25755, USA
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48
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Van Maerken T, Sarkar D, Speleman F, Dent P, Weiss WA, Fisher PB. Adenovirus-mediated hPNPase(old-35) gene transfer as a therapeutic strategy for neuroblastoma. J Cell Physiol 2009; 219:707-15. [PMID: 19202553 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Current treatment options for neuroblastoma fail to eradicate the disease in the majority of high-risk patients, clearly mandating development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Gene therapy represents a promising approach for reversing the neoplastic phenotype or driving tumor cells to self-destruction. We presently studied the effects of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of human polynucleotide phosphorylase (hPNPase(old-35)), a 3',5'-exoribonuclease with growth-inhibitory properties, in neuroblastoma cells. Transgene expression was driven by either the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter or by a tumor-selective promoter derived from progression elevated gene-3 (PEG-3). Our data demonstrate that efficient adenoviral transduction of neuroblastoma cells and robust transgene expression are feasible objectives, that the PEG-3 promoter is capable of selectively targeting gene expression in the majority of neuroblastoma cells, and that hPNPase(old-35) induces profound growth suppression and apoptosis of malignant neuroblastoma cells, while exerting limited effects on normal neural crest-derived melanocytes. These findings support future applications of hPNPase(old-35) for targeted gene-based therapy of neuroblastoma and suggest that combination with the PEG-3 promoter holds promise for creating a potent and selective neuroblastoma therapeutic. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 707-715, 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Van Maerken
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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49
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Sahoo A, Jung YM, Kwon HK, Yi HJ, Lee S, Chang S, Park ZY, Hwang KC, Im SH. A novel splicing variant of mouse interleukin (IL)-24 antagonizes IL-24-induced apoptosis. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:28860-72. [PMID: 18708357 PMCID: PMC2662000 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m802510200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2008] [Revised: 07/17/2008] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing of mRNA enables functionally diverse protein isoforms to be expressed from a single gene, allowing transcriptome diversification. Interleukin (IL)-24/MDA-7 is a member of the IL-10 gene family, and FISP (IL-4-induced secreted protein), its murine homologue, is selectively expressed and secreted by T helper 2 lymphocytes. A novel splice variant of mouse IL-24/FISP, designated FISP-sp, lacks 29 nucleotides from the 5'-end of exon 4 of FISP. The level of FISP-sp expression is 10% of the level of total primary FISP transcription. Unlike FISP, FISP-sp does not induce growth inhibition and apoptosis. FISP-sp is exclusively localized in endoplasmic reticulum, and its expression is up-regulated by endoplasmic reticulum stress. Our results suggest that the novel splicing variant FISP-sp dimerizes with FISP and blocks its secretion and inhibits FISP-induced apoptosis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupama Sahoo
- Department of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Korea
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50
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Liu D, Wei Y, Zhou F, Ge Y, Xu J, Chen H, Zhang W, Yun X, Jiang J. E1AF promotes mithramycin A-induced Huh-7 cell apoptosis depending on its DNA-binding domain. Arch Biochem Biophys 2008; 477:20-6. [PMID: 18510939 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2008.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2008] [Revised: 04/11/2008] [Accepted: 05/07/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor E1AF is widely known to play critical roles in tumor metastasis via directly binding to the promoters of genes involved in tumor migration and invasion. Here, we reported for the first time the pro-apoptotic role of E1AF in tumor cells. The expression of E1AF at protein level was obviously increased during Huh-7 and Hep3B cells apoptosis induced by the anticancer agent mithramycin A. E1AF overexpression markedly enhanced mithramycin A-induced Huh-7 cell apoptosis and the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax depending on its DNA-binding domain. And, reduction of E1AF inhibited mithramycin A-induced Huh-7 cell apoptosis. Furthermore, reducing the expression of Bax significantly inhibited E1AF-increased Huh-7 cell apoptosis induced by mithramycin A. Taken together, E1AF increases mithramycin A-induced Huh-7 cells apoptosis and Bax expression depending on its DNA-binding domain, indicating that E1AF might contribute to the therapeutic efficiency of mithramycin A for hepatoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, Ministry of Public Health & Gene Research Center, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Dongan Road 130, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
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