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Turrini E, Ulfo L, Costantini PE, Saporetti R, Di Giosia M, Nigro M, Petrosino A, Pappagallo L, Kaltenbrunner A, Cantelli A, Pellicioni V, Catanzaro E, Fimognari C, Calvaresi M, Danielli A. Molecular engineering of a spheroid-penetrating phage nanovector for photodynamic treatment of colon cancer cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:144. [PMID: 38494579 PMCID: PMC10944812 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05174-7] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents an emerging strategy to treat various malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CC), the third most common cancer type. This work presents an engineered M13 phage retargeted towards CC cells through pentavalent display of a disulfide-constrained peptide nonamer. The M13CC nanovector was conjugated with the photosensitizer Rose Bengal (RB), and the photodynamic anticancer effects of the resulting M13CC-RB bioconjugate were investigated on CC cells. We show that upon irradiation M13CC-RB is able to impair CC cell viability, and that this effect depends on i) photosensitizer concentration and ii) targeting efficiency towards CC cell lines, proving the specificity of the vector compared to unmodified M13 phage. We also demonstrate that M13CC-RB enhances generation and intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggering CC cell death. To further investigate the anticancer potential of M13CC-RB, we performed PDT experiments on 3D CC spheroids, proving, for the first time, the ability of engineered M13 phage conjugates to deeply penetrate multicellular spheroids. Moreover, significant photodynamic effects, including spheroid disruption and cytotoxicity, were readily triggered at picomolar concentrations of the phage vector. Taken together, our results promote engineered M13 phages as promising nanovector platform for targeted photosensitization, paving the way to novel adjuvant approaches to fight CC malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Turrini
- Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita (QUVI), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, C.So D'Augusto, 237, 47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Luca Ulfo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Emidio Costantini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Saporetti
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Di Giosia
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Nigro
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annapaola Petrosino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucia Pappagallo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alena Kaltenbrunner
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cantelli
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy
- CNR Institute of Molecular Genetics "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza" Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Pellicioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita (QUVI), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, C.So D'Augusto, 237, 47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Elena Catanzaro
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy (CDIT) Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carmela Fimognari
- Dipartimento di Scienze per la Qualità della Vita (QUVI), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, C.So D'Augusto, 237, 47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Matteo Calvaresi
- Dipartimento di Chimica "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Alberto Danielli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia e Biotecnologie (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum, Università Di Bologna, Via Francesco Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRI-SDV), Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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Bisen M, Kharga K, Mehta S, Jabi N, Kumar L. Bacteriophages in nature: recent advances in research tools and diverse environmental and biotechnological applications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:22199-22242. [PMID: 38411907 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32535-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages infect and replicate within bacteria and play a key role in the environment, particularly in microbial ecosystems and bacterial population dynamics. The increasing recognition of their significance stems from their wide array of environmental and biotechnological uses, which encompass the mounting issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Beyond their therapeutic potential in combating antibiotic-resistant infections, bacteriophages also find vast applications such as water quality monitoring, bioremediation, and nutrient cycling within environmental sciences. Researchers are actively involved in isolating and characterizing bacteriophages from different natural sources to explore their applications. Gaining insights into key aspects such as the life cycle of bacteriophages, their host range, immune interactions, and physical stability is vital to enhance their application potential. The establishment of diverse phage libraries has become indispensable to facilitate their wide-ranging uses. Consequently, numerous protocols, ranging from traditional to cutting-edge techniques, have been developed for the isolation, detection, purification, and characterization of bacteriophages from diverse environmental sources. This review offers an exploration of tools, delves into the methods of isolation, characterization, and the extensive environmental applications of bacteriophages, particularly in areas like water quality assessment, the food sector, therapeutic interventions, and the phage therapy in various infections and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monish Bisen
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Kusum Kharga
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Sakshi Mehta
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Nashra Jabi
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Lokender Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India.
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Raj Khosla Centre for Cancer Research, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, Solan, 173229, India.
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Kwak MH, Yun SK, Yang SM, Myeong S, Park JM. Gastric cancer specific drug delivery with hydrophilic peptide probe conjugation. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:440-452. [PMID: 38054470 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm01590d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-specific diagnosis is challenging. Phage display is an approach that could contribute to finding new specific biomarkers. In this study, we developed a new peptide probe specific for gastric cancer and validated it for gastric cancer-specific theranostics. We isolated linear peptides by screening a combinatorial phage library for a cancer stem cell marker, LGR5 protein. Among these, peptides with high selectivity against gastric cancer cells were selected and examined for therapeutic poteintial in vitro as well as in vivo. Through leucine-rich G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) protein-based phage display, we obtained a hydrophilic 7-mer peptide sequence (STCTRSR, named STC). Both the STC-peptide-conjugated fluorescent dye and chlorin e6 (Ce6) displayed a significantly higher intensity in gastric cancer cells compared to that in healthy cells. In mice with gastric cancer, the fluorescence in the tumors was 3.4× more intense when treated with the Ce6-STC conjugate compared to that with free Ce6 and conferred higher phototoxicity after single laser irradiation. Repeated photodynamic therapy could further reduce the tumor volume after treating these mice with the Ce6-STC conjugate. The treatment with the Ce6-STC conjugate exhibited a significantly lower fluorescence in the liver than that with free Ce6. In conclusion, we confirmed that the STC peptide is a gastric cancer-specific probe that could be useful in gastric cancer theranostics. In conclusion, considering its targeting ability and hydrophilicity, various hydrophobic chemotherapeutic agents could be revisited for gastric cancer treatment in combination with the probe described in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon Hwa Kwak
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seul Ki Yun
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seung Mok Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokho Myeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Myung Park
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Aljabali AAA, Aljbaly MBM, Obeid MA, Shahcheraghi SH, Tambuwala MM. The Next Generation of Drug Delivery: Harnessing the Power of Bacteriophages. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:279-315. [PMID: 37966606 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of biomaterials, such as bacteriophages, as drug delivery vehicles (DDVs) has gained increasing interest in recent years due to their potential to address the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Bacteriophages offer several advantages as drug carriers, such as high specificity for targeting bacterial cells, low toxicity, and the ability to be engineered to express specific proteins or peptides for enhanced targeting and drug delivery. In addition, bacteriophages have been shown to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance, which is a major concern in the field of antimicrobial therapy. Many initiatives have been taken to take up various payloads selectively and precisely by surface functionalization of the outside or interior of self-assembling viral protein capsids. Bacteriophages have emerged as a promising platform for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, including drugs, genes, and imaging agents. They possess several properties that make them attractive as drug delivery vehicles, including their ability to specifically target bacterial cells, their structural diversity, their ease of genetic manipulation, and their biocompatibility. Despite the potential advantages of using bacteriophages as drug carriers, several challenges and limitations need to be addressed. One of the main challenges is the limited host range of bacteriophages, which restricts their use to specific bacterial strains. However, this can also be considered as an advantage, as it allows for precise and targeted drug delivery to the desired bacterial cells. The use of biomaterials, including bacteriophages, as drug delivery vehicles has shown promising potential to address the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential of these biomaterials and address the challenges and limitations associated with their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
| | | | - Mohammad A Obeid
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Seyed Hossein Shahcheraghi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- Lincoln Medical School, Brayford Pool Campus, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.
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Li H, Zhu Y, Wang X, Feng Y, Qian Y, Ma Q, Li X, Chen Y, Chen K. Joining Forces: The Combined Application of Therapeutic Viruses and Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2023; 28:7679. [PMID: 38005401 PMCID: PMC10674375 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer, on a global scale, presents a monumental challenge to our healthcare systems, posing a significant threat to human health. Despite the considerable progress we have made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, realizing precision cancer therapy, reducing side effects, and enhancing efficacy remain daunting tasks. Fortunately, the emergence of therapeutic viruses and nanomaterials provides new possibilities for tackling these issues. Therapeutic viruses possess the ability to accurately locate and attack tumor cells, while nanomaterials serve as efficient drug carriers, delivering medication precisely to tumor tissues. The synergy of these two elements has led to a novel approach to cancer treatment-the combination of therapeutic viruses and nanomaterials. This advantageous combination has overcome the limitations associated with the side effects of oncolytic viruses and the insufficient tumoricidal capacity of nanomedicines, enabling the oncolytic viruses to more effectively breach the tumor's immune barrier. It focuses on the lesion site and even allows for real-time monitoring of the distribution of therapeutic viruses and drug release, achieving a synergistic effect. This article comprehensively explores the application of therapeutic viruses and nanomaterials in tumor treatment, dissecting their working mechanisms, and integrating the latest scientific advancements to predict future development trends. This approach, which combines viral therapy with the application of nanomaterials, represents an innovative and more effective treatment strategy, offering new perspectives in the field of tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Li
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
- Ocean College, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, China
| | - Yunhuan Zhu
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Xin Wang
- Center of Infectious Disease Research, School of Life Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China;
| | - Yilu Feng
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yuncheng Qian
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Qiman Ma
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Xinyuan Li
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yihan Chen
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
| | - Keda Chen
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.F.); (Y.Q.); (Q.M.); (X.L.); (Y.C.)
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Liu W, Xu J, Pi Z, Chen Y, Jiang G, Wan Y, Mao W. Untangling the web of intratumor microbiota in lung cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:189025. [PMID: 37980944 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Microbes are pivotal in contemporary cancer research, influencing various biological behaviors in cancer. The previous notion that the lung was sterile has been destabilized by the discovery of microbiota in the lower airway and lung, even within tumor tissues. Advances of biotechnology enable the association between intratumor microbiota and lung cancer to be revealed. Nonetheless, the origin and tumorigenicity of intratumor microbiota in lung cancer still remain implicit. Additionally, accumulating evidence indicates that intratumor microbiota might serve as an emerging biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and even a therapeutic target across multiple cancer types, including lung cancer. However, research on intratumor microbiota's role in lung cancer is still nascent and warrants more profound exploration. Herein, this paper provides an extensive review of recent advancements in the following fields, including 1) established and emerging biotechnologies utilized to study intratumor microbiota in lung cancer, 2) causation between intratumor microbiota and lung cancer from the perspectives of translocation, cancerogenesis and metastasis, 3) potential application of intratumor microbiota as a novel biomarker for lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and 4) promising lung cancer therapies via regulating intratumor microbiota. Moreover, this review addresses the limitations, challenges, and future prospects of studies focused on intratumor microbiota in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weici Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingtong Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zheshun Pi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yundi Chen
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton 13850, USA
| | - Guanyu Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yuan Wan
- The Pq Laboratory of BiomeDx/Rx, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton 13850, USA.
| | - Wenjun Mao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214023, Jiangsu, China.
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Shen Y, Wang J, Li Y, Yang CT, Zhou X. Modified Bacteriophage for Tumor Detection and Targeted Therapy. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13040665. [PMID: 36839030 PMCID: PMC9963578 DOI: 10.3390/nano13040665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Malignant tumor is one of the leading causes of death in human beings. In recent years, bacteriophages (phages), a natural bacterial virus, have been genetically engineered for use as a probe for the detection of antigens that are highly expressed in tumor cells and as an anti-tumor reagent. Furthermore, phages can also be chemically modified and assembled with a variety of nanoparticles to form a new organic/inorganic composite, thus extending the application of phages in biological detection and tumor therapeutic. This review summarizes the studies on genetically engineered and chemically modified phages in the diagnosis and targeting therapy of tumors in recent years. We discuss the advantages and limitations of modified phages in practical applications and propose suitable application scenarios based on these modified phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhao Shen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yuting Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Chih-Tsung Yang
- Future Industries Institute, Mawson Lakes Campus, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5095, Australia
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (C.-T.Y.)
| | - Xin Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (X.Z.); (C.-T.Y.)
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Huh H, Chen DW, Foldvari M, Slavcev R, Blay J. EGFR-targeted bacteriophage lambda penetrates model stromal and colorectal carcinoma tissues, is taken up into carcinoma cells, and interferes with 3-dimensional tumor formation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:957233. [PMID: 36591314 PMCID: PMC9800840 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.957233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Colorectal cancer and other adult solid cancers pose a significant challenge for successful treatment because the tumor microenvironment both hinders the action of conventional therapeutics and suppresses the immune activities of infiltrating leukocytes. The immune suppression is largely the effect of enhanced local mediators such as purine nucleosides and eicosanoids. Genetic approaches have the promise of interfering with these mechanisms of local immunosuppression to allow both intrinsic and therapeutic immunological anticancer processes. Bacterial phages offer a novel means of enabling access into tissues for therapeutic genetic manipulations. Methods We generated spheroids of fibroblastic and CRC cancer cells to model the 3-dimensional stromal and parenchymal components of colorectal tumours. We used these to examine the access and effects of both wildtype (WT) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-presenting bacteriophage λ (WT- λ and EGF-λ) as a means of delivery of targeted genetic interventions in solid cancers. We used both confocal microscopy of spheroids exposed to AF488-tagged phages, and the recovery of viable phages as measured by plaque-forming assays to evaluate access; and measures of mitochondrial enzyme activity and cellular ATP to evaluate the outcome on the constituent cells. Results Using flourescence-tagged derivatives of these bacteriophages (AF488-WT-λ and AF488-EGF-λ) we showed that phage entry into these tumour microenvironments was possible and that the EGF ligand enabled efficient and persistent uptake into the cancer cell mass. EGF-λ became localized in the intracellular portion of cancer cells and was subjected to subsequent cellular processing. The targeted λ phage had no independent effect upon mature tumour spheroids, but interfered with the early formation and growth of cancer tissues without the need for addition of a toxic payload, suggesting that it might have beneficial effects by itself in addition to any genetic intervention delivered to the tumour. Interference with spheroid formation persisted over the duration of culture. Discussion We conclude that targeted phage technology is a feasible strategy to facilitate delivery into colorectal cancer tumour tissue (and by extension other solid carcinomas) and provides an appropriate delivery vehicle for a gene therapeutic that can reduce local immunosuppression and/or deliver an additional direct anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haein Huh
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Ding-Wen Chen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Roderick Slavcev
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Jonathan Blay, ; Roderick Slavcev,
| | - Jonathan Blay
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada,Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada,*Correspondence: Jonathan Blay, ; Roderick Slavcev,
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Prospect of bacteria for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Life Sci 2022; 312:121215. [PMID: 36414093 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121215] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, the comprehensive cancer treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have improved the overall survival rate and quality of life of many cancer patients. However, we are still facing many difficult problems in the cancer treatment, such as unpredictable side effects, high recurrence rate, and poor curative effect. Therefore, the better intervention strategies are needed in this field. In recent years, the role and importance of microbiota in a variety of diseases were focused on as a hot research topic, and the role of some intracellular bacteria of cancer cells in carcinogenesis has recently been discovered. The impact of bacteria on cancer is not limited to their contribution to tumorigenesis, but the overall susceptibility of bacteria to subsequent tumor progression, the development of concurrent infections, and the response to anti-cancer therapy have also been found to be affected. Concerns about the contribution of bacteria in the anti-cancer response have inspired researchers to develop bacteria-based anti-cancer treatments. In this paper, we reviewed the main roles of bacteria in the occurrence and development of tumors, and summarized the mechanism of bacteria in the occurrence, development, and clinical anti-tumor treatment of tumors, providing new insights for the in-depth study of the role of bacteria in tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review aims to provide a new perspective for the development of new technologies based on bacteria to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy.
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