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Cavaco M, Pérez-Peinado C, Valle J, Silva RDM, Gano L, Correia JDG, Andreu D, Castanho MARB, Neves V. The use of a selective, nontoxic dual-acting peptide for breast cancer patients with brain metastasis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116573. [PMID: 38613996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116573] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype characterized by the absence of commonly targeted receptors. Unspecific chemotherapy is currently the main therapeutic option, with poor results. Another major challenge is the frequent appearance of brain metastasis (BM) associated with a significant decrease in patient overall survival. The treatment of BM is even more challenging due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, we present a dual-acting peptide (PepH3-vCPP2319) designed to tackle TNBC/BM, in which a TNBC-specific anticancer peptide (ACP) motif (vCPP2319) is joined to a BBB peptide shuttle (BBBpS) motif (PepH3). PepH3-vCPP2319 demonstrated selectivity and efficiency in eliminating TNBC both in monolayers (IC50≈5.0 µM) and in spheroids (IC50≈25.0 µM), with no stringent toxicity toward noncancerous cell lines and red blood cells (RBCs). PepH3-vCPP2319 was also able to cross the BBB in vitro and penetrate the brain in vivo, and was stable in serum with a half-life above 120 min. Tumor cell-peptide interaction is fast, with quick peptide internalization via clathrin-mediated endocytosis without membrane disruption. Upon internalization, the peptide is detected in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, indicating a multi-targeted mechanism of action that ultimately induces irreversible cell damage and apoptosis. In conclusion, we have designed a dual-acting peptide capable of brain penetration and TNBC cell elimination, thus expanding the drug arsenal to fight this BC subtype and its BM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cavaco
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal; Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Clara Pérez-Peinado
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Javier Valle
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Ruben D M Silva
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal
| | - Lurdes Gano
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal
| | - João D G Correia
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia e Ciências Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, Estrada Nacional 10 (km 139,7), LRS, Bobadela 2695-066, Portugal
| | - David Andreu
- Proteomics and Protein Chemistry Unit, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
| | - Miguel A R B Castanho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Vera Neves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Malfanti A, Sami H, Balasso A, Marostica G, Arpac B, Mastrotto F, Mantovani G, Cola E, Anton M, Caliceti P, Ogris M, Salmaso S. Control of cell penetration enhancer shielding and endosomal escape-kinetics crucial for efficient and biocompatible siRNA delivery. J Control Release 2023; 363:101-113. [PMID: 37722420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.022] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Although cationic liposomes are efficient carriers for nucleic acid delivery, their toxicity often hampers the clinical translation. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating has been largely used to improve their stability and reduce toxicity. Nevertheless, it has been found to decrease the transfection process. In order to exploit the advantages of cationic liposomes and PEG decoration for nucleic acid delivery, liposomes decorated with tetraArg-[G-1]-distearoyl glycerol (Arg4-DAG) dendronic oligo-cationic lipid enhancer (OCE) and PEG-lipid have been investigated. Non decorated or OCE-decorated lipoplexes (OCEfree-LPX and OCE-LPX, respectively) were obtained by lipid film hydration using oligonucleotide (ON) solutions. PEG and OCE/PEG decorated lipoplexes (PEG-OCEfree-LPX and PEG-OCE-LPX, respectively) were obtained by post-insertion of 2 or 5 kDa PEG-DSPE on preformed lipoplexes. The OCE decoration yielded lipoplexes with size of about 240 nm, 84% loading efficiency at 10 N/P ratio, ten times higher than OCEfree-LPX, and prevented the ON release when incubated with physiological heparin concentration or with plasma. The PEG decoration reduced the zeta potential, enhanced the lipoplex stability in serum and decreased both hemolysis and cytotoxicity, while it did not affect the lipoplex size and ON loading. With respect to OCEfree-LPX, the OCE-LPX remarkably associated with cells and were taken up by different cancer cell lines (HeLa and MDA-MB-231). Interestingly, 2 or 5 kDa PEG decoration did not reduce either the cell interaction or the cell up-take of the cationic lipoplexes. With siRNA as a payload, OCE enabled efficient internalization, but endosomal release was hampered. Post-transfection treatment with the lysosomotropic drug chloroquine allowed to identify the optimal time point for endosomal escape. Chloroquine treatment after 12 to 20 h of LPX pre-incubation enabled siRNA mediated target knockdown indicating that this is the time window of endo-lysosomal processing. This indicates that OCE can protect siRNA from lysosomal degradation for up to 20 h, as shown by these rescue experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Malfanti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Haider Sami
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Macromolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Anna Balasso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Giulia Marostica
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Macromolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Busra Arpac
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Francesca Mastrotto
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, Padova 35131, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Cola
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Macromolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Martina Anton
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Paolo Caliceti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Manfred Ogris
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Macromolecular Cancer Therapeutics (MMCT), Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, Vienna 1090, Austria.
| | - Stefano Salmaso
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 5, Padova 35131, Italy.
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Development of Breast Cancer Spheroids to Evaluate Cytotoxic Response to an Anticancer Peptide. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111863. [PMID: 34834277 PMCID: PMC8619419 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths. Despite intense research efforts, BC treatment still remains challenging. Improved drug development strategies are needed for impactful benefit to patients. Current preclinical studies rely mostly on cell-based screenings, using two-dimensional (2D) cell monolayers that do not mimic in vivo tumors properly. Herein, we explored the development and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) models, named spheroids, of the most aggressive BC subtypes (triple-negative breast cancer-TNBC; and human-epidermal growth receptor-2-HER2+), using the liquid overlay technique with several selected cell lines. In these cell line-derived spheroids, we studied cell density, proliferation, ultrastructure, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell permeabilization (live/dead). The results showed a formation of compact and homogeneous spheroids on day 7 after seeding 2000 cells/well for MDA-MB-231 and 5000 cells/well for BT-20 and BT-474. Next, we compared the efficacy of a model anticancer peptide (ACP) in cell monolayers and spheroids. Overall, the results demonstrated spheroids to be less sensitive to treatment than cell monolayers, revealing the need for more robust models in drug development.
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