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Wang Z, Dong S, Zhou W. Pancreatic stellate cells: Key players in pancreatic health and diseases (Review). Mol Med Rep 2024; 30:109. [PMID: 38695254 PMCID: PMC11082724 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13233] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
As a pluripotent cell, activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) can differentiate into various pancreatic parenchymal cells and participate in the secretion of extracellular matrix and the repair of pancreatic damage. Additionally, PSCs characteristics allow them to contribute to pancreatic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Moreover, a detailed study of the pathogenesis of activated PSCs in pancreatic disease can offer promise for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies and improved patient prognoses. Therefore, the present study review aimed to examine the involvement of activated PSCs in pancreatic diseases and elucidate the underlying mechanisms to provide a viable therapeutic strategy for the management of pancreas‑related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengfeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Shi Dong
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Wence Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
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2
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Zhang H, Cao K, Xiang J, Zhang M, Zhu M, Xi Q. Hypoxia induces immunosuppression, metastasis and drug resistance in pancreatic cancers. Cancer Lett 2023; 571:216345. [PMID: 37558084 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive system and is known as the "king of cancers". It is extremely difficult to diagnose at an early stage, the disease progresses rapidly, and the effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor, so the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients is very poor. Numerous studies have suggested that hypoxia is closely related to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. Inadequate blood supply and desmoplasia in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer can result in its extreme hypoxia. This hypoxic microenvironment can further contribute to angiogenesis and desmoplasia. Hypoxia is mediated by the complex hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathway and plays an important role in the formation of a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment and the metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Further work on the hypoxic microenvironment will help clarify the specific mechanisms of the role of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer and provide a basis for the realization of hypoxia-targeted therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Kailei Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jingrong Xiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengxin Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qinhua Xi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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3
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de Scordilli M, Michelotti A, Zara D, Palmero L, Alberti M, Noto C, Totaro F, Foltran L, Guardascione M, Iacono D, Ongaro E, Fasola G, Puglisi F. Preoperative treatments in borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer: current evidence and new perspectives. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 186:104013. [PMID: 37116817 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104013] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Surgery is the only curative treatment for non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but less than 20% of patients present a resectable disease at diagnosis. Treatment strategies and disease definition for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) vary in the different cancer centres. Preoperative chemotherapy (CT) is the standard of care for both BRPC and LAPC patients, however literature data are still controversial concerning the type, dose and duration of the different CT regimens, as well as regarding the integration of radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation (CRT) in the therapeutic algorithm. In this unsettled debate, we aimed at focusing on the therapeutic regimens currently in use and relative literature data, to report international trials comparing the available therapeutic options or explore the introduction of new pharmacological agents, and to analyse possible new scenarios in microenvironment evaluation before and after neoadjuvant therapies or in patients' selection at a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco de Scordilli
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Anna Michelotti
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Oncology, ASUFC University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Diego Zara
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Lorenza Palmero
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Martina Alberti
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Oncology, ASUFC University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Claudia Noto
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Fabiana Totaro
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Luisa Foltran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Michela Guardascione
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Donatella Iacono
- Department of Oncology, ASUFC University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Elena Ongaro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
| | - Gianpiero Fasola
- Department of Oncology, ASUFC University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Fabio Puglisi
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy.
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PROM1 and CTGF Expression in Childhood MLL-Rearrangement Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:5896022. [PMID: 36276286 PMCID: PMC9586771 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5896022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The prognosis of over 90% of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains poor because of harboring the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL) fusion. To give insight into the critical coexpressed genes related to the MLL-rearrangement (MLL-R) gene in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we integrated different bioinformatic methods. First, the gene expression data of MLL-R ALL and normal samples from GSE13159 and GSE13164 were analyzed using “compare” function in the Oncomine database. The top 150 overexpressed and 150 underexpressed genes were identified by the Oncomine website. Then, we employed the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) to define functional genes for the 300 DEGs. The Cytoscape identified two important networks for overexpressed genes, including 35 functional genes, among which PROM1, FLT3, CTGF, LGALS1, IGFBP7, ZNRF1, and RUNX2 were considered as the key genes because of their high expression in MLL-R ALL compared to the expression in other subclassification of leukemia in the MILE dataset. Further analysis of GSE68720, GSE19475, and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) ALL (phase I) database confirmed the robust expression of 7 key genes in MLL-R compared to MLL-germline (MLL-G) childhood ALL. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that childhood ALL patients with high PROM1 and CTGF expression had significantly poor overall survival. These findings suggest that PROM1 and CTGF represent two potential therapeutic targets for childhood MLL-R ALL.
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Fu M, Peng D, Lan T, Wei Y, Wei X. Multifunctional regulatory protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF): A potential therapeutic target for diverse diseases. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:1740-1760. [PMID: 35847511 PMCID: PMC9279711 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a multifunctional protein of the CCN family, regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and a variety of other biological processes. It is involved in the disease-related pathways such as the Hippo pathway, p53 and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathways and thus contributes to the developments of inflammation, fibrosis, cancer and other diseases as a downstream effector. Therefore, CTGF might be a potential therapeutic target for treating various diseases. In recent years, the research on the potential of CTGF in the treatment of diseases has also been paid more attention. Several drugs targeting CTGF (monoclonal antibodies FG3149 and FG3019) are being assessed by clinical or preclinical trials and have shown promising outcomes. In this review, the cellular events regulated by CTGF, and the relationships between CTGF and pathogenesis of diseases are systematically summarized. In addition, we highlight the current researches, focusing on the preclinical and clinical trials concerned with CTGF as the therapeutic target.
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The value of plasma hypoxia markers for predicting imaging-based hypoxia in patients with head-and-neck cancers undergoing definitive chemoradiation. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2022; 33:120-127. [PMID: 35243023 PMCID: PMC8881198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2022.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher osteopontin plasma levels correlate with more hypoxic tumors at baseline. Increased baseline osteopontin levels are associated with residual tumor hypoxia. Absent early hypoxia response is linked with higher VEGF and CTGF levels in week 5. Plasma hypoxic markers may serve as biomarkers favoring radiotherapy personalization.
Background Methods Results Conclusion
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Diverse and precision therapies open new horizons for patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2022; 21:10-24. [PMID: 34538570 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common cause of cancer-related death, and most patients are with advanced disease when diagnosed. At present, despite a variety of treatments have been developed for PDAC, few effective treatment options are available; on the other hand, PDAC shows significant resistance to chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy due to its heterogeneous genetic profile, molecular signaling pathways, and complex tumor immune microenvironment. Nevertheless, over the past decades, there have been many new advances in the key theory and understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms and complexity of molecular biology and molecular immunology in pancreatic cancer, based on which more and more diverse new means and reasonable combination strategies for PDAC treatment have been developed and preliminary breakthroughs have been made. With the continuous exploration, from surgical local treatment to comprehensive medical management, the research-diagnosis-management system of pancreatic cancer is improving. This review focused on the variety of treatments for advanced PDAC, including traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, microenvironment matrix regulation as well as the treatment targeting epigenetics, metabolism and cancer stem cells. We pointed out the current research bottlenecks and future exploration directions.
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Hamada S, Matsumoto R, Masamune A. HIF-1 and NRF2; Key Molecules for Malignant Phenotypes of Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020411. [PMID: 35053572 PMCID: PMC8773475 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer progression involves interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in harsh tumor microenvironments, which are characterized by hypoxia, few nutrients, and oxidative stress. Clinically, cancer cells overcome therapeutic interventions, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to continue to survive. Activation of the adaptation mechanism is required for cancer cell survival under these conditions, and it also contributes to the acquisition of the malignant phenotype. Stromal cells, especially pancreatic stellate cells, play a critical role in the formation of a cancer-promoting microenvironment. We here review the roles of key molecules, hypoxia inducible factor-1 and KEAP1-NRF2, in stress response mechanisms for the adaptation to hypoxia and oxidative stress in pancreatic cancer cells and stellate cells. Various cancer-promoting properties associated with these molecules have been identified, and they might serve as novel therapeutic targets in the future. Abstract Pancreatic cancer is intractable due to early progression and resistance to conventional therapy. Dense fibrotic stroma, known as desmoplasia, is a characteristic feature of pancreatic cancer, and develops through the interactions between pancreatic cancer cells and stromal cells, including pancreatic stellate cells. Dense stroma forms harsh tumor microenvironments characterized by hypoxia, few nutrients, and oxidative stress. Pancreatic cancer cells as well as pancreatic stellate cells survive in the harsh microenvironments through the altered expression of signaling molecules, transporters, and metabolic enzymes governed by various stress response mechanisms. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 and KEAP1-NRF2, stress response mechanisms for hypoxia and oxidative stress, respectively, contribute to the aggressive behaviors of pancreatic cancer. These key molecules for stress response mechanisms are activated, both in pancreatic cancer cells and in pancreatic stellate cells. Both factors are involved in the mutual activation of cancer cells and stellate cells, by inducing cancer-promoting signals and their mediators. Therapeutic interventions targeting these pathways are promising approaches for novel therapies. In this review, we summarize the roles of stress response mechanisms, focusing on hypoxia inducible factor-1 and KEAP1-NRF2, in pancreatic cancer. In addition, we discuss the potential of targeting these molecules for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Jeong JY, Kim B, Ji SY, Baek YC, Kim M, Park SH, Kim KH, Oh SI, Kim E, Jung H. Effect of Pesticide Residue in Muscle and Fat Tissue of Pigs Treated with Propiconazole. Food Sci Anim Resour 2021; 41:1022-1035. [PMID: 34796328 PMCID: PMC8564320 DOI: 10.5851/kosfa.2021.e53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study estimated the effect of exposure to propiconazole through
implementation and residues in finishing pigs. We analyzed the expression of
fibrosis-related genes and performed histological analysis of the blood, liver,
kidney, muscle, ileum, and fat tissues. The animals were exposed for 28 d to
different concentrations of propiconazole (0.09, 0.44, 0.88, 4.41, and 8.82
mg/kg bw/d). Quantitative, gene expression, and histological analyses in tissues
were performed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, real-time PCR, and
Masson’s trichrome staining, respectively. Final body weight did not
differ among groups. However, genes involved in fibrosis were significantly
differentially regulated in response to propiconazole concentrations. Glucose,
alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels were significantly
increased compared with those in the control group, while alkaline phosphatase
level was decreased (p<0.05) after exposure to propiconazole. The residue
limits of propiconazole were increased in the finishing phase at 4.41 and 8.82
mg/kg bw/d. The liver, kidney, and ileum showed blue staining after
propiconazole treatment, confirmed by Masson's trichrome staining. In
conclusion, these findings suggest that propiconazole exposure disturbs the
expression of fibrosis-related genes. This study on dietary propiconazole in
pigs can provide a basis for determining maximum residue limits and a better
understanding of metabolism in pigs and meat products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Young Jeong
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Byeonghyeon Kim
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Sang Yun Ji
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Youl Chang Baek
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Minji Kim
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Seol Hwa Park
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Ki Hyun Kim
- Animal Welfare Research Team, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Sang-Ik Oh
- Division of Animal Disease & Health, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Eunju Kim
- Division of Animal Disease & Health, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Hyunjung Jung
- Animal Nutrition & Physiology Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
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Pook H, Pauklin S. Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Death: Therapeutic Implications for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4834. [PMID: 34638318 PMCID: PMC8508208 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a type of cancer that is strongly associated with poor prognosis and short median survival times. In stark contrast to the progress seen in other cancer types in recent decades, discoveries of new treatments in PDAC have been few and far between and there has been little improvement in overall survival (OS). The difficulty in treating this disease is multifactorial, contributed to by late presentation, difficult access to primary tumour sites, an 'immunologically cold' phenotype, and a strong tendency of recurrence likely driven by cancer stem cell (CSC) populations. Furthermore, apparently contrasting roles of tumour components (such as fibrotic stroma) and intracellular pathways (such as autophagy and TGFβ) have made it difficult to distinguish beneficial from detrimental drug targets. Despite this, progress has been made in the field, including the determination of mFOLFIRINOX as the standard-of-care adjuvant therapy and the discovery of KRASG12C mutant inhibitors. Moreover, new research, as outlined in this review, has highlighted promising new approaches including the targeting of the tumour microenvironment, enhancement of immunotherapies, epigenetic modulation, and destruction of CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Old Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK;
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Fraunhoffer NA, Closa D, Folch-Puy E, Abuelafia AM, Calvo EL, Chuluyan E, Iovanna J. Targeting REG3β limits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression through CTGF downregulation. Cancer Lett 2021; 521:64-70. [PMID: 34450197 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The crosstalk between the transformed tumoral cells and their microenvironment is a key aspect for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. This molecular dialog is intensively studied because it may result in an efficient therapeutic target. Contrary to this near microenvironment, the stromal portion in direct contact with the transformed cells, a far microenvironment, placed at the periphery of the tumor mass, produces factors signaling tumors. Among these factors, REG3β, produced by this part of the pancreas, is an important factor in promoting tumor progression. This paper demonstrated that targeting REG3β protein with specific antibodies limits the PDAC tumor growth in an orthotopic, syngeneic mice model induced by injection of Panc02 cells. Then, we showed that CTGF is over-expressed in response to REG3β in PDAC-derived cells. Moreover, inactivation of REG3β by treating tumors with anti-REG3β antibodies results in a strong decrease of CTGF in PDAC tumors. Lastly, we demonstrated that forced expression of CTGF in xenografted Panc02 cells abolishes the therapeutic effect of the anti-REG3β antibody treatment. Altogether, these results indicate that the effect of REG3β in promoting PDAC progression is mediated by CTGF over-activation. Thus, REG3β is a promising therapeutic target to treat PDAC with an original rationale. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the far microenvironment is essential for PDAC progression by producing active secretory factors, and some of them could be used as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás A Fraunhoffer
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France; Laboratory of Immunomodulators, School of Medicine, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel Closa
- Experimental Pathology Department, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), 08036, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emma Folch-Puy
- Experimental Pathology Department, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIBB-CSIC), 08036, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Analía Meilerman Abuelafia
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Ezequiel Luis Calvo
- Centre Génomique du Centre de Recherche du CHUL Research Center, Ville de Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eduardo Chuluyan
- Laboratory of Immunomodulators, School of Medicine, Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Aix-Marseille Université and Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288, Marseille, France.
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12
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He B, Sui X, Yu B, Wang S, Shen Y, Cong H. Recent advances in drug delivery systems for enhancing drug penetration into tumors. Drug Deliv 2021; 27:1474-1490. [PMID: 33100061 PMCID: PMC7594734 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2020.1831106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of nanomaterials for drug delivery provides the opportunity to avoid the side effects of systemic drug administration and injury caused by the removal of tumors, delivering great promise for future cancer treatments. However, the efficacy of current nano drugs is not significantly better than that of the original drug treatments. The important reason is that nano drugs enter the tumor vasculature, remaining close to the blood vessels and unable to enter the tumor tissue or tumor cells to complete the drug delivery process. The low efficiency of drug penetration into tumors has become a bottleneck restricting the development of nano-drugs. Herein, we present a systematic overview of recent advances on the design of nano-drug carriers in drug delivery systems for enhancing drug penetration into tumors. The review is organized into four sections: The drug penetration process in tumor tissue includes paracellular and transcellular transport, which is summarized first. Strategies that promote tumor penetration are then introduced, including methods of remodeling the tumor microenvironment, charge inversion, dimensional change, and surface modification of ligands which promote tissue penetration. Conclusion and the prospects for the future development of drug penetration are finally briefly illustrated. The review is intended to provide thoughts for effective treatment of cancer by summarizing strategies for promoting the endocytosis of nano drugs into tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin He
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xin Sui
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Song Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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13
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Wang S, Zheng Y, Yang F, Zhu L, Zhu XQ, Wang ZF, Wu XL, Zhou CH, Yan JY, Hu BY, Kong B, Fu DL, Bruns C, Zhao Y, Qin LX, Dong QZ. The molecular biology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: translational challenges and clinical perspectives. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:249. [PMID: 34219130 PMCID: PMC8255319 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00659-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is an increasingly common cause of cancer mortality with a tight correspondence between disease mortality and incidence. Furthermore, it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage with a very dismal prognosis. Due to the high heterogeneity, metabolic reprogramming, and dense stromal environment associated with pancreatic cancer, patients benefit little from current conventional therapy. Recent insight into the biology and genetics of pancreatic cancer has supported its molecular classification, thus expanding clinical therapeutic options. In this review, we summarize how the biological features of pancreatic cancer and its metabolic reprogramming as well as the tumor microenvironment regulate its development and progression. We further discuss potential biomarkers for pancreatic cancer diagnosis, prediction, and surveillance based on novel liquid biopsies. We also outline recent advances in defining pancreatic cancer subtypes and subtype-specific therapeutic responses and current preclinical therapeutic models. Finally, we discuss prospects and challenges in the clinical development of pancreatic cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Pancreatic Disease Institute, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Qiang Zhu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhe-Fang Wang
- General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Xiao-Lin Wu
- General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Cheng-Hui Zhou
- General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jia-Yan Yan
- General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bei-Yuan Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Kong
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - De-Liang Fu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Pancreatic Disease Institute, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Christiane Bruns
- General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yue Zhao
- General, Visceral and Cancer Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Lun-Xiu Qin
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qiong-Zhu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key laboratory of whole-period monitoring and precise intervention of digestive cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (SMHC), Shanghai, China.
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14
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Xelwa N, Candy GP, Devar J, Omoshoro-Jones J, Smith M, Nweke EE. Targeting Growth Factor Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer: Towards Inhibiting Chemoresistance. Front Oncol 2021; 11:683788. [PMID: 34195085 PMCID: PMC8236623 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.683788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, ranking amongst the top leading cause of cancer related deaths in developed countries. Features such as dense stroma microenvironment, abnormal signaling pathways, and genetic heterogeneity of the tumors contribute to its chemoresistant characteristics. Amongst these features, growth factors have been observed to play crucial roles in cancer cell survival, progression, and chemoresistance. Here we review the role of the individual growth factors in pancreatic cancer chemoresistance. Importantly, the interplay between the tumor microenvironment and chemoresistance is explored in the context of pivotal role played by growth factors. We further describe current and future potential therapeutic targeting of these factors.
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15
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Kaur J, Singh P, Enzler T, Sahai V. Emerging antibody therapies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a review of recent phase 2 trials. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2021; 26:103-129. [PMID: 33734833 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2021.1905795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is now the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US which can be attributed to rising incidence, diagnosis at advanced stages and early development of metastasis. Systemic therapy remains palliative with early development of resistance possibly related to the constitutive activation of 'undruggable' KRAS, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and intense desmoplasia. The advancements in molecular biology has led to the development and investigation of targeted and immune therapeutics.Areas covered: This study provides a comprehensive review of the literature to further the understanding of molecular targets with their respective antibody-based therapies in clinical development in pancreatic cancer. PubMed was systematically searched for English-language articles discussing antibody-based therapies under phase 2 clinical trial investigation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Expert opinion: PDAC remains highly resistant to chemotherapy with no significant improvement in survival for patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. Unfortunately, the majority of the antibody-based targeted and immune therapeutics have failed to meet their primary efficacy endpoints in early phase trials. However, there are a few promising antibody-based drugs with intriguing preliminary data that merit further investigation, while many more continue to be developed and investigated preclinically, and in early phase trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmeet Kaur
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, MI, USA
| | - Paramveer Singh
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Enzler
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vaibhav Sahai
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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16
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Kim H, Son S, Ko Y, Shin I. CTGF regulates cell proliferation, migration, and glucose metabolism through activation of FAK signaling in triple-negative breast cancer. Oncogene 2021; 40:2667-2681. [PMID: 33692467 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01731-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), also known as CCN2, is a member of the CCN protein family of secreted proteins with roles in diverse biological processes. CTGF regulates biological functions such as cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, wound healing, and angiogenesis. In this study, we demonstrate a mechanistic link between CTGF and enhanced aerobic glycolysis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We found that CTGF is overexpressed in TNBC and high CTGF expression is correlated with a poor prognosis. Also, CTGF was required for in vivo tumorigenesis and in vitro proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion of TNBC cells. Our results indicate that extracellular CTGF binds directly to integrin αvβ3, activating the FAK/Src/NF-κB p65 signaling axis, which results in transcriptional upregulation of Glut3. Neutralization of CTGF decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through downregulation of Glut3-mediated glycolytic phenotypes. Overall, our work suggests a novel function for CTGF as a modulator of cancer metabolism, indicating that CTGF is a potential therapeutic target in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyungjoo Kim
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Seogho Son
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunhyo Ko
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Incheol Shin
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea. .,Natural Science Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Jia Q, Xu B, Zhang Y, Ali A, Liao X. CCN Family Proteins in Cancer: Insight Into Their Structures and Coordination Role in Tumor Microenvironment. Front Genet 2021; 12:649387. [PMID: 33833779 PMCID: PMC8021874 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.649387] [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: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The crosstalk between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME), triggers a variety of critical signaling pathways and promotes the malignant progression of cancer. The success rate of cancer therapy through targeting single molecule of this crosstalk may be extremely low, whereas co-targeting multiple components could be complicated design and likely to have more side effects. The six members of cellular communication network (CCN) family proteins are scaffolding proteins that may govern the TME, and several studies have shown targeted therapy of CCN family proteins may be effective for the treatment of cancer. CCN protein family shares similar structures, and they mutually reinforce and neutralize each other to serve various roles that are tightly regulated in a spatiotemporal manner by the TME. Here, we review the current knowledge on the structures and roles of CCN proteins in different types of cancer. We also analyze CCN mRNA expression, and reasons for its diverse relationship to prognosis in different cancers. In this review, we conclude that the discrepant functions of CCN proteins in different types of cancer are attributed to diverse TME and CCN truncated isoforms, and speculate that targeting CCN proteins to rebalance the TME could be a potent anti-cancer strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingan Jia
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Binghui Xu
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yaoyao Zhang
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Arshad Ali
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xia Liao
- Department of Nutrition, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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18
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Su W, Zhu S, Chen K, Yang H, Tian M, Fu Q, Shi G, Feng S, Ren D, Jin X, Yang C. Overexpressed WDR3 induces the activation of Hippo pathway by interacting with GATA4 in pancreatic cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:88. [PMID: 33648545 PMCID: PMC7923337 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01879-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WD repeat domain 3 (WDR3) is involved in a variety of cellular processes including gene regulation, cell cycle progression, signal transduction and apoptosis. However, the biological role of WDR3 in pancreatic cancer and the associated mechanism remains unclear. We seek to explore the immune-independent functions and relevant mechanism for WDR3 in pancreatic cancer. METHODS The GEPIA web tool was searched, and IHC assays were conducted to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of WDR3 in pancreatic cancer patients. MTS, colony formation, and transwell assays were conducted to determine the biological role of WDR3 in human cancer. Western blot analysis, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of specific genes. An immunoprecipitation assay was used to explore protein-protein interactions. RESULTS Our study proved that overexpressed WDR3 was correlated with poor survival in pancreatic cancer and that WDR3 silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, WDR3 activated the Hippo signaling pathway by inducing yes association protein 1 (YAP1) expression, and the combination of WDR3 silencing and administration of the YAP1 inhibitor TED-347 had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the progression of pancreatic cancer. Finally, the upregulation of YAP1 expression induced by WDR3 was dependent on an interaction with GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4), the transcription factor of YAP1, which interaction induced the nuclear translocation of GATA4 in pancreatic cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS We identified a novel mechanism by which WDR3 plays a critical role in promoting pancreatic cancer progression by activating the Hippo signaling pathway through the interaction with GATA4. Therefore, WDR3 is potentially a therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Su
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Shikai Zhu
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongji Yang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingwu Tian
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.,Transplant Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02148, USA
| | - Ganggang Shi
- Jack Bell Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H3Z6, Canada
| | - Shijian Feng
- Jack Bell Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H3Z6, Canada
| | - Dianyun Ren
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Chong Yang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China. .,Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
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19
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Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Digestive System Cancers: A Review and Meta-Analysis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2020:8489093. [PMID: 33426067 PMCID: PMC7781715 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8489093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aim A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the impact of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on outcomes in patients with digestive system cancers. Methods A systemic literature survey was performed by searching the Cochrane Library and PubMed databases for articles that evaluated the impact of CTGF on outcomes in patients with digestive system cancers. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for prognostic factors, overall and recurrence-free survival using RevMan 5.3 software. Results This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate a total of 11 studies that included 1730 patients. The results showed that elevated CTGF expression was significantly correlated with advanced age, larger tumor size, multiple tumors, and vascular invasion. Subgroup analysis by cancer type revealed increased risk for lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage in gastric cancer, compared with colorectal cancer. An unfavorable effect of elevated CTGF levels on overall survival was found in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and patients with gastric cancer, while survival was improved in colorectal cancer patients with high CTGF expression, compared to those with normal levels of CTGF. Conclusions Elevated CTGF expression may be a novel biomarker for disease status and predicted survival outcomes in patients with specific digestive system cancers.
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20
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Yu S, Zhang C, Xie KP. Therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer: Roadmap to its reversal. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1875:188461. [PMID: 33157162 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease with limited opportunity for resectable surgery as the first choice for cure due to its late diagnosis and early metastasis. The desmoplastic stroma and cellular genetic or epigenetic alterations of pancreatic cancer impose physical and biological barriers to effective therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Here, we review the current therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer, and underlying mechanisms and potential reversal of therapeutic resistance, a hallmark of this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital Affiliated to the South China University of Technology, School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital Affiliated to the South China University of Technology, School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Ping Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital Affiliated to the South China University of Technology, School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Chen Z, Zhang N, Chu HY, Yu Y, Zhang ZK, Zhang G, Zhang BT. Connective Tissue Growth Factor: From Molecular Understandings to Drug Discovery. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:593269. [PMID: 33195264 PMCID: PMC7658337 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.593269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a key signaling and regulatory molecule involved in different biological processes, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing, as well as multiple pathologies, such as tumor development and tissue fibrosis. Although the underlying mechanisms of CTGF remain incompletely understood, a commonly accepted theory is that the interactions between different protein domains in CTGF and other various regulatory proteins and ligands contribute to its variety of functions. Here, we highlight the structure of each domain of CTGF and its biology functions in physiological conditions. We further summarized main diseases that are deeply influenced by CTGF domains and the potential targets of these diseases. Finally, we address the advantages and disadvantages of current drugs targeting CTGF and provide the perspective for the drug discovery of the next generation of CTGF inhibitors based on aptamers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hang Yin Chu
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zong-Kang Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bao-Ting Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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22
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Mejia I, Bodapati S, Chen KT, Díaz B. Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Invasiveness and the Tumor Microenvironment: From Biology to Clinical Trials. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E401. [PMID: 33050151 PMCID: PMC7601142 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) originates in the glandular compartment of the exocrine pancreas. Histologically, PDAC tumors are characterized by a parenchyma that is embedded in a particularly prominent stromal component or desmoplastic stroma. The unique characteristics of the desmoplastic stroma shape the microenvironment of PDAC and modulate the reciprocal interactions between cancer and stromal cells in ways that have profound effects in the pathophysiology and treatment of this disease. Here, we review some of the most recent findings regarding the regulation of PDAC cell invasion by the unique microenvironment of this tumor, and how new knowledge is being translated into novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Mejia
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Hematology Oncology, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA;
| | - Sandhya Bodapati
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pacific Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA;
| | - Kathryn T. Chen
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA;
| | - Begoña Díaz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Hematology Oncology, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA;
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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23
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Hadden M, Mittal A, Samra J, Zreiqat H, Sahni S, Ramaswamy Y. Mechanically stressed cancer microenvironment: Role in pancreatic cancer progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188418. [PMID: 32827581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal solid malignancies in the world due to its insensitivity to current therapies and its propensity to metastases from the primary tumor mass. This is largely attributed to its complex microenvironment composed of unique stromal cell populations and extracellular matrix (ECM). The recruitment and activation of these cell populations cause an increase in deposition of ECM components, which highly influences the behavior of malignant cells through disrupted forms of signaling. As PDAC progresses from premalignant lesion to invasive carcinoma, this dynamic landscape shields the mass from immune defenses and cytotoxic intervention. This microenvironment influences an invasive cell phenotype through altered forms of mechanical signaling, capable of enacting biochemical changes within cells through activated mechanotransduction pathways. The effects of altered mechanical cues on malignant cell mechanotransduction have long remained enigmatic, particularly in PDAC, whose microenvironment significantly changes over time. A more complete and thorough understanding of PDAC's physical surroundings (microenvironment), mechanosensing proteins, and mechanical properties may help in identifying novel mechanisms that influence disease progression, and thus, provide new potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Hadden
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Anubhav Mittal
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jaswinder Samra
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hala Zreiqat
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; ARC Training Centre for Innovative Bioengineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sumit Sahni
- Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Australia; Australian Pancreatic Centre, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Yogambha Ramaswamy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The University of Sydney Nano Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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24
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CCN-Based Therapeutic Peptides Modify Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Microenvironment and Decrease Tumor Growth in Combination with Chemotherapy. Cells 2020; 9:cells9040952. [PMID: 32294968 PMCID: PMC7226963 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The prominent desmoplastic stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a determinant factor in tumor progression and a major barrier to the access of chemotherapy. The PDAC microenvironment therefore appears to be a promising therapeutic target. CCN2/CTGF is a profibrotic matricellular protein, highly present in the PDAC microenvironment and associated with disease progression. Here we have investigated the therapeutic value of the CCN2-targeting BLR100 and BLR200, two modified synthetic peptides derived from active regions of CCN3, an endogenous inhibitor of CCN2. In a murine orthotopic PDAC model, the two peptides, administered as monotherapy at low doses (approximating physiological levels of CCN3), had tumor inhibitory activity that increased with the dose. The peptides affected the tumor microenvironment, inhibiting fibrosis and vessel formation and reducing necrosis. Both peptides were active in preventing ascites formation. An increased activity was obtained in combination regimens, administering BLR100 or BLR200 with the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that the improved activity of the combination was not mainly determined by the substantial increase in gemcitabine delivery to tumors, suggesting other effects on the tumor microenvironment. The beneficial remodeling of the tumor stroma supports the potential value of these CCN3-derived peptides for targeting pathways regulated by CCN2 in PDAC.
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25
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Gerarduzzi C, Hartmann U, Leask A, Drobetsky E. The Matrix Revolution: Matricellular Proteins and Restructuring of the Cancer Microenvironment. Cancer Res 2020; 80:2705-2717. [PMID: 32193287 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-2098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding cells is indispensable for regulating their behavior. The dynamics of ECM signaling are tightly controlled throughout growth and development. During tissue remodeling, matricellular proteins (MCP) are secreted into the ECM. These factors do not serve classical structural roles, but rather regulate matrix proteins and cell-matrix interactions to influence normal cellular functions. In the tumor microenvironment, it is becoming increasingly clear that aberrantly expressed MCPs can support multiple hallmarks of carcinogenesis by interacting with various cellular components that are coupled to an array of downstream signals. Moreover, MCPs also reorganize the biomechanical properties of the ECM to accommodate metastasis and tumor colonization. This realization is stimulating new research on MCPs as reliable and accessible biomarkers in cancer, as well as effective and selective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casimiro Gerarduzzi
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Québec, Canada. .,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ursula Hartmann
- Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andrew Leask
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Elliot Drobetsky
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Nevala-Plagemann C, Hidalgo M, Garrido-Laguna I. From state-of-the-art treatments to novel therapies for advanced-stage pancreatic cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2020; 17:108-123. [PMID: 31705130 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-019-0281-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Improvements in the outcomes of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have lagged behind advances made in the treatment of many other malignancies over the past few decades. For most patients with PDAC, cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment. For patients with resectable disease, modified 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (mFOLFIRINOX) is the standard-of-care adjuvant therapy, although data from several randomized trials have shown improved outcomes with neoadjuvant treatment strategies. For patients with advanced-stage or metastatic disease, comprehensive genomic profiling has revealed several potentially actionable alterations in small subsets of patients and the feasibility of implementing such strategies is beginning to be confirmed. Novel therapies targeting certain aberrations, most notably BRCA1/2 mutations, mismatch repair (MMR) deficiencies or NTRK1-3 fusions, have shown considerable activity in clinical trials, and larotrectinib, entrectinib and pembrolizumab have received FDA approval for the treatment of patients with tumours harbouring NTRK fusions and MMR deficiencies, respectively, regardless of primary tumour histology. In this Review, we describe the available data on the activity of these and other agents in patients with PDAC. Our discussion is structured according to the acronym 'PRIME' to organize the various treatment strategies currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials: Pathway inhibition, alteration of DNA Repair pathways, Immunotherapy, cancer Metabolism and targeting the Extracellular tumour microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ignacio Garrido-Laguna
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
- Division of Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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Role of hypoxia in skeletal muscle fibrosis: Synergism between hypoxia and TGF-β signaling upregulates CCN2/CTGF expression specifically in muscle fibers. Matrix Biol 2019; 87:48-65. [PMID: 31669521 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Several skeletal muscle diseases are characterized by fibrosis, the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) are two profibrotic factors augmented in fibrotic skeletal muscle, together with signs of reduced vasculature that implies a decrease in oxygen supply. We observed that fibrotic muscles are characterized by the presence of positive nuclei for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a key mediator of the hypoxia response. However, it is not clear how a hypoxic environment could contribute to the fibrotic phenotype in skeletal muscle. We evaluated the role of hypoxia and TGF-β on CCN2 expression in vitro. Fibroblasts, myoblasts and differentiated myotubes were incubated with TGF-β1 under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia and TGF-β1 induced CCN2 expression synergistically in myotubes but not in fibroblasts or undifferentiated muscle progenitors. This induction requires HIF-1α and the Smad-independent TGF-β signaling pathway. We performed in vivo experiments using pharmacological stabilization of HIF-1α or hypoxia-induced via hindlimb ischemia together with intramuscular injections of TGF-β1, and we found increased CCN2 expression. These observations suggest that hypoxic signaling together with TGF-β signaling, which are both characteristics of a fibrotic skeletal muscle environment, induce the expression of CCN2 in skeletal muscle fibers and myotubes.
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28
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Shimbo A, Kajiyama H, Tamauchi S, Yoshikawa N, Ikeda Y, Nishino K, Suzuki S, Niimi K, Sakata J, Kikkawa F. Expression of connective tissue growth factor as a prognostic indicator and its possible involvement in the aggressive properties of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:2323-2332. [PMID: 31578579 PMCID: PMC6826307 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was demonstrated to be associated with aggressive characteristics, including proliferation, invasion and metastasis, in a number of malignancies. Here, we investigated the expression and function of CTGF in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) to clarify its molecular mechanism and clinical significance. Paraffin sections from clinical samples of EOC (N=104) were immunostained with the CTGF antibody, and then the staining positivity was semiquantitatively examined. Moreover, we explored the role of CTGF expression in the migration-promoting effect on and chemoresistance of EOC cells. The results revealed that of the 104 EOC patients, the low and high CTGF staining expression rates were 65 (62.5%) and 39 (37.5%), respectively. Patients belonging to the higher-level CTGF group showed poorer progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates than those in the lower-level group [PFS (log-rank: P=0.0076) and OS (log-rank: P=0.0078), respectively]. Multivariable analysis showed that CTGF expression was a significant predictor of poorer PFS and OS [PFS: HR (high vs. low): 1.837, 95% CI: 1.023–3.289 (P=0.0418); OS: HR: 2.141, 95% CI: 1.077–4.296 (P=0.0300)]. In in vitro studies, in acquired paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant EOC cells, the silencing of CTGF expression led to the restoration of PTX sensitivity. Furthermore, we confirmed that the TGF-β-dependent migration-promoting effect on these CTGF-depleted cells was completely inhibited. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest the possible involvement of CTGF in the migration-promoting effect and chemoresistance of EOC, suggesting that it may be a target for overcoming the malignant properties of EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Shimbo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tamauchi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Yoshikawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Ikeda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Kimihiro Nishino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Shiro Suzuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Kaoru Niimi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
| | - Jun Sakata
- Department of Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi 464‑8681, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466‑8550, Japan
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Farran B, Nagaraju GP. The dynamic interactions between the stroma, pancreatic stellate cells and pancreatic tumor development: Novel therapeutic targets. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 48:11-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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30
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Pu N, Gao S, Yin H, Li JA, Wu W, Fang Y, Zhang L, Rong Y, Xu X, Wang D, Kuang T, Jin D, Yu J, Lou W. Cell-intrinsic PD-1 promotes proliferation in pancreatic cancer by targeting CYR61/CTGF via the hippo pathway. Cancer Lett 2019; 460:42-53. [PMID: 31233838 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a refractory disease. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monotherapy has shown strong performance in targeting several malignancies. However, the effect and mechanism of intrinsic PD-1 in pancreatic cancer cells is still unknown. In this study, associations between clinicopathological characteristics and stained tissue microarrays of PDAC specimens were analyzed along with profiling and functional analyses. The results showed that cell-intrinsic PD-1 was significantly correlated with overall survival (OS). Independently of adaptive immunity, intrinsic PD-1 promoted tumor growth in PDAC. Concomitantly, the overexpression of intrinsic PD-1 enhanced cancer proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PD-1 binds to the downstream MOB1, thereby inhibiting its phosphorylation. Moreover, greater synergistic tumor suppression in vitro resulted from combining Hippo inhibitors with anti-PD-1 treatment compared with the suppression achieved by either single agent alone. Additionally, Hippo downstream targets, CYR61 (CCN1) and CTGF (CCN2), were directly affected by PD-1 mediated Hippo signaling activation in concert with survival outcomes. Finally, the formulated nomogram showed superior predictive accuracy for OS in comparison with the TNM stage alone. Therefore, PD-1 immunotherapy in combination with Hippo pathway inhibitors may optimize the anti-tumor efficacy in PDAC patients via targeting cell-intrinsic PD-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Pu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hanlin Yin
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jian-Ang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wenchuan Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yefei Rong
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuefeng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dansong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tiantao Kuang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dayong Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| | - Wenhui Lou
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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31
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Resovi A, Bani MR, Porcu L, Anastasia A, Minoli L, Allavena P, Cappello P, Novelli F, Scarpa A, Morandi E, Falanga A, Torri V, Taraboletti G, Belotti D, Giavazzi R. Soluble stroma-related biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 10:emmm.201708741. [PMID: 29941541 PMCID: PMC6079536 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201708741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is hampered by the lack of reliable biomarkers. This study investigated the value of soluble stroma‐related molecules as PDAC biomarkers. In the first exploratory phase, 12 out of 38 molecules were associated with PDAC in a cohort of 25 PDAC patients and 16 healthy subjects. A second confirmatory phase on an independent cohort of 131 PDAC patients, 30 chronic pancreatitis patients, and 131 healthy subjects confirmed the PDAC association for MMP7, CCN2, IGFBP2, TSP2, sICAM1, TIMP1, and PLG. Multivariable logistic regression model identified biomarker panels discriminating respectively PDAC versus healthy subjects (MMP7 + CA19.9, AUC = 0.99, 99% CI = 0.98–1.00) (CCN2 + CA19.9, AUC = 0.96, 99% CI = 0.92–0.99) and PDAC versus chronic pancreatitis (CCN2 + PLG+FN+Col4 + CA19.9, AUC = 0.94, 99% CI = 0.88–0.99). Five molecules were associated with PanIN development in two GEM models of PDAC (PdxCre/LSL‐KrasG12D and PdxCre/LSL‐KrasG12D/+/LSL‐Trp53R172H/+), suggesting their potential for detecting early disease. These markers were also elevated in patient‐derived orthotopic PDAC xenografts and associated with response to chemotherapy. The identified stroma‐related soluble biomarkers represent potential tools for PDAC diagnosis and for monitoring treatment response of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Resovi
- Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Bani
- Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Porcu
- Laboratory of Methodology for Clinical Research, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Anastasia
- Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Minoli
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Lab, Fondazione Filarete and Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Allavena
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS-Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Paola Cappello
- CERMS, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Molecular Biotechnology Center, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Novelli
- CERMS, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Molecular Biotechnology Center, Turin, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostic, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Eugenio Morandi
- Chirurgia IV, Presidio Ospedaliero di Rho, ASST Rhodense, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Falanga
- Department of Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine, Thrombosis and Hemostasis Center, Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Valter Torri
- Laboratory of Methodology for Clinical Research, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Taraboletti
- Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Dorina Belotti
- Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Giavazzi
- Laboratory of Biology and Treatment of Metastasis, Department of Oncology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Bergamo and Milan, Italy
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32
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Daniel SK, Sullivan KM, Labadie KP, Pillarisetty VG. Hypoxia as a barrier to immunotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2019; 8:10. [PMID: 30931508 PMCID: PMC6441665 DOI: 10.1186/s40169-019-0226-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal disease with limited response to cytotoxic chemoradiotherapy, as well as newer immunotherapies. The PDA tumor microenvironment contains infiltrating immune cells including cytotoxic T cells; however, there is an overall immunosuppressive milieu. Hypoxia is a known element of the solid tumor microenvironment and may promote tumor survival. Through various mechanisms including, but not limited to, those mediated by HIF-1α, hypoxia also leads to increased tumor proliferation and metabolic changes. Furthermore, epithelial to mesenchymal transition is promoted through several pathways, including NOTCH and c-MET, regulated by hypoxia. Hypoxia-promoted changes also contribute to the immunosuppressive phenotype seen in many different cell types within the microenvironment and thereby may inhibit an effective immune system response to PDA. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and myofibroblasts appear to contribute to the recruitment of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and B cells in PDA via cytokines increased due to hypoxia. PSCs also increase collagen secretion in response to HIF-1α, which promotes a fibrotic stroma that alters T cell homing and migration. In hypoxic environments, B cells contribute to cytotoxic T cell exhaustion and produce chemokines to attract more immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. MDSCs inhibit T cell metabolism by hoarding key amino acids, modulate T cell homing by cleaving L-selectin, and prevent T cell activation by increasing PD-L1 expression. Immunosuppressive M2 phenotype macrophages promote T cell anergy via increased nitric oxide (NO) and decreased arginine in hypoxia. Increased numbers of regulatory T cells are seen in hypoxia which prevent effector T cell activation through cytokine production and increased CTLA-4. Effective immunotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and other solid tumors will need to help counteract the immunosuppressive nature of hypoxia-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment. Promising studies will look at combination therapies involving checkpoint inhibitors, chemokine inhibitors, and possible targeting of hypoxia. While no model is perfect, assuring that models incorporate the effects of hypoxia on cancer cells, stromal cells, and effector immune cells will be crucial in developing successful therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Daniel
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - K M Sullivan
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - K P Labadie
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Abstract
The CCN protein family is composed of six matricellular proteins, which serve regulatory roles rather than structural roles in the extracellular matrix. First identified as secreted proteins which are induced by oncogenes, the acronym CCN came from the names of the first three members: CYR61, CTGF, and NOV. All six members of the CCN family consist of four cysteine-rich modular domains. CCN proteins are known to regulate cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, CCN proteins are associated with cardiovascular and skeletal development, injury repair, inflammation, and cancer. They function either through binding to integrin receptors or by regulating the expression and activity of growth factors and cytokines. Given their diverse roles related to the pathology of certain diseases such as fibrosis, arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, and cancer, there are many emerging studies targeting CCN protein signaling pathways in attempts to elucidate their potentials as therapeutic targets. [BMB Reports 2018; 51(10): 486-493].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyungjoo Kim
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Seogho Son
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Incheol Shin
- Department of Life Science, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, and Natural Science Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
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Çetin İ, Topçul MR. Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of Ly2109761 on HeLa cells using the xCELLigence RTCA system. Oncol Lett 2019; 17:683-687. [PMID: 30655817 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.9556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the in vitro cytotoxic effect of a novel transforming growth factor-β receptor inhibitor, LY2109761, was investigated in the human cervix carcinoma HeLa cell lines. For the purpose of the present study, cell index values obtained using the xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis DP instrument, and mitotic, labelling and apoptotic index analysis were used. The results of the present study indicated that LY2109761 affected the cytoskeleton of HeLa cells, decreased the mitotic and labelling index values of the HeLa cell line, and increased the apoptotic index values. Significant differences were observed between the control group which was not treated with LY2109761 and the experimental groups, which were treated with LY2109761 (P<0.01). The results of the present study suggest that LY2109761 may serve as a promising treatment option for cervix carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- İdil Çetin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34459, Turkey
| | - Mehmet R Topçul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, Istanbul 34459, Turkey
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35
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Diab M, Azmi A, Mohammad R, Philip PA. Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for treating pancreatic cancer: advances and challenges. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2018; 20:535-546. [PMID: 30592647 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2018.1561869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite many efforts to improve the outcome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), its prognosis remains poor, which is mostly related to late diagnosis and drug resistance. Improving systemic therapy is considered the major challenge in improving the outcome of this disease. AREAS COVERED This review covers novel chemotherapy and targeted agents in the treatment of PDAC, with a focus on advanced stage disease. EXPERT OPINION Current frontline therapies used in the treatment of patients with PDAC with favorable performance status are gemcitabine (GEM) and nab-paclitaxel or 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX). PDAC has a number of genetic mutations that may explain its biological behavior, such as KRAS, p53 and CDK2NA, which occur in more than 90% of cases. Unfortunately, to this day, a specific targeting agent to any of those frequent gene mutations is lacking. Emerging areas of targeted therapies include the DNA repair, stroma, metabolism, and stem cells. Immunotherapy with either vaccines or immune checkpoint inhibitors has not produced any significant improvements in outcome of PDAC. Incorporating different approaches in therapy, including conventional, immunological, and others, is key in offering patients with the best possible care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Diab
- a Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer institute , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Asfar Azmi
- a Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer institute , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Ramzi Mohammad
- a Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer institute , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA
| | - Philip A Philip
- a Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer institute , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA.,b Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine , Wayne State University , Detroit , MI , USA
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36
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The Ambivalent Function of YAP in Apoptosis and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123770. [PMID: 30486435 PMCID: PMC6321280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Yes-associated protein, a core regulator of the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway, plays a vital role in inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, several studies and reviews suggest that yes-associated protein is a good target for treating cancer. Unfortunately, more and more evidence demonstrates that this protein is also an essential contributor of p73-mediated apoptosis. This questions the concept that yes-associated protein is always a good target for developing novel anti-cancer drugs. Thus, the aim of this review was to evaluate the clinical relevance of yes-associated protein for cancer pathophysiology. This review also summarized the molecules, processes and drugs, which regulate Hippo-YAP signaling and discusses their effect on apoptosis. In addition, issues are defined, which should be addressed in the future in order to provide a solid basis for targeting the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway in clinical trials.
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37
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Makino Y, Hikita H, Kodama T, Shigekawa M, Yamada R, Sakamori R, Eguchi H, Morii E, Yokoi H, Mukoyama M, Hiroshi S, Tatsumi T, Takehara T. CTGF Mediates Tumor-Stroma Interactions between Hepatoma Cells and Hepatic Stellate Cells to Accelerate HCC Progression. Cancer Res 2018; 78:4902-4914. [PMID: 29967264 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a matricellular protein related to hepatic fibrosis. This study aims to clarify the roles of CTGF in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which usually develops from fibrotic liver. CTGF was overexpressed in 93 human HCC compared with nontumorous tissues, primarily in tumor cells. Increased CTGF expression was associated with clinicopathologic malignancy of HCC. CTGF was upregulated in hepatoma cells in hepatocyte-specific Kras-mutated mice (Alb-Cre KrasLSL-G12D/+). Hepatocyte-specific knockout of CTGF in these mice (Alb-Cre KrasLSL-G12D/+ CTGFfl/fl) decreased liver tumor number and size. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were present in both human and murine liver tumors, and α-SMA expression, a marker of HSC activation, positively correlated with CTGF expression. Forced expression of CTGF did not affect growth of PLC/PRF/5 cells, a hepatoma cell line with little CTGF expression, but facilitated their growth in the presence of LX-2 cells, an HSC line. The growth of HepG2 cells, which express high levels of CTGF, was promoted by coculture with LX-2 cells compared with monoculture. Growth promotion by LX-2 cells was negated by an anti-CTGF antibody in both culture and xenografts. Coculturing LX-2 cells with HepG2 cells drove LX-2-derived production of IL6, which led to STAT-3 activation and proliferation of HepG2 cells. An anti-CTGF antibody reduced IL6 production in LX-2 cells and suppressed STAT-3 activation in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, our data identify tumor cell-derived CTGF as a keystone in the HCC microenvironment, activating nearby HSC that transmit progrowth signals to HCC cells, and this interaction is susceptible to inhibition by an anti-CTGF antibody.Significance: Protumor cross-talk between cancer cells and hepatic stellate cells presents an opportunity for therapeutic intervention against HCC.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/17/4902/F1.large.jpg Cancer Res; 78(17); 4902-14. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Makino
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hayato Hikita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kodama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Minoru Shigekawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryoko Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Sakamori
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eiichi Morii
- Department of Pathology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hideki Yokoi
- Department of Nephrology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masashi Mukoyama
- Department of Nephrology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Nephrology, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto, Japan
| | | | - Tomohide Tatsumi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Takehara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
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Zhang S, Li B, Tang W, Ni L, Ma H, Lu M, Meng Q. Effects of connective tissue growth factor on prostate cancer bone metastasis and osteoblast differentiation. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:2305-2311. [PMID: 30008933 PMCID: PMC6036428 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is expressed at increased levels in prostate cancer bone metastasis mouse models and patients with prostate cancer which metastasizes to the bone; however, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) remain unknown. The present study investigated the function of CTGF in osteoblast differentiation and its effect on prostate cancer bone metastasis by analyzing CTGF gene expression and transcription at different levels of invasion, metastasis of prostate cancer cells, and the influence of CTGF on proliferation and xenotransplantation. A mouse model demonstrating bone metastasis was used to investigate the function(s) of CTGF in bone metastasis and osteoblast differentiation. Results demonstrated that CTGF expression was increased in association with high bone metastasis in prostate cancer cells, and its expression was significantly decreased in whole cell lysates. CTGF expression in prostate cancer cells with high levels of bone metastasis was increased 1.9-fold compared with prostate cancer cells with low levels of bone metastasis. The expression of CTGF in mesenchymal cells was markedly increased compared with epithelial cells. Results indicated that the increased expression of CTGF does not affect the proliferation of tumor cells and possesses no influence on tumor volume. Control and CTGF plasmids were transfected into RM1 cells and led to 4 and 17% bone lesions, respectively. Increased expression of CTGF significantly enlarged the tumor area in the bone metastatic position compared with the control. Positive areas of alkaline phosphatase were significantly decreased as the concentration of CTGF increased. The results of the present study demonstrated that CTGF promotes prostate carcinoma to metastasize in the bone by dysregulating osteoblast differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangli Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Baolin Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harbin The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Rizhao, Rizhao, Shandong 276807, P.R. China
| | - Linying Ni
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P.R. China
| | - Huili Ma
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 256603, P.R. China
| | - Ming Lu
- Department of Oncological Surgery, The First Hospital of Qiqihaer City, Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang 161005, P.R. China
| | - Qinggang Meng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harbin The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150010, P.R. China
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Lun W, Wu X, Deng Q, Zhi F. MiR-218 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer via targeting CTGF. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:83. [PMID: 29977158 PMCID: PMC5994014 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0575-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis play important roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has been reported to promote several kinds of cancer progression and miR-218 has been identified as a tumor suppressor miRNA. However, little is known about the function of miR-218 in CRC. Here we investigated the effects of miR-218 on EMT and angiogenesis process in CRC cells. As well, the relation between miR-218 and CTGF was identified. The mechanism of miR-218’s function was illustrated. Methods CRC cell lines were transfected with miR-218 mimics. Proliferation, migration and angiogenesis were identified by MTT assay, Transwell assay, colony formation assay and tube formation assay. Protein and mRNA expression levels of associated genes were measured by Western blotting and RT-PCR. Dual luciferase assay was used to determine the relation of miR-218 and CTGF. Results miR-218 was down-regulated in CRC cell lines and over expression of miR-218 could significantly inhibit EMT and angiogenesis. CTGF was a direct target of miR-218. Up regulation of CTGF level after miR-218 transfection could sufficiently rescue the suppression effects on EMT and angiogenesis. Conclusion miR-218 directly targets CTGF and inhibits its expression, leading to suppression on EMT and angiogenesis of CRC cells. miR-218 might be used as potential therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijian Lun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Inst. of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Xiongjian Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Inst. of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Qiliang Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Inst. of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Fachao Zhi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Inst. of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
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Santolla MF, Lappano R, Cirillo F, Rigiracciolo DC, Sebastiani A, Abonante S, Tassone P, Tagliaferri P, Di Martino MT, Maggiolini M, Vivacqua A. miR-221 stimulates breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through selective interference with the A20/c-Rel/CTGF signaling. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:94. [PMID: 29716623 PMCID: PMC5930435 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0767-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background MicroRNA (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by inhibiting the translation of target mRNAs. Among several dysregulated miRNAs in human cancer, the up-regulation of miR-221 has been associated with development of a variety of hematologic and solid malignancies. In this study, we investigated the involvement of miR-221 in breast cancer. Methods TaqMan microRNA assay was used to detect the miR-221 levels in normal cells and in MDA-MB 231 and SkBr3 breast cancer cells as well as in main players of the tumor microenvironment, namely cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). miR-221 mimic sequence and locked nucleic acid (LNA)-i-miR-221 construct were used to induce or inhibit, respectively, the miR-221 expression in cells used. Quantitative PCR and western blotting analysis were performed to evaluate the levels of the miR-221 target gene A20 (TNFAIP3), as well as the member of the NF-kB complex namely c-Rel and the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was performed to ascertain the recruitment of c-Rel to the CTFG promoter. Finally, the cell growth and migration in the presence of LNA-i-miR-221 or silencing c-Rel and CTGF by specific short hairpin were assessed by cell count, colony formation and boyden chambers assays. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. Results We first demonstrated that LNA-i-miR-221 inhibits both endogenous and ectopic expression of miR-221 in our experimental models. Next, we found that the A20 down-regulation, as well as the up-regulation of c-Rel induced by miR-221 were no longer evident using LNA-i-miR-221. Moreover, we established that the miR-221 dependent recruitment of c-Rel to the NF-kB binding site located within the CTGF promoter region is prevented by using LNA-i-miR-221. Furthermore, we determined that the up-regulation of CTGF mRNA and protein levels by miR-221 is no longer evident using LNA-i-miR221 and silencing c-Rel. Finally, we assessed that cell growth and migration induced by miR-221 in MDA-MB 231 and SkBr3 breast cancer cells as well as in CAFs are abolished by LNAi-miR-221 and silencing c-Rel or CTGF. Conclusions Overall, these data provide novel insights into the stimulatory action of miR-221 in breast cancer cells and CAFs, suggesting that its inhibition may be considered toward targeted therapeutic approaches in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosamaria Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Anna Sebastiani
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Pierfrancesco Tassone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Pierosandro Tagliaferri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Di Martino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Marcello Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
| | - Adele Vivacqua
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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TGF-β and CTGF are Mitogenic Output Mediators of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Desmoid Fibromatosis. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2018; 25:559-565. [PMID: 26894649 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000000340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Desmoid fibromatosis is a locally aggressive clonal fibroblastic proliferation with high recurrence rates and no metastatic potential. Implicated molecular aberrations occur within the Wnt/β-catenin pathway (APC and β-catenin gene mutations). Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) are profibrotic growth factors, downstream from nuclear translocation of β-catenin, that lead to increased fibrogenesis. CTGF (a downstream effector of TGF-β) is a matricellular protein that modulates the activity of growth factors, adhesion molecules, integrins, and extracellular matrix thus playing a central role in tissue remodeling and fibrosis. Recently there has been growing interest in use of extracellular matrix inhibitors for treatment of various fibrogenic diseases. Desmoid fibromatosis samples (n=15) were evaluated for expression of β-catenin, TGF-β, and CTGF using immunohistochemistry on formalin paraffin-embedded material. A control group comprising scar tissue and adjacent normal skin (n=10) were simultaneously immunostained with above mentioned markers. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed on frozen specimens of desmoid fibromatosis (n=6) and normal skin (n=2). All 15 desmoid tumors were positive for β-catenin (surrogate marker of Wnt/β-catenin pathway dysregulation) which was negative in control normal skin and scar samples. TGF-β and CTGF were negative in 9 of 10 normal skin controls. TGF-β and CTGF were positive in all cases of scar tissue. All 15 cases of desmoid tumors were positive for TGF-β and CTGF. The real-time polymerase chain reaction showed higher expression levels of TGF-β and CTGF in desmoid fibromatosis compared with normal skin. The high constitutive expression of β-catenin downstream effectors; TGF-β, CTGF has the potential for enabling targeted therapy.
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Dou J, Wang T, Wang X, Zhang Y. Correlation between overexpression of connective tissue growth factor, tumor progression, and clinical prognosis in endometrial cancer patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2018; 11:2100-2105. [PMID: 31938318 PMCID: PMC6958184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the correlation between overexpression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tumor progression, and clinical prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS Tumor samples were obtained from 198 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent hysterectomy, and 50 samples were collected from normal endometrial tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on all samples. Scoring was carried out by two independent pathologists experienced in evaluating immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Normal endometrial specimens exhibited little or no CTGF immunoreactivity. CTGF was localized mainly in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. Of the endometrial cancer specimens examined, 95 (48%) of 198 patients were negative for CTGF, whereas 103 (52%) of 198 patients were positive for CTGF. No significant correlation was noted between the level of CTGF and patient age (P=0.81), blood pressure (P=0.76), blood glucose (P=0.51) or vascular/lymphatic invasion (P=0.15). However, positive CTGF expression showed a strong association with the level of CA125 (P=0.02), histologic grade (P=0.004), depth of myometrial invasion (P=0.028), and FIGO stage (P=0.025). Independent predictive value for overall survival was shown for positive CTGF expression (P<0.001), lymph node status (P<0.001) as well as lymphovascular invasion (P=0.02). CONCLUSION CTGF is an independent prognostic factor of endometrial cancer. CTGF expression may play a critical role in progression of endometrial cancer and is significantly associated with poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Dou
- Jining Medical University Jining 272067, Shandong Province, P. R. China
| | - Tingtao Wang
- Jining Medical University Jining 272067, Shandong Province, P. R. China
| | - Xinyong Wang
- Jining Medical University Jining 272067, Shandong Province, P. R. China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- Jining Medical University Jining 272067, Shandong Province, P. R. China
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Khan AA, Paget JT, McLaughlin M, Kyula JN, Wilkinson MJ, Pencavel T, Mansfield D, Roulstone V, Seth R, Halle M, Somaiah N, Boult JKR, Robinson SP, Pandha HS, Vile RG, Melcher AA, Harris PA, Harrington KJ. Genetically modified lentiviruses that preserve microvascular function protect against late radiation damage in normal tissues. Sci Transl Med 2018; 10:eaar2041. [PMID: 29367346 PMCID: PMC6020074 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aar2041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Improvements in cancer survival mean that long-term toxicities, which contribute to the morbidity of cancer survivorship, are being increasingly recognized. Late adverse effects (LAEs) in normal tissues after radiotherapy (RT) are characterized by vascular dysfunction and fibrosis causing volume loss and tissue contracture, for example, in the free flaps used for immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy. We evaluated the efficacy of lentivirally delivered superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) overexpression and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) knockdown by short hairpin RNA in reducing the severity of LAEs in an animal model of free flap LAEs. Vectors were delivered by intra-arterial injection, ex vivo, to target the vascular compartment. LVSOD2 and LVshCTGF monotherapy before irradiation resulted in preservation of flap volume or reduction in skin contracture, respectively. Flaps transduced with combination therapy experienced improvements in both volume loss and skin contracture. Both therapies reduced the fibrotic burden after irradiation. LAEs were associated with impaired vascular perfusion, loss of endothelial permeability, and stromal hypoxia, which were all reversed in the treatment model. Using a tumor recurrence model, we showed that SOD2 overexpression in normal tissues did not compromise the efficacy of RT against tumor cells but appeared to enhance it. LVSOD2 and LVshCTGF combination therapy by targeted, intravascular delivery reduced LAE severities in normal tissues without compromising the efficacy of RT and warrants translational evaluation as a free flap-targeted gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aadil A Khan
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - James T Paget
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Martin McLaughlin
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Joan N Kyula
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Michelle J Wilkinson
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Timothy Pencavel
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - David Mansfield
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Victoria Roulstone
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Rohit Seth
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Martin Halle
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 17176, Sweden
- Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 17176, Sweden
| | - Navita Somaiah
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Jessica K R Boult
- Magnetic Resonance Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Simon P Robinson
- Magnetic Resonance Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Hardev S Pandha
- Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Richard G Vile
- Molecular Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Alan A Melcher
- Translational Immunotherapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Paul A Harris
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Kevin J Harrington
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK.
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PCPA protects against monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling in rats: potential roles of connective tissue growth factor. Oncotarget 2017; 8:111642-111655. [PMID: 29340081 PMCID: PMC5762349 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and determine whether 4-chloro-DL-phenylalanine (PCPA) could inhibit pulmonary arterial remodeling associated with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and downstream signal pathway. MCT was administered to forty Sprague Dawley rats to establish the PAH model. PCPA was administered at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg once daily for 3 weeks via intraperitoneal injection. On day 22, the pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVI) and pulmonary artery morphology were assessed and the serotonin receptor-1B (SR-1B), CTGF, p-ERK/ERK were measured by western blot or immunohistochemistry. The concentration of serotonin in plasma was checked by ELISA. Apoptosis and apoptosis-related indexes were detected by TUNEL and western blot. In the MCT-induced PAH models, the PAP, RVI, pulmonary vascular remodeling, SR-1B index, CTGF index, anti-apoptotic factors bcl-xl and bcl-2, serotonin concentration in plasma were all increased and the pro-apoptotic factor caspase-3 was reduced. PCPA significantly ameliorated pulmonary arterial remodeling induced by MCT, and this action was associated with accelerated apoptosis and down-regulation of CTGF, SR-1B and p-ERK/ERK. The present study suggests that PCPA protects against the pathogenesis of PAH by suppressing remodeling and inducing apoptosis, which are likely associated with CTGF and downstream ERK signaling pathway in rats.
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Song H, Song J, Kim YJ, Jeong HH, Min HJ, Koh SS. DCPP1 is the mouse ortholog of human PAUF that possesses functional analogy in pancreatic cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 493:1498-1503. [PMID: 28988106 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.10.015] [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: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma upregulated factor (PAUF) overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) plays a major role in tumor progression and metastasis by autocrine and paracrine manners. However, underlying molecular mechanism of PAUF functioning in pancreatic cancer are not fully understood yet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of demilune cell and parotid protein 1 (DCPP1) as a putative mouse ortholog of human PAUF by sequence alignment and functional studies. Overexpression of mouse DCPP1 in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or pancreatic cancer cells increased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion ability in vitro. Treatment of human pancreatic cancer cells with recombinant mouse DCPP1 elevated cell growth, motility, invasiveness, and adhesiveness. Mouse DCPP1 exerted its function on pancreatic cancer cells by activating intracellular signaling pathways involved in aggressive cancer phenotype of human pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, subcutaneous injection of mice with DCPP1-overexpressing CHO cells increased tumor sizes. Taken together, we conclude that mouse DCPP1 is a multifunctional promoter of tumor growth through functional activation of pancreatic cancer cells, suggesting it to be an ortholog of human PAUF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayne Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Jinhoi Song
- Aging Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yeon Jeong Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Hyeon Hee Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Hye Jin Min
- Aging Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sang Seok Koh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan, South Korea.
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Kim JH, Shin BC, Park WS, Lee J, Kuh HJ. Antifibrotic effects of pentoxifylline improve the efficacy of gemcitabine in human pancreatic tumor xenografts. Cancer Sci 2017; 108:2470-2477. [PMID: 28940685 PMCID: PMC5715266 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the combinatorial effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the efficacy of gemcitabine (GEM) in a human pancreatic tumor xenograft model. PTX significantly improved the efficacy of GEM, as shown by a 50% reduction in tumor growth rate at 4 weeks of treatment compared with that in animals given GEM alone. The fluorescent drug doxorubicin (DOX) was used to test whether drug delivery was improved by PTX, contributing to the improved efficacy of GEM. PTX given for 2 weeks prior to giving DOX improved drug distribution by 1.8‐ to 2.2‐fold with no changes in vessel density, suggesting that improvement in drug delivery was not related to the vascular mechanism. Instead, collagen I content in tumor stroma was significantly reduced, as was the expression of alpha‐smooth muscle actin of cancer‐associated fibroblasts and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) by PTX pretreatment. Overall, our data demonstrated that increased efficacy of GEM by PTX was associated with improved drug delivery to tumor tissue, which may be attributed to decreased expression of CTGF and subsequent reduction in the stromal collagen matrix in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor. These results support the usefulness of PTX in combination with chemotherapy for targeting drug delivery barriers associated with the stromal matrix, which should be further evaluated for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Ho Kim
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung Cheol Shin
- Bio/Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Won Sang Park
- Department of Pathology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jaehwi Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyo-Jeong Kuh
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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Vemurafenib and trametinib reduce expression of CTGF and IL-8 in V600EBRAF melanoma cells. J Transl Med 2017; 97:217-227. [PMID: 28067893 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2016.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical evidence has revealed that while RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is a crucial component of melanomagenesis, other signaling pathways can also contribute to the malignant growth and development of resistance to targeted therapies. We explored the response of V600EBRAF melanoma cells derived from surgical specimens and grown in stem cell medium to vemurafenib and trametinib, drugs targeting the activity of V600EBRAF and MEK1/2, respectively. Cell growth and apoptosis were monitored by real-time imaging system, immunophenotype and cell cycle by flow cytometry, gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The V600EBRAF melanoma cell populations were diverse. Differences in morphology, pigmentation, cell cycle profiles, and immunophenotype were observed. At the molecular level, melanoma cells differed in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, NF-κB, and β-catenin, and expression of several relevant genes, including MITF-M, DKK1, CCND1, BRAF, CXCL8, and CTGF. Despite having different characteristics, melanoma cells responded similarly to vemurafenib and trametinib. Both drugs reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and percentages of cells expressing Ki-67 at high level, inhibited expression of CCND1 and induced cell cycle arrest in the Go/G1 phase. These expected cytostatic effects were accompanied by increased CD271 expression, a marker of stem-like cells. NF-κB activity was reduced by both drugs, however, not completely abolished, whereas the level of active β-catenin was increased by drugs in three out of six cell populations. Interestingly, expression of IL-8 and CTGF was significantly reduced by treatment with vemurafenib and trametinib. Simultaneous inhibition of NF-κB activity and induction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation revealed that CTGF expression depends on ERK1/2 activity but not on NF-κB activity. Both, the positive effects of treatment with vemurafenib and trametinib such as the newly identified CTGF suppression and undesired effects such as increased CD271 expression suggesting selection of melanoma stem-like cells should be considered in the development of combination treatment for melanoma patients.
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A potential role for CCN2/CTGF in aggressive colorectal cancer. J Cell Commun Signal 2016; 10:223-227. [PMID: 27613407 PMCID: PMC5055504 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-016-0347-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
CCN2, also known as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a transcriptional target of TGF-β signaling. Unlike its original name (“CTGF”) suggested, CCN2 is not an actual growth factor but a matricellular protein that plays an important role in fibrosis, inflammation and connective tissue remodeling in a variety of diseases, including cancer. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, CCN2 signaling induces stromal infiltration and facilitates a strong tumor-stromal interaction. In many types of cancer, CCN2 overexpression has been associated with poor outcome. CMS4 (Consensus Molecular Subtype 4) is a recently identified aggressive colorectal cancer subtype, that is characterized by up-regulation of genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, TGF-β signaling, angiogenesis, complement activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. In addition, a high influx of stromal fibroblasts contributes to the mesenchymal-like gene expression profile of this subtype. Furthermore, compared with the other three CMS groups, CMS4 tumors have the worst prognosis. Based on these observations, we postulated that CCN2 might contribute to colorectal cancer progression, especially in the CMS4 subtype. This review discusses the available literature on the role of CCN2 in colorectal cancer, with a focus on the ‘fibrotic subtype’ CMS4.
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Li J, Gao X, Ji K, Sanders AJ, Zhang Z, Jiang WG, Ji J, Ye L. Differential expression of CCN family members CYR611, CTGF and NOV in gastric cancer and their association with disease progression. Oncol Rep 2016; 36:2517-2525. [PMID: 27633176 PMCID: PMC5055206 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.5074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
CCN is an acronym for cysteine-rich protein 61 (CYR61), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and nephroblastoma overexpressed (NOV). Aberrations of certain CCN members including CYR61, CTGF, Wnt1-inducible signalling pathway protein (WISP)-1 and -3 have been reported in gastric cancer. The present study aimed to examine the clinical relevance of NOV along with CYR61 and CTGF in gastric cancer by analysing their transcript levels. CYR61, CTGF and NOV transcript expression in 324 gastric cancer samples with paired adjacent normal gastric tissues were determined using real-time quantitative PCR and the results were statistically analysed against patient clinicopathological data using SPSS software. NOV mRNA levels in gastric cancer tissues were significantly elevated when compared with levels in their paired adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Local advanced tumours with invasive expansion (T3 and T4) expressed higher levels of NOV (p=0.013) compared with the less invasive tumours (T1 and T2). CYR61 transcript levels were also significantly increased in gastric cancers compared with levels in the adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that patients with CYR61-low transcript levels had longer overall survival (OS) (p=0.018) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.015). NOV overexpression promoted the in vitro proliferation of AGS cells while the knockdown resulted in a reduced proliferation of HGC27 cells. A similar effect was observed for the invasion of these two gastric cancer cell lines. NOV expression was increased in gastric cancer which was associated with local invasion and distant metastases. Taken together, the expression of NOV and CYR61 was increased in gastric cancer. The elevated expression of CYR61 was associated with poorer survival. NOV promoted proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Further investigations may highlight their predictive and therapeutic potential in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xi-Cheng, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Xiangyu Gao
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Ke Ji
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Andrew J Sanders
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Zhongtao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xi-Cheng, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Wen G Jiang
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jiafu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Chinese Ministry of Education), Department of GI Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, P.R. China
| | - Lin Ye
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, Division of Cancer and Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
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Kato S, Yokoyama S, Hayakawa Y, Li L, Iwakami Y, Sakurai H, Saiki I. P38 pathway as a key downstream signal of connective tissue growth factor to regulate metastatic potential in non-small-cell lung cancer. Cancer Sci 2016; 107:1416-1421. [PMID: 27403934 PMCID: PMC5084657 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the secretory matricellular protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has been reported to be related to lung cancer metastasis, the precise mechanism by which CTGF regulates lung cancer metastasis has not been elucidated. In the present study, we show the molecular link between CTGF secretion and the p38 pathway in the invasive and metastatic potential of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among three different human NSCLC cell lines (PC‐14, A549, and PC‐9), their in vitro invasiveness was inversely correlated with the level of CTGF secretion. By supplementing or reducing CTGF secretion in NSCLC culture, dysregulation of the invasive and metastatic potential of NSCLC cell lines was largely compensated. By focusing on the protein kinases that are known to be regulated by CTGF, we found that the p38 pathway is a key downstream signal of CTGF to regulate the metastatic potential of NSCLC. Importantly, a negative correlation between CTGF and phosphorylation status of p38 was identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas lung adenocarcinoma dataset. In the context of the clinical importance of our findings, we showed that p38 inhibitor, SB203580, reduced the metastatic potential of NSCLC secreting low levels of CTGF. Collectively, our present findings indicate that the CTGF/p38 axis is a novel therapeutic target of NSCLC metastasis, particularly NSCLC secreting low levels of CTGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichiro Kato
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Satoru Yokoyama
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiro Hayakawa
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Luhui Li
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yusuke Iwakami
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Sakurai
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Ikuo Saiki
- Division of Pathogenic Biochemistry, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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