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Miras I, Estévez-García P, Muñoz-Galván S. Clinical and molecular features of platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 201:104434. [PMID: 38960218 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104434] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all the gynecological tumors despite remarkable advances in our understanding of its molecular biology. The cornerstone treatment remains cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Recently, the addition of targeted therapies, such as PARP inhibitors, as first-line maintenance has led to outstanding improvements, mainly in BRCA mutated and homologous recombination deficient tumors. However, a significant proportion of patients will experience recurrence, primarily due to platinum resistance, which ultimately result in fatality. Among these patients, primary platinum-resistant have a particularly dismal prognosis due to their low response to current available therapies, historical exclusion from clinical trials, and the absence of validated biomarkers. In this review, we discuss the concept of platinum resistance in ovarian cancer, the clinical and molecular characteristics of this resistance, and the current and new treatment options for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Miras
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain; Medical Oncology Department. Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain
| | - Purificación Estévez-García
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain; Medical Oncology Department. Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain; CIBER de CANCER, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Muñoz-Galván
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Seville, Spain; CIBER de CANCER, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Kaur K, Sanghu J, Memarzadeh S, Jewett A. Exploring the Potential of Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Targeting High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinomas. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:677. [PMID: 38932405 PMCID: PMC11209217 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060677] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs) likely consist of poorly differentiated stem-like cells (PDSLCs) and differentiated tumor cells. Conventional therapeutics are incapable of completely eradicating PDSLCs, contributing to disease progression and tumor relapse. Primary NK cells are known to effectively lyse PDSLCs, but they exhibit low or minimal cytotoxic potential against well-differentiated tumors. We have introduced and discussed the characteristics of super-charged NK (sNK) cells in this review. sNK cells, in comparison to primary NK cells, exhibit a significantly higher capability for the direct killing of both PDSLCs and well-differentiated tumors. In addition, sNK cells secrete significantly higher levels of cytokines, especially those known to induce the differentiation of tumors. In addition, we propose that a combination of sNK and chemotherapy could be one of the most effective strategies to eliminate the heterogeneous population of ovarian tumors; sNK cells can lyse both PDSLCs and well-differentiated tumors, induce the differentiation of PDSLCs, and could be used in combination with chemotherapy to target both well-differentiated and NK-induced differentiated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kawaljit Kaur
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, University of California School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Jashan Sanghu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (J.S.); (S.M.)
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sanaz Memarzadeh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (J.S.); (S.M.)
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| | - Anahid Jewett
- Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, The Jane and Jerry Weintraub Center for Reconstructive Biotechnology, University of California School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
- The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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3
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Atwani R, Nagare RP, Rogers A, Prasad M, Lazar V, Sandusky G, Tong Y, Pin F, Condello S. Integrin-linked kinase-frizzled 7 interaction maintains cancer stem cells to drive platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:156. [PMID: 38822429 PMCID: PMC11143768 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03083-y] [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: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Platinum-based chemotherapy regimens are a mainstay in the management of ovarian cancer (OC), but emergence of chemoresistance poses a significant clinical challenge. The persistence of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) at the end of primary treatment contributes to disease recurrence. Here, we hypothesized that the extracellular matrix protects CSCs during chemotherapy and supports their tumorigenic functions by activating integrin-linked kinase (ILK), a key enzyme in drug resistance. METHODS TCGA datasets and OC models were investigated using an integrated proteomic and gene expression analysis and examined ILK for correlations with chemoresistance pathways and clinical outcomes. Canonical Wnt pathway components, pro-survival signaling, and stemness were examined using OC models. To investigate the role of ILK in the OCSC-phenotype, a novel pharmacological inhibitor of ILK in combination with carboplatin was utilized in vitro and in vivo OC models. RESULTS In response to increased fibronectin secretion and integrin β1 clustering, aberrant ILK activation supported the OCSC phenotype, contributing to OC spheroid proliferation and reduced response to platinum treatment. Complexes formed by ILK with the Wnt receptor frizzled 7 (Fzd7) were detected in tumors and correlated with metastatic progression. Moreover, TCGA datasets confirmed that combined expression of ILK and Fzd7 in high grade serous ovarian tumors is correlated with reduced response to chemotherapy and poor patient outcomes. Mechanistically, interaction of ILK with Fzd7 increased the response to Wnt ligands, thereby amplifying the stemness-associated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Notably, preclinical studies showed that the novel ILK inhibitor compound 22 (cpd-22) alone disrupted ILK interaction with Fzd7 and CSC proliferation as spheroids. Furthermore, when combined with carboplatin, this disruption led to sustained AKT inhibition, apoptotic damage in OCSCs and reduced tumorigenicity in mice. CONCLUSIONS This "outside-in" signaling mechanism is potentially actionable, and combined targeting of ILK-Fzd7 may lead to new therapeutic approaches to eradicate OCSCs and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rula Atwani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Rohit Pravin Nagare
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Amber Rogers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Mayuri Prasad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Virginie Lazar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - George Sandusky
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Yan Tong
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Fabrizio Pin
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Salvatore Condello
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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Serambeque B, Mestre C, Correia-Barros G, Teixo R, Marto CM, Gonçalves AC, Caramelo F, Silva I, Paiva A, Beck HC, Carvalho AS, Botelho MF, Carvalho MJ, Matthiesen R, Laranjo M. Influence of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibition on Stemness of Endometrial Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2031. [PMID: 38893151 PMCID: PMC11171353 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynaecological malignancies. Although often diagnosed at an early stage, there is a subset of patients with recurrent and metastatic disease for whom current treatments are not effective. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a pivotal role in triggering tumorigenesis, disease progression, recurrence, and metastasis, as high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity is associated with invasiveness and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of ALDH inhibition in endometrial CSCs. ECC-1 and RL95-2 cells were submitted to a sphere-forming protocol to obtain endometrial CSCs. ALDH inhibition was evaluated through ALDH activity and expression, sphere-forming capacity, self-renewal, projection area, and CD133, CD44, CD24, and P53 expression. A mass spectrometry-based proteomic study was performed to determine the proteomic profile of endometrial cancer cells upon N,N-diethylaminobenzaldehyde (DEAB). DEAB reduced ALDH activity and expression, along with a significant decrease in sphere-forming capacity and projection area, with increased CD133 expression. Additionally, DEAB modulated P53 expression. Endometrial cancer cells display a distinct proteomic profile upon DEAB, sharing 75 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated proteins. In conclusion, DEAB inhibits ALDH activity and expression, influencing endometrial CSC phenotype. Furthermore, ALDH18A1, SdhA, and UBAP2L should be explored as novel molecular targets for endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Serambeque
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Catarina Mestre
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Gabriela Correia-Barros
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Ricardo Teixo
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Carlos Miguel Marto
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Univ Coimbra, Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Gonçalves
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology (LOH) and University Clinics of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Caramelo
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO) and Laboratory of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics (LBIM), Faculty of Medicine, 3004-531 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Silva
- Cytometry Operational Management Unit, Clinical Pathology Department, Unidade de Saúde Local de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Artur Paiva
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Cytometry Operational Management Unit, Clinical Pathology Department, Unidade de Saúde Local de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Laboratory Biomedical Sciences, 3045-043 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Hans C. Beck
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Ana Sofia Carvalho
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School (NMS), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.S.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Maria Filomena Botelho
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Univ Coimbra, Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria João Carvalho
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Univ Coimbra, Universitary Clinic of Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Gynecology Service, Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, Reproduction and Neonatology, Unidade Local de Saúde de Coimbra, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rune Matthiesen
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School (NMS), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1150-082 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.S.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Mafalda Laranjo
- Univ Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) Area of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (C.M.); (G.C.-B.); (R.T.); (C.M.M.); (M.F.B.); (M.J.C.)
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (F.C.); (A.P.)
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
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5
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Landen CN, Buckanovich RJ, Sill MW, Mannel RS, Walker JL, DiSilvestro PA, Mathews CA, Mutch DG, Hernandez ML, Martin LP, Bishop E, Gill SE, Gordinier ME, Burger RA, Aghajanian C, Liu JF, Moore KN, Bookman MA. Phase I and Randomized Phase II Study of Ruxolitinib With Frontline Neoadjuvant Therapy in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: An NRG Oncology Group Study. J Clin Oncol 2024:JCO2302076. [PMID: 38776484 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.02076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The interleukin-6/Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 axis is a reported driver of chemotherapy resistance. We hypothesized that adding the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib to standard chemotherapy would be tolerable and improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with ovarian cancer in the upfront setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with ovarian/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal carcinoma recommended for neoadjuvant chemotherapy were eligible. In phase I, treatment was initiated with dose-dense paclitaxel (P) 70 mg/m2 once daily on days 1, 8, and 15; carboplatin AUC 5 intravenously day 1; and ruxolitinib 15 mg orally (PO) twice a day, every 21 days (dose level 1). Interval debulking surgery (IDS) was required after cycle 3. Patients then received three additional cycles of chemotherapy/ruxolitinib, followed by maintenance ruxolitinib. In the randomized phase II, patients were randomly assigned to paclitaxel/carboplatin with or without ruxolitinib at 15 mg PO twice a day for three cycles, IDS, followed by another three cycles of chemotherapy/ruxolitinib, without further maintenance ruxolitinib. The primary phase II end point was PFS. RESULTS Seventeen patients were enrolled in phase I. The maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase II dose were established to be dose level 1. One hundred thirty patients were enrolled in phase II with a median follow-up of 24 months. The regimen was well tolerated, with a trend toward higher grade 3 to 4 anemia (64% v 27%), grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (53% v 37%), and thromboembolic events (12.6% v 2.4%) in the experimental arm. In the randomized phase II, the median PFS in the reference arm was 11.6 versus 14.6 in the experimental, hazard ratio (HR) for PFS was 0.702 (log-rank P = .059). The overall survival HR was 0.785 (P = .24). CONCLUSION Ruxolitinib 15 mg PO twice a day was well tolerated with acceptable toxicity in combination with paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy. The primary end point of prolongation of PFS was achieved in the experimental arm, warranting further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles N Landen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Ronald J Buckanovich
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Michael W Sill
- Clinical Trials Development Division, NRG Oncology Statistical and Data Center, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
| | - Robert S Mannel
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Joan L Walker
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | | | - Cara A Mathews
- Women & Infants Program in Women's Oncology, Providence, RI
| | - David G Mutch
- Gynecologic Oncology, Washington University, St Louis, MO
| | | | - Lainie P Martin
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Erin Bishop
- Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
| | - Sarah E Gill
- Gynecologic Oncology, SJC Oncology Services-Georgia, LLC, Savannah, GA
| | | | - Robert A Burger
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
- Mersana Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA
| | - Carol Aghajanian
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Joyce F Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Kathleen N Moore
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Michael A Bookman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kaiser-Permanente Northern California, San Francisco, CA
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6
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Chen Y, Qu B, Zheng K, Liu Y, Lu L, Zhang X. Global research landscape and trends of cancer stem cells from 1997 to 2023: A bibliometric analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38125. [PMID: 38758889 PMCID: PMC11098227 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cells with self-renewal ability and tumor generating potential. Accumulated evidence has revealed that CSCs were shown to contribute to tumorigenesis, metastasis, recurrence and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, CSCs were regarded as promising therapeutic targets in cancer. This study is the first to reveal the development process, research hotspots, and trends of entire CSCs research field through bibliometric methods. All relevant publications on CSCs with more than 100 citations (notable papers) and the 100 most cited papers (top papers) during 1997 to 2023 were extracted and analyzed. Cancer research published the largest number of papers (184 papers). The USA accounted for the most publications (1326 papers). Rich, JN was the author with the most publications (56 papers) and the highest M-index (3.111). The most contributive institution was the University of Texas System (164 papers). Before 2007, research mainly focused on the definition and recognition of CSCs. Between 2007 and 2016, with the emergence of the terms such as "sonic hedgehog," "metabolism," "oxidative phosphorylation," and "epithelial mesenchymal transition," research began to shift toward exploring the mechanisms of CSCs. In 2016, the focus transitioned to the tumor microenvironment and the ecological niches. The analysis of papers published in major journals since 2021 showed that "transcription," "inhibition," and "chemoresistance" emerged as new focused issues. In general, the research focus has gradually shifted from basic biology to clinical transformation. "Tumor microenvironment" and "chemo-resistance" should be given more attention in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxian Chen
- College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Baozhen Qu
- Qingdao Cancer Prevention and Treatment Research Institute, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Keke Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Yanhao Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Linlin Lu
- Qingdao Cancer Prevention and Treatment Research Institute, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaotao Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Hospital), Qingdao, China
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7
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Chen H, Lee LJ, Vincent KM, Xu Z, Liu J, Zhang G, Nakevska Z, Smith D, Lee CH, Postovit LM, Fu Y. Transcription factor ZIC2 regulates the tumorigenic phenotypes associated with both bulk and cancer stem cells in epithelial ovarian cancer. Oncogene 2024; 43:1688-1700. [PMID: 38594503 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03026-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy in North America. Current therapeutic regimens are ineffective against advanced EOC. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the biology of EOC will be a critical step toward developing more efficacious therapies against EOC. Herein, we demonstrate that elevated expression of transcription factor ZIC2 was associated with lower survival of EOC patients. Knockout of endogenous ZIC2 in EOC cells attenuated the tumorigenic phenotypes associated with both bulk and cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo, indicating a pro-tumorigenic role of ZIC2 in EOC. On the other hand, however, overexpression of ZIC2 in EOC cells that do not express endogenous ZIC2 promoted cell migration and sphere formation, but inhibited cell growth and colony formation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, indicating that the role for ZIC2 in EOC is context dependent. Our transcriptomic analysis showed that ZIC2-regulated genes were involved in multiple biological processes and signaling pathways associated with tumor progression. In conclusion, our findings reveal a context-dependent role for ZIC2 in regulating tumorigenic phenotypes in EOC, providing evidence that ZIC2 can be a potential therapeutic target for EOCs that express a high level of ZIC2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huachen Chen
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Laura Jiyoung Lee
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Krista M Vincent
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Zhihua Xu
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Guihua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Zorica Nakevska
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - DuPreez Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Cheng-Han Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lynne-Marie Postovit
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
| | - YangXin Fu
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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8
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Srivastava G, Mukherjee E, Mittal R, Ganjewala D. Geraniol and citral: recent developments in their anticancer credentials opening new vistas in complementary cancer therapy. Z NATURFORSCH C 2024; 0:znc-2023-0150. [PMID: 38635829 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2023-0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
About 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Globally, it is the second leading cause of death after heart disease, and by 2035, the death toll could reach 14.6 million. Several drugs and treatments are available to treat cancer, but survival rates remain low. Many studies in recent years have shown that plant-derived monoterpenes, particularly geraniol and citral, are effective against various cancers, including breast, liver, melanoma, endometrial, colon, prostate, and skin cancers. This trend has opened new possibilities for the development of new therapeutics or adjuvants in the field of cancer therapy. These monoterpenes can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy by modulating many signaling molecules and pathways within tumors. Analysis of reports on the anticancer effects published in the past 5 years provided an overview of the most important results of these and related properties. Also, the molecular mechanisms by which they exert their anticancer effects in cell and animal studies have been explained. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the scope of geraniol and citral as complementary or alternative treatment options in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauri Srivastava
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, 77282 Amity University , Sector-125, Noida 201303, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Esha Mukherjee
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, 77282 Amity University , Sector-125, Noida 201303, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ruchika Mittal
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, 77282 Amity University , Sector-125, Noida 201303, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Deepak Ganjewala
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, 77282 Amity University , Sector-125, Noida 201303, Uttar Pradesh, India
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9
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Waters JA, Robinson M, Lujano-Olazaba O, Lucht C, Gilbert SF, House CD. Omental preadipocytes stimulate matrix remodeling and IGF signaling to support ovarian cancer metastasis. Cancer Res 2024; 84:743101. [PMID: 38635891 PMCID: PMC11217736 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer can metastasize to the omentum, which is associated with a complex tumor microenvironment. Omental stromal cells facilitate ovarian cancer colonization by secreting cytokines and growth factors. Improved understanding of the tumor supportive functions of specific cell populations in the omentum could identify strategies to prevent and treat ovarian cancer metastasis. Here, we showed that omental preadipocytes enhance the tumor initiation capacity of ovarian cancer cells. Secreted factors from preadipocytes supported cancer cell viability during nutrient and isolation stress and enabled prolonged proliferation. Co-culturing with pre-adipocytes led to upregulation of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, cellular response to stress, and regulation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in ovarian cancer cells. IGF-1 induced ECM genes and increased alternative NF-κB signaling by activating RelB. Inhibiting the IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R) initially increased tumor omental adhesion but decreased growth of established preadipocyte-induced subcutaneous tumors as well as established intraperitoneal tumors. Together, this study shows that omental preadipocytes support ovarian cancer progression, which has implications for targeting metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Waters
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
| | - Mikella Robinson
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
| | | | - Cassidy Lucht
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
| | - Samuel F. Gilbert
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
| | - Carrie D. House
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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10
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Meril S, Muhlbauer Avni M, Lior C, Bahlsen M, Olender T, Savidor A, Krausz J, Belhanes Peled H, Birisi H, David N, Bialik S, Scherz-Shouval R, Ben David Y, Kimchi A. Loss of EIF4G2 mediates aggressiveness in distinct human endometrial cancer subpopulations with poor survival outcome in patients. Oncogene 2024; 43:1098-1112. [PMID: 38388710 PMCID: PMC10997518 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-02981-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The non-canonical translation initiation factor EIF4G2 plays essential roles in cellular stress responses via translation of selective mRNA cohorts. Currently there is limited and conflicting information regarding its involvement in cancer development and progression. Here we assessed its role in endometrial cancer (EC), in a cohort of 280 EC patients across different types, grades, and stages, and found that low EIF4G2 expression highly correlated with poor overall- and recurrence-free survival in Grade 2 EC patients, monitored over a period of up to 12 years. To establish a causative connection between low EIF4G2 expression and cancer progression, we stably knocked-down EIF4G2 in two human EC cell lines in parallel. EIF4G2 depletion resulted in increased resistance to conventional therapies and increased the prevalence of molecular markers for aggressive cell subsets, altering their transcriptional and proteomic landscapes. Prominent among the proteins with decreased abundance were Kinesin-1 motor proteins, KIF5B and KLC1, 2, 3. Multiplexed imaging of the EC patient tumor cohort showed a correlation between decreased expression of the kinesin proteins, and poor survival in patients with tumors of certain grades and stages. These findings reveal potential novel biomarkers for Grade 2 EC with ramifications for patient stratification and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Meril
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Maya Muhlbauer Avni
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Chen Lior
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Marcela Bahlsen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Tsviya Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Alon Savidor
- The de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine (G-INCPM), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Judit Krausz
- Pathology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | | | - Hila Birisi
- Pathology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Nofar David
- Pathology Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
| | - Shani Bialik
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Yehuda Ben David
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel
| | - Adi Kimchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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11
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Suzuki T, Conant A, Jung Y, Bax R, Antonissen A, Chen W, Yu G, Ioffe YJ, Wang C, Unternaehrer JJ. A Stem-like Patient-Derived Ovarian Cancer Model of Platinum Resistance Reveals Dissociation of Stemness and Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3843. [PMID: 38612653 PMCID: PMC11011340 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
To understand chemoresistance in the context of cancer stem cells (CSC), a cisplatin resistance model was developed using a high-grade serous ovarian cancer patient-derived, cisplatin-sensitive sample, PDX4. As a molecular subtype-specific stem-like cell line, PDX4 was selected for its representative features, including its histopathological and BRCA2 mutation status, and exposed to cisplatin in vitro. In the cisplatin-resistant cells, transcriptomics were carried out, and cell morphology, protein expression, and functional status were characterized. Additionally, potential signaling pathways involved in cisplatin resistance were explored. Our findings reveal the presence of distinct molecular signatures and phenotypic changes in cisplatin-resistant PDX4 compared to their sensitive counterparts. Surprisingly, we observed that chemoresistance was not inherently linked with increased stemness. In fact, although resistant cells expressed a combination of EMT and stemness markers, functional assays revealed that they were less proliferative, migratory, and clonogenic-features indicative of an underlying complex mechanism for cell survival. Furthermore, DNA damage tolerance and cellular stress management pathways were enriched. This novel, syngeneic model provides a valuable platform for investigating the underlying mechanisms of cisplatin resistance in a clinically relevant context, contributing to the development of targeted therapies tailored to combat resistance in stem-like ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tise Suzuki
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ashlyn Conant
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Yeonkyu Jung
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Biology, California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
| | - Ryan Bax
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Ashley Antonissen
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Department of Biology, California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA
| | - Wanqiu Chen
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Gary Yu
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yevgeniya J Ioffe
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Charles Wang
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Center for Genomics, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Juli J Unternaehrer
- Division of Biochemistry, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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12
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Atwani R, Rogers A, Nagare R, Prasad M, Lazar V, Sandusky G, Pin F, Condello S. Integrin-linked kinase-frizzled 7 interaction maintains cancer stem cells to drive platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4086737. [PMID: 38559125 PMCID: PMC10980163 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4086737/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Platinum-based chemotherapy regimens are a mainstay in the management of ovarian cancer (OC), but emergence of chemoresistance poses a significant clinical challenge. The persistence of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) at the end of primary treatment contributes to disease recurrence. Here, we hypothesized that the extracellular matrix protects CSCs during chemotherapy and supports their tumorigenic functions by activating integrin-linked kinase (ILK), a key enzyme in drug resistance. Methods TCGA datasets and OC models were investigated using an integrated proteomic and gene expression analysis and examined ILK for correlations with chemoresistance pathways and clinical outcomes. Canonical Wnt pathway components, pro-survival signaling, and stemness were examined using OC models. To investigate the role of ILK in the OCSC-phenotype, a novel pharmacological inhibitor of ILK in combination with carboplatin was utilized in vitro and in vivo OC models. Results In response to increased fibronectin (FN) secretion and integrin β1 clustering, aberrant ILK activation supported the OCSC phenotype, contributing to OC spheroid proliferation and reduced response to platinum treatment. Complexes formed by ILK with the Wnt receptor frizzled 7 (Fzd7) were detected in tumors and showed a strong correlation with metastatic progression. Moreover, TCGA datasets confirmed that combined expression of ILK and Fzd7 in high grade serous ovarian tumors is correlated with reduced response to chemotherapy and poor patient outcomes. Mechanistically, interaction of ILK with Fzd7 increased the response to Wnt ligands, thereby amplifying the stemness-associated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Notably, preclinical studies showed that the novel ILK inhibitor compound 22 (cpd-22) alone disrupted ILK interaction with Fzd7 and CSC proliferation as spheroids. Furthermore, when combined with carboplatin, this disruption led to sustained AKT inhibition, apoptotic damage in OCSCs and reduced tumorigenicity in mice. Conclusions This "outside-in" signaling mechanism is potentially actionable, and combined targeting of ILK-Fzd7 may represent a new therapeutic strategy to eradicate OCSCs and improve patient outcomes.
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13
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Takahashi C, Chtcherbinine M, Huddle BC, Wilson MW, Emmel T, Hohlman RM, McGonigal S, Buckanovich RJ, Larsen SD, Hurley TD. Development of substituted benzimidazoles as inhibitors of human aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A isoenzymes. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 391:110910. [PMID: 38364885 PMCID: PMC11062403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A (ALDH1A) isoforms may be a useful target for overcoming chemotherapy resistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and other solid tumor cancers. However, as different cancers express different ALDH1A isoforms, isoform selective inhibitors may have a limited therapeutic scope. Furthermore, resistance to an ALDH1A isoform selective inhibitor could arise via induction of expression of other ALDH1A isoforms. As such, we have focused on the development of pan-ALDH1A inhibitors, rather than on ALDH1A isoform selective compounds. Herein, we report the development of a new group of pan-ALDH1A inhibitors to assess whether broad spectrum ALDH1A inhibition is an effective adjunct to chemotherapy in HGSOC. Optimization of the CM10 scaffold, aided by ALDH1A1 crystal structures, led to improved biochemical potencies, improved cellular efficacy as demonstrated by reduction in ALDEFLUOR signal in HGSOC cells, and substantial improvements in liver microsomal stability. Based on this work we identified two compounds 17 and 25 suitable for future in vivo proof of concept experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrus Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Mikhail Chtcherbinine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Brandt C Huddle
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Michael W Wilson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Timothy Emmel
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Robert M Hohlman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Stacy McGonigal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, the Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ronald J Buckanovich
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, the Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Division of Hematology-Oncology, Departments of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Magee-Women's Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Scott D Larsen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Thomas D Hurley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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14
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Chen Y, Qiang Y, Fan J, Zheng Q, Yan L, Fan G, Song X, Zhang N, Lv Q, Xiong J, Wang J, Cao J, Liu Y, Xiong J, Zhang W, Li F. Aggresome formation promotes ASK1/JNK signaling activation and stemness maintenance in ovarian cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1321. [PMID: 38351029 PMCID: PMC10864366 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45698-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggresomes are the product of misfolded protein aggregation, and the presence of aggresomes has been correlated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the exact role of aggresomes in tumorigenesis and cancer progression remains largely unknown. Herein, the multiomics screening reveal that OTUD1 protein plays an important role in retaining ovarian cancer stem cell (OCSC) properties. Mechanistically, the elevated OTUD1 protein levels lead to the formation of OTUD1-based cytoplasmic aggresomes, which is mediated by a short peptide located in the intrinsically disordered OTUD1 N-terminal region. Furthermore, OTUD1-based aggresomes recruit ASK1 via protein-protein interactions, which in turn stabilize ASK1 in a deubiquitinase-independent manner and activate the downstream JNK signaling pathway for OCSC maintenance. Notably, the disruption of OTUD1-based aggresomes or treatment with ASK1/JNK inhibitors, including ibrutinib, an FDA-approved drug that was recently identified as an MKK7 inhibitor, effectively reduced OCSC stemness (OSCS) of OTUD1high ovarian cancer cells. In summary, our work suggests that aggresome formation in tumor cells could function as a signaling hub and that aggresome-based therapy has translational potential for patients with OTUD1high ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurou Chen
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yulong Qiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jiachen Fan
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qian Zheng
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Leilei Yan
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Guanlan Fan
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaofei Song
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qiongying Lv
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jiaqiang Xiong
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jingtao Wang
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jing Cao
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jie Xiong
- Department of Immunology, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Science), Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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15
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Wang Y, Duval AJ, Adli M, Matei D. Biology-driven therapy advances in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e174013. [PMID: 38165032 PMCID: PMC10760962 DOI: 10.1172/jci174013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Following a period of slow progress, the completion of genome sequencing and the paradigm shift relative to the cell of origin for high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) led to a new perspective on the biology and therapeutic solutions for this deadly cancer. Experimental models were revisited to address old questions, and improved tools were generated. Additional pathways emerging as drivers of ovarian tumorigenesis and key dependencies for therapeutic targeting, in particular, VEGF-driven angiogenesis and homologous recombination deficiency, were discovered. Molecular profiling of histological subtypes of ovarian cancer defined distinct genetic events for each entity, enabling the first attempts toward personalized treatment. Armed with this knowledge, HGSOC treatment was revised to include new agents. Among them, PARP inhibitors (PARPis) were shown to induce unprecedented improvement in clinical benefit for selected subsets of patients. Research on mechanisms of resistance to PARPis is beginning to discover vulnerabilities and point to new treatment possibilities. This Review highlights these advances, the remaining challenges, and unsolved problems in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
| | - Alexander James Duval
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
- Driskill Graduate Program, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mazhar Adli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Daniela Matei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Jesse Brown Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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16
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Ajmeera D, Ajumeera R. Drug repurposing: A novel strategy to target cancer stem cells and therapeutic resistance. Genes Dis 2024; 11:148-175. [PMID: 37588226 PMCID: PMC10425757 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy is an effortless and frequently used approach in cancer therapy. However, in most cases, it can only prolong life expectancy and does not guarantee a complete cure. Furthermore, chemotherapy is associated with severe adverse effects, one of the major complications of effective cancer therapy. In addition, newly published research outputs show that cancer stem cells are involved in cancer disease progression, drug resistance, metastasis, and recurrence and that they are functional in the trans-differentiation capacity of cancer stem cells to cancer cells in response to treatments. Novel strategies are therefore required for better management of cancer therapy. The prime approach would be to synthesize and develop novel drugs that need extensive resources, time, and endurance to be brought into therapeutic use. The subsequent approach would be to screen the anti-cancer activity of available non-cancerous drugs. This concept of repurposing non-cancer drugs as an alternative to current cancer therapy has become popular in recent years because using existing anticancer drugs has several adverse effects. Micronutrients have also been investigated for cancer therapy due to their significant anti-cancer effects with negligible or no side effects and availability in food sources. In this paper, we discuss an ideal hypothesis for screening available non-cancerous drugs with anticancer activity, with a focus on cancer stem cells and their clinical application for cancer treatment. Further, drug repurposing and the combination of micronutrients that can target both cancers and cancer stem cells may result in a better therapeutic approach leading to maximum tumor growth control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Ajmeera
- Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
| | - Rajanna Ajumeera
- Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad, Telangana 500007, India
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17
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Frąszczak K, Barczyński B. The Role of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:40. [PMID: 38201468 PMCID: PMC10778113 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer and the eighth most common female cancer. The early diagnosis of ovarian cancer remains a clinical problem despite the significant development of technology. Nearly 70% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with stages III-IV metastatic disease. Reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are currently lacking. Ovarian cancer recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy pose vital problems and translate into poor outcomes. Cancer stem cells appear to be responsible for tumour recurrence resulting from chemotherapeutic resistance. These cells are also crucial for tumour initiation due to the ability to self-renew, differentiate, avoid immune destruction, and promote inflammation and angiogenesis. Studies have confirmed an association between CSC occurrence and resistance to chemotherapy, subsequent metastases, and cancer relapses. Therefore, the elimination of CSCs appears important for overcoming drug resistance and improving prognoses. This review focuses on the expression of selected ovarian CSC markers, including CD133, CD44, CD24, CD117, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, which show potential prognostic significance. Some markers expressed on the surface of CSCs correlate with clinical features and can be used for the diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer. However, due to the heterogeneity and plasticity of CSCs, the determination of specific CSC phenotypes is difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bartłomiej Barczyński
- 1st Chair and Department of Oncological Gynaecology and Gynaecology, Medical University in Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland;
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18
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Conforti RA, Delsouc MB, Zorychta E, Telleria CM, Casais M. Copper in Gynecological Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17578. [PMID: 38139406 PMCID: PMC10743751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for the correct development of eukaryotic organisms. This metal plays a key role in many cellular and physiological activities, including enzymatic activity, oxygen transport, and cell signaling. Although the redox activity of Cu is crucial for enzymatic reactions, this property also makes it potentially toxic when found at high levels. Due to this dual action of Cu, highly regulated mechanisms are necessary to prevent both the deficiency and the accumulation of this metal since its dyshomeostasis may favor the development of multiple diseases, such as Menkes' and Wilson's diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. As the relationship between Cu and cancer has been the most studied, we analyze how this metal can affect three fundamental processes for tumor progression: cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Gynecological diseases are characterized by high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality, depending on the case, and mainly include benign and malignant tumors. The cellular processes that promote their progression are affected by Cu, and the mechanisms that occur may be similar. We analyze the crosstalk between Cu deregulation and gynecological diseases, focusing on therapeutic strategies derived from this metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío A. Conforti
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL-CONICET), San Luis CP D5700HHW, Argentina; (R.A.C.); (M.B.D.)
| | - María B. Delsouc
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL-CONICET), San Luis CP D5700HHW, Argentina; (R.A.C.); (M.B.D.)
| | - Edith Zorychta
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
| | - Carlos M. Telleria
- Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Marilina Casais
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis (UNSL), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL-CONICET), San Luis CP D5700HHW, Argentina; (R.A.C.); (M.B.D.)
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19
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Hasanzadeh A, Ebadati A, Dastanpour L, Aref AR, Sahandi Zangabad P, Kalbasi A, Dai X, Mehta G, Ghasemi A, Fatahi Y, Joshi S, Hamblin MR, Karimi M. Applications of Innovation Technologies for Personalized Cancer Medicine: Stem Cells and Gene-Editing Tools. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:1758-1779. [PMID: 38093832 PMCID: PMC10714436 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Personalized medicine is a new approach toward safer and even cheaper treatments with minimal side effects and toxicity. Planning a therapy based on individual properties causes an effective result in a patient's treatment, especially in a complex disease such as cancer. The benefits of personalized medicine include not only early diagnosis with high accuracy but also a more appropriate and effective therapeutic approach based on the unique clinical, genetic, and epigenetic features and biomarker profiles of a specific patient's disease. In order to achieve personalized cancer therapy, understanding cancer biology plays an important role. One of the crucial applications of personalized medicine that has gained consideration more recently due to its capability in developing disease therapy is related to the field of stem cells. We review various applications of pluripotent, somatic, and cancer stem cells in personalized medicine, including targeted cancer therapy, cancer modeling, diagnostics, and drug screening. CRISPR-Cas gene-editing technology is then discussed as a state-of-the-art biotechnological advance with substantial impacts on medical and therapeutic applications. As part of this section, the role of CRISPR-Cas genome editing in recent cancer studies is reviewed as a further example of personalized medicine application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akbar Hasanzadeh
- Cellular
and Molecular Research Center, Iran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Department
of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Advances
Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
| | - Arefeh Ebadati
- Cellular
and Molecular Research Center, Iran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Department
of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Advances
Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
| | - Lida Dastanpour
- Cellular
and Molecular Research Center, Iran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Department
of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Advances
Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
| | - Amir R. Aref
- Department
of Medical Oncology and Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Parham Sahandi Zangabad
- Monash
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Alireza Kalbasi
- Department
of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Xiaofeng Dai
- School of
Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- National
Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
- Jiangsu Provincial
Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Geeta Mehta
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Macromolecular
Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Rogel Cancer
Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Precision
Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Amir Ghasemi
- Department
of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif
University of Technology, Tehran 14588, Iran
| | - Yousef Fatahi
- Nanotechnology
Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166, Iran
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166, Iran
- Universal
Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 14166, Iran
| | - Suhasini Joshi
- Chemical
Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research
Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University
of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
- Radiation
Biology Research Center, Iran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
| | - Mahdi Karimi
- Cellular
and Molecular Research Center, Iran University
of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Department
of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Oncopathology
Research Center, Iran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran 14535, Iran
- Research
Center for Science and Technology in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14166, Iran
- Applied
Biotechnology Research Centre, Tehran Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 14166, Iran
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20
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Zhou M, Ma Y, Rock EC, Chiang CC, Luker KE, Luker GD, Chen YC. Microfluidic single-cell migration chip reveals insights into the impact of extracellular matrices on cell movement. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4619-4635. [PMID: 37750357 PMCID: PMC10615797 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00651d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell migration is a complex process that plays a crucial role in normal physiology and pathologies such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, and mental disorders. Conventional cell migration assays face limitations in tracking a large number of individual migrating cells. To address this challenge, we have developed a high-throughput microfluidic cell migration chip, which seamlessly integrates robotic liquid handling and computer vision to swiftly monitor the movement of 3200 individual cells, providing unparalleled single-cell resolution for discerning distinct behaviors of the fast-moving cell population. This study focuses on the ECM's role in regulating cellular migration, utilizing this cutting-edge microfluidic technology to investigate the impact of ten different ECMs on triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. We found that collagen IV, collagen III, and collagen I coatings were the top enhancers of cell movement. Combining these ECMs increased cell motility, but the effect was sub-additive. Furthermore, we examined 87 compounds and found that while some compounds inhibited migration on all substrates, significantly distinct effects on differently coated substrates were observed, underscoring the importance of considering ECM coating. We also utilized cells expressing a fluorescent actin reporter and observed distinct actin structures in ECM-interacting cells. ScRNA-Seq analysis revealed that ECM coatings induced EMT and enhanced cell migration. Finally, we identified genes that were particularly up-regulated by collagen IV and the selective inhibitors successfully blocked cell migration on collagen IV. Overall, the study provides insights into the impact of various ECMs on cell migration and dynamics of cell movement with implications for developing therapeutic strategies to combat diseases related to cell motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yushu Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Edwin C Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kathryn E Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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21
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Li YR, Ochoa CJ, Zhu Y, Kramer A, Wilson M, Fang Y, Chen Y, Singh T, Di Bernardo G, Zhu E, Lee D, Moatamed NA, Bando J, Zhou JJ, Memarzadeh S, Yang L. Profiling ovarian cancer tumor and microenvironment during disease progression for cell-based immunotherapy design. iScience 2023; 26:107952. [PMID: 37810241 PMCID: PMC10558812 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is highly lethal due to late detection and frequent recurrence. Initial treatments, comprising surgery and chemotherapy, lead to disease remission but are invariably associated with subsequent relapse. The identification of novel therapies and an improved understanding of the molecular and cellular characteristics of OC are urgently needed. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of primary tumor cells and their microenvironment from 16 chemonaive and 10 recurrent OC patient samples. Profiling OC tumor biomarkers allowed for the identification of potential molecular targets for developing immunotherapies, while profiling the microenvironment yielded insights into its cellular composition and property changes between chemonaive and recurrent samples. Notably, we identified CD1d as a biomarker of the OC microenvironment and demonstrated its targeting by invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. Overall, our study presents a comprehensive immuno-profiling of OC tumor and microenvironment during disease progression, guiding the development of immunotherapies for OC treatment, especially for recurrent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ruide Li
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Christopher J Ochoa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Adam Kramer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Matthew Wilson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ying Fang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yuning Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tanya Singh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Gabriella Di Bernardo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Enbo Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Neda A Moatamed
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Joanne Bando
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jin J Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sanaz Memarzadeh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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22
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Sharrow AC, Ho M, Dua A, Buj R, Blenman KRM, Orsulic S, Buckanovich R, Aird KM, Wu L. Tumor-Associated Macrophages Expand Chemoresistant, Ovarian Cancer Stem-Like Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.17.549067. [PMID: 37503008 PMCID: PMC10370114 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.549067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The persistence of ovarian cancer stem-like cells (OvCSCs) after chemotherapy resistance has been implicated in relapse. However, the ability of these relatively quiescent cells to produce the robust tumor regrowth necessary for relapse remains an enigma. Since normal stem cells exist in a niche, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the highest abundance immune cell within ovarian tumors, we hypothesized that TAMs may influence OvCSC proliferation. To test this, we optimized OvCSC enrichment by sphere culture and in vitro polarization of monocytes to a TAM-like M2 phenotype. Using cocultures that permitted the exchange of only soluble factors, we found that M2 macrophages increased the proliferation of sphere cells. Longer-term exposure (5-7 days) to soluble TAM factors led to retention of some stem cell features by OvCSCs but loss of others, suggesting that TAMs may support an intermediate stemness phenotype in OvCSCs. Although TAM coculture decreased the percentage of OvCSCs surviving chemotherapy, it increased the overall number. We therefore sought to determine the influence of this interaction on chemotherapy efficacy in vivo and found that inhibiting macrophages improved chemotherapy response. Comparing the gene expression changes in OvCSCs cocultured with TAMs to publicly available patient data identified 34 genes upregulated in OvCSCs by exposure to soluble TAM factors whose expression correlates with outcome. Overall, these data suggest that TAMs may influence OvCSC proliferation and impact therapeutic response.
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23
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McGonigal S, Wu R, Grimley E, Turk EG, Zhai Y, Cho KR, Buckanovich RJ. A putative role for ALDH inhibitors and chemoprevention of BRCA-mutation-driven tumors. Gynecol Oncol 2023; 176:139-146. [PMID: 37535994 PMCID: PMC10653209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymatic activity is a marker of cancer-initiating cells (CIC) in many tumor types. Our group and others have found that ALDH1A family inhibitors (ALDHi) can preferentially induce death of ovarian CIC in established ovarian cancer. We sought to determine if ALDHi, by targeting CIC at the time of tumor initiation, could function as a chemopreventive for ovarian cancer. As BRCA1/2 mutation carriers represent a population who could benefit from an ovarian cancer chemopreventive, we focused on BRCA mutation-associated tumor cell lines and murine tumor models. We found that, compared to BRCA wild-type cells, BRCA mutant ovarian cancer cells are more sensitive to the ALDHi673A. Similarly, while 673A treatment of wild-type fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) cells is non-toxic, 673A induces death in FTE cells with BRCA1 knockdown. Using a murine fallopian tube organoid model of ovarian carcinogenesis, we show that 673A reduced organoid complexity and significantly reduce colony formation of BRCA-mutant cells. Organoids that persisted after 673A treatment were predominantly BRCA1wt, but NF1 mutant, suggesting a resistance mechanism. Finally, using the BPRN (Brca1, Trp53, Rb1, Nf1 inactivated) mouse model of tubo-ovarian cancer, we evaluated the impact of intermittent 673A therapy on carcinogenesis. 673A treatment resulted in a significant reduction in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) lesions and carcinomas. Collectively, the findings suggest that ALDHi, such as 673A, could serve as chemopreventive agents for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy McGonigal
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ed Grimley
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ekrem G Turk
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yali Zhai
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kathleen R Cho
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ronald J Buckanovich
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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24
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Lavudi K, Banerjee A, Li N, Yang Y, Cai S, Bai X, Zhang X, Li A, Wani E, Yang SM, Zhang J, Rai G, Backes F, Patnaik S, Guo P, Wang QE. ALDH1A1 promotes PARP inhibitor resistance by enhancing retinoic acid receptor-mediated DNA polymerase θ expression. NPJ Precis Oncol 2023; 7:66. [PMID: 37429899 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00411-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi) have been approved for both frontline and recurrent setting in ovarian cancer with homologous recombination (HR) repair deficiency. However, more than 40% of BRCA1/2-mutated ovarian cancer lack the initial response to PARPi treatment, and the majority of those that initially respond eventually develop resistance. Our previous study has demonstrated that increased expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) contributes to PARPi resistance in BRCA2-mutated ovarian cancer cells by enhancing microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) but the mechanism remains unknown. Here, we find that ALDH1A1 enhances the expression of DNA polymerase θ (Polθ, encoded by the POLQ gene) in ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the retinoic acid (RA) pathway is involved in the transcription activation of the POLQ gene. The RA receptor (RAR) can bind to the retinoic acid response element (RARE) located in the promoter of the POLQ gene, promoting transcription activation-related histone modification in the presence of RA. Given that ALDH1A1 catalyzes the biosynthesis of RA, we conclude that ALDH1A1 promotes POLQ expression via the activation of the RA signaling pathway. Finally, using a clinically-relevant patient-derived organoid (PDO) model, we find that ALDH1A1 inhibition by the pharmacological inhibitor NCT-505 in combination with the PARP inhibitor olaparib synergistically reduce the cell viability of PDOs carrying BRCA1/2 mutation and positive ALDH1A1 expression. In summary, our study elucidates a new mechanism contributing to PARPi resistance in HR-deficient ovarian cancer and shows the therapeutic potential of combining PARPi and ALDH1A1 inhibition in treating these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kousalya Lavudi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ananya Banerjee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Na Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Yajing Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Shurui Cai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Xuetao Bai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Aidan Li
- Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Elsa Wani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Shyh-Ming Yang
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Junran Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ganesha Rai
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA
| | - Floor Backes
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Srinivas Patnaik
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Peixuan Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Qi-En Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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25
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Wilczyński JR, Wilczyński M, Paradowska E. "DEPHENCE" system-a novel regimen of therapy that is urgently needed in the high-grade serous ovarian cancer-a focus on anti-cancer stem cell and anti-tumor microenvironment targeted therapies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1201497. [PMID: 37448521 PMCID: PMC10338102 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1201497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer, especially high-grade serous type, is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. The lack of screening programs and the scarcity of symptomatology result in the late diagnosis in about 75% of affected women. Despite very demanding and aggressive surgical treatment, multiple-line chemotherapy regimens and both approved and clinically tested targeted therapies, the overall survival of patients is still unsatisfactory and disappointing. Research studies have recently brought some more understanding of the molecular diversity of the ovarian cancer, its unique intraperitoneal biology, the role of cancer stem cells, and the complexity of tumor microenvironment. There is a growing body of evidence that individualization of the treatment adjusted to the molecular and biochemical signature of the tumor as well as to the medical status of the patient should replace or supplement the foregoing therapy. In this review, we have proposed the principles of the novel regimen of the therapy that we called the "DEPHENCE" system, and we have extensively discussed the results of the studies focused on the ovarian cancer stem cells, other components of cancer metastatic niche, and, finally, clinical trials targeting these two environments. Through this, we have tried to present the evolving landscape of treatment options and put flesh on the experimental approach to attack the high-grade serous ovarian cancer multidirectionally, corresponding to the "DEPHENCE" system postulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek R Wilczyński
- Department of Gynecological Surgery and Gynecological Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Miłosz Wilczyński
- Department of Gynecological, Endoscopic and Oncological Surgery, Polish Mother's Health Center-Research Institute, Lodz, Poland
- Department of Surgical and Endoscopic Gynecology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Edyta Paradowska
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland
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Sun L, Yao HJ, Li JC, Zhao BQ, Wang YA, Zhang YG. Activated Carbon nanoparticles Loaded with Metformin for Effective Against Hepatocellular Cancer Stem Cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:2891-2910. [PMID: 37283712 PMCID: PMC10239765 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s382519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatocellular cancer stem cells (CSCs) play crucial roles in hepatocellular cancer initiation, development, relapse, and metastasis. Therefore, eradication of this cell population is a primary objective in hepatocellular cancer therapy. We prepared a nanodrug delivery system with activated carbon nanoparticles (ACNP) as carriers and metformin (MET) as drug (ACNP-MET), which was able to selectively eliminate hepatocellular CSCs and thereby increase the effects of MET on hepatocellular cancers. Methods ACNP were prepared by ball milling and deposition in distilled water. Suspension of ACNP and MET was mixed and the best ratio of ACNP and MET was determined based on the isothermal adsorption formula. Hepatocellular CSCs were identified as CD133+ cells and cultured in serum-free medium. We investigated the effects of ACNP-MET on hepatocellular CSCs, including the inhibitory effects, the targeting efficiency, self-renewal capacity, and the sphere-forming capacity of hepatocellular CSCs. Next, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of ACNP-MET by using in vivo relapsed tumor models of hepatocellular CSCs. Results The ACNP have a similar size, a regular spherical shape and a smooth surface. The optimal ratio for adsorption was MET: ACNP=1:4. ACNP-MET could target and inhibit the proliferation of CD133+ population and decrease mammosphere formation and renewal of CD133+ population in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion These results not only suggest that nanodrug delivery system increased the effects of MET, but also shed light on the mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of MET and ACNP-MET on hepatocellular cancers. ACNP, as a good nano-carrier, could strengthen the effect of MET by carrying drugs to the micro-environment of hepatocellular CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Sun
- Key Laboratory of Nanopharmacology and Nanotoxicology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong-Juan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Antibiotic Bioengineering of National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology (IMB), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing-Cao Li
- Key Laboratory of Nanopharmacology and Nanotoxicology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bao-Quan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Nanopharmacology and Nanotoxicology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong-An Wang
- Key Laboratory of Nanopharmacology and Nanotoxicology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying-Ge Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Nanopharmacology and Nanotoxicology, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Cole AJ, Panesso-Gómez S, Shah JS, Ebai T, Jiang Q, Gumusoglu-Acar E, Bello MG, Vlad A, Modugno F, Edwards RP, Buckanovich RJ. Quiescent Ovarian Cancer Cells Secrete Follistatin to Induce Chemotherapy Resistance in Surrounding Cells in Response to Chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:1969-1983. [PMID: 36795892 PMCID: PMC10192102 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-2254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We recently reported that the transcription factor NFATC4, in response to chemotherapy, drives cellular quiescence to increase ovarian cancer chemoresistance. The goal of this work was to better understand the mechanisms of NFATC4-driven ovarian cancer chemoresistance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used RNA sequencing to identify NFATC4-mediated differential gene expression. CRISPR-Cas9 and FST (follistatin)-neutralizing antibodies were used to assess impact of loss of FST function on cell proliferation and chemoresistance. ELISA was used to quantify FST induction in patient samples and in vitro in response to chemotherapy. RESULTS We found that NFATC4 upregulates FST mRNA and protein expression predominantly in quiescent cells and FST is further upregulated following chemotherapy treatment. FST acts in at least a paracrine manner to induce a p-ATF2-dependent quiescent phenotype and chemoresistance in non-quiescent cells. Consistent with this, CRISPR knockout (KO) of FST in ovarian cancer cells or antibody-mediated neutralization of FST sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy treatment. Similarly, CRISPR KO of FST in tumors increased chemotherapy-mediated tumor eradication in an otherwise chemotherapy-resistant tumor model. Suggesting a role for FST in chemoresistance in patients, FST protein in the abdominal fluid of patients with ovarian cancer significantly increases within 24 hours of chemotherapy exposure. FST levels decline to baseline levels in patients no longer receiving chemotherapy with no evidence of disease. Furthermore, elevated FST expression in patient tumors is correlated with poor progression-free, post-progression-free, and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS FST is a novel therapeutic target to improve ovarian cancer response to chemotherapy and potentially reduce recurrence rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Cole
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Santiago Panesso-Gómez
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jaynish S. Shah
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University and Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tonge Ebai
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Qi Jiang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ece Gumusoglu-Acar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Maya G. Bello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anda Vlad
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Francesmary Modugno
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert P. Edwards
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ronald J. Buckanovich
- Department of Internal Medicine and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Zhou Y, Sun S, Ling T, Chen Y, Zhou R, You Q. The role of fibroblast growth factor 18 in cancers: functions and signaling pathways. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1124520. [PMID: 37228502 PMCID: PMC10203589 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1124520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 18(FGF18) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family (FGFs). FGF18 is a class of bioactive substances that can conduct biological signals, regulate cell growth, participate in tissue repair and other functions, and can promote the occurrence and development of different types of malignant tumors through various mechanisms. In this review, we focus on recent studies of FGF18 in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tumors in digestive, reproductive, urinary, respiratory, motor, and pediatric systems. These findings suggest that FGF18 may play an increasingly important role in the clinical evaluation of these malignancies. Overall, FGF18 can function as an important oncogene at different gene and protein levels, and can be used as a potential new therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Sizheng Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Ling
- Department of Biotherapy, Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongzhen Chen
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongzhong Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zaoyang First People’s Hosipital, Zaoyang, China
| | - Qiang You
- Department of Biotherapy, Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Tang H, Fayomi AP, Bai S, Gupta N, Cascio S, Yang D, Buckanovich RJ. Generation and characterization of humanized affinity-matured EGFL6 antibodies for ovarian cancer therapy. Gynecol Oncol 2023; 171:49-58. [PMID: 36804621 PMCID: PMC10040429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Epidermal growth factor EGF-like domain multiple-6 (EGFL6) is highly expressed in high grade serous ovarian cancer and promotes both endothelial cell proliferation/angiogenesis and cancer cell proliferation/metastasis. As such it has been implicated as a therapeutic target. As a secreted factor, EGFL6 is a candidate for antibody therapy. The objectives of this study were to create and validate humanized affinity-matured EGFL6 neutralizing antibodies for clinical development. METHODS A selected murine EGFL6 antibody was humanized using CDR grafting to create 26 variant humanized antibodies. These were screened and the lead candidate was affinity matured. Seven humanized affinity-matured EGFL6 antibodies were screened for their ability to block EGFL6 activity on cancer cells in vitro, two of which were selected and tested their therapeutic activity in vivo. RESULTS Humanized affinity matured antibodies demonstrated high affinity for EGFL6 (150 pM to 2.67 nM). We found that several humanized affinity-matured EGFL6 antibodies specifically bound to recombinant, and native human EGFL6. Two lead antibodies were able to inhibit EGFL6-mediated (i) cancer cell migration, (ii) proliferation, and (iii) increase in ERK phosphorylation in cancer cells in vitro. Both lead antibodies restricted growth of an EGFL6 expressing ovarian cancer patient derived xenograft. Analysis of treated human tumor xenografts indicated that anti-EGFL6 therapy suppressed angiogenesis, inhibited tumor cell proliferation, and promoted tumor cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our studies confirm the ability of these humanized affinity-matured antibodies to neutralize EGFL6 and acting as a therapeutic to restrict cancer growth. This work supports the development of these antibody for first-in-human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Tang
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adetunji P Fayomi
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shoumei Bai
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Navneet Gupta
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sandra Cascio
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dongli Yang
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ronald J Buckanovich
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Zhou M, Ma Y, Chiang CC, Rock EC, Luker KE, Luker GD, Chen YC. High-Throughput Cellular Heterogeneity Analysis in Cell Migration at the Single-Cell Level. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2206754. [PMID: 36449634 PMCID: PMC9908848 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cell migration represents an essential step toward metastasis and cancer deaths. However, conventional drug discovery focuses on cytotoxic and growth-inhibiting compounds rather than inhibitors of migration. Drug screening assays generally measure the average response of many cells, masking distinct cell populations that drive metastasis and resist treatments. Here, this work presents a high-throughput microfluidic cell migration platform that coordinates robotic liquid handling and computer vision for rapidly quantifying individual cellular motility. Using this innovative technology, 172 compounds were tested and a surprisingly low correlation between migration and growth inhibition was found. Notably, many compounds were found to inhibit migration of most cells while leaving fast-moving subpopulations unaffected. This work further pinpoints synergistic drug combinations, including Bortezomib and Danirixin, to stop fast-moving cells. To explain the observed cell behaviors, single-cell morphological and molecular analysis were performed. These studies establish a novel technology to identify promising migration inhibitors for cancer treatment and relevant applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yushu Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Edwin C. Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Kathryn E. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel, Blvd. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Valdivia A, Huang H, Matei D. DOT1 L Regulates Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells by Activating β-catenin Signaling. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:140-154. [PMID: 36318113 PMCID: PMC9898143 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-22-0418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) represent a population of cancer cells responsible for tumor initiation, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Here, we identified the H3K79 methyltransferase disruptor of telomeric silencing-1-like (DOT1L) as a critical regulator of self-renewal and tumor initiation in ovarian CSCs. DOT1 L was upregulated in ovarian CSCs versus non-CSCs. shRNA-mediated DOT1 L knockdown decreased the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)+ cell population, impaired the tumor initiation capacity (TIC) of ovarian CSCs, and blocked the expression of stemness-associated genes. Inhibition of DOT1L's methyltransferase activity by the small-molecule inhibitor (DOT1Li) EPZ-5676 also effectively targeted ovarian CSCs. Integrated RNA-sequencing analyses of ovarian cancer cells in which DOT1 L was knocked down versus control cells and of ovarian CSCs versus non-CSCs, identified Wnt signaling as a shared pathway deregulated in both CSCs and in DOT1L-deficient ovarian cancer cells. β-catenin, a key transcription factor regulated by Wnt, was downregulated in ovarian cancer cells in which DOT1 L was knocked down and upregulated in DOT1 L overexpressing ovarian cancer cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) revealed enrichment of the H3K79Me3 mark at the β-catenin promoter, suggesting that its transcription is regulated by DOT1L. Our results suggest that DOT1 L is critical for the self-renewal and TIC of ovarian CSCs by regulating β-catenin signaling. Targeting DOT1 L in ovarian cancer could be a new strategy to eliminate CSCs. IMPLICATIONS This study found that the histone methyltransferase DOT1 L regulates the self-renewal and tumor initiation capacity of ovarian CSCs and suggests DOT1 L as a new cancer target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA,Driskill Graduate Training Program in Life Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yinu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Andres Valdivia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Daniela Matei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA,Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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Liang Y, Nephew KP, Hyder SM. Cholesterol Biosynthesis Inhibitor RO 48-8071 Suppresses Growth of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells in Vitro and In Vivo. JOURNAL OF CANCER SCIENCE AND CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS 2023; 7:1-8. [PMID: 38105923 PMCID: PMC10723059 DOI: 10.26502/jcsct.5079185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) cells express enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, making this pathway an attractive therapeutic target for controlling ovarian cancer. Potent small molecule inhibitors of one biosynthetic enzyme, Oxidosqualene Cyclase (OSC), have been identified, and RO 48-8071 (4'-[6-(allylmethylamino)hexyloxy]-4-bromo-2'-fluorobenzophenone fumarate) (RO), has emerged as a useful chemotherapeutic agent for breast and prostate cancer. Methods Cell viability assays were performed to determine effects of RO 48-8071 on growth of EOC cells. Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) assay was conducted to determine the effects of drug on reducing stem cell like properties of EOC cells. Finally, xenograft studies were performed to assess the ability of RO 48-8071 to inhibit the growth of EOC cells in vivo. Results We found that short-term (24-48 h) administration of pharmacological doses of RO effectively reduced the viability of drug-resistant EOC cells (SK-OV-3 and OVCAR-3), as determined with sulforhodamine B colorimetric assays. In 7-day assays, nanomolar concentrations of RO effectively inhibited the growth of EOC cells. RO also suppressed ALDH activity, a marker of stem cells. Importantly, RO significantly suppressed growth of xenografts derived from EOC cells when given to mice intraperitoneally (20-40 mg kg-1 day-1) for 27 days once tumors reached 100 mm3 (controls: 336 + 60 mm3; treated: 171 + 20 mm3) with no toxicity to the experimental animals. Mechanistically, RO induced apoptosis in tumor cells in vivo as shown with immunohistochemistry. Conclusion Cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor RO 48-8071 is thus a novel and potent inhibitor of human EOC, including EOC stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayun Liang
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, United States
- Dept of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, United States
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Salman M Hyder
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, United States
- Dept of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, United States
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Lin TC, Wang KH, Chuang KH, Kao AP, Kuo TC. Oct-4 induces cisplatin resistance and tumor stem cell-like properties in endometrial carcinoma cells. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 62:16-21. [PMID: 36720532 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2022.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research has suggested that tumor-initiating tumor stem cells are derived from normal stem cells and that tumor cells undergo progressive de-differentiation to achieve a stem cell-like state. Tumor stem cells are characterized by high proliferation ability, high plasticity, expression of multi-drug resistance proteins, and the ability to seed new tumors. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) and its activation targets are overexpressed in the tumor stem cells of various types of tumors, and this expression is associated with the pathogenesis, development, and poor prognosis of tumors. The primary objective of this study was to test if a stably transfected with Oct-4 gene cell line, RL95-2/Oct-4, has the characteristics of tumor stem cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human endometrial carcinoma cells (RL95-2) were transfected with a plasmid carrying genes for Oct-4 and green fluorescent protein (GFP). The stably transfected cells, RL95-2/Oct-4, were selected using G418 and observed to express the GFP reporter gene under the control of the Oct-4 promoter. GFP expression levels of RL95-2/Oct-4 cells were measured using flow cytometry. The proliferation potential of cells was determined according to cumulative population doubling and colony-formation efficiency. Gene expression was analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS RL95-2/Oct-4 cells not only exhibited increased expression of the three most important stem cell genes, Oct-4, Nanog, and Sox2, but also had increased expression of the endometrial tumor stem cell genes CD133 and ALDH1. Furthermore, enhanced expression of these genes in the RL95-2/Oct-4 cells was associated with higher colony-forming ability and growth rate than in parental RL95-2 cells. We also observed that cisplatin induced less cell death in RL95-2/Oct-4 cells than in RL95-2 cells, indicating that RL95-2/Oct-4 cells were more resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. CONCLUSION The study findings contribute to investigate the effects of Oct-4 on tumor stem cell origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ta-Chin Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Hung Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Kuo-Hsiang Chuang
- Graduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - An-Pei Kao
- Stemforce Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Cheng Kuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Kuo General Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
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Mishra A, Pathak Y, Mishra SK, Prakash H, Tripathi V. Natural compounds as a potential modifier of stem cells renewal: Comparative analysis. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 938:175412. [PMID: 36427534 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.175412] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are indispensable for development, progression, drug resistance, and tumor metastasis. Current cancer-directed interventions target targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells and slow dividing CSCs, which are the root cause of cancer origin and recurrence. The most promising targets include several self-renewal pathways involved in the maintenance and renewal of CSCs, such as the Wnt/β-Catenin, Sonic Hedgehog, Notch, Hippo, Autophagy, and Ferroptosis. In view of safety, natural compounds are coming to the front line of treatment modalities for modifying various signaling pathways simultaneously involved in maintaining CSCs. Therefore, targeting CSCs with natural compounds is a promising approach to treating various types of cancers. In view of this, here we provide a comprehensive update on the current status of natural compounds that effectively tune key self-renewal pathways of CSCs. In addition, we highlighted surface expression markers in several types of cancer. We also emphasize how natural compounds target these self-renewal pathways to reduce therapy resistance and cancer recurrence properties of CSCs, hence providing valuable cancer therapeutic strategies. The inclusion of nutraceuticals is believed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of current cancer-directed interventions significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaresh Mishra
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | - Yamini Pathak
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India
| | | | - Hridayesh Prakash
- Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vishwas Tripathi
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, 201310, India.
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Yang J, Aljitawi O, Van Veldhuizen P. Prostate Cancer Stem Cells: The Role of CD133. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5448. [PMID: 36358865 PMCID: PMC9656005 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), possessing self-renewal properties and resistance to anticancer treatment, are possibly the leading cause of distant metastasis and treatment failure in prostate cancer (PC). CD133 is one of the most well-known and valuable cell surface markers of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in many cancers, including PC. In this article, we focus on reviewing the role of CD133 in PCSC. Any other main stem cell biomarkers in PCSC reported from key publications, as well as about vital research progress of CD133 in CSCs of different cancers, will be selectively reviewed to help us inform the main topic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Omar Aljitawi
- Department of Medicine, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Peter Van Veldhuizen
- Department of Medicine, Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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36
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Therachiyil L, Hussein OJ, Uddin S, Korashy HM. Regulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in cancer and cancer stem cells of gynecological malignancies: An update on signaling pathways. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1186-1202. [PMID: 36252938 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Gynecological malignancies are a female type of cancers that affects the reproductive system. Cancer metastasis or recurrence mediated by cellular invasiveness occurs at advanced stages of cancer progression. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) enrichment in tumors leads to chemoresistance, which results in cancer mortality. Exposure to environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with an increased the risk of CSC enrichment in gynecological cancers. One of the important pathways that mediates the metabolism and bioactivation of these environmental chemicals is the transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The present review explores the molecular mechanisms regulating the crosstalk and interaction of the AhR with cancer-related signaling pathways, such as apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune checkpoints, and G-protein-coupled receptors in several gynecological malignancies such as ovarian, uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancers. The review also discusses the potential of targeting the AhR pathway as a novel chemotherapy for gynecological cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Therachiyil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ola J Hussein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Hesham M Korashy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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37
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Chesnokov MS, Yadav A, Chefetz I. Optimized Transcriptional Signature for Evaluation of MEK/ERK Pathway Baseline Activity and Long-Term Modulations in Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13365. [PMID: 36362153 PMCID: PMC9654336 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most aggressive and lethal of all gynecologic malignancies. The high activity of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway is tightly associated with tumor growth, high recurrence rate, and treatment resistance. Several transcriptional signatures were proposed recently for evaluation of MEK/ERK activity in tumor tissue. In the present study, we validated the performance of a robust multi-cancer MPAS 10-gene signature in various experimental models and publicly available sets of ovarian cancer samples. Expression of four MPAS genes (PHLDA1, DUSP4, EPHA2, and SPRY4) displayed reproducible responses to MEK/ERK activity modulations across several experimental models in vitro and in vivo. Levels of PHLDA1, DUSP4, and EPHA2 expression were also significantly associated with baseline levels of MEK/ERK pathway activity in multiple human ovarian cancer cell lines and ovarian cancer patient samples available from the TCGA database. Initial platinum therapy resistance and advanced age at diagnosis were independently associated with poor overall patient survival. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the performance of transcriptional signatures is significantly affected by tissue specificity and aspects of particular experimental models. We therefore propose that gene expression signatures derived from comprehensive multi-cancer studies should be always validated for each cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anil Yadav
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Ilana Chefetz
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Stem Cell Institute, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Aikins ME, Qin Y, Dobson HE, Najafabadi AH, Lyu K, Xu Y, Xin Y, Schwendeman A, Wicha MS, Chang AE, Li Q, Moon JJ. Cancer stem cell antigen nanodisc cocktail elicits anti-tumor immune responses in melanoma. J Control Release 2022; 351:872-882. [PMID: 36206945 PMCID: PMC9765445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
One of the major reasons for poor cancer outcomes is the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are a small subpopulation of tumor cells that can self-renew, differentiate into the majority of tumor cells, and maintain tumorigenicity. As CSCs are resistant to traditional chemotherapy and radiation, they contribute to metastasis and relapse. Thus, new approaches are needed to target and eliminate CSCs. Here, we sought to target and reduce the frequency of CSCs in melanoma by therapeutic vaccination against CSC-associated transcription factors, such as Sox2 and Nanog, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Toward this goal, we have identified novel immunogenic peptide epitopes derived from CSC-associated Sox2 and Nanog and synthesized synthetic high-density lipoprotein (sHDL) nanodisc vaccine formulated with Sox2, Nanog, and ALDH antigen peptides together with CpG, a Toll-like receptor 9 agonist. Vaccination with nanodiscs containing six CSC antigen peptides elicited robust T cell responses against CSC-associated antigens and promoted intratumoral infiltration of CD8+ T cells, while reducing the frequency of CSCs and CD4+ regulatory T cells within melanoma tumors. Nanodisc vaccination effectively reduced tumor growth and significantly extended animal survival without toxicity toward normal stem cells. Overall, our therapeutic strategy against CSCs represents a cost-effective, safe, and versatile approach that may be applied to melanoma and other cancer types, as well as serve as a critical component in combined therapies to target and eliminate CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa E Aikins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - You Qin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Hannah E Dobson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alireza Hassani Najafabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA
| | - Kexing Lyu
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yao Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ying Xin
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anna Schwendeman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Max S Wicha
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alfred E Chang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Qiao Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - James J Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Zou M, Yin X, Zhou X, Niu X, Wang Y, Su M. Salinomycin-Loaded High-Density Lipoprotein Exerts Promising Anti-Ovarian Cancer Effects by Inhibiting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Int J Nanomedicine 2022; 17:4059-4071. [PMID: 36105618 PMCID: PMC9467852 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s380598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Effective treatments for ovarian cancer remain elusive, and survival rates have long been considered grim. Ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) are associated with cancer progression and metastasis, as well as drug resistance and eventual treatment failure. Salinomycin (Sal) has an extensive effect on a variety of cancer stem cells (CSCs); however, its poor water solubility and toxicity to healthy tissues at high doses limit further research into its potential as an anti-cancer drug. We proposed a therapeutic strategy by constructing a tumor-targeting carrier that mimics high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to synthesize salinomycin-loaded high-density lipoprotein (S-HDL). This strategy helps reduce the side effects of salinomycin, thereby improving its clinical benefits. Methods OCSCs were isolated from ovarian cancer cells (OCCs) and the uptake of HDL nanoparticles was observed using laser confocal microscopes. After the cell viability analysis revealed the inhibitory effect of S-HDL on OCCs and OCSCs, the main biological processes influenced by S-HDL were predicted with a transcriptome sequencing analysis and verified in vitro and in vivo. Results Cellular uptake analysis showed that the HDL delivery system was able to significantly enhance the uptake of Sal by OCCs, tentatively validating the targeting role of recombinant HDL, so that S-HDL could reduce the toxicity of Sal and increase its anti-ovarian cancer effects. Conversely, S-HDL could exert anti-ovarian cancer effects by inhibiting the proliferation of OCCs and OCSCs, promoting apoptosis, blocking EMT, and suppressing stemness and angiogenesis-related protein expression in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion S-HDL had stronger anti-ovarian cancer effects than unencapsulated Sal. Thus, it may be a potential agent for ovarian cancer treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Zou
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, ChangChun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xirui Yin
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, ChangChun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, ChangChun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinhui Niu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, ChangChun, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, ChangChun, People's Republic of China
| | - Manman Su
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jilin University, ChangChun, People's Republic of China
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Bai S, Taylor S, Jamalruddin MA, McGonigal S, Grimley E, Yang D, Bernstein KA, Buckanovich RJ. Targeting Therapeutic Resistance and Multinucleate Giant Cells in CCNE1-Amplified HR-Proficient Ovarian Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1473-1484. [PMID: 35732503 PMCID: PMC9452459 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 20% of high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) have CCNE1 amplification. CCNE1-amplified tumors are homologous recombination (HR) proficient and resistant to standard therapies. Therapy resistance is associated with increased numbers of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC). We sought to identify new therapeutic approaches for patients with CCNE1-amplified tumors. Using TCGA data, we find that the mTOR, HR, and DNA checkpoint pathways are enriched in CCNE1-amplified ovarian cancers. Furthermore, Interactome Mapping Analysis linked the mTOR activity with upregulation of HR and DNA checkpoint pathways. Indeed, we find that mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) downregulate HR/checkpoint genes in CCNE1-amplified tumors. As CCNE1-amplified tumors are dependent on the HR pathway for viability, mTORi proved selectively effective in CCNE1-amplified tumors. Similarly, via downregulation of HR genes, mTORi increased CCNE1-amplifed HGSOC response to PARPi. In contrast, overexpression of HR/checkpoint proteins (RAD51 or ATR), induced resistance to mTORi. In vivo, mTORi alone potently reduced CCNE1-amplified tumor growth and the combination of mTORi and PARPi increased response and tumor eradication. Tumors treated with mTORi demonstrated a significant reduction in ALDH+ PGCCs. Finally, as a proof of principle, we identified three patients with CCNE1 amplified tumors who were treated with an mTORi. All three obtained clinical benefits from the therapy. Our studies and clinical experience indicate mTORi are a potential therapeutic approach for patients with CCNE1-amplified tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoumei Bai
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sarah Taylor
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mohd Azrin Jamalruddin
- Dept of Microbiology and Molecular. Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stacy McGonigal
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Edward Grimley
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dongli Yang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kara A. Bernstein
- Dept of Microbiology and Molecular. Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ronald J. Buckanovich
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and the Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Cho JG, Kim SW, Lee A, Jeong HN, Yun E, Choi J, Jeong SJ, Chang W, Oh S, Yoo KH, Lee JB, Yoon S, Lee MS, Park JH, Jung MH, Kim SW, Kim KH, Suh DS, Choi KU, Choi J, Kim J, Kwon BS. MicroRNA-dependent inhibition of WEE1 controls cancer stem-like characteristics and malignant behavior in ovarian cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:803-822. [PMID: 36159587 PMCID: PMC9463562 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Cancer Stem Cells: From an Insight into the Basics to Recent Advances and Therapeutic Targeting. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:9653244. [PMID: 35800881 PMCID: PMC9256444 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9653244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is characterized by an abnormal growth of the cells in an uncontrolled manner. These cells have the potential to invade and can eventually turn into malignancy, leading to highly fatal forms of tumor. Small subpopulations of cancer cells that are long-lived with the potential of excessive self-renewal and tumor formation are called cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer-initiating cells or tumor stem cells. CSCs can be found in tissues, such as breast, brain, lung, liver, ovary, and testis; however, their origin is still a matter of debate. These cells can differentiate and possess self-renewal capacity maintained by numerous intracellular signal transduction pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Notch signaling, transforming growth factor-β signaling, and Hedgehog signaling. They can also contribute to numerous malignancies and are an important reason for tumor recurrence and metastasis because they are resistant to the known therapeutic strategies that mainly target the bulk of the tumor cells. This review contains collected and compiled information after analyzing published works of the last three decades. The goal was to gather information of recent breakthroughs related to CSCs, strategies to target CSCs' niche (e.g., nanotechnology with tumor biology), and their signaling pathways for cancer therapy. Moreover, the role of metformin, an antidiabetic drug, acting as a chemotherapeutic agent on CSCs by inhibiting cellular transformation and its selective killing is also addressed.
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Lee S, Yang W, Kim DK, Kim H, Shin M, Choi KU, Suh DS, Kim YH, Hwang TH, Kim JH. Inhibition of MEK-ERK pathway enhances oncolytic vaccinia virus replication in doxorubicin-resistant ovarian cancer. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 25:211-224. [PMID: 35592390 PMCID: PMC9096472 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic vaccinia virus (OVV) has been reported to induce cell death in various types of cancer; however, the oncolytic activity of OVV in drug-resistant ovarian cancer remains limited. In the present study, we established doxorubicin-resistant ovarian cancer cells (A2780-R) from the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line. Both A2780 and A2780-R cells were infected with OVV to explore its anticancer effects. Interestingly, OVV-infected A2780-R cells showed reduced viral replication and cell death compared with A2780 cells, suggesting their resistance against OVV-induced oncolysis; to understand the mechanism underlying this resistance, we explored the involvement of protein kinases. Among protein kinase inhibitors, PD0325901, an MEK inhibitor, significantly augmented OVV replication and cell death in A2780-R cells. PD0325901 treatment increased the phosphorylation of STAT3 in A2780-R cells. Moreover, cryptotanshinone, a STAT3 inhibitor, abrogated PD0325901-stimulated OVV replication. Furthermore, trametinib, a clinically approved MEK inhibitor, increased OVV replication in A2780-R cells. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the MEK inhibitor promoted OVV replication via increasing STAT3 activation and downregulating the cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway. Combined treatment with OVV and trametinib attenuated A2780-R xenograft tumor growth. These results suggest that pharmacological inhibition of MEK reinforces the oncolytic efficacy of OVV in drug-resistant ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoyul Lee
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Wookyeom Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Kyoung Kim
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojun Kim
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjoo Shin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Un Choi
- Department of Pathology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Soo Suh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Hak Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Ho Hwang
- Gene and Cell Therapy Research Center for Vessel-associated Diseases, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Ho Kim
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612, Republic of Korea
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Sriramkumar S, Sood R, Huntington TD, Ghobashi AH, Vuong TT, Metcalfe TX, Wang W, Nephew KP, O'Hagan HM. Platinum-induced mitochondrial OXPHOS contributes to cancer stem cell enrichment in ovarian cancer. J Transl Med 2022; 20:246. [PMID: 35641987 PMCID: PMC9153190 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03447-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Platinum based agents—cisplatin and carboplatin in combination with taxanes are used for the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC) patients. However, the majority of OC patients develop recurrent, platinum resistant disease that is uniformly fatal. Platinum treatment enriches for chemoresistant aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) + ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs), which contribute to tumor recurrence and disease relapse. Acquired platinum resistance also includes metabolic reprograming and switching to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Chemosensitive cells rely on glycolysis while chemoresistant cells have the ability to switch between glycolysis and OXPHOS, depending on which pathway drives a selective advantage for growth and chemoresistance. High expression of genes involved in OXPHOS and high production of mitochondrial ROS are characteristics of OCSCs, suggesting that OCSCs favor OXPHOS over glycolysis. Based on connections between OCSCs, chemoresistance and OXPHOS, we hypothesize that platinum treatment induces changes in metabolism that contribute to platinum-induced enrichment of OCSCs. Methods The effect of cisplatin on mitochondrial activity was assessed by JC1 staining and expression of OXPHOS genes by RT-qPCR. Cisplatin-induced changes in Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) levels and activity were assessed by western blot. Small molecule inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I and SIRT1 were used to determine if their enzymatic activity contributes to the platinum-induced enrichment of OCSCs. The percentage of ALDH + OCSCs in OC cells and tumor tissue from xenograft models across different treatment conditions was analyzed using ALDEFLUOR assay and flow cytometry. Results We demonstrate that platinum treatment increases mitochondrial activity. Combined treatment of platinum agents and OXPHOS inhibitors blocks the platinum-induced enrichment of ALDH + OCSCs in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, platinum treatment increases SIRT1 levels and subsequent deacetylase activity, which likely contributes to the increase in platinum-induced mitochondrial activity. Conclusions These findings on metabolic pathways altered by platinum-based chemotherapy have uncovered key targets that can be exploited therapeutically to block the platinum-induced enrichment of OCSCs, ultimately improving the survival of OC patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03447-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruthi Sriramkumar
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Riddhi Sood
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Thomas D Huntington
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Ahmed H Ghobashi
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Truc T Vuong
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Tara X Metcalfe
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Weini Wang
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.,Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Heather M O'Hagan
- Cell, Molecular and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Genome, Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. .,Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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45
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Sima LE, Matei D, Condello S. The Outside-In Journey of Tissue Transglutaminase in Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111779. [PMID: 35681474 PMCID: PMC9179582 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) is a member of the transglutaminase family that catalyzes Ca2+-dependent protein crosslinks and hydrolyzes guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP). The conformation and functions of TG2 are regulated by Ca2+ and GTP levels; the TG2 enzymatically active open conformation is modulated by high Ca2+ concentrations, while high intracellular GTP promotes the closed conformation, with inhibition of the TG-ase activity. TG2’s unique characteristics and its ubiquitous distribution in the intracellular compartment, coupled with its secretion in the extracellular matrix, contribute to modulate the functions of the protein. Its aberrant expression has been observed in several cancer types where it was linked to metastatic progression, resistance to chemotherapy, stemness, and worse clinical outcomes. The N-terminal domain of TG2 binds to the 42 kDa gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin with high affinity, facilitating the formation of a complex with β-integrins, essential for cellular adhesion to the matrix. This mechanism allows TG2 to interact with key matrix proteins and to regulate epithelial to mesenchymal transition and stemness. Here, we highlight the current knowledge on TG2 involvement in cancer, focusing on its roles translating extracellular cues into activation of oncogenic programs. Improved understanding of these mechanisms could lead to new therapeutic strategies targeting this multi-functional protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Elena Sima
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, 060031 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Daniela Matei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
- Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Salvatore Condello
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Correspondence:
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Giuli MV, Mancusi A, Giuliani E, Screpanti I, Checquolo S. Notch signaling in female cancers: a multifaceted node to overcome drug resistance. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2022; 4:805-836. [PMID: 35582386 PMCID: PMC8992449 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2021.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance is one of the main challenges in cancer therapy, including in the treatment of female-specific malignancies, which account for more than 60% of cancer cases among women. Therefore, elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms is an urgent need in gynecological cancers to foster novel therapeutic approaches. Notably, Notch signaling, including either receptors or ligands, has emerged as a promising candidate given its multifaceted role in almost all of the hallmarks of cancer. Concerning the connection between Notch pathway and drug resistance in the afore-mentioned tumor contexts, several studies focused on the Notch-dependent regulation of the cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation or the induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), both features implicated in either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Indeed, the present review provides an up-to-date overview of the published results on Notch signaling and EMT- or CSC-driven drug resistance. Moreover, other drug resistance-related mechanisms are examined such as the involvement of the Notch pathway in drug efflux and tumor microenvironment. Collectively, there is a long way to go before every facet will be fully understood; nevertheless, some small pieces are falling neatly into place. Overall, the main aim of this review is to provide strong evidence in support of Notch signaling inhibition as an effective strategy to evade or reverse resistance in female-specific cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Giuli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Angelica Mancusi
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Eugenia Giuliani
- Scientific Direction, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Saula Checquolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University, Latina 04100, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
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Pandrangi SL, Chittineedi P, Chalumuri SS, Meena AS, Neira Mosquera JA, Sánchez Llaguno SN, Pamuru RR, Mohiddin GJ, Mohammad A. Role of Intracellular Iron in Switching Apoptosis to Ferroptosis to Target Therapy-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:3011. [PMID: 35566360 PMCID: PMC9100132 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27093011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron is a crucial element required for the proper functioning of the body. For instance, hemoglobin is the vital component in the blood that delivers oxygen to various parts of the body. The heme protein present in hemoglobin comprises iron in the form of a ferrous state which regulates oxygen delivery. Excess iron in the body is stored as ferritin and would be utilized under iron-deficient conditions. Surprisingly, cancer cells as well as cancer stem cells have elevated ferritin levels suggesting that iron plays a vital role in protecting these cells. However, apart from the cytoprotective role iron also has the potential to induce cell death via ferroptosis which is a non-apoptotic cell death dependent on iron reserves. Apoptosis a caspase-dependent cell death mechanism is effective on cancer cells however little is known about its impact on cancer stem cell death. This paper focuses on the molecular characteristics of apoptosis and ferroptosis and the importance of switching to ferroptosis to target cancer stem cells death thereby preventing cancer relapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to demonstrate the importance of intracellular iron in regulating the switching of tumor cells and therapy resistant CSCs from apoptosis to ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santhi Latha Pandrangi
- Onco-Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, Institute of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Visakhapatnam 530045, India; (P.C.); (S.S.C.)
| | - Prasanthi Chittineedi
- Onco-Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, Institute of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Visakhapatnam 530045, India; (P.C.); (S.S.C.)
| | - Sphoorthi Shree Chalumuri
- Onco-Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, Institute of Science, GITAM Deemed to be University, Visakhapatnam 530045, India; (P.C.); (S.S.C.)
| | - Avtar Singh Meena
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad 500007, India;
| | - Juan Alejandro Neira Mosquera
- Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Armed Forces University-ESPE, Santo Domingo 230101, Ecuador; (J.A.N.M.); (S.N.S.L.)
- Faculty of Industry and Production Sciences, Quevedo State Technical University, km 11/2 via Santo Domingo, Quevedo 120301, Ecuador
| | - Sungey Naynee Sánchez Llaguno
- Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Armed Forces University-ESPE, Santo Domingo 230101, Ecuador; (J.A.N.M.); (S.N.S.L.)
| | | | - Gooty Jaffer Mohiddin
- Department of Life Sciences and Agriculture, Armed Forces University-ESPE, Santo Domingo 230101, Ecuador; (J.A.N.M.); (S.N.S.L.)
| | - Arifullah Mohammad
- Department of Agriculture Science, Faculty of Agro-Based Industry, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Jeli 17600, Malaysia
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Epigenomic Profiling of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Stem-Cell Differentiation Reveals GPD1 Associated Immune Suppressive Microenvironment and Poor Prognosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095120. [PMID: 35563509 PMCID: PMC9101898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraperitoneal metastasis is a challenging clinical scenario in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). As they are distinct from hematogenous metastasizing tumors, epithelial ovarian cancer cells primarily disseminate within the peritoneal cavity to form superficially invasive carcinomas. Unfavorable pharmacokinetics for peritoneal tumors and gut toxicity collectively lead to a narrow therapeutic window and therefore limit the opportunities for a favorable clinical outcome. New insights into tumor metastasis in the peritoneal microenvironment are keenly awaited to develop new therapeutic strategies. Epithelial ovarian cancer stem cell (OCSC) seeding is considered to be a critical component of the peritoneal spread. Using a unique and stepwise process of the OCSC differentiation model may provide insight into the intraperitoneal metastasis. The transcriptome and epigenome of OCSC differentiation were characterized by expression array and MethylCap-Seq. The TCGA, AOCS, and KM-Plotter databases were used to evaluate the association between survival outcomes and the methylation/expression levels of candidate genes in the EOC datasets. The STRING database was used to investigate the protein–protein interaction (PPI) for candidates and their associated genes. The infiltration level of immune cells in EOC patients and the association between clinical outcome and OCSCs differentiation genes were estimated using the TIDE and TIME2.0 algorithms. We established an EOC differentiation model using OCSCs. After an integrated transcriptomics and methylomics analysis of OCSCs differentiation, we revealed that the genes associated with earlier OCSC differentiation were better able to reflect the patient’s outcome. The OCSC differentiation genes were involved in regulating metabolism shift and the suppressive immune microenvironment. High GPD1 expression with high pro-tumorigenic immune cells (M2 macrophage, and cancer associated fibroblast) had worst survival. Moreover, we developed a methylation signature, constituted by GNPDA1, GPD1, GRASP, HOXC11, and MSLN, that may be useful for prognostic prediction in EOC. Our results revealed a novel role of epigenetic plasticity OCSC differentiation and suggested metabolic and immune intervention as a new therapeutic strategy.
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhao G, Tanner EJ, Adli M, Matei D. FOXK2 promotes ovarian cancer stemness by regulating the unfolded protein response pathway. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:151591. [PMID: 35349489 PMCID: PMC9106354 DOI: 10.1172/jci151591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the regulatory programs enabling cancer stem cells (CSCs) to self-renew and drive tumorigenicity could identify new treatments. Through comparative chromatin-state and gene expression analyses in ovarian CSCs versus non-CSCs, we identified FOXK2 as a highly expressed stemness-specific transcription factor in ovarian cancer. Its genetic depletion diminished stemness features and reduced tumor initiation capacity. Our mechanistic studies highlight that FOXK2 directly regulated IRE1α (encoded by ERN1) expression, a key sensor for the unfolded protein response (UPR). Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing revealed that FOXK2 bound to an intronic regulatory element of ERN1. Blocking FOXK2 from binding to this enhancer by using a catalytically inactive CRISPR/Cas9 (dCas9) diminished IRE1α transcription. At the molecular level, FOXK2-driven upregulation of IRE1α led to alternative XBP1 splicing and activation of stemness pathways, while genetic or pharmacological blockade of this sensor of the UPR inhibited ovarian CSCs. Collectively, these data establish what we believe is a new function for FOXK2 as a key transcriptional regulator of CSCs and a mediator of the UPR, providing insight into potentially targetable new pathways in CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Driskill Graduate Training Program in Life Sciences, and
| | - Yinu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
| | - Guangyuan Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Driskill Graduate Training Program in Life Sciences, and
| | - Edward J. Tanner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mazhar Adli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Daniela Matei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Caminear MW, Harrington BS, Kamdar RD, Kruhlak MJ, Annunziata CM. Disulfiram Transcends ALDH Inhibitory Activity When Targeting Ovarian Cancer Tumor-Initiating Cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:762820. [PMID: 35372040 PMCID: PMC8967967 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.762820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a global health burden and remains the fifth leading cause of cancer related death in women worldwide with the poorest five-year survival rate of the gynecological malignancies. EOC recurrence is considered to be driven by the survival of chemoresistant, stem-like tumor-initiating cells (TICs). We previously showed that disulfiram, an ALDH inhibitor, effectively targeted TICs compared to adherent EOC cells in terms of viability, spheroid formation, oxidative stress and also prevented relapse in an in vivo model of EOC. In this study we sought to determine whether specific targeting of ALDH isoenzyme ALDH1A1 would provide similar benefit to broader pathway inhibition by disulfiram. NCT-505 and NCT-506 are isoenzyme-specific ALDH1A1 inhibitors whose activity was compared to the effects of disulfiram. Following treatment with both the NCTs and disulfiram, the viability of TICs versus adherent cells, sphere formation, and cell death in our in vitro relapse model were measured and compared in EOC cell lines. We found that disulfiram decreased the viability of TICs significantly more effectively versus adherent cells, while no consistent trend was observed when the cells were treated with the NCTs. Disulfiram also affected the expression of proteins associated with NFκB signaling. Comparison of disulfiram to the direct targeting of ALDH1A1 with the NCTs suggests that the broader cellular effects of disulfiram are more suitable as a therapeutic to eradicate TICs from tumors and prevent EOC relapse. In addition to providing insight into a fitting treatment for TICs, the comparison of disulfiram to NCT-505 and -506 has increased our understanding of the mechanism of action of disulfiram. Further elucidation of the mechanism of disulfiram has the potential to reveal additional targets to treat EOC TICs and prevent disease recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Caminear
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Brittney S. Harrington
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rahul D. Kamdar
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael J. Kruhlak
- Center for Cancer Research (CCR) Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Christina M. Annunziata
- Women’s Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Christina M. Annunziata,
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