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Brown BA, Myers PJ, Adair SJ, Pitarresi JR, Sah-Teli SK, Campbell LA, Hart WS, Barbeau MC, Leong K, Seyler N, Kane W, Lee KE, Stelow E, Jones M, Simon MC, Koivunen P, Bauer TW, Stanger BZ, Lazzara MJ. A Histone Methylation-MAPK Signaling Axis Drives Durable Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Hypoxic Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1764-1780. [PMID: 38471099 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2945] [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: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) plays a key role in tumor progression and response to therapy. The dense PDAC stroma causes hypovascularity, which leads to hypoxia. Here, we showed that hypoxia drives long-lasting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC primarily through a positive-feedback histone methylation-MAPK signaling axis. Transformed cells preferentially underwent EMT in hypoxic tumor regions in multiple model systems. Hypoxia drove a cell autonomous EMT in PDAC cells, which, unlike EMT in response to growth factors, could last for weeks. Furthermore, hypoxia reduced histone demethylase KDM2A activity, suppressed PP2 family phosphatase expression, and activated MAPKs to post-translationally stabilize histone methyltransferase NSD2, leading to an H3K36me2-dependent EMT in which hypoxia-inducible factors played only a supporting role. Hypoxia-driven EMT could be antagonized in vivo by combinations of MAPK inhibitors. Collectively, these results suggest that hypoxia promotes durable EMT in PDAC by inducing a histone methylation-MAPK axis that can be effectively targeted with multidrug therapies, providing a potential strategy for overcoming chemoresistance. SIGNIFICANCE Integrated regulation of histone methylation and MAPK signaling by the low-oxygen environment of pancreatic cancer drives long-lasting EMT that promotes chemoresistance and shortens patient survival and that can be pharmacologically inhibited. See related commentary by Wirth and Schneider, p. 1739.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Brown
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Paul J Myers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Sara J Adair
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shiv K Sah-Teli
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Logan A Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William S Hart
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | - Kelsey Leong
- Engineering Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Nicholas Seyler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William Kane
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Kyoung Eun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Edward Stelow
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Marieke Jones
- Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Peppi Koivunen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Todd W Bauer
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew J Lazzara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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2
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Djamgoz MBA. Ranolazine: a potential anti-metastatic drug targeting voltage-gated sodium channels. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1415-1419. [PMID: 38424164 PMCID: PMC11058819 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02622-w] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multi-faceted evidence from a range of cancers suggests strongly that de novo expression of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) plays a significant role in driving cancer cell invasiveness. Under hypoxic conditions, common to growing tumours, VGSCs develop a persistent current (INaP) which can be blocked selectively by ranolazine. METHODS Several different carcinomas were examined. We used data from a range of experimental approaches relating to cellular invasiveness and metastasis. These were supplemented by survival data mined from cancer patients. RESULTS In vitro, ranolazine inhibited invasiveness of cancer cells especially under hypoxia. In vivo, ranolazine suppressed the metastatic abilities of breast and prostate cancers and melanoma. These data were supported by a major retrospective epidemiological study on breast, colon and prostate cancer patients. This showed that risk of dying from cancer was reduced by ca.60% among those taking ranolazine, even if this started 4 years after the diagnosis. Ranolazine was also shown to reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy on heart and brain. Furthermore, its anti-cancer effectiveness could be boosted by co-administration with other drugs. CONCLUSIONS Ranolazine, alone or in combination with appropriate therapies, could be reformulated as a safe anti-metastatic drug offering many potential advantages over current systemic treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa B A Djamgoz
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
- Biotechnology Research Centre, Cyprus International University, Haspolat, Nicosia, TRNC, Mersin, 10, Türkiye.
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3
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Bao S, Yi M, Xiang B, Chen P. Antitumor mechanisms and future clinical applications of the natural product triptolide. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:150. [PMID: 38678240 PMCID: PMC11055311 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03336-y] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Triptolide (TPL) is a compound sourced from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., a traditional Chinese medicinal herb recognized for its impressive anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, immunosuppressive, and antitumor qualities. Notwithstanding its favorable attributes, the precise mechanism through which TPL influences tumor cells remains enigmatic. Its toxicity and limited water solubility significantly impede the clinical application of TPL. We offer a comprehensive overview of recent research endeavors aimed at unraveling the antitumor mechanism of TPL in this review. Additionally, we briefly discuss current strategies to effectively manage the challenges associated with TPL in future clinical applications. By compiling this information, we aim to enhance the understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in TPL and identify potential avenues for further advancement in antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwei Bao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Mei Yi
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Bo Xiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
- FuRong Laboratory, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Pan Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Provincial Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
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4
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Kumano K, Nakahashi H, Louphrasitthiphol P, Kuroda Y, Miyazaki Y, Shimomura O, Hashimoto S, Akashi Y, Mathis BJ, Kim J, Owada Y, Goding CR, Oda T. Hypoxia at 3D organoid establishment selects essential subclones within heterogenous pancreatic cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1327772. [PMID: 38374892 PMCID: PMC10875002 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1327772] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is especially hypoxic and composed of heterogeneous cell populations containing hypoxia-adapted cells. Hypoxia as a microenvironment of PDAC is known to cause epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and resistance to therapy. Therefore, cells adapted to hypoxia possess malignant traits that should be targeted for therapy. However, current 3D organoid culture systems are usually cultured under normoxia, losing hypoxia-adapted cells due to selectivity bias at the time of organoid establishment. To overcome any potential selection bias, we focused on oxygen concentration during the establishment of 3D organoids. We subjected identical PDAC surgical samples to normoxia (O2 20%) or hypoxia (O2 1%), yielding glandular and solid organoid morphology, respectively. Pancreatic cancer organoids established under hypoxia displayed higher expression of EMT-related proteins, a Moffitt basal-like subtype transcriptome, and higher 5-FU resistance in contrast to organoids established under normoxia. We suggest that hypoxia during organoid establishment efficiently selects for hypoxia-adapted cells possibly responsible for PDAC malignant traits, facilitating a fundamental source for elucidating and developing new treatment strategies against PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Kumano
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Nakahashi
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Pakavarin Louphrasitthiphol
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yukihito Kuroda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Miyazaki
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Osamu Shimomura
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shinji Hashimoto
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Akashi
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Bryan J. Mathis
- International Medical Center, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Jaejeong Kim
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yohei Owada
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Colin R. Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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5
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Wang C, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Xu J, Yan S, Liang B, Xing D. Epidermal growth factor receptor dual-target inhibitors as a novel therapy for cancer: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127440. [PMID: 37839594 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been linked to several human cancers, including esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, anal cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, EGFR has emerged as a critical target for treating solid tumors. Many 1st-, 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-generation EGFR single-target inhibitors with clinical efficacy have been designed and synthesized in recent years. Drug resistance caused by EGFR mutations has posed a significant challenge to the large-scale clinical application of EGFR single-target inhibitors and the discovery of novel EGFR inhibitors. Therapeutic methods for overcoming multipoint EGFR mutations are still needed in medicine. EGFR dual-target inhibitors are more promising than single-target inhibitors as they have a lower risk of drug resistance, higher efficacy, lower dosage, and fewer adverse events. EGFR dual-target inhibitors have been developed sequentially to date, providing new options for remission in patients with previously untreatable malignancies and laying the groundwork for a future generation of compounds. This paper introduces the EGFR family proteins and their synergistic effects with other anticancer targets, and provides a comprehensive review of the development of EGFR dual-target inhibitors in cancer, as well as the opportunities and challenges associated with those fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China
| | - Yujing Zhang
- The Affiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Tingting Zhang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China
| | - Jiazhen Xu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China
| | - Saisai Yan
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Bing Liang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China.
| | - Dongming Xing
- The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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6
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Guo JS, Li JJ, Wang ZH, Liu Y, Yue YX, Li HB, Zhao XH, Sun YJ, Ding YH, Ding F, Guo DS, Wang L, Chen Y. Dual hypoxia-responsive supramolecular complex for cancer target therapy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5634. [PMID: 37704601 PMCID: PMC10500001 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41388-2] [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: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis with pancreatic cancer is among the poorest of any human cancer. One of the important factors is the tumor hypoxia. Targeting tumor hypoxia is considered a desirable therapeutic option. However, it has not been translated into clinical success in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. With enhanced cytotoxicities against hypoxic pancreatic cancer cells, BE-43547A2 (BE) may serve as a promising template for hypoxia target strategy. Here, based on rational modification, a BE prodrug (NMP-BE) is encapsulated into sulfonated azocalix[5]arene (SAC5A) to generate a supramolecular dual hypoxia-responsive complex NMP-BE@SAC5A. Benefited from the selective load release within cancer cells, NMP-BE@SAC5A markedly suppresses tumor growth at low dose in pancreatic cancer cells xenograft murine model without developing systemic toxicity. This research presents a strategy for the modification of covalent compounds to achieve efficient delivery within tumors, a horizon for the realization of safe and reinforced hypoxia target therapy using a simple approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Shuang Guo
- College of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Juan-Juan Li
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Ze-Han Wang
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Yu-Xin Yue
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Hua-Bin Li
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Xiu-He Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Yuan-Jun Sun
- College of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300353, China
| | - Ya-Hui Ding
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Fei Ding
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Guo
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Liang Wang
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
| | - Yue Chen
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
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7
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Zhang H, Cao K, Xiang J, Zhang M, Zhu M, Xi Q. Hypoxia induces immunosuppression, metastasis and drug resistance in pancreatic cancers. Cancer Lett 2023; 571:216345. [PMID: 37558084 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive system and is known as the "king of cancers". It is extremely difficult to diagnose at an early stage, the disease progresses rapidly, and the effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor, so the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients is very poor. Numerous studies have suggested that hypoxia is closely related to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. Inadequate blood supply and desmoplasia in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer can result in its extreme hypoxia. This hypoxic microenvironment can further contribute to angiogenesis and desmoplasia. Hypoxia is mediated by the complex hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathway and plays an important role in the formation of a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment and the metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Further work on the hypoxic microenvironment will help clarify the specific mechanisms of the role of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer and provide a basis for the realization of hypoxia-targeted therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Kailei Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jingrong Xiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengxin Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qinhua Xi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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8
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Tavares-Valente D, Cannone S, Greco MR, Carvalho TMA, Baltazar F, Queirós O, Agrimi G, Reshkin SJ, Cardone RA. Extracellular Matrix Collagen I Differentially Regulates the Metabolic Plasticity of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Parenchymal Cell and Cancer Stem Cell. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3868. [PMID: 37568684 PMCID: PMC10417137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153868] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a 5-year survival rate of less than 10 percent largely due to the intense fibrotic desmoplastic reaction, characterized by high levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) collagen I that constitutes a niche for a subset of cancer cells, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cancer cells undergo a complex metabolic adaptation characterized by changes in metabolic pathways and biosynthetic processes. The use of the 3D organotypic model in this study allowed us to manipulate the ECM constituents and mimic the progression of PDAC from an early tumor to an ever more advanced tumor stage. To understand the role of desmoplasia on the metabolism of PDAC parenchymal (CPC) and CSC populations, we studied their basic metabolic parameters in organotypic cultures of increasing collagen content to mimic in vivo conditions. We further measured the ability of the bioenergetic modulators (BMs), 2-deoxyglucose, dichloroacetate and phenformin, to modify their metabolic dependence and the therapeutic activity of paclitaxel albumin nanoparticles (NAB-PTX). While all the BMs decreased cell viability and increased cell death in all ECM types, a distinct, collagen I-dependent profile was observed in CSCs. As ECM collagen I content increased (e.g., more aggressive conditions), the CSCs switched from glucose to mostly glutamine metabolism. All three BMs synergistically potentiated the cytotoxicity of NAB-PTX in both cell lines, which, in CSCs, was collagen I-dependent and the strongest when treated with phenformin + NAB-PTX. Metabolic disruption in PDAC can be useful both as monotherapy or combined with conventional drugs to more efficiently block tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Tavares-Valente
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Portugal
- UNIPRO—Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
| | - Stefania Cannone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Tiago Miguel Amaral Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Portugal
| | - Odília Queirós
- UNIPRO—Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
| | - Gennaro Agrimi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Stephan J. Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
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9
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Torres AJF, Duryea J, McDonald OG. Pancreatic cancer epigenetics: adaptive metabolism reprograms starving primary tumors for widespread metastatic outgrowth. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:389-407. [PMID: 37316634 PMCID: PMC10591521 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a paradigm for adaptation to extreme stress. That is because genetic drivers are selected during tissue injury with epigenetic imprints encoding wound healing responses. Ironically, epigenetic memories of trauma that facilitate neoplasia can also recreate past stresses to restrain malignant progression through symbiotic tumor:stroma crosstalk. This is best exemplified by positive feedback between neoplastic chromatin outputs and fibroinflammatory stromal cues that encase malignant glands within a nutrient-deprived desmoplastic stroma. Because epigenetic imprints are chemically encoded by nutrient-derived metabolites bonded to chromatin, primary tumor metabolism adapts to preserve malignant epigenetic fidelity during starvation. Despite these adaptations, stromal stresses inevitably awaken primordial drives to seek more hospitable climates. The invasive migrations that ensue facilitate entry into the metastatic cascade. Metastatic routes present nutrient-replete reservoirs that accelerate malignant progression through adaptive metaboloepigenetics. This is best exemplified by positive feedback between biosynthetic enzymes and nutrient transporters that saturate malignant chromatin with pro-metastatic metabolite byproducts. Here we present a contemporary view of pancreatic cancer epigenetics: selection of neoplastic chromatin under fibroinflammatory pressures, preservation of malignant chromatin during starvation stresses, and saturation of metastatic chromatin by nutritional excesses that fuel lethal metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaldo J Franco Torres
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building Room 4086A, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey Duryea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building Room 4086A, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Oliver G McDonald
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building Room 4086A, Miami, FL, USA.
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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10
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Poh AR, Ernst M. Functional roles of SRC signaling in pancreatic cancer: Recent insights provide novel therapeutic opportunities. Oncogene 2023:10.1038/s41388-023-02701-x. [PMID: 37120696 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02701-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignant disease with a 5-year survival rate of <10%. Aberrant activation or elevated expression of the tyrosine kinase c-SRC (SRC) is frequently observed in PDAC and is associated with a poor prognosis. Preclinical studies have revealed a multifaceted role for SRC activation in PDAC, including promoting chronic inflammation, tumor cell proliferation and survival, cancer cell stemness, desmoplasia, hypoxia, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. Strategies to inhibit SRC signaling include suppressing its catalytic activity, inhibiting protein stability, or by interfering with signaling components of the SRC signaling pathway including suppressing protein interactions of SRC. In this review, we discuss the molecular and immunological mechanisms by which aberrant SRC activity promotes PDAC tumorigenesis. We also provide a comprehensive update of SRC inhibitors in the clinic, and discuss the clinical challenges associated with targeting SRC in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh R Poh
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia.
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia.
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11
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Li G, Wu M, Xu Y, Wang Q, Liu J, Zhou X, Ji H, Tang Q, Gu X, Liu S, Qin Y, Wu L, Zhao Q. Recent progress in the development of singlet oxygen carriers for enhanced photodynamic therapy. Coord Chem Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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12
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Correlation between hypoxia and HGF/c-MET expression in the management of pancreatic cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188869. [PMID: 36842767 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is very deadly and difficult to treat. The presence of hypoxia has been shown to increase the probability of cancer developing and spreading. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC/PC) has traditionally viewed a highly lethal form of cancer due to its high occurrence of early metastases. Desmoplasia/stroma is often thick and collagenous, with pancreatic stellate cells as the primary source (PSCs). Cancer cells and other stromal cells interact with PSCs, promoting disease development. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway have been proposed as a growth factor mechanism mediating this interaction. Human growth factor (HGF) is secreted by pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and its receptor, c-MET, is generated by pancreatic cancer cells and endothelial cells. Hypoxia is frequent in malignant tumors, particularly pancreatic (PC). Hypoxia results from limitless tumor development and promotes survival, progression, and invasion. Hypoxic is becoming a critical driver and therapeutic target of pancreatic cancer as its hypoxia microenvironment is defined. Recent breakthroughs in cancer biology show that hypoxia promotes tumor proliferation, aggressiveness, and therapeutic resistance. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) stabilize hypoxia signaling. Hypoxia cMet is a key component of pancreatic tumor microenvironments, which also have a fibrotic response, that hypoxia, promotes and modulates. c-Met is a tyrosine-protein kinase. As describe it simply, the MET gene in humans' codes for a protein called hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR). Most cancerous tumors and pancreatic cancer in particular, suffer from a lack of oxygen (PC). Due to unrestrained tumor development, hypoxia develops, actively contributing to tumor survival, progression, and invasion. As the processes by which hypoxia signaling promotes invasion and metastasis become clear, c-MET has emerged as an important determinant of pancreatic cancer malignancy and a potential pharmacological target. This manuscript provides the most current findings on the role of hypoxia and HGF/c-MET expression in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Mallini P, Chen M, Mahkamova K, Lennard TWJ, Pan Y, Wei D, Stemke-Hale K, Kirby JA, Lash GE, Meeson A. Hypoxia-Driven TGFβ Modulation of Side Population Cells in Breast Cancer: The Potential Role of ERα. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1108. [PMID: 36831452 PMCID: PMC9954173 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to be important in regulating the behaviour of cancer cells enabling them to acquire stem cell characteristics or by enhancing the stem cell characteristics of cancer stem cells, resulting in these cells becoming more migratory and invasive. EMT can be driven by a number of mechanisms, including the TGF-β1 signalling pathway and/or by hypoxia. However, these drivers of EMT differ in their actions in regulating side population (SP) cell behaviour, even within SPs isolated from the same tissue. In this study we examined CoCl2 exposure and TGF-β driven EMT on SP cells of the MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cell lines. Both TGF-β1 and CoCl2 treatment led to the depletion of MDA-MB-231 SP. Whilst TGF-β1 treatment significantly reduced the MCF7 SP cells, CoCl2 exposure led to a significant increase. Single cell analysis revealed that CoCl2 exposure of MCF7 SP leads to increased expression of ABCG2 and HES1, both associated with multi-drug resistance. We also examined the mammosphere forming efficiency in response to CoCl2 exposure in these cell lines, and saw the same effect as seen with the SP cells. We suggest that these contrasting effects are due to ERα expression and the inversely correlated expression of TGFB-RII, which is almost absent in the MCF7 cells. Understanding the EMT-mediated mechanisms of the regulation of SP cells could enable the identification of new therapeutic targets in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Mallini
- Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Miaojuan Chen
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Jinsui Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Kamilla Mahkamova
- Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Thomas W. J. Lennard
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor William Leech Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Yue Pan
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Jinsui Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Dan Wei
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Jinsui Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Katherine Stemke-Hale
- Department of Systems Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John A. Kirby
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor William Leech Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Gendie E. Lash
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Jinsui Road, Tianhe, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Annette Meeson
- Biosciences Institute, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
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Geyer M, Schreyer D, Gaul LM, Pfeffer S, Pilarsky C, Queiroz K. A microfluidic-based PDAC organoid system reveals the impact of hypoxia in response to treatment. Cell Death Dis 2023; 9:20. [PMID: 36681673 PMCID: PMC9867742 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is estimated to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 with mortality rates of up to 93%. Standard of care chemotherapeutic treatment only prolongs the survival of patients for a short timeframe. Therefore, it is important to understand events driving treatment failure in PDAC as well as identify potential more effective treatment opportunities. PDAC is characterized by a high-density stroma, high interstitial pressure and very low oxygen tension. The aim of this study was to establish a PDAC platform that supported the understanding of treatment response of PDAC organoids in mono-, and co-culture with pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Cultures were exposed to Gemcitabine in combination with molecules targeting relevant molecular programs that could explain treatment specific responses under different oxygen pressure conditions. Two groups of treatment responses were identified, showing either a better effect in monoculture or co-culture. Moreover, treatment response also differed between normoxia and hypoxia. Modulation of response to Gemcitabine was also observed in presence of a Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) inhibitor and HIF inhibitors. Altogether this highlights the importance of adjusting experimental conditions to include relevant oxygen levels in drug response studies in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene Geyer
- grid.474144.60000 0004 9414 4776MIMETAS BV, De Limes 7, 2342DH Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Schreyer
- grid.8756.c0000 0001 2193 314XSchool of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, G61 1BD Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa-Marie Gaul
- grid.474144.60000 0004 9414 4776MIMETAS BV, De Limes 7, 2342DH Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne Pfeffer
- grid.411668.c0000 0000 9935 6525Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Pilarsky
- grid.411668.c0000 0000 9935 6525Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 12, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Karla Queiroz
- grid.474144.60000 0004 9414 4776MIMETAS BV, De Limes 7, 2342DH Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
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15
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Ma B, Wen S, Luo Y, Zhang T, Yang Y, Shen C, Zhang Y, Ji Q, Qu N, Wang Y. Targeting Tumor Hypoxia Inhibits Aggressive Phenotype of Dedifferentiated Thyroid Cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023; 108:368-384. [PMID: 36190930 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac548] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Hypoxia is commonly observed in multiple aggressive cancers. Its role remains unclear in the biology and therapy of dedifferentiated thyroid cancer (DDTC). OBJECTIVE We aimed to elucidate hypoxia's roles in DDTC tumor biology. METHODS We discovered and confirmed hypoxia's correlation with dedifferentiation status, poor prognoses, and immune checkpoints in thyroid cancer using transcriptome data from our center and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, the effect of targeting hypoxia was investigated via treating anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cells with acriflavine (ACF) in vitro and in vivo, and hypoxia was analyzed for its association with response to immunotherapy in patients. RESULTS Hypoxia score was positively associated with dedifferentiation status, and high hypoxia score significantly correlated with reduced overall survival, TP53 mutation, and elevated expression of immunosuppression-related markers in DDTC. ACF and siRNA targeting HIF-1α significantly suppressed growth and proliferation of thyroid cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and reduced c-MYC and PDL1 expression in ATC. HIF-1α showed a positive correlation with PDL1 expression in DDTC. Integrated analyses of phosphoproteome and RNA sequencing data revealed that ACF's target was connected with differentiation genes and immune checkpoints via tumor-related kinases in ATC. Furthermore, hypoxia score was associated with immunotherapeutic response in some cancer types. CONCLUSION Hypoxia score serves as a significant indicator for dedifferentiation status, prognoses, and immunotherapeutic response predicted by Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion in DDTC patients. Targeting hypoxia by ACF is useful to alleviate aggressive phenotype of ATC in a preclinical model of DDTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Ma
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Shishuai Wen
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, the first affiliated hospital, Hangzhou 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yichen Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Cenkai Shen
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Qinghai Ji
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Qu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
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16
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Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Diversity Shapes Tumor Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010061. [PMID: 36612058 PMCID: PMC9817728 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive research, the 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) patients remains at only 9%. Patients often show poor treatment response, due partly to a highly complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) heterogeneity is characteristic of the pancreatic TME, where several CAF subpopulations have been identified, such as myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs), inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), and antigen presenting CAFs (apCAFs). In PDAC, cancer cells continuously adapt their metabolism (metabolic switch) to environmental changes in pH, oxygenation, and nutrient availability. Recent advances show that these environmental alterations are all heavily driven by stromal CAFs. CAFs and cancer cells exchange cytokines and metabolites, engaging in a tight bidirectional crosstalk, which promotes tumor aggressiveness and allows constant adaptation to external stress, such as chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize CAF diversity and CAF-mediated metabolic rewiring, in a PDAC-specific context. First, we recapitulate the most recently identified CAF subtypes, focusing on the cell of origin, activation mechanism, species-dependent markers, and functions. Next, we describe in detail the metabolic crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells. Additionally, we elucidate how CAF-driven paracrine signaling, desmoplasia, and acidosis orchestrate cancer cell metabolism. Finally, we highlight how the CAF/cancer cell crosstalk could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.
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17
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Sarhan D, Eisinger S, He F, Bergsland M, Pelicano C, Driescher C, Westberg K, Benitez II, Humoud R, Palano G, Li S, Carannante V, Muhr J, Önfelt B, Schlisio S, Ravetch JV, Heuchel R, Löhr MJ, Karlsson MCI. Targeting myeloid suppressive cells revives cytotoxic anti-tumor responses in pancreatic cancer. iScience 2022; 25:105317. [PMID: 36310582 PMCID: PMC9615326 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy for cancer that aims to promote T cell anti-tumor activity has changed current clinical practice, where some previously lethal cancers have now become treatable. However, clinical trials with low response rates have been disappointing for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). One suggested explanation is the accumulation of dominantly immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Using retrospectively collected tumor specimens and transcriptomic data from PDAC, we demonstrate that expression of the scavenger receptor MARCO correlates with poor prognosis and a lymphocyte-excluding tumor phenotype. PDAC cell lines produce IL-10 and induce high expression of MARCO in myeloid cells, and this was further enhanced during hypoxic conditions. These myeloid cells suppressed effector T and natural killer (NK) cells and blocked NK cell tumor infiltration and tumor killing in a PDAC 3D-spheroid model. Anti-human MARCO (anti-hMARCO) antibody targeting triggered the repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages and activated the inflammasome machinery, resulting in IL-18 production. This in turn enhanced T cell and NK cell functions. The targeting of MARCO thus remodels the TME and represents a rational approach to make immunotherapy more efficient in PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhifaf Sarhan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, SE-141 521
| | - Silke Eisinger
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fei He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, SE-141 521
| | - Maria Bergsland
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catarina Pelicano
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Caroline Driescher
- Department of Pathology, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Kajsa Westberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Itziar Ibarlucea Benitez
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Rawan Humoud
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giorgia Palano
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Shuijie Li
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valentina Carannante
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Muhr
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Önfelt
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Applied Physics, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Susanne Schlisio
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey V Ravetch
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Rainer Heuchel
- Pancreatic Cancer Research Lab, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthias J Löhr
- Pancreatic Cancer Research Lab, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael C I Karlsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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ZHOU J, YANG Y, PAN J, ZHOU H. A novel hypoxia-related genes signature for prognosis and immunotherapeutic sensitivity in uterine carcinosarcoma patients. GAZZETTA MEDICA ITALIANA ARCHIVIO PER LE SCIENZE MEDICHE 2022. [DOI: 10.23736/s0393-3660.22.04799-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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19
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Wang L, Liang J, Bi S, Li Y, Zhang W, Xiwen W, Liu Y, Liu H. Role of GLI1 in Hypoxia-Driven Endometrial Stromal Cell Migration and Invasion in Endometriosis. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:6890790. [PMID: 36285283 PMCID: PMC9588377 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6890790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Endometriosis (EMs) is a benign disease with the characteristics of invasion and migration, and its pathogenesis is related to hypoxia. The abnormal activation of glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1) plays an important role in the metastasis of multiple types of tumors. However, it is not clear whether GLI1 regulates the migration and invasion of endometrial stromal cells under hypoxic condition. Therefore, we use comprehensive analysis to explore the effects of hypoxic on GLI1 expression and their regulation on the pathogenesis of EMs. In this study, from immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis, we discovered that the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and GLI1 was significantly increased in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with EMs. In human primary eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), hypoxia can increase the expression of HIF-1α and GLI1 in a time-dependent manner. And hypoxia could promote GLI1 expression in a HIF-1α-dependent manner. Moreover, data from transwell assays manifested that the migration and invasion ability of ESCs was significantly enhanced under hypoxia, and this effect could be reversed by silencing GLI1. Furthermore, the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 was also increased under hypoxia, while silencing GLI1 could reverse this event. In summary, our research verified that GLI1, which activated by hypoxia, may contribute to the migration and invasion of ESCs through the upregulation of MMP2 and MMP9 and can be a novel therapeutic target in EMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaxin Liang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Siyi Bi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yixuan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wang Xiwen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Hengwei Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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20
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Evan T, Wang VMY, Behrens A. The roles of intratumour heterogeneity in the biology and treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Oncogene 2022; 41:4686-4695. [PMID: 36088504 PMCID: PMC9568427 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02448-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Intratumour heterogeneity (ITH) has become an important focus of cancer research in recent years. ITH describes the cellular variation that enables tumour evolution, including tumour progression, metastasis and resistance to treatment. The selection and expansion of genetically distinct treatment-resistant cancer cell clones provides one explanation for treatment failure. However, tumour cell variation need not be genetically encoded. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in particular, the complex tumour microenvironment as well as crosstalk between tumour and stromal cells result in exceptionally variable tumour cell phenotypes that are also highly adaptable. In this review we discuss four different types of phenotypic heterogeneity within PDAC, from morphological to metabolic heterogeneity. We suggest that these different types of ITH are not independent, but, rather, can inform one another. Lastly, we highlight recent findings that suggest how therapeutic efforts may halt PDAC progression by constraining cellular heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore Evan
- Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | | | - Axel Behrens
- Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK.
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
- CRUK Convergence Science Centre, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK.
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21
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Matherly LH, Schneider M, Gangjee A, Hou Z. Biology and therapeutic applications of the proton-coupled folate transporter. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2022; 18:695-706. [PMID: 36239195 PMCID: PMC9637735 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2022.2136071] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT; SLC46A1) was discovered in 2006 as the principal mechanism by which folates are absorbed in the intestine and the causal basis for hereditary folate malabsorption (HFM). In 2011, it was found that PCFT is highly expressed in many tumors. This stimulated interest in using PCFT for cytotoxic drug targeting, taking advantage of the substantial levels of PCFT transport and acidic pH conditions commonly associated with tumors. AREAS COVERED We summarize the literature from 2006 to 2022 that explores the role of PCFT in the intestinal absorption of dietary folates and its role in HFM and as a transporter of folates and antifolates such as pemetrexed (Alimta) in relation to cancer. We provide the rationale for the discovery of a new generation of targeted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with selective PCFT transport and inhibitory activity toward de novo purine biosynthesis in solid tumors. We summarize the benefits of this approach to cancer therapy and exciting new developments in the structural biology of PCFT and its potential to foster refinement of active structures of PCFT-targeted anti-cancer drugs. EXPERT OPINION We summarize the promising future and potential challenges of implementing PCFT-targeted therapeutics for HFM and a variety of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry H. Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Mathew Schneider
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
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22
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Ouyang J, Sun L, Zeng F, Wu S. Biomarker-activatable probes based on smart AIEgens for fluorescence and optoacoustic imaging. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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23
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Microfluidics Formulated Liposomes of Hypoxia Activated Prodrug for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040713. [PMID: 35456547 PMCID: PMC9031349 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents as an unmet clinical challenge for drug delivery due to its unique hypoxic biology. Vinblastine-N-Oxide (CPD100) is a hypoxia-activated prodrug (HAP) that selectively converts to its parent compound, vinblastine, a potent cytotoxic agent, under oxygen gradient. The study evaluates the efficacy of microfluidics formulated liposomal CPD100 (CPD100Li) in PDAC. CPD100Li were formulated with a size of 95 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.2. CPD100Li was stable for a period of 18 months when freeze-dried at a concentration of 3.55 mg/mL. CPD100 and CPD100Li confirmed selective activation at low oxygen levels in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Moreover, in 3D spheroids, CPD100Li displayed higher penetration and disruption compared to CPD100. In patient-derived 3D organoids, CPD100Li exhibited higher cell inhibition in the organoids that displayed higher expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) compared to CPD100. In the orthotopic model, the combination of CPD100Li with gemcitabine (GEM) (standard of care for PDAC) showed higher efficacy than CPD100Li alone for a period of 90 days. In summary, the evaluation of CPD100Li in multiple cellular models provides a strong foundation for its clinical application in PDAC.
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24
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Peng J, Liang Q, Xu Z, Cai Y, Peng B, Li J, Zhang W, Kang F, Hong Q, Yan Y, Zhang M. Current Understanding of Exosomal MicroRNAs in Glioma Immune Regulation and Therapeutic Responses. Front Immunol 2022; 12:813747. [PMID: 35095909 PMCID: PMC8796999 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.813747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes, the small extracellular vesicles, are released by multiple cell types, including tumor cells, and represent a novel avenue for intercellular communication via transferring diverse biomolecules. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) were demonstrated to be enclosed in exosomes and therefore was protected from degradation. Such exosomal miRNAs can be transmitted to recipient cells where they could regulate multiple cancer-associated biological processes. Accumulative evidence suggests that exosomal miRNAs serve essential roles in modifying the glioma immune microenvironment and potentially affecting the malignant behaviors and therapeutic responses. As exosomal miRNAs are detectable in almost all kinds of biofluids and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics of glioma, they might be served as promising biomarkers for gliomas. We reviewed the novel findings regarding the biological functions of exosomal miRNAs during glioma pathogenesis and immune regulation. Furthermore, we elaborated on their potential clinical applications as biomarkers in glioma diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response prediction. Finally, we summarized the accessible databases that can be employed for exosome-associated miRNAs identification and functional exploration of cancers, including glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwu Peng
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, Xiangya Changde Hospital, Changde, China
| | - Qiuju Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhijie Xu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Pathology, Xiangya Changde Hospital, Changde, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Cai
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bi Peng
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Changde Hospital, Changde, China
| | - Wenqin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Changde Hospital, Changde, China
| | - Fanhua Kang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Changde Hospital, Changde, China
| | - Qianhui Hong
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Changde Hospital, Changde, China
| | - Yuanliang Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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25
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Yuan Y, Tan L, Wang L, Zou D, Liu J, Lu X, Fu D, Wang G, Wang L, Wang Z. The Expression Pattern of Hypoxia-Related Genes Predicts the Prognosis and Mediates Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:814621. [PMID: 35155430 PMCID: PMC8829070 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.814621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, due to the heterogeneity of CRC, the clinical therapy outcomes differ among patients. There is a need to identify predictive biomarkers to efficiently facilitate CRC treatment and prognosis. Methods: The expression profiles from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to identify cancer hallmarks associated with CRC outcomes. An accurate gene signature based on the prognosis related cancer hallmarks was further constructed. Results: Hypoxia was identified to be the primary factor that could influence CRC outcomes. Sixteen hypoxia-related genes were selected to construct a risk gene signature (HGS) associated with individuals’ prognosis, which was validated in three independent cohorts. Further, stromal and immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) were found to be associated with hypoxia. Finally, among the 16 hypoxia-related genes, six genes (DCBLD2, PLEC, S100A11, PLAT, PPAP2B and LAMC2) were identified as the most attributable ones to drug resistance. Conclusion: HGS can accurately predict CRC prognosis. The expression of the drug resistance-related genes is critical in CRC treatment decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Yuan
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lulu Tan
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Danyi Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaohuan Lu
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Daan Fu
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guobin Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Guobin Wang, ; Lin Wang, ; Zheng Wang,
| | - Lin Wang
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Guobin Wang, ; Lin Wang, ; Zheng Wang,
| | - Zheng Wang
- Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Guobin Wang, ; Lin Wang, ; Zheng Wang,
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26
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Roalsø MTT, Hald ØH, Alexeeva M, Søreide K. Emerging Role of Epigenetic Alterations as Biomarkers and Novel Targets for Treatments in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030546. [PMID: 35158814 PMCID: PMC8833770 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Epigenetic alterations cause changes in gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence and are found to affect several molecular pathways in pancreatic tumors. Such changes are reversible, making them potential drug targets. Furthermore, epigenetic alterations occur early in the disease course and may thus be explored for early detection. Hence, a deeper understanding of epigenetics in pancreatic cancer may lead to improved diagnostics, treatments, and prognostication. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease with limited treatment options. Emerging evidence shows that epigenetic alterations are present in PDAC. The changes are potentially reversible and therefore promising therapeutic targets. Epigenetic aberrations also influence the tumor microenvironment with the potential to modulate and possibly enhance immune-based treatments. Epigenetic marks can also serve as diagnostic screening tools, as epigenetic changes occur at early stages of the disease. Further, epigenetics can be used in prognostication. The field is evolving, and this review seeks to provide an updated overview of the emerging role of epigenetics in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostication of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus T. T. Roalsø
- Department of Quality and Health Technology, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway;
- HPB Unit, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068 Stavanger, Norway;
- Gastrointestinal Translational Research Unit, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068 Stavanger, Norway
| | - Øyvind H. Hald
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway;
| | - Marina Alexeeva
- HPB Unit, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068 Stavanger, Norway;
- Gastrointestinal Translational Research Unit, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068 Stavanger, Norway
| | - Kjetil Søreide
- HPB Unit, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068 Stavanger, Norway;
- Gastrointestinal Translational Research Unit, Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Stavanger University Hospital, 4068 Stavanger, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
- Correspondence:
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Hu L, Fan M, Shi S, Song X, Wang F, He H, Qi B. Dual target inhibitors based on EGFR: Promising anticancer agents for the treatment of cancers (2017-). Eur J Med Chem 2022; 227:113963. [PMID: 34749202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The EGFR family play a significant role in cell signal transduction and their overexpression is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous human solid cancers. Inhibition of the EGFR-mediated signaling pathways by EGFR inhibitors is a widely used strategy for the treatment of cancers. In most cases, the EGFR inhibitors used in clinic were only effective when the cancer cells harbored specific activating EGFR mutations which appeared to preserve the ligand-dependency of receptor activation but altered the pattern of downstream signaling pathways. Moreover, cancer is a kind of multifactorial disease, and therefore manipulating a single target may result in treatment failure. Although drug combinations for the treatment of cancers proved to be successful, the use of two or more drugs concurrently still was a challenge in clinical therapy owing to various dose-limiting toxicities and drug-drug interactions caused by pharmacokinetic profiles changed. Therefore, a single drug targeting two or multiple targets could serve as an effective strategy for the treatment of cancers. In recent, drugs with diverse pharmacological effects have been shown to be more advantageous than combination therapies due to their lower incidences of side effects and more resilient therapies. Accordingly, dual target-single-agent strategy has become a popular field for cancer treatment, and researchers became more and more interest in the development of novel dual-target drugs in recent years. In this review, we briefly introduce the EGFR family proteins and synergisms between EGFR and other anticancer targets, and summarizes the development of potential dual target inhibitors based on wild-type and/or mutant EGFR for the treatment of solid cancers in the past five years. Additionally, the rational design and SARs of these dual target agents are also presented in detailed, which will lay a significant foundation for the further development of novel EGFR-based dual inhibitors with excellent druggability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Hu
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Mengmeng Fan
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shengmin Shi
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaomeng Song
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huan He
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Baohui Qi
- Department of Bioengineering, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, 519041, Guangdong Province, China.
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28
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Iacobazzi RM, Arduino I, Di Fonte R, Lopedota AA, Serratì S, Racaniello G, Bruno V, Laquintana V, Lee BC, Silvestris N, Leonetti F, Denora N, Porcelli L, Azzariti A. Microfluidic-Assisted Preparation of Targeted pH-Responsive Polymeric Micelles Improves Gemcitabine Effectiveness in PDAC: In Vitro Insights. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010005. [PMID: 35008170 PMCID: PMC8750671 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This research suggests a new potential therapeutic approach to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to improve drug effectiveness and overcome drug resistance. A double actively targeted gemcitabine delivery system, consisting of polymeric micelles, was developed by microfluidic technique to ensure a narrow size distribution, a good colloidal stability, and drug-encapsulation efficiency for the selective and controlled release of the loaded drug, in response to the pH variations and uPAR expression in tumors. In vitro studies assessed that the release of the drug in the acidic environment was higher than in the neutral one, and that the pH-responsive and uPAR-targeted polymeric micelles enhanced the antitumor properties of gemcitabine in models resembling the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents a great challenge to the successful delivery of the anticancer drugs. The intrinsic characteristics of the PDAC microenvironment and drugs resistance make it suitable for therapeutic approaches with stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs), such as pH, within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, the high expression of uPAR in PDAC can be exploited for a drug receptor-mediated active targeting strategy. Here, a pH-responsive and uPAR-targeted Gemcitabine (Gem) DDS, consisting of polymeric micelles (Gem@TpHResMic), was formulated by microfluidic technique to obtain a preparation characterized by a narrow size distribution, good colloidal stability, and high drug-encapsulation efficiency (EE%). The Gem@TpHResMic was able to perform a controlled Gem release in an acidic environment and to selectively target uPAR-expressing tumor cells. The Gem@TpHResMic displayed relevant cellular internalization and greater antitumor properties than free Gem in 2D and 3D models of pancreatic cancer, by generating massive damage to DNA, in terms of H2AX phosphorylation and apoptosis induction. Further investigation into the physiological model of PDAC, obtained by a co-culture of tumor spheroids and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF), highlighted that the micellar system enhanced the antitumor potential of Gem, and was demonstrated to overcome the TME-dependent drug resistance. In vivo investigation is warranted to consider this new DDS as a new approach to overcome drug resistance in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Maria Iacobazzi
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (R.M.I.); (R.D.F.); (V.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Ilaria Arduino
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.A.); (A.A.L.); (G.R.); (V.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Roberta Di Fonte
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (R.M.I.); (R.D.F.); (V.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Angela Assunta Lopedota
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.A.); (A.A.L.); (G.R.); (V.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Simona Serratì
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Racaniello
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.A.); (A.A.L.); (G.R.); (V.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Viviana Bruno
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (R.M.I.); (R.D.F.); (V.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Valentino Laquintana
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.A.); (A.A.L.); (G.R.); (V.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Byung-Chul Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam 13620, Korea;
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II” of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Leonetti
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.A.); (A.A.L.); (G.R.); (V.L.); (F.L.)
| | - Nunzio Denora
- Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (I.A.); (A.A.L.); (G.R.); (V.L.); (F.L.)
- Correspondence: (N.D.); (L.P.); Tel.: +39-0805442767 (N.D.); +39-0805555986 (L.P.)
| | - Letizia Porcelli
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (R.M.I.); (R.D.F.); (V.B.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: (N.D.); (L.P.); Tel.: +39-0805442767 (N.D.); +39-0805555986 (L.P.)
| | - Amalia Azzariti
- Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (R.M.I.); (R.D.F.); (V.B.); (A.A.)
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
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29
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Zhao XB, Gao K, Shi YP. Noncovalent Theranostic Prodrug for Hypoxia-Activated Drug Delivery and Real-Time Tracking. Anal Chem 2021; 93:15080-15087. [PMID: 34743509 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Real-time tracking of hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs) delivery and the release process is of great significance for innovative medical treatments and drug development. Existing theranostic methods for HAPs activation imaging are based on the covalent approach, which suffered from complicated molecular design and tedious synthesis. In this work, a facile noncovalent strategy for constructing an hypoxia-activated theranostic prodrug has been proposed. An hypoxia-activated prodrug, NMAC4A, has been synthesized and bound with an NIR fluorophore CyNH2 through host-guest interaction to form the theranostic prodrug NMAC4A-CyNH2. Interestingly, the NIR fluorescence signal of CyNH2 can be effectively "turned off" after the formation of the stable theranostic prodrug NMAC4A-CyNH2. Because of the selective response to a tumor hypoxic microenvironment, NMAC4A-CyNH2 can realize the tumor-targeted drug delivery, accompanied by its NIR fluorescence "turn on". The synchronization of drug release and fluorescence "turn on" properties of NMAC4A-CyNH2 in an hypoxic microenvironment makes the fluorescence signal an effective tool for a precise tracing of the drug release process. Notably, NMAC4A-CyNH2 has been successfully applied to real-time image tracking of the drug delivery in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, the biodistribution of the theranostic prodrug's metabolites in a tumor and some major tissues have been mapped by mass spectrometry imaging at the molecular level, which further validated the effectiveness of NMAC4A-CyNH2 as a tumor-targeted drug delivery platform and NIR probe. This work will not only provide a promising tool for an hypoxia-activated drug delivery and real-time image tracking but also propose an effective design strategy for noncovalent theranostic prodrug construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Bo Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Gao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Ping Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Northwestern Plant Resources, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
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Wang DB, Li X, Lu XK, Sun ZY, Zhang X, Chen X, Ma L, Xia HG. Transthyretin Suppressed Tumor Progression in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer by Inactivating MAPK/ERK Pathway. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2021. [PMID: 34698529 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2021.0261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lung malignancy is a main source of disease passing all throughout the planet, whereas the transthyretin (TTR) is a specific biomarker for clinical diagnosis. However, its role in lung malignancy stays to be obscure. Materials and Methods: In the current examination, the authors made an endeavor to research impact of abnormal expression of TTR on nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) by overexpression or knockdown of TTR. To further explore the instruments' fundamental mechanism part of TTR in NSCLC, several signal pathways were searched and verified. To confirm the effect of TTR overexpression on tumors, in vivo experiments were conducted. Result: It was found that upregulated TTR clearly stifled cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and expanded apoptosis. Significant suppression of phosphor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was observed in TTR-treated NSCLC cells, implying that TTR was important for cellular progress by regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK signaling pathway. In in vivo experiment, overexpression of TTR promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited tumor growth. Conclusion: Overall, the results suggest that TTR has a potential antitumor effect in human NSCLC progression, which provides theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC. Above all, further understanding of TTR was useful for clinical care. Clinical Trial Registration Number: 2016-08.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Bin Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuan Li
- Department of Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xi-Ke Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhong-Yi Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xun Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lan Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong-Gang Xia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
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31
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Gündel B, Liu X, Löhr M, Heuchel R. Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Preclinical in vitro and ex vivo Models. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:741162. [PMID: 34746135 PMCID: PMC8569794 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.741162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most overlooked cancers despite its dismal median survival time of 6 months. The biggest challenges in improving patient survival are late diagnosis due to lack of diagnostic markers, and limited treatment options due to almost complete therapy resistance. The past decades of research identified the dense stroma and the complex interplay/crosstalk between the cancer- and the different stromal cells as the main culprits for the slow progress in improving patient outcome. For better ex vivo simulation of this complex tumor microenvironment the models used in PDAC research likewise need to become more diverse. Depending on the focus of the investigation, several in vitro and in vivo models for PDAC have been established in the past years. Particularly, 3D cell culture such as spheroids and organoids have become more frequently used. This review aims to examine current PDAC in vitro models, their inherent limitations, and their successful implementations in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Gündel
- Pancreas Cancer Research Lab, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Xinyuan Liu
- Pancreas Cancer Research Lab, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Matthias Löhr
- Pancreas Cancer Research Lab, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Upper GI, C1:77, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rainer Heuchel
- Pancreas Cancer Research Lab, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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32
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Gaustad JV, Rofstad EK. Assessment of Intratumor Heterogeneity in Parametric Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Images: A Comparative Study of Novel and Established Methods. Front Oncol 2021; 11:722773. [PMID: 34621674 PMCID: PMC8490776 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.722773] [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: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intratumor heterogeneity is associated with aggressive disease and poor survival rates in several types of cancer. A novel method for assessing intratumor heterogeneity in medical images, named the spatial gradient method, has been developed in our laboratory. In this study, we measure intratumor heterogeneity in Ktrans maps derived by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using the spatial gradient method, and we compare the performance of the novel method with that of histogram analyses and texture analyses using the Haralick method. Ktrans maps of 58 untreated and sunitinib-treated pancreatic ductal adenocaricoma (PDAC) xenografts from two PDAC models were investigated. Intratumor heterogeneity parameters derived by the spatial gradient method were sensitive to tumor line differences as well as sunitinib-induced changes in intratumor heterogeneity. Furthermore, the parameters provided additional information to the median value and were not severely affected by imaging noise. The parameters derived by histogram analyses were insensitive to spatial heterogeneity and were strongly correlated to the median value, and the Haralick features were severely influenced by imaging noise and did not differentiate between untreated and sunitinib-treated tumors. The spatial gradient method was superior to histogram analyses and Haralick features for assessing intratumor heterogeneity in Ktrans maps of untreated and sunitinib-treated PDAC xenografts, and can possibly be used to assess intratumor heterogeneity in other medical images and to evaluate effects of other treatments as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon-Vidar Gaustad
- Group of Radiation Biology and Tumor Physiology, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Einar K Rofstad
- Group of Radiation Biology and Tumor Physiology, Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Divulging the Critical Role of HuR in Pancreatic Cancer as a Therapeutic Target and a Means to Overcome Chemoresistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184634. [PMID: 34572861 PMCID: PMC8471481 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary With pancreatic cancer incidence constantly rising, constituting one of the most lethal type of cancers worldwide, the need for discovering novel therapeutic targets and approaches becomes of the utmost importance. Meanwhile, modern eating habits, hyperadiposity, mutational burden affecting core signaling pathways and the unique tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer tissues intermingle and form a disease that is lethal and hard to treat. The importance of HuR in pancreatic cancer has repeatedly been observed and represents a key molecule in pancreatic carcinogenesis and chemoresistance. Therefore, creating and obtaining new therapeutic skills against HuR protein could prove to be the answer to pancreatic cancer therapy. Abstract Pancreatic cancer is set to become the most lethal and common type of cancer worldwide. This is partly attributed to the mutational burden that affects core signaling pathways and the crosstalk of tumor cells with their surrounding microenvironment, but it is also due to modern eating habits. Hyperadiposity along with the constant rise in metabolic syndrome’s incidence contribute to a state of metaflammation that impacts immune cells and causes them to shift towards an immunosuppressive phenotype that, ultimately, allows tumor cells to evade immune control. Unfortunately, among the conventional therapeutic modalities and the novel therapeutic agents introduced, pancreatic cancer still holds one of the lowest response rates to therapy. Human antigen R (HuR), an RNA binding protein (RBP), has been repeatedly found to be implicated in pancreatic carcinogenesis and chemotherapy resistance through the posttranscriptional binding and regulation of mRNA target genes. Additionally, its overexpression has been linked to adverse clinical outcomes, in terms of tumor grade, stage, lymph node status and metastasis. These properties suggest the prospective role that HuR’s therapeutic targeting can play in facilitating pancreatic neoplasia and could provide the means to overcome chemoresistance.
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Gampala S, Shah F, Lu X, Moon HR, Babb O, Umesh Ganesh N, Sandusky G, Hulsey E, Armstrong L, Mosely AL, Han B, Ivan M, Yeh JRJ, Kelley MR, Zhang C, Fishel ML. Ref-1 redox activity alters cancer cell metabolism in pancreatic cancer: exploiting this novel finding as a potential target. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:251. [PMID: 34376225 PMCID: PMC8353735 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02046-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a complex disease with a desmoplastic stroma, extreme hypoxia, and inherent resistance to therapy. Understanding the signaling and adaptive response of such an aggressive cancer is key to making advances in therapeutic efficacy. Redox factor-1 (Ref-1), a redox signaling protein, regulates the conversion of several transcription factors (TFs), including HIF-1α, STAT3 and NFκB from an oxidized to reduced state leading to enhancement of their DNA binding. In our previously published work, knockdown of Ref-1 under normoxia resulted in altered gene expression patterns on pathways including EIF2, protein kinase A, and mTOR. In this study, single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and proteomics were used to explore the effects of Ref-1 on metabolic pathways under hypoxia. METHODS scRNA-seq comparing pancreatic cancer cells expressing less than 20% of the Ref-1 protein was analyzed using left truncated mixture Gaussian model and validated using proteomics and qRT-PCR. The identified Ref-1's role in mitochondrial function was confirmed using mitochondrial function assays, qRT-PCR, western blotting and NADP assay. Further, the effect of Ref-1 redox function inhibition against pancreatic cancer metabolism was assayed using 3D co-culture in vitro and xenograft studies in vivo. RESULTS Distinct transcriptional variation in central metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, immune response, and genes downstream of a series of signaling pathways and transcriptional regulatory factors were identified in Ref-1 knockdown vs Scrambled control from the scRNA-seq data. Mitochondrial DEG subsets downregulated with Ref-1 knockdown were significantly reduced following Ref-1 redox inhibition and more dramatically in combination with Devimistat in vitro. Mitochondrial function assays demonstrated that Ref-1 knockdown and Ref-1 redox signaling inhibition decreased utilization of TCA cycle substrates and slowed the growth of pancreatic cancer co-culture spheroids. In Ref-1 knockdown cells, a higher flux rate of NADP + consuming reactions was observed suggesting the less availability of NADP + and a higher level of oxidative stress in these cells. In vivo xenograft studies demonstrated that tumor reduction was potent with Ref-1 redox inhibitor similar to Devimistat. CONCLUSION Ref-1 redox signaling inhibition conclusively alters cancer cell metabolism by causing TCA cycle dysfunction while also reducing the pancreatic tumor growth in vitro as well as in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silpa Gampala
- Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Fenil Shah
- Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Lu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Biohealth Informatics, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Hye-Ran Moon
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Olivia Babb
- Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Nikkitha Umesh Ganesh
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - George Sandusky
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W Walnut St. R4-321, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Emily Hulsey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Lee Armstrong
- Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Amber L Mosely
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W Walnut St. R4-321, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Bumsoo Han
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA.,Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47906, USA
| | - Mircea Ivan
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W Walnut St. R4-321, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Jing-Ruey Joanna Yeh
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02115, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Mark R Kelley
- Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W Walnut St. R4-321, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Department of Biohealth Informatics, IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W Walnut St. R4-321, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Melissa L Fishel
- Department of Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W Walnut St. R4-321, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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Estaras M, Gonzalez A. Modulation of cell physiology under hypoxia in pancreatic cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:4582-4602. [PMID: 34366624 PMCID: PMC8326256 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i28.4582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In solid tumors, the development of vasculature is, to some extent, slower than the proliferation of the different types of cells that form the tissue, both cancer and stroma cells. As a consequence, the oxygen availability is compromised and the tissue evolves toward a condition of hypoxia. The presence of hypoxia is variable depending on where the cells are localized, being less extreme at the periphery of the tumor and more severe in areas located deep within the tumor mass. Surprisingly, the cells do not die. Intracellular pathways that are critical for cell fate such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and others are all involved in cellular responses to the low oxygen availability and are orchestrated by hypoxia-inducible factor. Oxidative stress and inflammation are critical conditions that develop under hypoxia. Together with changes in cellular bioenergetics, all contribute to cell survival. Moreover, cell-to-cell interaction is established within the tumor such that cancer cells and the microenvironment maintain a bidirectional communication. Additionally, the release of extracellular vesicles, or exosomes, represents short and long loops that can convey important information regarding invasion and metastasis. As a result, the tumor grows and its malignancy increases. Currently, one of the most lethal tumors is pancreatic cancer. This paper reviews the most recent advances in the knowledge of how cells grow in a pancreatic tumor by adapting to hypoxia. Unmasking the physiological processes that help the tumor increase its size and their regulation will be of major relevance for the treatment of this deadly tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias Estaras
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, Caceres 10003, Spain
| | - Antonio Gonzalez
- Department of Physiology, Cell Biology and Communication Research Group, University of Extremadura, Caceres 10003, Spain
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36
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Li M, Feng W, Zhao M, Dai P, Zhou Y, Wang J, Lv W, Liu S, Zhao Q. Overcoming Tumor Hypoxia through Multiple Pathways Using an All-in-One Polymeric Therapeutic Agent to Enhance Synergistic Cancer Photo/Chemotherapy Effects. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1864-1874. [PMID: 34236842 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a significant characteristic of tumors, which causes aggressive tumor growth and strong therapy resistance. Inspired by the improved therapeutic efficacy of synergistic treatment, herein, an all-in-one polymeric therapeutic agent was developed, which could overcome tumor hypoxia through multiple pathways. Multiple therapeutic agents were incorporated into the polymer, including the singlet oxygen (1O2) carrier unit to store cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, the photosensitized and photothermal unit to trigger the capture and release of 1O2, and the hypoxia-responsive prodrug unit to maintain a long-term tumor inhibition. In addition, the hydrophilic polyethylene glycol unit was also introduced to improve water-solubility and biocompatibility. Importantly, this study achieved the capture and controllable release of 1O2 just by regulating the power of an 808 nm laser for the first time, which is more convenient and flexible than previous works. As expected, the as-prepared copolymer displayed reduced oxygen dependence, accompanied with promising synergistic anti-tumor and anti-recurrence efficacies under hypoxic in vitro and in vivo environments. Consequently, this synergistic anti-hypoxia strategy may open up new avenues in the design of all-in-one therapeutic platforms for promoting the development of accurate, efficient, and long-acting treatment in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingdang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wei Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Menglong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Peiling Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yucheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wen Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shujuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials & Institute of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China.,College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Microelectronics, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center for Fabrication and Application of Special Optical Fiber Materials and Devices, Nanjing University of Post and Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing, 210023, China
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37
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Xu Z, Zhang B, Liao Z, Gou S. A gemcitabine-based conjugate with enhanced antitumor efficacy by suppressing HIF-1α expression under hypoxia. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 41:116214. [PMID: 33992863 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is one of the unique features of tumor physiology. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1α), as a major transcription factor in response to hypoxia, has been considered as a promising tumor-specific target for anticancer therapy. The formation of a hypoxic microenvironment in tumors can decrease the curative effect of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs. To promote the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapy by suppressing hypoxia, we designed and prepared a novel gemcitabine-based drug conjugate (GEM-5) containing a HIF-1α inhibitor (YC-1). As expected, GEM-5 showed excellent antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 0.03 μΜ under hypoxia) and remarkably induced the apoptosis of A2780 cells in vitro. Additionally, western blot analysis demonstrated that GEM-5 significantly down-regulated the expression of HIF-1α and up-regulated the expression of tumor suppressor p53. More importantly, GEM-5 effectively inhibited tumor growth in the A2780 xenograft mouse model and significantly ameliorated tumor hypoxia in vivo. This novel, simple, and effective strategy for overcoming tumor hypoxia and enhancing the antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic drugs has great potential in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichen Xu
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China; Institute of Nanjing Junruo Biomedicine, Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Zhixin Liao
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Shaohua Gou
- Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China; Institute of Nanjing Junruo Biomedicine, Nanjing 211100, China.
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38
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Sznurkowska MK, Aceto N. The gate to metastasis: key players in cancer cell intravasation. FEBS J 2021; 289:4336-4354. [PMID: 34077633 PMCID: PMC9546053 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is a leading cause of cancer‐related death and consists of a sequence of events including tumor expansion, intravasation of cancer cells into the circulation, survival in the bloodstream, extravasation at distant sites, and subsequent organ colonization. Particularly, intravasation is a process whereby cancer cells transverse the endothelium and leave the primary tumor site, pioneering the metastatic cascade. The identification of those mechanisms that trigger the entry of cancer cells into the bloodstream may reveal fundamentally novel ways to block metastasis at its start. Multiple factors have been implicated in cancer progression, yet, signals that unequivocally provoke the detachment of cancer cells from the primary tumor are still under investigation. Here, we discuss the role of intrinsic properties of cancer cells, tumor microenvironment, and mechanical cues in the intravasation process, outlining studies that suggest the involvement of various factors and highlighting current understanding and open questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena K Sznurkowska
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Aceto
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland
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39
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Ventura M, Bernards N, De Souza R, Fricke IB, Hendriks BS, Fitzgerald JB, Lee H, Klinz SG, Zheng J. Longitudinal PET Imaging to Monitor Treatment Efficacy by Liposomal Irinotecan in Orthotopic Patient-Derived Pancreatic Tumor Models of High and Low Hypoxia. Mol Imaging Biol 2021; 22:653-664. [PMID: 31482415 PMCID: PMC7782415 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-019-01374-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Hypoxia is linked to aggressiveness, resistance to therapy, and poor prognosis of pancreatic tumors. Liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI, ONIVYDE®) has shown potential in reducing hypoxia in the HT29 colorectal cancer model, and here, we investigate its therapeutic activity and ability to modulate hypoxia in patient-derived orthotopic tumor models of pancreatic cancer. Procedures Mice were randomized into nal-IRI treated and untreated controls. Magnetic resonance imaging was used for monitoring treatment efficacy, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with F-18-labelled fluoroazomycinarabinoside ([18F]FAZA) for tumor hypoxia quantification, and F-18-labelled fluorothymidine ([18F]FLT) for tumor cell proliferation. Results The highly hypoxic OCIP51 tumors showed significant response following nal-IRI treatment compared with the less hypoxic OCIP19 tumors. [18F]FAZA-PET detected significant hypoxia reduction in treated OCIP51 tumors, 8 days before significant changes in tumor volume. OCIP19 tumors also responded to therapy, although tumor volume control was not accompanied by any reduction in [18F]FAZA uptake. In both models, no differences were observable in [18F]FLT uptake in treated tumors compared with control mice. Conclusions Hypoxia modulation may play a role in nal-IRI’s mechanism of action. Nal-IRI demonstrated greater anti-tumor activity in the more aggressive and hypoxic tumor model. Furthermore, hypoxia imaging provided early prediction of treatment response. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11307-019-01374-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Ventura
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicholas Bernards
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raquel De Souza
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Inga B Fricke
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Helen Lee
- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stephan G Klinz
- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ipsen Bioscience, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jinzi Zheng
- TECHNA Institute for the Advancement of Technology for Health, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Alzhrani R, Alsaab HO, Vanamal K, Bhise K, Tatiparti K, Barari A, Sau S, Iyer AK. Overcoming the Tumor Microenvironmental Barriers of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas for Achieving Better Treatment Outcomes. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2021; 4:2000262. [PMID: 34212073 PMCID: PMC8240487 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with the lowest survival rate among all solid tumors. The lethality of PDAC arises from late detection and propensity of the tumor to metastasize and develop resistance against chemo and radiation therapy. A highly complex tumor microenvironment composed of dense stroma, immune cells, fibroblast, and disorganized blood vessels, is the main obstacle to current PDAC therapy. Despite the tremendous success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancers, PDAC remains one of the poorest responders of ICIs therapy. The immunologically "cold" phenotype of PDAC is attributed to the low mutational burden, high infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and T-regs, contributing to a significant immunotherapy resistance mechanism. Thus, the development of innovative strategies for turning immunologically "cold" tumor into "hot" ones is an unmet need to improve the outcome of PDAC ICIs therapies. Other smart strategies, such as nanomedicines, sonic Hedgehog inhibitor, or smoothened inhibitor, are discussed to enhance chemotherapeutic agents' efficiency by disrupting the PDAC stroma. This review highlights the current challenges and various preclinical and clinical strategies to overcome current PDAC therapy difficulties, thus significantly advancing PDAC research knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami Alzhrani
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem O. Alsaab
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kushal Vanamal
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Ketki Bhise
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Katyayani Tatiparti
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Ayatakshi Barari
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Samaresh Sau
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Arun K. Iyer
- Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit 48201, United States
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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Abou Khouzam R, Rao SP, Venkatesh GH, Zeinelabdin NA, Buart S, Meylan M, Nimmakayalu M, Terry S, Chouaib S. An Eight-Gene Hypoxia Signature Predicts Survival in Pancreatic Cancer and Is Associated With an Immunosuppressed Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:680435. [PMID: 34093582 PMCID: PMC8173254 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.680435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral hypoxia is a widely established element of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) promoting immune escape, tumor invasion, and progression, while contributing to treatment resistance and poor survival. Despite this critical role, hypoxia is underrepresented in molecular signatures of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and concurrent investigations into the hypoxia-immune status are lacking. In this work a literature-based approach was applied to derive an eight-gene hypoxia signature that was validated in fourteen cancer cell lines and in a cohort of PDA. The eight-gene hypoxia signature was significantly associated with overall survival in two distinct PDA datasets and showed independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis. Comparative analysis of tumors according to their hypoxia score (high versus low) determined that tumors with high hypoxia were significantly less enriched in cytotoxic T-cells, and cytolytic activity. In addition, they had lower expression of cytokines and tumor inflammatory markers, pointing to the signature’s ability to discern an immune “cold”, hypoxic TME. Combining the signature with an immune metric highlighted a worse survival probability in patients with high hypoxia and low immune reactivity, indicating that this approach could further refine survival estimates. Hypoxia as determined by our signature, was significantly associated with certain immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) biomarkers, suggesting that the signature reflects an aspect of the TME that is worth pursuing in future clinical trials. This is the first work of its kind in PDA, and our findings on the hypoxia-immune tumor contexture are not only relevant for ICI but could also guide combinatorial hypoxia-mediated therapeutic strategies in this cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shyama Prasad Rao
- Bioinformatics Division, Yenepoya Research Center, Yenepoya University, Mangalore, India
| | - Goutham Hassan Venkatesh
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nagwa Ahmed Zeinelabdin
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stephanie Buart
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Faculty De médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Maxime Meylan
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Université de Paris, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Manjunath Nimmakayalu
- Graduate Program in Diagnostic Genetics and Genomics, School of Health Professions, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Faculty De médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.,INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, EPHE, Faculty De médecine Univ. Paris-Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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Qian M, Chen Z, Guo X, Wang S, Zhang Z, Qiu W, Qi Y, Zhang S, Xu J, Zhao R, Xue H, Li G. Exosomes derived from hypoxic glioma deliver miR-1246 and miR-10b-5p to normoxic glioma cells to promote migration and invasion. J Transl Med 2021; 101:612-624. [PMID: 33446893 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-00522-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is an important feature of the tumor microenvironment and is associated with glioma progression and patient outcome. Exosomes have been implicated in the intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment. However, the effects of hypoxic glioma exosomes on glioma migration and invasion and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we found that exosomes derived from hypoxic glioma cells (H-GDEs) promoted normoxic glioma migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Given that exosomes can regulate recipient cell functions by delivering microRNAs, we further revealed miR-1246 and miR-10b-5p were upregulated significantly in H-GDEs and delivered to normoxic glioma cells by H-GDEs. Moreover, we determined the clinical relevance of miR-1246 and miR-10b-5p in glioma patients. Subsequent investigations indicated that miR-1246 and miR-10b-5p markedly induced glioma migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we demonstrated that miR-1246 and miR-10b-5p induced glioma migration and invasion by directly targeting FRK and TFAP2A respectively. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the hypoxic microenvironment stimulates glioma to generate miR-1246- and miR-10b-5p-rich exosomes that are delivered to normoxic glioma cells to promote their migration and invasion; treatment targeting miR-1246 and miR-10b-5p may impair the motility of gliomas, providing a novel direction for the development of antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyu Qian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zihang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaofan Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shaobo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zongpu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Qiu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yanhua Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shouji Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jianye Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Rongrong Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Xue
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cheeloo College of Medicine and Institute of Brain and Brain-Inspired Science, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Brain Function Remodeling, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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Shen X, Li Y, Xu Y, Liu M, Zhang Q, Yin R, Zhou M, Lin S, Fan H. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α cooperates with histone Lys methylation to predict prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biomark Med 2021; 15:509-522. [PMID: 33856264 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2020-0256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and histone methylation markers as potential indicators of prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients & methods: The prognostic value of HIF-1α and histone methylation markers levels was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: HIF-1α protein expression was higher in ESCC tumors than in paracancerous tissues. Histone H3 Lys9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), histone H3 Lys27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), histone H3 Lys4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and histone H4 Lys20 trimethylation (H4K20me3) were significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues. HIF-1α was only positively correlated with H3K9me3 and H3K4me3 expression. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that H3K9me3, H3K27me3, H4K20me3 and histone H3 Lys36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) were independent indicators of prognosis for ESCC. Conclusion: This study identified a pattern of epigenetic methylation markers and HIF-1α expression in ESCC, and their combined evaluation might improve survival prediction for ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Shen
- Department of Medical Genetics & Developmental Biology, Medical School of Southeast University, The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes & Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yiping Li
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ying Xu
- School of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210018, China
| | - Min Liu
- School of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210018, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular & Translational Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Rong Yin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular & Translational Cancer Research, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Menghan Zhou
- School of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210018, China
| | - Shaofeng Lin
- School of Life Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210018, China
| | - Hong Fan
- Department of Medical Genetics & Developmental Biology, Medical School of Southeast University, The Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes & Human Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
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Takemoto R, Kamiya T, Atobe T, Hara H, Adachi T. Regulation of lysyl oxidase expression in THP-1 cell-derived M2-like macrophages. J Cell Biochem 2021; 122:777-786. [PMID: 33644883 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is a copper-containing enzyme and its overexpression in tumor tissues promote tumor metastasis through the crosslinking of extracellular matrix. Our previous report demonstrated that LOX expression is significantly increased in human leukemic THP-1 cell-derived M2-like macrophages, and histone modification plays a key role in its induction. However, the rigorous mechanism of LOX regulation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of functional transcription factors, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) in LOX regulation in M2-like macrophages. HIF1α expression was significantly increased in M2-like macrophages, and HIF1α inhibitor, TX402, suppressed LOX induction. The significant STAT3 activation was also observed in M2-like macrophages. Additionally, LOX induction was canceled in the presence of STAT3 inhibitor, S3I-201, suggesting that HIF1α and STAT3 pathways play a critical role in LOX induction. On the other hand, our ChIP results clearly indicated that the enrichment of FOXO1 within the lox promoter region was dramatically decreased in M2-like macrophages. In this context, knockdown of FOXO1 further enhanced LOX induction. LOX induction and HIF1α binding to the lox promoter region were suppressed in FOXO1-overexpressed cells, suggesting that the FOXO1 binding to the lox promoter region counteracted HIF1α binding to that region. Overall, the present data suggested that both of HIF1α and STAT3 were required for LOX induction in M2-like macrophages, and loss of FOXO1 within the lox promoter region facilitated HIF1α binding to that region which promoted LOX induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuhei Takemoto
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Kamiya
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Taku Atobe
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Hara
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Adachi
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Gifu, Japan
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Zhang B, Liu Z, Xia S, Liu Q, Gou S. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of sulfamoylphenyl-quinazoline derivatives as potential EGFR/CAIX dual inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 216:113300. [PMID: 33640672 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multi-target, especially dual-target, drug design has become a popular research field for cancer treatment. Development of small molecule dual-target inhibitors through hybridization strategy can provide highly potent and selective anticancer agents. In this study, three series of quinazoline derivatives bearing a benzene-sulfonamide moiety were designed and synthesized as dual EGFR/CAIX inhibitors. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated against epidermoid carcinoma (A431) and non-small cell lung cancer (A549 and H1975) cell lines, which displayed weak to potent anticancer activity. In particular, compound 8v emerged as the most potent derivative against mutant-type H1975 cells, which exhibited comparable activity to osimertinib. Importantly, 8v exhibited stronger anti-proliferative activity than osimertinib against H1975 cells under hypoxic condition. Kinase inhibition studies indicated that 8v showed excellent inhibitory effect on EGFRT790M enzyme, which was 41 times more effective than gefitinib and almost equal to osimertinib. Mechanism studies revealed that 8v exhibited remarkable CAIX inhibitory effect comparable to acetazolamide and significantly inhibited the expression of p-EGFR as well as its downstream p-AKT and p-ERK in H1975 cells. Notably, 8v was found to inhibit the expression of CAIX and its upstream HIF-1α in H1975 cells under hypoxic condition. Molecular docking was also performed to gain insights into the ligand-binding interactions of 8v inside EGFRWT, EGFRT790M and CAIX binding sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China; Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Zhikun Liu
- Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China; Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Shengjin Xia
- Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China; Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China; Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Shaohua Gou
- Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China; Pharmaceutical Research Center and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
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Zheng-Lin B, O'Reilly EM. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the era of precision medicine. Semin Oncol 2021; 48:19-33. [PMID: 33637355 PMCID: PMC8355264 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The paradigm for treatment of PDAC is shifting from a "one size fits all" of cytotoxic therapy to a precision medicine approach based on specific predictive biomarkers for a subset of patients. As the genomic landscape of pancreatic carcinogenesis has become increasingly defined, several oncogenic alterations have emerged as actionable targets and their use has been validated in novel approaches such as targeting mutated germline DNA damage response genes (BRCA) and mismatch deficiency (dMMR/MSI-H) or blockade of rare somatic oncogenic fusions. Chemotherapy selection based on transcriptomic subtypes and developing stroma- and immune-modulating strategies have yielded encouraging results and may open therapeutic refinement to a broader PDAC population. Notwithstanding, a series of negative late-stage trials over the last year continue to underscore the inherent challenges in the treatment of PDAC. Multifactorial therapy resistance warrants further exploration in PDAC "omics" and tumor-stroma-immune cells crosstalk. Herein, we discuss precision medicine approaches applied to the treatment of PDAC, its current state and future perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Zheng-Lin
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eileen M O'Reilly
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Li H, Yao Q, Pu Z, Chung J, Ge H, Shi C, Xu N, Xu F, Sun W, Du J, Fan J, Wang J, Yoon J, Peng X. Hypoxia-activatable nano-prodrug for fluorescently tracking drug release in mice. Sci China Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11426-020-9880-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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48
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Zakaria S, Nawaya R, Abdel-Hamid NM, Eldomany RA, El-Shishtawy MM. Targeting the HIF-1α/Cav-1 Pathway with a Chicory Extract/Daidzein Combination Plays a Potential Role in Retarding Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 21:881-896. [PMID: 34382525 DOI: 10.2174/1568009621666210811121120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most rapidly growing solid cancers, that is characterized by hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that regulates tumor proliferation and metastasis. It induces caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression, a glycoprotein found on the membrane surface, then Cav-1 triggers angiogenesis and metastasis in HCC. OBJECTIVE We hypothesize that targeting HIF-1α and consequently, Cav-1 using the antioxidant natural compound such as chicoric acid and a Cav-1 inhibitor daidzein (DAZ) could be a useful approach in the management of HCC. This study was conducted to investigate the possible therapeutic efficacy of standardized chicory leaf extract (SCLE) and DAZ via modulation of HIF-1α and Cav-1 in HCC rats. METHODS Diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) was used for HCC induction. After the induction period, four groups (10 rats for each) were treated with SCLE, DAZ, a combination of both, as well as sorafenib, all compared to the non-treated control. We assessed hepatic HIF-1α protein expression, Cav-1 gene expression, serum level of AFP, hepatic tissue content of VEGF, MMP-9, oxidative stress markers MDA and SOD. RESULTS DAZ, SCLE, and their combination, significantly down-regulated the expression of HIF-1α, Cav-1, and consequently dampened MMP-9, VEGF, hepatic content. It has been observed that the combination treatment showed a synergistic effect compared to either treatment alone. Importantly, the combination treatment exhibited a significantly more potent effect than sorafenib. CONCLUSION This study showed the potential role of the HIF-1α/Cav-1 pathway in HCC progression, moreover, SCLE and DAZ showed a potent efficacy in retarding HCC via modulation of this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin Zakaria
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Reem Nawaya
- Department of Biochemistry, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Nabil M Abdel-Hamid
- Department of Biochemistry, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Ramadan A Eldomany
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
| | - Mamdouh M El-Shishtawy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
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Hill CN, Hernández-Cáceres MP, Asencio C, Torres B, Solis B, Owen GI. Deciphering the Role of the Coagulation Cascade and Autophagy in Cancer-Related Thrombosis and Metastasis. Front Oncol 2020; 10:605314. [PMID: 33365273 PMCID: PMC7750537 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.605314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombotic complications are the second leading cause of death among oncology patients worldwide. Enhanced thrombogenesis has multiple origins and may result from a deregulation of megakaryocyte platelet production in the bone marrow, the synthesis of coagulation factors in the liver, and coagulation factor signaling upon cancer and the tumor microenvironment (TME). While a hypercoagulable state has been attributed to factors such as thrombocytosis, enhanced platelet aggregation and Tissue Factor (TF) expression on cancer cells, further reports have suggested that coagulation factors can enhance metastasis through increased endothelial-cancer cell adhesion and enhanced endothelial cell activation. Autophagy is highly associated with cancer survival as a double-edged sword, as can both inhibit and promote cancer progression. In this review, we shall dissect the crosstalk between the coagulation cascade and autophagic pathway and its possible role in metastasis and cancer-associated thrombosis formation. The signaling of the coagulation cascade through the autophagic pathway within the hematopoietic stem cells, the endothelial cell and the cancer cell are discussed. Relevant to the coagulation cascade, we also examine the role of autophagy-related pathways in cancer treatment. In this review, we aim to bring to light possible new areas of cancer investigation and elucidate strategies for future therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Nicole Hill
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Catalina Asencio
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile
| | - Begoña Torres
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Benjamin Solis
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gareth I Owen
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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50
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Smalley H, Rowe JM, Nieto F, Zeledon J, Pollard K, Tomich JM, Fleming SD. Beta2 glycoprotein I-derived therapeutic peptides induce sFlt-1 secretion to reduce melanoma vascularity and growth. Cancer Lett 2020; 495:66-75. [PMID: 32891714 PMCID: PMC7899169 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, is one of the most common cancers in young men and women. Tumors require angiogenesis to provide oxygen and nutrients for growth. Pro-angiogenic molecules such as VEGF and anti-angiogenic molecules such as sFlt-1 control angiogenesis. In addition, the serum protein, Beta2 Glycoprotein I (β2-GPI) induces or inhibits angiogenesis depending on conformation and concentration. β2-GPI binds to proteins and negatively charged phospholipids on hypoxic endothelial cells present in the tumor microenvironment. We hypothesized that peptides derived from the binding domain of β2-GPI would regulate angiogenesis and melanoma growth. In vitro analyses determined the peptides reduced endothelial cell migration and sFlt-1 secretion. In a syngeneic, immunocompetent mouse melanoma model, β2-GPI-derived peptides also reduced melanoma growth in a dose-dependent response with increased sFlt-1 and attenuated vascular markers compared to negative controls. Importantly, administration of peptide with sFlt-1 antibody resulted in tumor growth. These data demonstrate the therapeutic potential of novel β2-GPI-derived peptides to attenuate tumor growth and endothelial migration is sFlt-1 dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley Smalley
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jennifer M Rowe
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Fernando Nieto
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jazmin Zeledon
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Kellyn Pollard
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - John M Tomich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Sherry D Fleming
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA.
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