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Islam S, Gleber-Netto FO, Mulcahy CF, Glaun MDE, Srivastava S, Hunt PJ, Williams MD, Barbon CE, Spiotto M, Zhao W, Adebayo A, Akhter S, Xie T, Debnath KC, Sathishkumar HN, Myers B, Lothumalla S, Yaman I, Burks JK, Gomez J, Rao X, Wang J, Woodman K, Mansour J, Arenkiel B, Osman KL, Haxton C, Lever TE, Hutcheson KA, Amit M. Neural landscape is associated with functional outcomes in irradiated patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eabq5585. [PMID: 39083586 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq5585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The incidence of human papilloma virus-mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased over the past 40 years, particularly among young individuals with a favorable prognosis; however, current therapy often leads to unfortunate side effects, such as dysphagia. Despite the emphasis on dysphagia in previous studies, there is an important research gap in understanding the correlation between neuronal changes and patient-reported and functional outcomes in patients with OPSCC. To address this issue, we examined pathologic tissue samples from patients with OPSCC using multiplex immunofluorescence staining and machine learning to correlate tumor-associated neuronal changes with prospectively collected patient-reported and functional outcomes. We found that tumor enrichment of adrenergic (TH+) and CGRP+ sensory-afferent nerves correlated with poorer swallowing outcomes. Functional electromyography recordings showed correlations between growing (GAP43+) and immature cholinergic (ChAT+DCX+) nerves and denervation patterns in survivors of OPSCC. A murine model of radiation-induced dysphagia further confirmed that immature cholinergic and CGRP+ nerves were correlated with impaired swallowing. Preclinical interventional studies also supported the independent contributions of CGRP+ and cholinergic (ChAT+) nerves to dysphagia in treated mouse models of OPSCC. Our results suggest that CGRP+ and ChAT+ neuronal signaling play distinct roles in tumor- and radiation-induced dysphagia in OPSCC and offer a comprehensive dataset on the neural landscape of OPSCC. These insights may guide early interventions for swallow preservation and the repurposing of neurology-related drugs, such as CGRP blockers, in clinical oncology and survivorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shajedul Islam
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Frederico O Gleber-Netto
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Collin F Mulcahy
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mica D E Glaun
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Snigdha Srivastava
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Patrick J Hunt
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michelle D Williams
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carly E Barbon
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael Spiotto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Weilu Zhao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adewale Adebayo
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shamima Akhter
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tongxin Xie
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kala Chand Debnath
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hinduja Naidu Sathishkumar
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Blake Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Sahana Lothumalla
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ismail Yaman
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jared K Burks
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Leukemia and Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Javier Gomez
- Department of Leukemia and Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiayu Rao
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karin Woodman
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jobran Mansour
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Shreveport Medical Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA
| | - Benjamin Arenkiel
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kate L Osman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Chandler Haxton
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Teresa E Lever
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Katherine A Hutcheson
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Moran Amit
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Tasoulas J, Srivastava S, Xu X, Tarasova V, Maniakas A, Karreth FA, Amelio AL. Genetically engineered mouse models of head and neck cancers. Oncogene 2023; 42:2593-2609. [PMID: 37474617 PMCID: PMC10457205 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02783-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
The head and neck region is one of the anatomic sites commonly afflicted by cancer, with ~1.5 million new diagnoses reported worldwide in 2020 alone. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the underlying disease mechanisms, personalizing care based on each tumor's individual molecular characteristics, and even therapeutically exploiting the inherent vulnerabilities of these neoplasms. In this regard, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have played an instrumental role. While progress in the development of GEMMs has been slower than in other major cancer types, several GEMMs are now available that recapitulate most of the heterogeneous characteristics of head and neck cancers such as the tumor microenvironment. Different approaches have been employed in GEMM development and implementation, though each can generally recapitulate only certain disease aspects. As a result, appropriate model selection is essential for addressing specific research questions. In this review, we present an overview of all currently available head and neck cancer GEMMs, encompassing models for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and salivary and thyroid gland carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Tasoulas
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sonal Srivastava
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Xiaonan Xu
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Valentina Tarasova
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Anastasios Maniakas
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Florian A Karreth
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Antonio L Amelio
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
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3
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Modic Z, Cemazar M, Markelc B, Cör A, Sersa G, Kranjc Brezar S, Jesenko T. HPV-positive murine oral squamous cell carcinoma: development and characterization of a new mouse tumor model for immunological studies. J Transl Med 2023; 21:376. [PMID: 37296466 PMCID: PMC10257320 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04221-4] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains is one of the risk factors for the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Some patients with HPV-positive OSCC have a better prognosis and respond better to various treatment modalities, including radiotherapy or immunotherapy. However, since HPV can only infect human cells, there are only a few immunocompetent mouse models available that enable immunological studies. Therefore, the aim of our study was to develop a transplantable immunocompetent mouse model of HPV-positive OSCC and characterize it in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Two monoclonal HPV-positive OSCC mouse cell lines were established by inducing the expression of HPV-16 oncogenes E6 and E7 in the MOC1 OSCC cell line using retroviral transduction. After confirming stable expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 with quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining, the cell lines were further characterized in vitro using proliferation assay, wound healing assay, clonogenic assay and RNA sequencing. In addition, tumor models were characterized in vivo in C57Bl/6NCrl mice in terms of their histological properties, tumor growth kinetics, and radiosensitivity. Furthermore, immunofluorescence staining of blood vessels, hypoxic areas, proliferating cells and immune cells was performed to characterize the tumor microenvironment of all three tumor models. RESULTS Characterization of the resulting MOC1-HPV cell lines and tumor models confirmed stable expression of HPV-16 oncogenes and differences in cell morphology, in vitro migration capacity, and tumor microenvironment characteristics. Although the cell lines did not differ in their intrinsic radiosensitivity, one of the HPV-positive tumor models, MOC1-HPV K1, showed a significantly longer growth delay after irradiation with a single dose of 15 Gy compared to parental MOC1 tumors. Consistent with this, MOC1-HPV K1 tumors had a lower percentage of hypoxic tumor area and a higher percentage of proliferating cells. Characteristics of the newly developed HPV-positive OSCC tumor models correlate with the transcriptomic profile of MOC1-HPV cell lines. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we developed and characterized a novel immunocompetent mouse model of HPV-positive OSCC that exhibits increased radiosensitivity and enables studies of immune-based treatment approaches in HPV-positive OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziva Modic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, Izola, Slovenia.
| | - Bostjan Markelc
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Cör
- Department of Research, Valdoltra Orthopedic Hospital, Jadranska cesta 31, Ankaran, Slovenia
- Faculty of Education, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva pot 5, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simona Kranjc Brezar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Jesenko
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska cesta 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Chiu WC, Ou DL, Tan CT. Mouse Models for Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapeutic Research in Oral Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169195. [PMID: 36012461 PMCID: PMC9409124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The most prevalent oral cancer globally is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The invasion of adjacent bones and the metastasis to regional lymph nodes often lead to poor prognoses and shortened survival times in patients with OSCC. Encouraging immunotherapeutic responses have been seen with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); however, these positive responses to monotherapy have been limited to a small subset of patients. Therefore, it is urgent that further investigations into optimizing immunotherapies are conducted. Areas of research include identifying novel immune checkpoints and targets and tailoring treatment programs to meet the needs of individual patients. Furthermore, the advancement of combination therapies against OSCC is also critical. Thus, additional studies are needed to ensure clinical trials are successful. Mice models are advantageous in immunotherapy research with several advantages, such as relatively low costs and high tumor growth success rate. This review paper divided methods for establishing OSCC mouse models into four categories: syngeneic tumor models, chemical carcinogen induction, genetically engineered mouse, and humanized mouse. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that influence its application in OSCC research. This review comprehensively surveys the literature and summarizes the current mouse models used in immunotherapy, their advantages and disadvantages, and details relating to the cell lines for oral cancer growth. This review aims to present evidence and considerations for choosing a suitable model establishment method to investigate the early diagnosis, clinical treatment, and related pathogenesis of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chiao Chiu
- Department of Medical Research, Fu-Jen Catholic University Hospital, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24352, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City 100225, Taiwan
| | - Da-Liang Ou
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 10051, Taiwan
- YongLin Institute of Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 10672, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ting Tan
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City 100225, Taiwan
- Stem Cell Core Laboratory, Center of Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 10051, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 100233, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu 302058, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-23123456 (ext. 88649)
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5
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Guo N, Ni K, Luo T, Lan G, Arina A, Xu Z, Mao J, Weichselbaum RR, Spiotto M, Lin W. Reprogramming of Neutrophils as Non-canonical Antigen Presenting Cells by Radiotherapy-Radiodynamic Therapy to Facilitate Immune-Mediated Tumor Regression. ACS NANO 2021; 15:17515-17527. [PMID: 34709030 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ineffective antigen cross-presentation in the tumor microenvironment compromises the generation of antitumor immune responses. Radiotherapy-radiodynamic therapy (RT-RDT) with nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs) induces robust adaptive immune responses despite modest activation of canonical antigen presenting dendritic cells. Here, using transplantable and autochthonous murine tumor models, we demonstrate that RT-RDT induces antitumor immune responses via early neutrophil infiltration and reprogramming. Intravenous or intratumoral injection of nMOFs recruited peripheral CD11b+Ly6G+CD11c- neutrophils into tumors. The activation of nMOFs by low-dose X-rays significantly increased the population of CD11b+Ly6G+CD11c+ hybrid neutrophils with upregulated expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 as well as major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. Thus, nMOF-enabled RT-RDT reshapes a favorable tumor microenvironment for antitumor immune responses by reprogramming tumor-infiltrating neutrophils to function as non-canonical antigen presenting cells for effective cross-presentation of tumor antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nining Guo
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Kaiyuan Ni
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Taokun Luo
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Guangxu Lan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Ainhoa Arina
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Ziwan Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Jianming Mao
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Ralph R Weichselbaum
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Michael Spiotto
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Wenbin Lin
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology and The Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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6
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Spiotto MT, Taniguchi CM, Klopp AH, Colbert LE, Lin SH, Wang L, Frederick MJ, Osman AA, Pickering CR, Frank SJ. Biology of the Radio- and Chemo-Responsiveness in HPV Malignancies. Semin Radiat Oncol 2021; 31:274-285. [PMID: 34455983 DOI: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In multiple anatomic sites, patients with cancers associated with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) experience better locoregional control and overall survival after radiotherapy and/or chemoradiotherapy than patients with HPV-negative cancers. These improved outcomes suggest that relatively unique biological features in HPV-positive cancers may increase sensitivity to DNA damaging agents as well as an impaired DNA damage response. This review will address potential biological mechanisms driving this increased sensitivity of HPV-positive cancer to radiation and/or chemotherapy. This review will discuss the clinical and preclinical observations that support the intrinsic radiosensitivity and/or chemosensitivity of HPV-positive cancers. Furthermore, this review will highlight the molecular mechanisms for increased radiation sensitivity using the classical "4 Rs" of radiobiology: repair, reassortment, repopulation, and reoxygenation. First, HPV-positive cancers have increased DNA damage due to increased oxidative stress and impaired DNA damage repair due to the altered activity TP53, p16, TIP60, and other repair proteins. Second, irradiated HPV-positive cancer cells display increased G2/M arrest leading to reassortment of cancer cells in more radiosensitive phases of the cell cycle. In addition, HPV-positive cancers have less radioresistant cancer stem cell subpopulations that may limit their repopulation during radiotherapy. Finally, HPV-positive cancers may also have less hypoxic tumor microenvironments that make these cancers more sensitive to radiation than HPV-negative cells. We will also discuss extrinsic immune and microenvironmental factors enriched in HPV-positive cancers that facilities responses to radiation. Therefore, these potential biological mechanisms may underpin the improved clinical outcomes often observed in these virally induced cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Spiotto
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
| | - Cullen M Taniguchi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ann H Klopp
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Lauren E Colbert
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Steven H Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Abdullah A Osman
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Curtis R Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Steven J Frank
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Alsawaftah N, Farooq A, Dhou S, Majdalawieh AF. Bioluminescence Imaging Applications in Cancer: A Comprehensive Review. IEEE Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 14:307-326. [PMID: 32746363 DOI: 10.1109/rbme.2020.2995124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI), an optical preclinical imaging modality, is an invaluable imaging modality due to its low-cost, high throughput, fast acquisition times, and functional imaging capabilities. BLI is being extensively used in the field of cancer imaging, especially with the recent developments in genetic-engineering, stem cell, and gene therapy treatments. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the principles, developments, and current status of BLI in cancer research. This paper covers the fundamental BLI concepts including BLI reporters and enzyme-substrate systems, data acquisition, and image characteristics. It reviews the studies discussing the use of BLI in cancer research such as imaging tumor-characteristic phenomena including tumorigenesis, metastasis, cancer metabolism, apoptosis, hypoxia, and angiogenesis, and response to cancer therapy treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy. The key advantages and disadvantages of BLI compared to other common imaging modalities are also discussed.
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Bhat AA, Yousuf P, Wani NA, Rizwan A, Chauhan SS, Siddiqi MA, Bedognetti D, El-Rifai W, Frenneaux MP, Batra SK, Haris M, Macha MA. Tumor microenvironment: an evil nexus promoting aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and avenue for targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:12. [PMID: 33436555 PMCID: PMC7804459 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a very aggressive disease with a poor prognosis for advanced-stage tumors. Recent clinical, genomic, and cellular studies have revealed the highly heterogeneous and immunosuppressive nature of HNSCC. Despite significant advances in multimodal therapeutic interventions, failure to cure and recurrence are common and account for most deaths. It is becoming increasingly apparent that tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in HNSCC tumorigenesis, promotes the evolution of aggressive tumors and resistance to therapy, and thereby adversely affects the prognosis. A complete understanding of the TME factors, together with the highly complex tumor-stromal interactions, can lead to new therapeutic interventions in HNSCC. Interestingly, different molecular and immune landscapes between HPV+ve and HPV-ve (human papillomavirus) HNSCC tumors offer new opportunities for developing individualized, targeted chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) regimen. This review highlights the current understanding of the complexity between HPV+ve and HPV-ve HNSCC TME and various tumor-stromal cross-talk modulating processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), anoikis resistance, angiogenesis, immune surveillance, metastatic niche, therapeutic resistance, and development of an aggressive tumor phenotype. Furthermore, we summarize the recent developments and the rationale behind CIT strategies and their clinical applications in HPV+ve and HPV-ve HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parvaiz Yousuf
- Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Nissar A Wani
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Arshi Rizwan
- Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shyam S Chauhan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mushtaq A Siddiqi
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunogenomics, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar. .,Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
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9
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Notch Signaling and Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oral Tumorigenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1287:105-122. [PMID: 33034029 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-55031-8_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The NOTCH pathway is critical for the development of many cell types including the squamous epithelium lining of cutaneous and mucosal surfaces. In genetically engineered mouse models, Notch1 acts as one of the first steps to commit basal keratinocytes to terminally differentiate. Similarly, in human head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs), NOTCH1 is often lost consistent with its essential tumor-suppressive role for initiating keratinocyte differentiation. However, constitutive NOTCH1 activity in the epithelium results in expansion of the spinous keratinocyte layers and impaired terminal differentiation is consistent with the role of NOTCH1 as an oncogene in other cancers, especially in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. We have previously observed that NOTCH1 plays a dual role as both a tumor suppressor and oncogene, depending on the mutational context of the tumor. Namely, gain or loss or NOTCH1 activity promotes the development of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. The additional HPV oncogenes likely disrupt the tumor-suppressive activities of NOTCH and enable the oncogenic pathways activated by NOTCH to promote tumor growth. In this review, we detail the role of NOTCH pathway in head and neck cancers with a focus on HPV-associated cancers.
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An Immunocompetent Mouse Model of HPV16(+) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cell Rep 2020; 29:1660-1674.e7. [PMID: 31693903 PMCID: PMC6870917 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is increasing and implicated in more than 60% of all oropharyngeal carcinomas (OPSCCs). Although whole-genome, transcriptome, and proteome analyses have identified altered signaling pathways in HPV-induced HNSCCs, additional tools are needed to investigate the unique pathobiology of OPSCC. Herein, bioinformatics analyses of human HPV(+) HNSCCs revealed that all tumors express full-length E6 and identified molecular subtypes based on relative E6 and E7 expression levels. To recapitulate the levels, stoichiometric ratios, and anatomic location of E6/E7 expression, we generated a genetically engineered mouse model whereby balanced expression of E6/E7 is directed to the oropharyngeal epithelium. The addition of a mutant PIK3CAE545K allele leads to the rapid development of pre-malignant lesions marked by immune cell accumulation, and a subset of these lesions progress to OPSCC. This mouse provides a faithful immunocompetent model for testing treatments and investigating mechanisms of immuno- suppression. Carper et al. present the ‘‘iKHP’’ mouse, in which HPV16 oncogenes are inducibly activated in vivo in a tissue-specific and temporal manner. Oropharyngeal- specific expression of E6/E7 with PIK3CAE545K in these mice promotes the development of premalignant lesions marked by immune cell infiltration, but only a subset spontaneously convert to OPSCC.
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11
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Li Q, Dong H, Yang G, Song Y, Mou Y, Ni Y. Mouse Tumor-Bearing Models as Preclinical Study Platforms for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:212. [PMID: 32158692 PMCID: PMC7052016 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical animal models of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been extensively studied in recent years. Investigating the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies of OSCC is required to further progress in this field, and a suitable research animal model that reflects the intricacies of cancer biology is crucial. Of the animal models established for the study of cancers, mouse tumor-bearing models are among the most popular and widely deployed for their high fertility, low cost, and molecular and physiological similarity to humans, as well as the ease of rearing experimental mice. Currently, the different methods of establishing OSCC mouse models can be divided into three categories: chemical carcinogen-induced, transplanted and genetically engineered mouse models. Each of these methods has unique advantages and limitations, and the appropriate application of these techniques in OSCC research deserves our attention. Therefore, this review comprehensively investigates and summarizes the tumorigenesis mechanisms, characteristics, establishment methods, and current applications of OSCC mouse models in published papers. The objective of this review is to provide foundations and considerations for choosing suitable model establishment methods to study the relevant pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and clinical treatment of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Heng Dong
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangwen Yang
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxian Song
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongbin Mou
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Oral Implantology, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Yongbin Mou
| | - Yanhong Ni
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Yanhong Ni
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12
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Manni I, de Latouliere L, Gurtner A, Piaggio G. Transgenic Animal Models to Visualize Cancer-Related Cellular Processes by Bioluminescence Imaging. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:235. [PMID: 30930779 PMCID: PMC6428995 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical animal models are valuable tools to improve treatments of malignant diseases, being an intermediate step of experimentation between cell culture and human clinical trials. Among different animal models frequently used in cancer research are mouse and, more recently, zebrafish models. Indeed, most of the cellular pathways are highly conserved between human, mouse and zebrafish, thus rendering these models very attractive. Recently, several transgenic reporter mice and zebrafishes have been generated in which the luciferase reporter gene are placed under the control of a promoter whose activity is strictly related to specific cancer cellular processes. Other mouse models have been generated by the cDNA luciferase knockin in the locus of a gene whose expression/activity has increased in cancer. Using BioLuminescence Imaging (BLI), we have now the opportunity to spatiotemporal visualize cell behaviors, among which proliferation, apoptosis, migration and immune responses, in any body district in living animal in a time frame process. We provide here a review of the available models to visualized cancer and cancer-associated events in living animals by BLI and as they have been successful in identifying new stages of early tumor progression, new interactions between different tissues and new therapeutic responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Manni
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa de Latouliere
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Aymone Gurtner
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Piaggio
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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13
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Wang Z, Valera JC, Zhao X, Chen Q, Gutkind JS. mTOR co-targeting strategies for head and neck cancer therapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2018; 36:491-502. [PMID: 28822012 PMCID: PMC5613059 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-017-9688-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. There is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic approaches to prevent and treat HNSCC. Recent deep sequencing of the HNSCC genomic landscape revealed a multiplicity and diversity of genetic alterations in this malignancy. Although a large variety of specific molecules were found altered in each individual tumor, they all participate in only a handful of driver signaling pathways. Among them, the PI3K/mTOR pathway is the most frequently activated, which plays a central role in cancer initiation and progression. In turn, targeting of mTOR may represent a precision therapeutic approach for HNSCC. Indeed, mTOR inhibition exerts potent anti-tumor activity in HNSCC experimental systems, and mTOR targeting clinical trials show encouraging results. However, advanced HNSCC patients may exhibit unpredictable drug resistance, and the analysis of its molecular basis suggests that co-targeting strategies may provide a more effective option. In addition, although counterintuitive, emerging evidence suggests that mTOR inhibition may enhance the anti-tumor immune response. These new findings raise the possibility that the combination of mTOR inhibitors and immune oncology agents may provide novel precision therapeutic options for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Wang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases,West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | | | - Xuefeng Zhao
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases,West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Qianming Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases,West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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14
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Lin YH, Yang MC, Tseng SH, Jiang R, Yang A, Farmer E, Peng S, Henkle T, Chang YN, Hung CF, Wu TC. Integration of Oncogenes via Sleeping Beauty as a Mouse Model of HPV16 + Oral Tumors and Immunologic Control. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:305-319. [PMID: 29362220 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-16-0358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is the etiologic factor for cervical cancer and a subset of oropharyngeal cancers. Although several prophylactic HPV vaccines are available, no effective therapeutic strategies to control active HPV diseases exist. Tumor implantation models are traditionally used to study HPV-associated buccal tumors. However, they fail to address precancerous phases of disease progression and display tumor microenvironments distinct from those observed in patients. Previously, K14-E6/E7 transgenic mouse models have been used to generate spontaneous tumors. However, the rate of tumor formation is inconsistent, and the host often develops immune tolerance to the viral oncoproteins. We developed a preclinical, spontaneous, HPV16+ buccal tumor model using submucosal injection of oncogenic plasmids expressing HPV16-E6/E7, NRas G12V , luciferase, and sleeping beauty (SB) transposase, followed by electroporation in the buccal mucosa. We evaluated responses to immunization with a pNGVL4a-CRT/E7(detox) therapeutic HPV DNA vaccine and tumor cell migration to distant locations. Mice transfected with plasmids encoding HPV16-E6/E7, NRas G12V , luciferase, and SB transposase developed tumors within 3 weeks. We also found transient anti-CD3 administration is required to generate tumors in immunocompetent mice. Bioluminescence signals from luciferase correlated strongly with tumor growth, and tumors expressed HPV16-associated markers. We showed that pNGVL4a-CRT/E7(detox) administration resulted in antitumor immunity in tumor-bearing mice. Lastly, we demonstrated that the generated tumor could migrate to tumor-draining lymph nodes. Our model provides an efficient method to induce spontaneous HPV+ tumor formation, which can be used to identify effective therapeutic interventions, analyze tumor migration, and conduct tumor biology research. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(3); 305-19. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsin Lin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Penghu Branch, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chieh Yang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung. Taiwan
| | - Ssu-Hsueh Tseng
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rosie Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andrew Yang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emily Farmer
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shiwen Peng
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Talia Henkle
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yung-Nien Chang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Chien-Fu Hung
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland. .,Departments of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - T-C Wu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland. .,Departments of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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15
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Callejas-Valera JL, Iglesias-Bartolome R, Amornphimoltham P, Palacios-Garcia J, Martin D, Califano JA, Molinolo AA, Gutkind JS. mTOR inhibition prevents rapid-onset of carcinogen-induced malignancies in a novel inducible HPV-16 E6/E7 mouse model. Carcinogenesis 2016; 37:1014-25. [PMID: 27538837 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgw086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies, especially for oropharyngeal cancers, has highlighted the urgent need to understand how the interplay between high-risk HPV oncogenes and carcinogenic exposure results in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) development. Here, we describe an inducible mouse model expressing high risk HPV-16 E6/E7 oncoproteins in adults, bypassing the impact of these viral genes during development. HPV-16 E6/E7 genes were targeted to the basal squamous epithelia in transgenic mice using a doxycycline inducible cytokeratin 5 promoter (cK5-rtTA) system. After doxycycline induction, both E6 and E7 were highly expressed, resulting in rapid epidermal hyperplasia with a remarkable expansion of the proliferative cell compartment to the suprabasal layers. Surprisingly, in spite of the massive growth of epithelial cells and their stem cell progenitors, HPV-E6/E7 expression was not sufficient to trigger mTOR activation, a key oncogenic driver in HPV-associated malignancies, and malignant progression to SCC. However, these mice develop SCC rapidly after a single exposure to a skin carcinogen, DMBA, which was increased by the prolonged exposure to a tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Thus, only few oncogenic hits may be sufficient to induce cancer in E6/E7 expressing cells. All HPV-E6/E7 expressing SCC lesions exhibited increased mTOR activation. Remarkably, rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, abolished tumor development when administered to HPV-E6/E7 mice prior to DMBA exposure. Our findings revealed that mTOR inhibition protects HPV-E6/E7 expressing tissues form SCC development upon carcinogen exposure, thus supporting the potential clinical use of mTOR inhibitors as a molecular targeted approach for prevention of HPV-associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Martin
- Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, NIH/NIDCR, Building 30, Bethesda, MD 20892-2190, USA
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16
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Abstract
Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiologic agent of cervical cancer and causes a significant number of vulvar, penile, anal and oropharyngeal cancers. The development of highly effective HPV therapeutic vaccines is a reasonable goal given the recent advances in basic and applied immunology. A number of vaccine strategies designed to induce systemic T cell responses have been tested in clinical trials against high grade cervical or vulvar high grade neoplasia and cancers, but with limited success. In line with the emerging trend to focus more on the epithelial context of HPV infection and premalignant disease, it might be advantageous to develop vaccination strategies that promote trafficking of HPV-specific T cells into lesions and overcome the local immunosuppressive environment. The development of more biologically relevant animal models would improve the preclinical evaluation of therapeutic vaccine candidates. Finally, persistent infection and low grade lesions may prove to be easier targets for therapeutic vaccines, and these vaccines would likely be commercially viable in high income countries and valuable components in screen and treat programs in low resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Çuburu
- a Laboratory of Cellular Oncology , Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - John T Schiller
- a Laboratory of Cellular Oncology , Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
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17
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Zhong R, Bechill J, Spiotto MT. Loss of E2F1 Extends Survival and Accelerates Oral Tumor Growth in HPV-Positive Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2015; 7:2372-85. [PMID: 26670255 PMCID: PMC4695895 DOI: 10.3390/cancers7040895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2015] [Revised: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with several human cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). HPV expresses the viral oncogene E7 that binds to the retinoblastoma protein (RB1) in order to activate the E2F pathway. RB1 can mediate contradictory pathways-cell growth and cell death via E2F family members. Here, we assessed the extent to which E2F1 mediates lethality of HPV oncogenes. Ubiquitous expression of the HPV oncogenes E6 and E7 caused lethality in mice that was associated with focal necrosis in hepatocytes and pancreatic tissues. Furthermore, all organs expressing HPV oncogenes displayed up-regulation of several E2F1 target genes. The E2F1 pathway mediated lethality in HPV-positive mice because deletion of E2F1 increased survival of mice ubiquitously expressing HPV oncogenes. E2F1 similarly functioned as a tumor suppressor in HPV-positive oral tumors as tumors grew faster with homozygous loss of E2F1 compared to tumors with heterozygous loss of E2F1. Re-expression of E2F1 caused decreased clonogenicity in HPV-positive cancer cells. Our results indicate that HPV oncogenes activated the E2F1 pathway to cause lethality in normal mice and to suppress oral tumor growth. These results suggest that selective modulation of the E2F1 pathway, which is activated in HPV tumors, may facilitate tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhong
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, 900 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - John Bechill
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, 900 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Michael T Spiotto
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, 900 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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18
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Zhong R, Bao R, Faber PW, Bindokas VP, Bechill J, Lingen MW, Spiotto MT. Notch1 Activation or Loss Promotes HPV-Induced Oral Tumorigenesis. Cancer Res 2015; 75:3958-3969. [PMID: 26294213 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Viral oncogene expression is insufficient for neoplastic transformation of human cells, so human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers will also rely upon mutations in cellular oncogenes and tumor suppressors. However, it has been difficult so far to distinguish incidental mutations without phenotypic impact from causal mutations that drive the development of HPV-associated cancers. In this study, we addressed this issue by conducting a functional screen for genes that facilitate the formation of HPV E6/E7-induced squamous cell cancers in mice using a transposon-mediated insertional mutagenesis protocol. Overall, we identified 39 candidate driver genes, including Notch1, which unexpectedly was scored by gain- or loss-of-function mutations that were capable of promoting squamous cell carcinogenesis. Autochthonous HPV-positive oral tumors possessing an activated Notch1 allele exhibited high rates of cell proliferation and tumor growth. Conversely, Notch1 loss could accelerate the growth of invasive tumors in a manner associated with increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases and other proinvasive genes. HPV oncogenes clearly cooperated with loss of Notch1, insofar as its haploinsufficiency accelerated tumor growth only in HPV-positive tumors. In clinical specimens of various human cancers, there was a consistent pattern of NOTCH1 expression that correlated with invasive character, in support of our observations in mice. Although Notch1 acts as a tumor suppressor in mouse skin, we found that oncogenes enabling any perturbation in Notch1 expression promoted tumor growth, albeit via distinct pathways. Our findings suggest caution in interpreting the meaning of putative driver gene mutations in cancer, and therefore therapeutic efforts to target them, given the significant contextual differences in which such mutations may arise, including in virus-associated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhong
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
| | - Riyue Bao
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
| | - Pieter W Faber
- Functional Genomics Facility, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
| | | | - John Bechill
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
| | - Mark W Lingen
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
| | - Michael T Spiotto
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
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19
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Xia A, Zhang X, Zhang J, Deng Y, Chen Q, Wu S, Huang X, Shen J. Enhanced dual contrast agent, Co2+-doped NaYF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ nanorods, for near infrared-to-near infrared upconversion luminescence and magnetic resonance imaging. Biomaterials 2014; 35:9167-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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