1
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Lin Y, Zhang X, Wang Y, Yao W. LPCAT2-mediated lipid droplet production supports pancreatic cancer chemoresistance and cell motility. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 139:112681. [PMID: 39068758 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Lipid droplet (LD) accumulation is one of the features in various tumors, whereas the significance of LD accumulation in pancreatic cancer progression remains unclear under chemotherapeutic condition. Since chemoresistance towards gemcitabine (GEM) is an obstacle for clinical therapy of pancreatic cancer, we sought to investigate the contribution of LD accumulation to GEM resistance. Herein, triacsin C (an inhibitor of LD production) dampened the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. The inhibition of LD accumulation induced by triacsin C or silencing of perilipin 2 (a marker of LD) sensitized cells to GEM treatment. Next, 75 paraffin-embedded samples and 5 pairs of frozen samples from pancreatic cancer patients were obtained for the detection of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2 (LPCAT2; a LD-located enzyme contributing phosphatidylcholine synthesis) expression. The results revealed that LPCAT2 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues, and its expression was correlated with clinical parameters and the basal LD content of cancer cell lines. Loss of LPCAT2 repressed the LD accumulation, GEM resistance, and cell motility. The enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity was further confirmed in a xenograft model of mice in vivo. The carcinogenesis role of LPCAT2 was at least partly mediated by the LD accumulation. Then, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5B (STAT5B) activated the transcription of LPCAT2. Both LPCAT2 downregulation and triacsin C reversed the STAT5B-induced potentiation of malignant phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells. In conclusion, LPCAT2-mediated lipid droplet production supported pancreatic cancer chemoresistance and cell motility, which was triggered by STAT5B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhe Lin
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Yihui Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Wei Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
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2
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Gupta P, Bermejo-Rodriguez C, Kocher H, Pérez-Mancera PA, Velliou EG. Chemotherapy Assessment in Advanced Multicellular 3D Models of Pancreatic Cancer: Unravelling the Importance of Spatiotemporal Mimicry of the Tumor Microenvironment. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300580. [PMID: 38327154 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenge for global health with very low survival rate and high therapeutic resistance. Hence, advanced preclinical models for treatment screening are of paramount importance. Herein, chemotherapeutic (gemcitabine) assessment on novel (polyurethane) scaffold-based spatially advanced 3D multicellular PDAC models is carried out. Through comprehensive image-based analysis at the protein level, and expression analysis at the mRNA level, the importance of stromal cells is confirmed, primarily activated stellate cells in the chemoresistance of PDAC cells within the models. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that, in addition to the presence of activated stellate cells, the spatial architecture of the scaffolds, i.e., segregation/compartmentalization of the cancer and stromal zones, affect the cellular evolution and is necessary for the development of chemoresistance. These results highlight that, further to multicellularity, mapping the tumor structure/architecture and zonal complexity in 3D cancer models is important for better mimicry of the in vivo therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Gupta
- Centre for 3D Models of Health and Disease, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, W1W 7TY, UK
| | - Camino Bermejo-Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Hemant Kocher
- Centre for Tumour Biology and Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Pedro A Pérez-Mancera
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Eirini G Velliou
- Centre for 3D Models of Health and Disease, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, W1W 7TY, UK
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3
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Zihlif M, Hameduh T, Bulatova N, Hammad H. Alteration in the expression of the chemotherapy resistance‑related genes in response to chronic and acute hypoxia in pancreatic cancer. Biomed Rep 2023; 19:88. [PMID: 37901880 PMCID: PMC10603373 DOI: 10.3892/br.2023.1670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is currently one of the least curable types of human cancer and remains a key health problem. One of the most important characteristics of pancreatic cancer is its ability to grow under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia is associated with resistance of cancer cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is a major contributor to pancreatic cancer genetic instability, which local and systemic resistance that may result in poor clinical outcome. Accordingly, identifying gene expression changes in cancer resistance genes that occur under hypoxic conditions may identify a new therapeutic target. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between hypoxia and resistance to chemotherapy and determine the alteration in the expression of cancer resistance-related genes in the presence of hypoxia. Pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) were exposed to 8 h hypoxic episodes (<1% oxygen) three times/week for a total of 20 episodes (chronic hypoxia) or 72 h hypoxic episodes twice/week for a total of 10 episodes (acute hypoxia). The alterations in gene expression were examined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR array compared with normoxic cells. Chemoresistance of hypoxic cells toward doxorubicin was assessed using MTT cell proliferation assay. Both chronic and acute hypoxia induced chemoresistance toward doxorubicin in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell line. The greatest changes occurred in estrogen Receptor Alpha Gene (ESR1) and ETS Like-1 protein (ELK1) pathways, in nucleic transcription factor Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and in a cell cycle inhibitor cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A). The present study demonstrated that exposing cells to prolonged hypoxia results in different gene expression changes involving pleotropic pathways that serve a role in inducing resistance in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malek Zihlif
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Tareq Hameduh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Nailya Bulatova
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Hana Hammad
- Department of Biology, School of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
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4
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Xiang F, Luo F. Stem cell factor modulates HIF-1α levels and diminishes 5-FU sensitivity in 5-FU resistant pancreatic cells by altering the anabolic glucose metabolism. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23487. [PMID: 37718545 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapy in cancer leads to poor therapeutic outcomes and also leads to challenges in treatment. The present work evaluated the mechanism involved in the resistance of 5-flurouracil (5-FU) in pancreatic cancer. At least 14 different pancreatic cancer (PC) cell lines were used for the study. For in vivo study female nude mice were selected. Patient-derived tumor xenograft samples were obtained from patients. The study involved, study for glucose uptake, fluorescence-activated cell sorting for glucose transporter, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide for cell survival, Picto-micrography for clonogenic assay, glutamine uptake assay, extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption rate, carbon dioxide release assay and lactate assay were also done. In addition to this, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis for expression of genes, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, western blot for protein expression, and immunohistochemical analysis in tumor sections, the tumors were studied by imaging for hypoxia and localization of TKT and CTPS-2. Also, patient-derived xenograft tumors were engrafted in nude mice, followed by a glucose uptake assay. We reported that elevated glycolytic flux causes dependence on glucose in cancer cells and, at the same time, increases pyrimidine biosynthesis. It was also found that stem cell factor-mediated stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1α) modulates the resistance in PC. Targeting HIF-1α in combination with 5-FU, strongly reduced the tumor burden. The study concludes that stem cell factor modulates HIF-1α and decreases the sensitivity in 5-FU resistant pancreatic cancer cells by targeting glucose metabolism. Deceased expression levels of CTPS-2 and TKT, which are regulators of pyrimidine biosynthesis could better the chance of survival in patients of pancreatic cancer receiving treatment of 5-FU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Xiang
- Department of General Surgery, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Fuwen Luo
- Department of Acute Abdominal Surgery, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
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5
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Tsuji T, Tsunematsu H, Imanishi M, Denda M, Tsuchiya K, Otaka A. Enhanced tumor specific drug release by hypoxia sensitive dual-prodrugs based on 2-nitroimidazole. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2023; 95:129484. [PMID: 37716415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129484] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia in cancer is important in the development of cancer-selective medicines. Here, a novel hypoxia-responsible dual-prodrug is described. We designed and synthesized 2-nitroimidazole derivatives which spontaneously release both a PYG inhibitor and gemcitabine under hypoxic conditions. One such derivative, a prodrug 9 was found to be stable against chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis, and upon chemical reduction of the nitro group on imidazole, successfully releases both drugs. In an in vitro proliferation assay using human pancreatic cells, compound 9 exhibited significant anti-proliferative effects in hypoxia but fewer effects in normoxia. Consequently, prodrug 9 should be useful for cancer treatment due to its improved cancer selectivity and potential to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Tsuji
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Honoka Tsunematsu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Masaki Imanishi
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Masaya Denda
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Koichiro Tsuchiya
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan
| | - Akira Otaka
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
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6
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Kubaichuk K, Kietzmann T. USP10 Contributes to Colon Carcinogenesis via mTOR/S6K Mediated HIF-1α but Not HIF-2α Protein Synthesis. Cells 2023; 12:1585. [PMID: 37371055 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121585] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer ranks among the third most common human malignant diseases and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Colon cancer cells are hypoxic and display disturbed protein homeostasis. Ubiquitin-ligase-initiated proteasomal degradation as well as its prevention by deubiquitinases (DUBs) are supposed to contribute to the above-mentioned disturbances. However, not much is known about the involvement of ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes in colon cancer and their effect on the hypoxia response. Here, we identify the DUB ubiquitin-specific protease 10 (USP10) as an important player in the control of colon cancer progression and a new modifier of the hypoxia response. Mechanistically, we show that knockout of USP10 in different colon cancer cells causes an elevation in HIF-1α but not HIF-2α protein levels under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. In addition, the lack of USP10 increased cellular migration, reduced cell adhesion, and switched the energy phenotype towards increased glycolysis and enhanced extracellular acidification. These changes were at least partially caused by HIF-1α, as the knockdown of HIF-1α rescued the cellular phenotype caused by USP10 deficiency. Interestingly, the USP10-dependent increase in HIF-1 α was neither caused by enhanced transcription nor prolonged half-life but via mTOR/S6K mediated HIF-1α protein synthesis. Together, the current findings indicate that USP10 is able to participate in colon carcinogenesis by modulating the hypoxia response and may therefore represent a new therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Kubaichuk
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
| | - Thomas Kietzmann
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oulu, 90570 Oulu, Finland
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7
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Crake R, Gasmi I, Dehaye J, Lardinois F, Peiffer R, Maloujahmoum N, Agirman F, Koopmansch B, D'Haene N, Azurmendi Senar O, Arsenijevic T, Lambert F, Peulen O, Van Laethem JL, Bellahcène A. Resistance to Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Cancer Is Connected to Methylglyoxal Stress and Heat Shock Response. Cells 2023; 12:1414. [PMID: 37408249 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101414] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal disease with poor prognosis. Gemcitabine is the first-line therapy for PDAC, but gemcitabine resistance is a major impediment to achieving satisfactory clinical outcomes. This study investigated whether methylglyoxal (MG), an oncometabolite spontaneously formed as a by-product of glycolysis, notably favors PDAC resistance to gemcitabine. We observed that human PDAC tumors expressing elevated levels of glycolytic enzymes together with high levels of glyoxalase 1 (GLO1), the major MG-detoxifying enzyme, present with a poor prognosis. Next, we showed that glycolysis and subsequent MG stress are triggered in PDAC cells rendered resistant to gemcitabine when compared with parental cells. In fact, acquired resistance, following short and long-term gemcitabine challenges, correlated with the upregulation of GLUT1, LDHA, GLO1, and the accumulation of MG protein adducts. We showed that MG-mediated activation of heat shock response is, at least in part, the molecular mechanism underlying survival in gemcitabine-treated PDAC cells. This novel adverse effect of gemcitabine, i.e., induction of MG stress and HSR activation, is efficiently reversed using potent MG scavengers such as metformin and aminoguanidine. We propose that the MG blockade could be exploited to resensitize resistant PDAC tumors and to improve patient outcomes using gemcitabine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Crake
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Imène Gasmi
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Jordan Dehaye
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Fanny Lardinois
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Peiffer
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Naïma Maloujahmoum
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Ferman Agirman
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Benjamin Koopmansch
- Department of Human Genetics, Liège University Hospital, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Nicky D'Haene
- Department of Pathology, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles Bordet Erasme l Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Oier Azurmendi Senar
- Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tatjana Arsenijevic
- Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Oncology, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles Bordet Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Lambert
- Department of Human Genetics, Liège University Hospital, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Olivier Peulen
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Jean-Luc Van Laethem
- Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Medical Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Oncology, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles Bordet Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Akeila Bellahcène
- Metastasis Research Laboratory, GIGA-Cancer, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4020 Liège, Belgium
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8
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Palma AM, Bushnell GG, Wicha MS, Gogna R. Tumor microenvironment interactions with cancer stem cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 159:343-372. [PMID: 37268400 PMCID: PMC11218813 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2023.02.007] [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] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer in the United States. Additionally, the low survival rate makes PDAC the third-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, and it is projected that by 2030, it will become the second-leading cause of cancer mortality. Several biological factors contribute to PDAC aggressiveness, and their understanding will narrow the gap from biology to clinical care of PDAC, leading to earlier diagnoses and the development of better treatment options. In this review, we describe the origins of PDAC highlighting the role of cancer stem cells (CSC). CSC, also known as tumor initiating cells, which exhibit a unique metabolism that allows them to maintain a highly plastic, quiescent, immune- and therapy-evasive state. However, CSCs can exit quiescence during proliferation and differentiation, with the capacity to form tumors while constituting a small population in tumor tissues. Tumorigenesis depends on the interactions between CSCs and other cellular and non-cellular components in the microenvironment. These interactions are fundamental to support CSC stemness and are maintained throughout tumor development and metastasis. PDAC is characterized by a massive desmoplastic reaction, which result from the deposition of high amounts of extracellular matrix components by stromal cells. Here we review how this generates a favorable environment for tumor growth by protecting tumor cells from immune responses and chemotherapy and inducing tumor cell proliferation and migration, leading to metastasis formation ultimately leading to death. We emphasize the interactions between CSCs and the tumor microenvironment leading to metastasis formation and posit that better understanding and targeting of these interactions will improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grace G Bushnell
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Max S Wicha
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
| | - Rajan Gogna
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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9
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Chen Z, Han F, Du Y, Shi H, Zhou W. Hypoxic microenvironment in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:70. [PMID: 36797231 PMCID: PMC9935926 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01332-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 125.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Having a hypoxic microenvironment is a common and salient feature of most solid tumors. Hypoxia has a profound effect on the biological behavior and malignant phenotype of cancer cells, mediates the effects of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy through complex mechanisms, and is closely associated with poor prognosis in various cancer patients. Accumulating studies have demonstrated that through normalization of the tumor vasculature, nanoparticle carriers and biocarriers can effectively increase the oxygen concentration in the tumor microenvironment, improve drug delivery and the efficacy of radiotherapy. They also increase infiltration of innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune cells to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Furthermore, drugs targeting key genes associated with hypoxia, including hypoxia tracers, hypoxia-activated prodrugs, and drugs targeting hypoxia-inducible factors and downstream targets, can be used for visualization and quantitative analysis of tumor hypoxia and antitumor activity. However, the relationship between hypoxia and cancer is an area of research that requires further exploration. Here, we investigated the potential factors in the development of hypoxia in cancer, changes in signaling pathways that occur in cancer cells to adapt to hypoxic environments, the mechanisms of hypoxia-induced cancer immune tolerance, chemotherapeutic tolerance, and enhanced radiation tolerance, as well as the insights and applications of hypoxia in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Fangfang Han
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.,The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yan Du
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Huaqing Shi
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Wence Zhou
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China. .,Lanzhou University Sencond Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
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10
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Shigeta K, Hasegawa M, Hishiki T, Naito Y, Baba Y, Mikami S, Matsumoto K, Mizuno R, Miyajima A, Kikuchi E, Saya H, Kosaka T, Oya M. IDH2 stabilizes HIF-1α-induced metabolic reprogramming and promotes chemoresistance in urothelial cancer. EMBO J 2023; 42:e110620. [PMID: 36637036 PMCID: PMC9929641 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022110620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance contributes to poor therapeutic response in urothelial carcinoma (UC). Metabolomic analysis suggested metabolic reprogramming in gemcitabine-resistant urothelial carcinoma cells, whereby increased aerobic glycolysis and metabolic stimulation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) promoted pyrimidine biosynthesis to increase the production of the gemcitabine competitor deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) that diminishes its therapeutic effect. Furthermore, we observed that gain-of-function of isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) induced reductive glutamine metabolism to stabilize Hif-1α expression and consequently stimulate aerobic glycolysis and PPP bypass in gemcitabine-resistant UC cells. Interestingly, IDH2-mediated metabolic reprogramming also caused cross resistance to CDDP, by elevating the antioxidant defense via increased NADPH and glutathione production. Downregulation or pharmacological suppression of IDH2 restored chemosensitivity. Since the expression of key metabolic enzymes, such as TIGAR, TKT, and CTPS1, were affected by IDH2-mediated metabolic reprogramming and related to poor prognosis in patients, IDH2 might become a new therapeutic target for restoring chemosensitivity in chemo-resistant urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Shigeta
- Department of UrologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | | | - Takako Hishiki
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research centerKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
- Department of BiochemistryKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Yoshiko Naito
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research centerKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Yuto Baba
- Department of UrologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Shuji Mikami
- Division of PathologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | | | - Ryuichi Mizuno
- Department of UrologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Akira Miyajima
- Department of UrologyTokai University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Eiji Kikuchi
- Department of UrologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
- Department of UrologySt. Marianna University School of MedicineKanagawaJapan
| | - Hideyuki Saya
- Department of Clinical and Translational Research centerKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
- Division of Gene RegulationInstitute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Takeo Kosaka
- Department of UrologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Mototsugu Oya
- Department of UrologyKeio University School of MedicineTokyoJapan
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11
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Bui BP, Nguyen PL, Lee K, Cho J. Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1: A Novel Therapeutic Target for the Management of Cancer, Drug Resistance, and Cancer-Related Pain. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246054. [PMID: 36551540 PMCID: PMC9775408 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a key transcription factor that regulates the transcription of many genes that are responsible for the adaptation and survival of tumor cells in hypoxic environments. Over the past few decades, tremendous efforts have been made to comprehensively understand the role of HIF-1 in tumor progression. Based on the pivotal roles of HIF-1 in tumor biology, many HIF-1 inhibitors interrupting expression, stabilization, DNA binding properties, or transcriptional activity have been identified as potential therapeutic agents for various cancers, yet none of these inhibitors have yet been successfully translated into clinically available cancer treatments. In this review, we briefly introduce the regulation of the HIF-1 pathway and summarize its roles in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In addition, we explore the implications of HIF-1 in the development of drug resistance and cancer-related pain: the most commonly encountered obstacles during conventional anticancer therapies. Finally, the current status of HIF-1 inhibitors in clinical trials and their perspectives are highlighted, along with their modes of action. This review provides new insights into novel anticancer drug development targeting HIF-1. HIF-1 inhibitors may be promising combinational therapeutic interventions to improve the efficacy of current cancer treatments and reduce drug resistance and cancer-related pain.
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12
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Deng D, Patel R, Chiang CY, Hou P. Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Regulating Pancreatic Cancer Therapy Resistance. Cells 2022; 11:cells11192952. [PMID: 36230914 PMCID: PMC9563251 DOI: 10.3390/cells11192952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has a notoriously poor prognosis, exhibits persistent drug resistance, and lacks a cure. Unique features of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment exacerbate tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Recent studies emphasize the importance of exploiting cells in the tumor microenvironment to thwart cancers. In this review, we summarize the hallmarks of the multifaceted pancreatic tumor microenvironment, notably pancreatic stellate cells, tumor-associated fibroblasts, macrophages, and neutrophils, in the regulation of chemo-, radio-, immuno-, and targeted therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer. The molecular insight will facilitate the development of novel therapeutics against pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiyong Deng
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Riya Patel
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Cheng-Yao Chiang
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Pingping Hou
- Center for Cell Signaling, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA
- Correspondence:
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13
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Song L, Hao Y, Wang C, Han Y, Zhu Y, Feng L, Miao L, Liu Z. Liposomal oxaliplatin prodrugs loaded with metformin potentiate immunotherapy for colorectal cancer. J Control Release 2022; 350:922-932. [PMID: 36108810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tumor hypoxia is confirmed to be associated with the formation of tumor immunosuppression, a general feature of solid tumors, and thus attenuates the effectiveness of various cancer therapies in clinic. We herein develop a tumor microenvironment (TME) modulating liposomal nanomedicine by encapsulating metformin with amphiphilic oxaliplatin prodrug constructed liposomes to potentiate cancer immunotherapy. While metformin could regulate metabolisms of tumor cells to reduce their oxygen consumption and relieve tumor hypoxia, oxaliplatin is a chemotherapy drug that induces immunogenic cell death (ICD). The obtained met-oxa(IV)-liposome upon intravenous injection effectively attenuates tumor hypoxia and induce ICD of cancer cells, thereby collectively suppresses the growth of murine colorectal tumors by eliciting potent antitumor immunity and reversing the immunosuppressive TME. As the result, the treatment with met-oxa(IV)-liposome effectively potentiates the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy against murine colorectal tumors. This liposomal nanomedicine is highlighted to be a TME modulating liposomal nanomedicine with high potency in suppressing tumor growth, particularly promising in synergizing with ICB therapy by boosting antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Song
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China; Department of Oncology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226361, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Hao
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Chunjie Wang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yikai Han
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yujie Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Liangzhu Feng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Liyan Miao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China; National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhuang Liu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, 199 Ren'ai Road, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Repositioning of Old Drugs for Novel Cancer Therapies: Continuous Therapeutic Perfusion of Aspirin and Oseltamivir Phosphate with Gemcitabine Treatment Disables Tumor Progression, Chemoresistance, and Metastases. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153595. [PMID: 35892853 PMCID: PMC9331689 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Repositioning old drugs in combination with clinical standard chemotherapeutics opens a promising clinical treatment approach for patients with pancreatic cancer. This report presents a therapeutic repositioning of continuous perfusion of aspirin and oseltamivir phosphate in combination with gemcitabine treatment as an effective treatment option for pancreatic cancer. The data suggest that repositioning these drugs with continuous perfusion with gemcitabine disables chemoresistance, tumor progression, EMT program, cancer stem cells, and metastases in a preclinical mouse model of human pancreatic cancer. These promising results warrant additional investigation to assess the potential of translating into the clinical setting to improve the cancer patient prognosis for an otherwise fatal disease. Abstract Metastatic pancreatic cancer has an invariably fatal outcome, with an estimated median progression-free survival of approximately six months employing our best combination chemotherapeutic regimens. Once drug resistance develops, manifested by increased primary tumor size and new and growing metastases, patients often die rapidly from their disease. Emerging evidence indicates that chemotherapy may contribute to the development of drug resistance through the upregulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways and subsequent cancer stem cell (CSC) enrichment. Neuraminidase-1 (Neu-1) regulates the activation of several receptor tyrosine kinases implicated in EMT induction, angiogenesis, and cellular proliferation. Here, continuous therapeutic targeting of Neu-1 using parenteral perfusion of oseltamivir phosphate (OP) and aspirin (ASA) with gemcitabine (GEM) treatment significantly disrupts tumor progression, critical compensatory signaling mechanisms, EMT program, CSC, and metastases in a preclinical mouse model of human pancreatic cancer. ASA- and OP-treated xenotumors significantly inhibited the metastatic potential when transferred into animals.
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15
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Laurella LC, Mirakian NT, Garcia MN, Grasso DH, Sülsen VP, Papademetrio DL. Sesquiterpene Lactones as Promising Candidates for Cancer Therapy: Focus on Pancreatic Cancer. Molecules 2022; 27:3492. [PMID: 35684434 PMCID: PMC9182036 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27113492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease which confers to patients a poor prognosis at short term. PDAC is the fourth leading cause of death among cancers in the Western world. The rate of new cases of pancreatic cancer (incidence) is 10 per 100,000 but present a 5-year survival of less than 10%, highlighting the poor prognosis of this pathology. Furthermore, 90% of advanced PDAC tumor present KRAS mutations impacting in several oncogenic signaling pathways, many of them associated with cell proliferation and tumor progression. Different combinations of chemotherapeutic agents have been tested over the years without an improvement of significance in its treatment. PDAC remains as one the more challenging biomedical topics thus far. The lack of a proper early diagnosis, the notable mortality statistics and the poor outcome with the available therapies urge the entire scientific community to find novel approaches against PDAC with real improvements in patients' survival and life quality. Natural compounds have played an important role in the process of discovery and development of new drugs. Among them, terpenoids, such as sesquiterpene lactones, stand out due to their biological activities and pharmacological potential as antitumor agents. In this review, we will describe the sesquiterpene lactones with in vitro and in vivo activity against pancreatic tumor cells. We will also discuss the mechanism of action of the compounds as well as the signaling pathways associated with their activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cecilia Laurella
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Piso 2, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
| | - Nadia Talin Mirakian
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
| | - Maria Noé Garcia
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Piso 4, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
| | - Daniel Héctor Grasso
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Piso 4, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
- Cátedra de Fisiopatología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina
| | - Valeria Patricia Sülsen
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Piso 2, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
| | - Daniela Laura Papademetrio
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, Piso 4, Buenos Aires CP 1113, Argentina;
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16
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Koltai T, Reshkin SJ, Carvalho TMA, Di Molfetta D, Greco MR, Alfarouk KO, Cardone RA. Resistance to Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Physiopathologic and Pharmacologic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2486. [PMID: 35626089 PMCID: PMC9139729 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a very aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis and inadequate response to treatment. Many factors contribute to this therapeutic failure: lack of symptoms until the tumor reaches an advanced stage, leading to late diagnosis; early lymphatic and hematic spread; advanced age of patients; important development of a pro-tumoral and hyperfibrotic stroma; high genetic and metabolic heterogeneity; poor vascular supply; a highly acidic matrix; extreme hypoxia; and early development of resistance to the available therapeutic options. In most cases, the disease is silent for a long time, andwhen it does become symptomatic, it is too late for ablative surgery; this is one of the major reasons explaining the short survival associated with the disease. Even when surgery is possible, relapsesare frequent, andthe causes of this devastating picture are the low efficacy ofand early resistance to all known chemotherapeutic treatments. Thus, it is imperative to analyze the roots of this resistance in order to improve the benefits of therapy. PDAC chemoresistance is the final product of different, but to some extent, interconnected factors. Surgery, being the most adequate treatment for pancreatic cancer and the only one that in a few selected cases can achieve longer survival, is only possible in less than 20% of patients. Thus, the treatment burden relies on chemotherapy in mostcases. While the FOLFIRINOX scheme has a slightly longer overall survival, it also produces many more adverse eventsso that gemcitabine is still considered the first choice for treatment, especially in combination with other compounds/agents. This review discusses the multiple causes of gemcitabine resistance in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephan Joel Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Tiago M. A. Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Khalid Omer Alfarouk
- Zamzam Research Center, Zamzam University College, Khartoum 11123, Sudan;
- Alfarouk Biomedical Research LLC, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, USA
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
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17
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Roy-Luzarraga M, Reynolds LE, de Luxán-Delgado B, Maiques O, Wisniewski L, Newport E, Rajeeve V, Drake RJ, Gómez-Escudero J, Richards FM, Weller C, Dormann C, Meng YM, Vermeulen PB, Saur D, Sanz-Moreno V, Wong PP, Géraud C, Cutillas PR, Hodivala-Dilke K. Suppression of Endothelial Cell FAK Expression Reduces Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Metastasis after Gemcitabine Treatment. Cancer Res 2022; 82:1909-1925. [PMID: 35350066 PMCID: PMC9381116 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite substantial advances in the treatment of solid cancers, resistance to therapy remains a major obstacle to prolonged progression-free survival. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers, with a high level of liver metastasis. Primary PDAC is highly hypoxic, and metastases are resistant to first-line treatment, including gemcitabine. Recent studies have indicated that endothelial cell (EC) focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates DNA-damaging therapy-induced angiocrine factors and chemosensitivity in primary tumor models. Here, we show that inducible loss of EC-FAK in both orthotopic and spontaneous mouse models of PDAC is not sufficient to affect primary tumor growth but reduces liver and lung metastasis load and improves survival rates in gemcitabine-treated, but not untreated, mice. EC-FAK loss did not affect primary tumor angiogenesis, tumor blood vessel leakage, or early events in metastasis, including the numbers of circulating tumor cells, tumor cell homing, or metastatic seeding. Phosphoproteomics analysis showed a downregulation of the MAPK, RAF, and PAK signaling pathways in gemcitabine-treated FAK-depleted ECs compared with gemcitabine-treated wild-type ECs. Moreover, low levels of EC-FAK correlated with increased survival and reduced relapse in gemcitabine-treated patients with PDAC, supporting the clinical relevance of these findings. Altogether, we have identified a new role of EC-FAK in regulating PDAC metastasis upon gemcitabine treatment that impacts outcome. SIGNIFICANCE These findings establish the potential utility of combinatorial endothelial cell FAK targeting together with gemcitabine in future clinical applications to control metastasis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Roy-Luzarraga
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louise E. Reynolds
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz de Luxán-Delgado
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oscar Maiques
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Wisniewski
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Newport
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vinothini Rajeeve
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J.G. Drake
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jesús Gómez-Escudero
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances M. Richards
- Translational Medicine Operations, Astrazeneca Oncology, Darwin Building, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Céline Weller
- Department of Dermatology, Section of Clinical and Molecular Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christof Dormann
- Department of Dermatology, Section of Clinical and Molecular Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ya-Ming Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peter B. Vermeulen
- Department of Oncological Research, Translational Cancer Research Unit, Oncology Center GZA—GZA Hospitals St. Augustinus and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dieter Saur
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg and Chair of Translational Cancer Research and Institute for Experimental Cancer Therapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Victoria Sanz-Moreno
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ping-Pui Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cyrill Géraud
- Department of Dermatology, Section of Clinical and Molecular Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center and European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Pedro R. Cutillas
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Barts Cancer Institute—A CR-UK Center of Excellence, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Center, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
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Acidic Tumor Microenvironment Promotes Pancreatic Cancer through miR-451a/MEF2D Axis. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:3966386. [PMID: 35069734 PMCID: PMC8769849 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3966386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC), as a highly malignant and aggressive solid tumor, is common in the digestive system. The acidic microenvironment is one of the critical markers of cancer. Nonetheless, there are few studies on how the acidic microenvironment affects the development of PC. This study focused on investigating the specific molecular mechanisms of the acidic microenvironment in PC. In our study, qRT-PCR was conducted for examining microRNA (miR)-451a and myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) expressions in PANC-1 cells. Then, detailed functional effects of an acidic environment on miR-451a and MEF2D in PANC-1 cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound healing, transwell, mitochondrial functionality measurement, JC-1 staining, DCFH-DA staining, and sphere formation assays. The relationship between miR-451a and MEF2D was confirmed by luciferase reporter analysis. Under acidic conditions, the increase of proliferation, migration, and invasion of PANC-1 cells was observed. Moreover, the mitochondrial oxidative respiration-related gene miR-451a was reduced in acidic conditions. In addition, we found that, in PANC-1 cells under an acidic environment, miR-451a overexpression enhanced oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, and ROS generation and inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness via sponging MEF2D. In a word, our results revealed that the acidic microenvironment regulated PC progression by affecting the miR-451a/MEF2D axis, indicating a novel avenue for the future treatment of PC.
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Gene Therapy Using Nanocarriers for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Applications and Challenges in Cancer Therapeutics. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14010137. [PMID: 35057033 PMCID: PMC8780888 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, and its incidence is increasing. PDAC often shows resistance to several therapeutic modalities and a higher recurrence rate after surgical treatment in the early localized stage. Combination chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic cancer has minimal impact on overall survival. RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising tool for regulating target genes to achieve sequence-specific gene silencing. Here, we summarize RNAi-based therapeutics using nanomedicine-based delivery systems that are currently being tested in clinical trials and are being developed for the treatment of PDAC. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) genome editing has been widely used for the development of cancer models as a genetic screening tool for the identification and validation of therapeutic targets, as well as for potential cancer therapeutics. This review discusses current advances in CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its application to PDAC research. Continued progress in understanding the PDAC tumor microenvironment and nanomedicine-based gene therapy will improve the clinical outcomes of patients with PDAC.
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Carvalho TMA, Di Molfetta D, Greco MR, Koltai T, Alfarouk KO, Reshkin SJ, Cardone RA. Tumor Microenvironment Features and Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Insights into Targeting Physicochemical Barriers and Metabolism as Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6135. [PMID: 34885243 PMCID: PMC8657427 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the median overall survival of PDAC patients rarely exceeds 1 year and has an overall 5-year survival rate of about 9%. These numbers are anticipated to worsen in the future due to the lack of understanding of the factors involved in its strong chemoresistance. Chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for most PDAC patients; however, the available therapeutic strategies are insufficient. The factors involved in chemoresistance include the development of a desmoplastic stroma which reprograms cellular metabolism, and both contribute to an impaired response to therapy. PDAC stroma is composed of immune cells, endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts embedded in a prominent, dense extracellular matrix associated with areas of hypoxia and acidic extracellular pH. While multiple gene mutations are involved in PDAC initiation, this desmoplastic stroma plays an important role in driving progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying PDAC resistance are a prerequisite for designing novel approaches to increase patient survival. In this review, we provide an overview of the stromal features and how they contribute to the chemoresistance in PDAC treatment. By highlighting new paradigms in the role of the stromal compartment in PDAC therapy, we hope to stimulate new concepts aimed at improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago M. A. Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | | | - Khalid O. Alfarouk
- Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Madinah Al-Munwarah 42316, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Stephan J. Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Rosa A. Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
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21
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Won EJ, Park H, Chang SH, Kim JH, Kwon H, Cho YS, Yoon TJ. One-shot dual gene editing for drug-resistant pancreatic cancer therapy. Biomaterials 2021; 279:121252. [PMID: 34781244 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
It is challenging to diagnose patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) early on, and their treatment is often complex. Gemcitabine (GEM) is the first-line treatment for PDAC, but its efficacy is limited in most patients due to the GEM resistance from KRAS and P53 gene mutations. We describe the correction of a double gene mutation and therapeutic effect for the GEM resistant PDAC. Bio-available nanoliposomes (NL) possessing Cas9-ribonucleoproteins and adenine-base editors were developed to conduct KRAS and P53 mutation gene editing directly. NLs were conjugated with EGFR antibodies to tumor-specific delivery, and the anti-cancer effect was verified in vitro and in vivo Model. Our GEM-combinatorial therapeutic strategies using double gene editing systems with one-shot may be a potent therapy for PDAC, overcoming chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Jeong Won
- Laboratory of Nanopharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPST), Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Hyeji Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 06591, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung-Hee Chang
- Laboratory of Nanopharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPST), Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea; Moogene Medi Institute, Korea-Bio Park, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jin Hyun Kim
- Laboratory of Nanopharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPST), Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea; Moogene Medi Institute, Korea-Bio Park, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Hojeong Kwon
- Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Science, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Young-Seok Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 06591, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Tae-Jong Yoon
- Laboratory of Nanopharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPST), Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea; Moogene Medi Institute, Korea-Bio Park, Seongnam, South Korea.
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22
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Zeng Z, Zhao Y, Chen Q, Zhu S, Niu Y, Ye Z, Hu P, Chen D, Xu P, Chen J, Hu C, Hu Y, Xu F, Tang J, Wang F, Han S, Huang M, Wang C, Zhao G. Hypoxic exosomal HIF-1α-stabilizing circZNF91 promotes chemoresistance of normoxic pancreatic cancer cells via enhancing glycolysis. Oncogene 2021; 40:5505-5517. [PMID: 34294845 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01960-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Research has indicated that hypoxia profoundly contributes to chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer (PC), while the precise mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we report a hypoxic exosomal circular RNA (circRNA)-mediated mechanism of conferred chemoresistance in PC cells. Gemcitabine (GEM) resistance was enhanced in normoxic PC cells incubated with exosomes derived from hypoxic PC cells. CircRNA microarray displayed that circZNF91 was remarkably increased in hypoxic exosomes of PC cells compared with normoxic exosomes. Overexpression of circZNF91 obviously stimulated chemoresistance in PC cells, while knockdown of circZNF91 retarded the hypoxic exosome-transmitted chemoresistance. Mechanistically, the hypoxic-induced exosomal circZNF91 transmitted into normoxic PC cells could competitively bind to miR-23b-3p, which deprives the inhibition of miR-23b-3p on expression of deacetylase Sirtuin1 (SIRT1). Consequently, the upregulated SIRT1 enhanced deacetylation-dependent stability of HIF-1α protein, leading to glycolysis and GEM chemoresistance of recipient PC cells. In addition, we revealed that the increased circZNF91 in hypoxic exosome was attributed to the transcriptional regulation by HIF-1α. Coincidently, transmission of hypoxic exosomes into subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice obviously facilitated the chemoresistance of transplanted PC tumor, which could be reversed by depletion of circZNF91 or upregulation of miR-23b-3p. Furthermore, clinical data showed that circZNF91 was significantly upregulated in PC tissues and correlated with overexpression of glycolytic enzymes and short overall survival time. Collectively, exosomal circZNF91 can function as a cargo mediating the signal transmission between hypoxic and normoxic tumor cells to promote GEM chemoresistance of PC and may potentially serve as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Zeng
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - QingYong Chen
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuai Zhu
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Niu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zeng Ye
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ding Chen
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinghuang Chen
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaojie Hu
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuhang Hu
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengyu Xu
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiang Tang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shengbo Han
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengqi Huang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunyou Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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23
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Mollaei M, Hassan ZM, Khorshidi F, Langroudi L. Chemotherapeutic drugs: Cell death- and resistance-related signaling pathways. Are they really as smart as the tumor cells? Transl Oncol 2021; 14:101056. [PMID: 33684837 PMCID: PMC7938256 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapeutic drugs kill cancer cells or control their progression all over the patient's body, while radiation- and surgery-based treatments perform in a particular site. Based on their mechanisms of action, they are classified into different groups, including alkylating substrates, antimetabolite agents, anti-tumor antibiotics, inhibitors of topoisomerase I and II, mitotic inhibitors, and finally, corticosteroids. Although chemotherapeutic drugs have brought about more life expectancy, two major and severe complications during chemotherapy are chemoresistance and tumor relapse. Therefore, we aimed to review the underlying intracellular signaling pathways involved in cell death and resistance in different chemotherapeutic drug families to clarify the shortcomings in the conventional single chemotherapy applications. Moreover, we have summarized the current combination chemotherapy applications, including numerous combined-, and encapsulated-combined-chemotherapeutic drugs. We further discussed the possibilities and applications of precision medicine, machine learning, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and whole-exome sequencing (WES) in promoting cancer immunotherapies. Finally, some of the recent clinical trials concerning the application of immunotherapies and combination chemotherapies were included as well, in order to provide a practical perspective toward the future of therapies in cancer cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojtaba Mollaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Fatemeh Khorshidi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ladan Langroudi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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24
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A redox probe screens MTHFD1 as a determinant of gemcitabine chemoresistance in cholangiocarcinoma. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:89. [PMID: 33934113 PMCID: PMC8088434 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00476-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a type of solid tumor derived from the bile duct epithelium that features universal gemcitabine resistance. Here, we utilized a gene-encoded ROS biosensor probe (HyPer3 probe) to sort subpopulations with different redox statuses from CCA cells. The isolated HyPer-low subpopulation CCA cells, which exhibited relatively lower cellular ROS levels, exhibited higher chemoresistance to gemcitabine than HyPer-high subpopulation CCA cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, increased expression of MTHFD1 was found in HyPer-low cells. Knocking down MTHFD1 in HyPer-low cells enhanced cellular ROS and restored sensitivity to gemcitabine. Furthermore, the MTHFD1 inhibitor antifolate compound methotrexate (MTX) increased cellular ROS, and combining gemcitabine with MTX effectively suppressed cholangiocarcinoma cell growth. In summary, the MTHFD1 level mediated the heterogeneous cellular redox status in CCA, which resulted in chemoresistance to gemcitabine. Our data suggest a novel strategy for CCA chemotherapy.
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25
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Mechanisms of drug resistance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma at different levels. Biosci Rep 2021; 40:225827. [PMID: 32677676 PMCID: PMC7396420 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20200401] [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: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and the mortality of patients with PDAC has not significantly decreased over the last few decades. Novel strategies exhibiting promising effects in preclinical or phase I/II clinical trials are often situated in an embarrassing condition owing to the disappointing results in phase III trials. The efficacy of the current therapeutic regimens is consistently compromised by the mechanisms of drug resistance at different levels, distinctly more intractable than several other solid tumours. In this review, the main mechanisms of drug resistance clinicians and investigators are dealing with during the exploitation and exploration of the anti-tumour effects of drugs in PDAC treatment are summarized. Corresponding measures to overcome these limitations are also discussed.
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26
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Stellate Cells Aid Growth-Permissive Metabolic Reprogramming and Promote Gemcitabine Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040601. [PMID: 33546284 PMCID: PMC7913350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The great majority, more than 90%, of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) die within less than five years after detection of the disease, despite recent treatment advances. The poor prognosis is related to late diagnosis, aggressive disease progression, and tumor resistance to conventional chemotherapy. PDAC tumor tissue is characterized by dense fibrosis and poor nutrient availability. A large portion of the tumor is made up of stromal fibroblasts, the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which are known to contribute to tumor progression in several ways. PSCs have been shown to act as an alternate energy source, induce drug resistance, and inhibit drug availability in tumor cells, however, the underlying exact molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this literature review, we discuss recent available knowledge about the contributions of PSCs to the overall progression of PDAC via changes in tumor metabolism and how this is linked to therapy resistance. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), also known as pancreatic cancer (PC), is characterized by an overall poor prognosis and a five-year survival that is less than 10%. Characteristic features of the tumor are the presence of a prominent desmoplastic stromal response, an altered metabolism, and profound resistance to cancer drugs including gemcitabine, the backbone of PDAC chemotherapy. The pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) constitute the major cellular component of PDAC stroma. PSCs are essential for extracellular matrix assembly and form a supportive niche for tumor growth. Various cytokines and growth factors induce activation of PSCs through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, which in turn promote overall tumor growth and metastasis and induce chemoresistance. To maintain growth and survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic environment of PDAC, tumor cells fulfill their high energy demands via several unconventional ways, a process generally referred to as metabolic reprogramming. Accumulating evidence indicates that activated PSCs not only contribute to the therapy-resistant phenotype of PDAC but also act as a nutrient supplier for the tumor cells. However, the precise molecular links between metabolic reprogramming and an acquired therapy resistance in PDAC remain elusive. This review highlights recent findings indicating the importance of PSCs in aiding growth-permissive metabolic reprogramming and gemcitabine chemoresistance in PDAC.
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27
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Tao J, Yang G, Zhou W, Qiu J, Chen G, Luo W, Zhao F, You L, Zheng L, Zhang T, Zhao Y. Targeting hypoxic tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:14. [PMID: 33436044 PMCID: PMC7805044 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-01030-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Attributable to its late diagnosis, early metastasis, and poor prognosis, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide. Unlike other solid tumors, pancreatic cancer harbors ample stromal cells and abundant extracellular matrix but lacks vascularization, resulting in persistent and severe hypoxia within the tumor. Hypoxic microenvironment has extensive effects on biological behaviors or malignant phenotypes of pancreatic cancer, including metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness, invasion and metastasis, and pathological angiogenesis, which synergistically contribute to development and therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer. Through various mechanisms including but not confined to maintenance of redox homeostasis, activation of autophagy, epigenetic regulation, and those induced by hypoxia-inducible factors, intratumoral hypoxia drives the above biological processes in pancreatic cancer. Recognizing the pivotal roles of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer progression and therapies, hypoxia-based antitumoral strategies have been continuously developed over the recent years, some of which have been applied in clinical trials to evaluate their efficacy and safety in combinatory therapies for patients with pancreatic cancer. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced aggressive and therapeutically resistant phenotypes in both pancreatic cancerous and stromal cells. Additionally, we focus more on innovative therapies targeting the tumor hypoxic microenvironment itself, which hold great potential to overcome the resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to enhance antitumor efficacy and reduce toxicity to normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wenchuan Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiangdong Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Guangyu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wenhao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lianfang Zheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China. .,Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China.
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28
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Xin X, Kumar V, Lin F, Kumar V, Bhattarai R, Bhatt VR, Tan C, Mahato RI. Redox-responsive nanoplatform for codelivery of miR-519c and gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer therapy. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabd6764. [PMID: 33177098 PMCID: PMC7673723 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd6764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Desmoplastic and hypoxic pancreatic cancer microenvironment induces aberrant expression of miRNAs and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) responsible for gemcitabine (GEM) resistance. We demonstrated that miR-519c was down-regulated in pancreatic cancer and transfection of miR-519c in GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer cells inhibited HIF-1α level under hypoxia. We synthesized redox-sensitive mPEG-co-P(Asp)-g-DC-g-S-S-GEM polymer, with GEM payload of 14% (w/w) and 90% GEM release upon incubation with l-glutathione. We synthesized mPEG-co-P(Asp)-g-TEPA-g-DC for complex formation with miRNA. Chemical modification of miR-519c with 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate (OMe-PS) at 3' end enhanced its stability and activity without being immunogenic. Epidermal growth factor receptor targeting peptide GE11 decoration increased tumor accumulation of micelles after systemic administration and significantly inhibited orthotopic desmoplastic pancreatic cancer growth in NSG mice by down-regulating HIF-1α and genes responsible for glucose uptake and cancer cell metabolism. Our multifunctional nanomedicine of GEM and OMe-PS-miR-519c offers a novel therapeutic strategy to treat desmoplasia and hypoxia-induced chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Xin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Virender Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Rajan Bhattarai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Vijaya R Bhatt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Chalet Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA.
| | - Ram I Mahato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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29
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Hu M, Kang G, Cheng X, Wang J, Li R, Bai Z, Yang D, Huang H. In vitro affinity maturation to improve the efficacy of a hypoxia-inducible factor 1α single-domain intrabody. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 529:936-942. [PMID: 32819602 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.06.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Affinity is an important property of therapeutic antibodies, so improving affinity is critical to the biological activity and clinical efficacy. An anti-HIF-1α nanobody, VHH212, was screened via a native ribosome display library with a 26.6 nM of KD value was used as the parent. In this paper, a Venn-intersection of multi-algorithms screening (VIMAS) strategy for computer-aided binding affinity prediction was designed. Homology modeling and protein docking methods were used to substitute the need for a crystal structure. Finally, a mutant with a 17.5-fold enhancement in binding affinity (1.52 nM) was obtained by using the VIMAS strategy. Furthermore, the biological activity of mutants was verified at the cellular level. Targeting HIF-1α can sensitize PDAC (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) tumors to gemcitabine, which is a potential co-treatment method for pancreatic cancer patients. Our results showed that the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer cell lines increased with the enhanced-affinity of an intrabody under combined treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Algorithms
- Antibody Affinity
- Antibody Specificity
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/metabolism
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/pharmacology
- Binding Sites
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Cell Survival/genetics
- Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives
- Deoxycytidine/pharmacology
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/antagonists & inhibitors
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/immunology
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Molecular Dynamics Simulation
- Mutation
- Pancreatic Ducts/immunology
- Pancreatic Ducts/pathology
- Protein Binding
- Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
- Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry
- Single-Domain Antibodies/genetics
- Single-Domain Antibodies/pharmacology
- Structural Homology, Protein
- User-Computer Interface
- Gemcitabine
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Hu
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Guangbo Kang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xin Cheng
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jiewen Wang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ruowei Li
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zixuan Bai
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - He Huang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
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30
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Could Protons and Carbon Ions Be the Silver Bullets Against Pancreatic Cancer? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134767. [PMID: 32635552 PMCID: PMC7369903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive cancer type associated with one of the poorest prognostics. Despite several clinical trials to combine different types of therapies, none of them resulted in significant improvements for patient survival. Pancreatic cancers demonstrate a very broad panel of resistance mechanisms due to their biological properties but also their ability to remodel the tumour microenvironment. Radiotherapy is one of the most widely used treatments against cancer but, up to now, its impact remains limited in the context of pancreatic cancer. The modern era of radiotherapy proposes new approaches with increasing conformation but also more efficient effects on tumours in the case of charged particles. In this review, we highlight the interest in using charged particles in the context of pancreatic cancer therapy and the impact of this alternative to counteract resistance mechanisms.
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31
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Kang S, Gil YG, Min DH, Jang H. Nonrecurring Circuit Nanozymatic Enhancement of Hypoxic Pancreatic Cancer Phototherapy Using Speckled Ru-Te Hollow Nanorods. ACS NANO 2020; 14:4383-4394. [PMID: 32196307 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b09974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Nanozymatic reactions that produce or consume oxygen (O2) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) consist of oxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase-type activity. Although extensive studies were conducted to overcome hypoxia through nanozymatic reactions, the construction of an ideal system is challenging, given that the reactants and products are arranged in a recurring structure for continuous consumption in a full cycle. In this study, speckled Ru-Te hollow nanorods were prepared through solvothermal galvanic replacement against Te nanorod templates with high yield and robustness. From their multicompositional characteristics, nonrecurring peroxidase-SOD-catalase-type nanozymatic properties were identified with photothermal and photodynamic feasibility over a wide range of laser irradiation wavelengths. Owing to the excellent colloidal stability and biocompatibility, the proposed Ru-Te-based nanozymatic platform was highly effective in hypoxic pancreatic cancer phototherapy in vitro and in vivo by near-infrared laser irradiation mediated photothermal and photodynamic combination treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seounghun Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong-Gyu Gil
- Department of Chemistry, Kwangwoon University, 20 Gwangwoon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Dal-Hee Min
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Biotherapeutics Convergence Technology, Lemonex Inc., Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongje Jang
- Department of Chemistry, Kwangwoon University, 20 Gwangwoon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
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32
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A Variant of SLC1A5 Is a Mitochondrial Glutamine Transporter for Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer Cells. Cell Metab 2020; 31:267-283.e12. [PMID: 31866442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Glutamine is an essential nutrient that regulates energy production, redox homeostasis, and signaling in cancer cells. Despite the importance of glutamine in mitochondrial metabolism, the mitochondrial glutamine transporter has long been unknown. Here, we show that the SLC1A5 variant plays a critical role in cancer metabolic reprogramming by transporting glutamine into mitochondria. The SLC1A5 variant has an N-terminal targeting signal for mitochondrial localization. Hypoxia-induced gene expression of the SLC1A5 variant is mediated by HIF-2α. Overexpression of the SLC1A5 variant mediates glutamine-induced ATP production and glutathione synthesis and confers gemcitabine resistance to pancreatic cancer cells. SLC1A5 variant knockdown and overexpression alter cancer cell and tumor growth, supporting an oncogenic role. This work demonstrates that the SLC1A5 variant is a mitochondrial glutamine transporter for cancer metabolic reprogramming.
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33
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Cheng CS, Liu W, Zhou L, Tang W, Zhong A, Meng Z, Chen L, Chen Z. Prognostic Predicting Role of Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:1356264. [PMID: 31886169 PMCID: PMC6899328 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1356264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) imaging is commonly used to assess pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC). However, the value of semiquantitative and quantitative assessments of CECT parameters used to predict survival in PAC remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the prognostic role of pretreatment CECT imaging in patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS From June 2013 to May 2017, eighty-six newly diagnosed patients with pathologically and radiologically confirmed LAPAC were retrospectively recruited. All patients were evaluated by CECT and experienced gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. The relationship between overall survival (OS) and clinical factors including age, sex, serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 value, and CECT findings (including tumour location, tumour volume, peripancreatic involvement, blood vessel involvement, tumour enhanced rate, and distance liver metastasis) was determined using Cox proportional hazard regression models, and a nomogram was constructed for the prediction of 1- and 1.5-year survival rates of patients with LAPAC. RESULTS On univariate analysis, patients who had a tumour enhanced rate (TER) less than 80.465% and those who had a TER ≥ 80.465% are with a 3.587-fold increase in OS (p < 0.001). After multivariate Cox regression, a nomogram was established based on a new model containing the predictive variables of high Ca19-9 level, higher clinical stages, larger tumour volume, the presence of peripancreatic involvement, and liver metastases. The model displayed good accuracy in predicting OS with a C-index of 0.614. The calibration plots also showed a good discrimination and calibration of the nomogram between the predicted and observed survival probabilities. CONCLUSION Our results showed that TER can be used to predict survival in LAPAC, and we developed a nomogram for determining the prognosis of patients with LAPAC. However, the purposed nomogram still requires external data verification in future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-shan Cheng
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Liangping Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ailing Zhong
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhiqiang Meng
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lianyu Chen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Aier I, Varadwaj PK. Understanding the Mechanism of Cell Death in Gemcitabine Resistant Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Systems Biology Approach. Curr Genomics 2019; 20:483-490. [PMID: 32655287 PMCID: PMC7327974 DOI: 10.2174/1389202920666191025102726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapeutic drug administered in advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, due to drug resistance in PDAC patients, this treatment has become less effective. Over the years, clinical trials for the quest of finding novel compounds that can be used in combination with gemcitabine have met very little success. OBJECTIVE To predict the driving factors behind pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and to understand the effect of these components in the progression of the disease and their contribution to cell growth and proliferation. METHODS With the help of systems biology approaches and using gene expression data, which is generally found in abundance, dysregulated elements in key signalling pathways were predicted. Prominent dysregulated elements were integrated into a model to simulate and study the effect of gemcitabine-induced hypoxia. RESULTS In this study, several transcription factors in the form of key drivers of cancer-related genes were predicted with the help of CARNIVAL, and the effect of gemcitabine-induced hypoxia on the apoptosis pathway was shown to have an effect on the downstream elements of two primary pathway models; EGF/VEGF and TNF signalling pathway. CONCLUSION It was observed that EGF/VEGF signalling pathway played a major role in inducing drug resistance through cell growth, proliferation, and avoiding cell death. Targeting the major upstream components of this pathway could potentially lead to successful treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imlimaong Aier
- Department of Bioinformatics and Applied Science, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, 20015, India
| | - Pritish K. Varadwaj
- Department of Bioinformatics and Applied Science, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, 20015, India
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Seo AN, Jung Y, Jang H, Lee E, Bae HI, Son T, Kwon O, Chung HY, Yu W, Lee YM. Clinical significance and prognostic role of hypoxia-induced microRNA 382 in gastric adenocarcinoma. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223608. [PMID: 31596872 PMCID: PMC6785122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia and angiogenesis are critical components in the progression of solid cancer, including gastric cancers (GCs). miR-382 has been identified as a hypoxia-induced miR (hypoxamiR), but the clinical significance in GCs has not been identified yet. To explore the clinical and prognostic importance of miR-382 in GCs, the surgical specimens of 398 patients with GCs in KNU hospital in Korea, the total of 183 patients was randomly selected using simple sampling methods and big data with 446 GCs and 45 normal tissues from the data portal (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/) were analysed. Expression of miR-382 as well as miR-210, as a positive control hypoxamiR by qRT-PCR in histologically malignant region of GCs showed significantly positive correlation (R = 0.516, p<0.001). High miR-210 and miR-382 expression was significantly correlated with unfavorable prognosis including advanced GCs (AGC), higher T category, N category, pathologic TNM stage, lymphovascular invasion, venous invasion, and perinueral invasion, respectively (all p<0.05). In univariate analysis, high miR-210 expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (p = 0.036) but not high miR-382. In paired 60 gastric normal and cancer tissues, miR-382 expression in cancer tissues was significantly higher than normal counterpart (p = 0.003), but not miR-210 expression. However, by increasing the patient number from the big data analysis, miR-210 as well as miR-382 expression in tumor tissues was significantly higher than the normal tissues. Our results suggest that miR-382, as novel hypoxamiR, can be a prognostic marker for advanced GCs and might be correlated with metastatic potential. miR-382 might play important roles in the aggressiveness, progression and prognosis of GCs. In addition, miR-382 give a predictive marker for progression of GCs compared to the normal or preneoplastic lesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Na Seo
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Yukdong Jung
- BK21 Plus KNU Multi-Omics Based Creative Drug Research Team, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Hyeonha Jang
- BK21 Plus KNU Multi-Omics Based Creative Drug Research Team, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Eunhye Lee
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Han-Ik Bae
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Taekwon Son
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ohkyung Kwon
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Ho Young Chung
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Wansik Yu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, South Korea
| | - You Mie Lee
- BK21 Plus KNU Multi-Omics Based Creative Drug Research Team, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
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Paškevičiūtė M, Petrikaitė V. Overcoming transporter-mediated multidrug resistance in cancer: failures and achievements of the last decades. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2019; 9:379-393. [PMID: 30194528 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-018-0584-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a complex phenomenon caused by numerous reasons in cancer chemotherapy. It is related to the abnormal tumor metabolism, precisely increased glycolysis and lactic acid production, extracellular acidification, and drug efflux caused by transport proteins. There are few strategies to increase drug delivery into cancer cells. One of them is the inhibition of carbonic anhydrases or certain proton transporters that increase extracellular acidity by proton extrusion from the cells. This prevents weakly basic chemotherapeutic drugs from ionization and increases their penetration through the cancer cell membrane. Another approach is the inhibition of MDR proteins that pump the anticancer agents into the extracellular milieu and decrease their intracellular concentration. Physical methods, such as ultrasound-mediated sonoporation, are being developed, as well. To increase the efficacy of sonoporation, various microbubbles are used. Ultrasound causes microbubble cavitation, i.e., periodical pulsation of the microbubble, and destruction which results in formation of temporary pores in the cellular membrane and increased permeabilization to drug molecules. This review summarizes the main approaches to reverse MDR related to the drug penetration along with its applications in preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miglė Paškevičiūtė
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukilėlių Ave. 13, LT-50162, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Vilma Petrikaitė
- Department of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukilėlių Ave. 13, LT-50162, Kaunas, Lithuania. .,Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 7, LT-10257, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Abdalla MY, Ahmad IM, Rachagani S, Banerjee K, Thompson CM, Maurer HC, Olive KP, Bailey KL, Britigan BE, Kumar S. Enhancing responsiveness of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine treatment under hypoxia by heme oxygenase-1 inhibition. Transl Res 2019; 207:56-69. [PMID: 30653942 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies and has one of the worst prognoses leading to a meager 5-year survival rate of ∼8%. Chemotherapy has had limited success in extending the life span of patients with advanced PDAC due to poor tumor perfusion and hypoxia-induced resistance. Hypoxia reprograms the gene expression profile and upregulates the expression of multiple genes including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which provide survival advantage to PDAC cells. However, the relationships between HO-1, hypoxia, and response to chemotherapy is unclear. Our results showed that hypoxia upregulates the expression of HO-1 in PDAC cells, and HO-1 inhibition using the HO-1 inhibitors zinc protoporphyrin, tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), and HO-1 knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 suppresses the proliferation of PDAC cells under hypoxia and sensitize them to gemcitabine under in vitro conditions. Treating orthotopic tumors with SnPP, or SnPP in combination with gemcitabine, significantly reduced the weight of pancreatic tumors (P < 0.05), decreased metastasis and improved the efficacy of gemcitabine treatment (P < 0.05). Mechanistically, inhibition of HO-1 increased the production of reactive oxygen species as demonstrated by increased dihydroethidium, and Mitosox, disrupted glutathione cycle, and enhanced apoptosis. There was significant increase in cleaved caspase-3 staining in tumors after combined treatment with SnPP and gemcitabine comparing to control or gemcitabine alone. In addition, inhibiting HO-1 reduced expression of stemness markers (CD133, and CD44) as compared to control or gemcitabine. Overall, our study may present a novel therapeutic regimen that might be adopted for the treatment of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maher Y Abdalla
- Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
| | - Iman M Ahmad
- Department of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Satyanarayana Rachagani
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Kasturi Banerjee
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Christopher M Thompson
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - H Carlo Maurer
- Departments of Medicine and Pathology & Cell Biology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kenneth P Olive
- Departments of Medicine and Pathology & Cell Biology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Katie L Bailey
- Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Bradley E Britigan
- Research Service, VA Medical Center, Nebraska/Western Iowa, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Internal Medicine; University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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GATA1 Promotes Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer through Antiapoptotic Pathway. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:9474273. [PMID: 31093285 PMCID: PMC6481023 DOI: 10.1155/2019/9474273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, chemoresistance is a major obstacle to drug efficacy, leading to poor prognosis. Little progress has been achieved although multiple mechanisms are investigated. Therefore, effective strategies are urgently needed to overcome drug resistance. Here, we demonstrate that the transcription factor GATA binding protein 1 (GATA1) promotes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer through antiapoptotic pathway. GATA1 is highly expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues, and GATA1 status is an independent predictor of prognosis and response to gemcitabine therapy. Further investigation demonstrates GATA1 is involved in both intrinsic and acquired gemcitabine resistance in PDAC cells. Mechanistically, we find that GATA1 upregulates Bcl-XL expression by binding to its promoter and thus induces gemcitabine resistance through enhancing Bcl-XL mediated antiapoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, in PDAC patients, Bcl-XL expression is positively correlated with GATA1 level and predicts clinical outcomes and gemcitabine response. Taken together, our results indicate that GATA1 is a novel marker and potential target for pancreatic cancer. Targeting GATA1 combined with Bcl-XL may be a promising strategy to enhance gemcitabine response.
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Daniel SK, Sullivan KM, Labadie KP, Pillarisetty VG. Hypoxia as a barrier to immunotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2019; 8:10. [PMID: 30931508 PMCID: PMC6441665 DOI: 10.1186/s40169-019-0226-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal disease with limited response to cytotoxic chemoradiotherapy, as well as newer immunotherapies. The PDA tumor microenvironment contains infiltrating immune cells including cytotoxic T cells; however, there is an overall immunosuppressive milieu. Hypoxia is a known element of the solid tumor microenvironment and may promote tumor survival. Through various mechanisms including, but not limited to, those mediated by HIF-1α, hypoxia also leads to increased tumor proliferation and metabolic changes. Furthermore, epithelial to mesenchymal transition is promoted through several pathways, including NOTCH and c-MET, regulated by hypoxia. Hypoxia-promoted changes also contribute to the immunosuppressive phenotype seen in many different cell types within the microenvironment and thereby may inhibit an effective immune system response to PDA. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and myofibroblasts appear to contribute to the recruitment of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and B cells in PDA via cytokines increased due to hypoxia. PSCs also increase collagen secretion in response to HIF-1α, which promotes a fibrotic stroma that alters T cell homing and migration. In hypoxic environments, B cells contribute to cytotoxic T cell exhaustion and produce chemokines to attract more immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. MDSCs inhibit T cell metabolism by hoarding key amino acids, modulate T cell homing by cleaving L-selectin, and prevent T cell activation by increasing PD-L1 expression. Immunosuppressive M2 phenotype macrophages promote T cell anergy via increased nitric oxide (NO) and decreased arginine in hypoxia. Increased numbers of regulatory T cells are seen in hypoxia which prevent effector T cell activation through cytokine production and increased CTLA-4. Effective immunotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and other solid tumors will need to help counteract the immunosuppressive nature of hypoxia-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment. Promising studies will look at combination therapies involving checkpoint inhibitors, chemokine inhibitors, and possible targeting of hypoxia. While no model is perfect, assuring that models incorporate the effects of hypoxia on cancer cells, stromal cells, and effector immune cells will be crucial in developing successful therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Daniel
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - K M Sullivan
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - K P Labadie
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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Ahmmed B, Kampo S, Khan M, Faqeer A, Kumar SP, Yulin L, Liu JW, Yan Q. Rg3 inhibits gemcitabine-induced lung cancer cell invasiveness through ROS-dependent, NF-κB- and HIF-1α-mediated downregulation of PTX3. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:10680-10697. [PMID: 30628067 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PTX3, a member of the long pentraxin subfamily, associated with innate immunity is indispensable for resistance to some cancer. Gemcitabine, an analog of cytosine arabinoside, has shown restrained benefits because of profound chemoresistance. The PTX3 expression on GEM in human lung cancer cells have not yet been clarified; the present study aimed to show reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediatory PTX3 expression through distinct mechanisms. Whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is a herbal medicine with strong antitumor activity. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis; Rg3 abrogates GEM-induced production of ROS-mediated activation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways and inhibits nuclear piling-up of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and HIF-1α. On the basis of time and dose-dependent manner, our data demonstrated that GEM-induced PTX3 expression was dependent on ROS generation as it was abrogated by pretreatment of lung cancer cells with the free radical scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Our data demonstrated that PTX3 upregulation by GEM correlated with the time-dependent escalation of NF-κB and HIF-1α in the nucleus resulted from phosphorylation-induced degradation of IκBα, whereas HIF-1α upregulation was NF-κB-dependent. Increase in ROS expression in lung cancer cells on GEM treatment preceded the nuclear accumulation of NF-κB and HIF-1α and suppression of ROS diminished these effects. ERK1/2 and Akt activation mediated the effect of ROS on NF-κB and HIF-1α and their pharmacological inhibition suppressed GEM-induced PTX3. Our study findings reinforced the role regarding PTX3 signaling in GEM-induced resistance and pointed toward an unintended and undesired effect of chemotherapy and to get an active regimen; the synergy was associated with NF-κB downregulation in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulbul Ahmmed
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Sylvanus Kampo
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Muhammad Khan
- Department of Zoology, University of Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abdullah Faqeer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | | | - Li Yulin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ji Wei Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qiu Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Glycobiology and Glycoengineering, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Zhang Z, Han H, Rong Y, Zhu K, Zhu Z, Tang Z, Xiong C, Tao J. Hypoxia potentiates gemcitabine-induced stemness in pancreatic cancer cells through AKT/Notch1 signaling. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:291. [PMID: 30486896 PMCID: PMC6263055 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0972-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background Profound chemoresistance remains an intractable obstacle in pancreatic cancer treatment. Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the ubiquitous hypoxic niche have been proposed to account for drug resistance. However, the mechanism involved requires further exploration. This study investigated whether the hypoxic niche enhances gemcitabine-induced stemness and acquired resistance in pancreatic cancer cells by activating the AKT/Notch1 signaling cascade. The therapeutic effects of blockading this signaling cascade on gemcitabine-enriched CSCs were also investigated. Methods The expression levels of CSC-associated markers Bmi1 and Sox2 as well as those of proteins involved in AKT/Notch1 signaling were measured by Western blot analysis. The expression level of the pancreatic CSC marker CD24 was measured by flow cytometry. Change in gemcitabine sensitivity was evaluated by the MTT assay. The ability of sphere formation was tested by the sphere-forming assay in stem cell medium. The ability of migration and invasion was detected by the transwell migration/invasion assay. A mouse xenograft model of pancreatic cancer was established to determine the effect of Notch1 inhibition on the killing effect of gemcitabine in vivo. The ability of metastasis was investigated by an in vivo lung metastasis assay. Results Gemcitabine promoted pancreatic cancer cell stemness and associated malignant phenotypes such as enhanced migration, invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance. The AKT/Notch1 signaling cascade was activated after gemcitabine treatment and mediated this process. Blockading this pathway enhanced the killing effect of gemcitabine in vivo. However, supplementation with hypoxia treatment synergistically enhanced the AKT/Notch1 signaling pathway and collaboratively promoted gemcitabine-induced stemness. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of acquired gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells through induction of stemness, which was mediated by the activation of AKT/Notch1 signaling and synergistically aggravated by the ubiquitous hypoxic niche. Our results might provide new insights for identifying potential targets for reversing chemoresistance in patients with pancreatic cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-0972-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengle Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Han Han
- Department of Dermatology, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430014, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yuping Rong
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Kongfan Zhu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhongchao Zhu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhigang Tang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Chenglong Xiong
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jing Tao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei Province, China.
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Yeldag G, Rice A, Del Río Hernández A. Chemoresistance and the Self-Maintaining Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E471. [PMID: 30487436 PMCID: PMC6315745 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10120471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The progression of cancer is associated with alterations in the tumor microenvironment, including changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, matrix rigidity, hypervascularization, hypoxia, and paracrine factors. One key malignant phenotype of cancer cells is their ability to resist chemotherapeutics, and elements of the ECM can promote chemoresistance in cancer cells through a variety of signaling pathways, inducing changes in gene expression and protein activity that allow resistance. Furthermore, the ECM is maintained as an environment that facilitates chemoresistance, since its constitution modulates the phenotype of cancer-associated cells, which themselves affect the microenvironment. In this review, we discuss how the properties of the tumor microenvironment promote chemoresistance in cancer cells, and the interplay between these external stimuli. We focus on both the response of cancer cells to the external environment, as well as the maintenance of the external environment, and how a chemoresistant phenotype emerges from the complex signaling network present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulcen Yeldag
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Alistair Rice
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Armando Del Río Hernández
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Dubois F, Jean-Jacques B, Roberge H, Bénard M, Galas L, Schapman D, Elie N, Goux D, Keller M, Maille E, Bergot E, Zalcman G, Levallet G. A role for RASSF1A in tunneling nanotube formation between cells through GEFH1/Rab11 pathway control. Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:66. [PMID: 30305100 PMCID: PMC6180646 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0276-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND By allowing intercellular communication between cells, tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) could play critical role in cancer progression. If TNT formation is known to require cytoskeleton remodeling, key mechanism controlling their formation remains poorly understood. METHODS The cells of human bronchial (HBEC-3, A549) or mesothelial (H2452, H28) lines are transfected with different siRNAs (inactive, anti-RASSF1A, anti-GEFH1 and / or anti-Rab11). At 48 h post-transfection, i) the number and length of the nanotubes per cell are quantified, ii) the organelles, previously labeled with specific tracers, exchanged via these structures are monitored in real time between cells cultured in 2D or 3D and in normoxia, hypoxia or in serum deprivation condition. RESULTS We report that RASSF1A, a key-regulator of cytoskeleton encoded by a tumor-suppressor gene on 3p chromosome, is involved in TNTs formation in bronchial and pleural cells since controlling proper activity of RhoB guanine nucleotide exchange factor, GEF-H1. Indeed, the GEF-H1 inactivation induced by RASSF1A silencing, leads to Rab11 accumulation and subsequent exosome releasing, which in turn contribute to TNTs formation. Finally, we provide evidence involving TNT formation in bronchial carcinogenesis, by reporting that hypoxia or nutriment privation, two almost universal conditions in human cancers, fail to prevent TNTs induced by the oncogenic RASSF1A loss of expression. CONCLUSIONS This finding suggests for the first time that loss of RASSF1A expression could be a potential biomarker for TNTs formation, such TNTs facilitating intercellular communication favoring multistep progression of bronchial epithelial cells toward overt malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatéméh Dubois
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France.,Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologique, CHU de Caen, F-14033, Caen, France
| | - Bastien Jean-Jacques
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France.,Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologique, CHU de Caen, F-14033, Caen, France
| | - Hélène Roberge
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France
| | - Magalie Bénard
- Normandie Université, Rouen, SFR IRIB, Plateau PRIMACEN, F-76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Ludovic Galas
- Normandie Université, Rouen, SFR IRIB, Plateau PRIMACEN, F-76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Damien Schapman
- Normandie Université, Rouen, SFR IRIB, Plateau PRIMACEN, F-76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Nicolas Elie
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, SFR ICORE, Plateau CMABio3, F-14032, Caen, France
| | - Didier Goux
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, SFR ICORE, Plateau CMABio3, F-14032, Caen, France
| | - Maureen Keller
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France.,Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UPRES-EA-2608, F-14032, Caen, France
| | - Elodie Maille
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France.,Normandie Université, UNICAEN, UMR 1086 INSERM, F-14032, Caen, France
| | - Emmanuel Bergot
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France.,Service de Pneumologie, CHU de Caen, F-14033, Caen, France
| | - Gérard Zalcman
- U830 INSERM, "Génétique et Biologie des cancers" Centre de Recherche, Institut Curie, Paris, France.,Service d'oncologie thoracique, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, AP-HP, Université Paris-Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Guénaëlle Levallet
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, GIP CYCERON, F-14000, Caen, France. .,Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologique, CHU de Caen, F-14033, Caen, France. .,Service D'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologique, Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CEA, CNRS, ISTCT/CERVOxy group, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la côte de Nacre, 14032, Caen, France.
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44
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Luo G, Xia X, Wang X, Zhang K, Cao J, Jiang T, Zhao Q, Qiu Z. miR-301a plays a pivotal role in hypoxia-induced gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer. Exp Cell Res 2018; 369:120-128. [PMID: 29772221 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2018.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a hallmark of pancreatic cancer (PC) and is associated with gemcitabine resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced gemcitabine resistance in PC remain greatly unknown. Our previous work showed that miR-301a, a hypoxia-sensitive miRNA, is involved in PC metastasis under hypoxia via regulation of its target gene P63. Here, we showed that miR-301a was upregulated in a NF-κB independent manner and promoted gemcitabine resistance under hypoxic conditions in vitro. In addition, TAp63, a member of the P63 family, reversed hypoxia-induced gemcitabine resistance by promoting degradation of HIF-1α. Furthermore, we proved that TAp63 was a functional downstream target of miR-301a and mediated the biological properties of miR-301a in PC. Taken together, these findings indicate that miR-301a exerts as a critical regulator involved in hypoxia-induced gemcitabine resistance in PC and may have potentials to be a therapeutic target for PC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangtao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Xiang Xia
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Kundong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Jun Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis and National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 280 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Zhengjun Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China.
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45
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Crassini K, Shen Y, O'Dwyer M, O'Neill M, Christopherson R, Mulligan S, Best OG. The dual inhibitor of the phosphoinositol-3 and PIM kinases, IBL-202, is effective against chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells under conditions that mimic the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Br J Haematol 2018; 182:654-669. [PMID: 29978459 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.15447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant advances in treatment, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) remains an incurable disease. Ibrutinib and idelalisib, which inhibit Bruton Tyrosine kinase (BTK) and phosphoinositol-3 (PI3) kinase-δ respectively, have become important treatment options for the disease and demonstrate the potential of targeting components of the B-cell receptor-signalling pathway. IBL-202 is a dual inhibitor of the PIM and PI3 kinases. Synergy between the pan-PIM inhibitor, pPIMi, and idelalisib against a range of haematological cell lines and primary CLL cells supports the rationale for preclinical studies of IBL-202 in CLL. Importantly, IBL-202, but not idelalisib, was cytotoxic against CLL cells under in vitro conditions that mimic the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. The significant effects of IBL-202 on CD49d and CXCR4 expression and migration, cycle and proliferation of CLL cells suggest the drug may also interfere with the migratory and proliferative capacity of the leukaemic cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that dual inhibition of the PIM and PI3 kinases by IBL-202 may be an effective strategy for targeting CLL cells, particularly within the environmental niches known to confer drug-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Crassini
- Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yandong Shen
- Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia.,School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Stephen Mulligan
- Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia.,School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - O Giles Best
- Northern Blood Research Centre, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney, Australia.,School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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46
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AZD1775 Increases Sensitivity to Olaparib and Gemcitabine in Cancer Cells with p53 Mutations. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10050149. [PMID: 29783721 PMCID: PMC5977122 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10050149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor suppressor p53 is responsible for enforcing cell cycle checkpoints at G1/S and G2/M in response to DNA damage, thereby allowing both normal and tumor cells to repair DNA before entering S and M. However, tumor cells with absent or mutated p53 are able to activate alternative signaling pathways that maintain the G2/M checkpoint, which becomes uniquely critical for the survival of such tumor cells. We hypothesized that abrogation of the G2 checkpoint might preferentially sensitize p53-defective tumor cells to DNA-damaging agents and spare normal cells with intact p53 function. The tyrosine kinase WEE1 regulates cdc2 activity at the G2/M checkpoint and prevents entry into mitosis in response to DNA damage or stalled DNA replication. AZD1775 is a WEE1 inhibitor that overrides and opens the G2/M checkpoint by preventing WEE1-mediated phosphorylation of cdc2 at tyrosine 15. In this study, we assessed the effect of AZD1775 on endometrial and ovarian cancer cells in the presence of two DNA damaging agents, the PARP1 inhibitor, olaparib, and the chemotherapeutic agent, gemcitabine. We show that AZD1775 alone is effective as a therapeutic agent against some p53 mutated cell models. Moreover, the combination of AZD1775 with olaparib or gemcitabine is synergistic in cells with mutant p53 and constitutes a new approach that should be considered in the treatment of advanced and recurrent gynecologic cancer.
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47
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Belcher DA, Ju JA, Baek JH, Yalamanoglu A, Buehler PW, Gilkes DM, Palmer AF. The quaternary state of polymerized human hemoglobin regulates oxygenation of breast cancer solid tumors: A theoretical and experimental study. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191275. [PMID: 29414985 PMCID: PMC5802857 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A major constraint in the treatment of cancer is inadequate oxygenation of the tumor mass, which can reduce chemotherapeutic efficacy. We hypothesize that polymerized human hemoglobin (PolyhHb) can be transfused into the systemic circulation to increase solid tumor oxygenation, and improve chemotherapeutic outcomes. By locking PolyhHb in the relaxed (R) quaternary state, oxygen (O2) offloading at low O2 tensions (<20 mm Hg) may be increased, while O2 offloading at high O2 tensions (>20 mm Hg) is facilitated with tense (T) state PolyhHb. Therefore, R-state PolyhHb may deliver significantly more O2 to hypoxic tissues. Biophysical parameters of T and R-state PolyhHb were used to populate a modified Krogh tissue cylinder model to assess O2 transport in a tumor. In general, we found that increasing the volume of transfused PolyhHb decreased the apparent viscosity of blood in the arteriole. In addition, we found that PolyhHb transfusion decreased the wall shear stress at large arteriole diameters (>20 μm), but increased wall shear stress for small arteriole diameters (<10 μm). Therefore, transfusion of PolyhHb may lead to elevated O2 delivery at low pO2. In addition, transfusion of R-state PolyhHb may be more effective than T-state PolyhHb for O2 delivery at similar transfusion volumes. Reduction in the apparent viscosity resulting from PolyhHb transfusion may result in significant changes in flow distributions throughout the tumor microcirculatory network. The difference in wall shear stress implies that PolyhHb may have a more significant effect in capillary beds through mechano-transduction. Periodic top-load transfusions of PolyhHb into mice bearing breast tumors confirmed the oxygenation potential of both PolyhHbs via reduced hypoxic volume, vascular density, tumor growth, and increased expression of hypoxia inducible genes. Tissue section analysis demonstrated primary PolyhHb clearance occurred in the liver and spleen indicating a minimal risk for renal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A. Belcher
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Julia A. Ju
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Jin Hyen Baek
- Division of Blood Components and Devices, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Vascular Biology, FDA/CBER, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Ayla Yalamanoglu
- Division of Blood Components and Devices, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Vascular Biology, FDA/CBER, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Paul W. Buehler
- Division of Blood Components and Devices, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Vascular Biology, FDA/CBER, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Daniele M. Gilkes
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Andre F. Palmer
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
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48
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Xu G, Liu X, Wang C, Li H, Zhang C, Chen J, Sun J. The Mechanisms of Shcisandrol A in Immune Function Modulation in Immunosuppressed Mice. Nat Prod Commun 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x1801300216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The population of people with immunodeficiency is increasing due to the accelerating pace of life, increase in work pressure, and lack of exercise, irregularity of diet and rest, and problems of environmental pollution. Chinese herbal medicines have been shown to improve immunity, with little to no side effects. In recent years, studies have shown that Shcisandrol A (Sch A) regulates immune functioning and inhibits inflammation of the nervous system. The current study used gene expression profiling of spleen tissue to screen differentially expressed genes related to Sch A treatment on cyclophosphamide (Cy)-induced immunosuppressed mice. The differentially expressed gene-related pathways were analyzed by gene ontology function cluster analysis and qPCR. Five genes related to immune functioning were found to be regulated by Sch A treatment: Mapk3, Pik3r1, Pik3r5, Ikbkg, and Cd247. qPCR analysis showed that all five genes were significantly down-regulated in mice treated with Sch A compared to untreated immunosuppressed mice. These results suggest potential mechanisms through which Sch A regulates immune functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Xu Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - He Li
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Chengyi Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Jianguang Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
| | - Jinghui Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Beihua University, Jilin 132013, Jilin, China
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49
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Targeting hypoxic microenvironment of pancreatic xenografts with the hypoxia-activated prodrug TH-302. Oncotarget 2018; 7:33571-80. [PMID: 27248663 PMCID: PMC5085103 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports have suggested that the hypoxic microenvironment provides a niche that supports tumor stem cells, and that this might explain clinical observations linking hypoxia to metastasis. To test this, we examined the effects of a hypoxia-activated prodrug, TH-302, on the tumor-initiating cell (TIC) frequency of patient-derived pancreatic xenografts (PDX). The frequencies of TIC, measured by limiting dilution assay, varied widely in 11 PDX models, and were correlated with rapid growth but not with the levels of hypoxia. Treatment with either TH-302 or ionizing radiation (IR), to target hypoxic and well-oxygenated regions, respectively, reduced TIC frequency, and the combination of TH-302 and IR was much more effective in all models tested. The combination was also more effective than TH-302 or IR alone controlling tumor growth, particularly treating the more rapidly-growing/hypoxic models. These findings support the clinical utility of hypoxia targeting in combination with radiotherapy to treat pancreatic cancers, but do not provide strong evidence for a hypoxic stem cell niche.
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50
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Kong F, Kong X, Du Y, Chen Y, Deng X, Zhu J, Du J, Li L, Jia Z, Xie D, Li Z, Xie K. STK33 Promotes Growth and Progression of Pancreatic Cancer as a Critical Downstream Mediator of HIF1α. Cancer Res 2017; 77:6851-6862. [PMID: 29038348 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase STK33 has been implicated in cancer cell proliferation. Here, we provide evidence of a critical role for STK33 in the pathogenesis and metastatic progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). STK33 expression in PDAC was regulated by the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF1α. In human PDAC specimens, STK33 was overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis. Enforced STK33 expression promoted PDAC proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth, whereas STK33 depletion exerted opposing effects. Mechanistic investigations showed that HIF1α regulated STK33 via direct binding to a hypoxia response element in its promoter. In showing that dysregulated HIF1α/STK33 signaling promotes PDAC growth and progression, our results suggest STK33 as a candidate therapeutic target to improve PDAC treatment. Cancer Res; 77(24); 6851-62. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanyang Kong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xiangyu Kong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yiqi Du
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Deng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jianwei Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jiawei Du
- Department of Oncology and Tumor Institute, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Tongji University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhiliang Jia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Dacheng Xie
- Department of Oncology and Tumor Institute, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Tongji University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhaoshen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China.
| | - Keping Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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