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Suryavanshi P, Bodas D. Knockout cancer by nano-delivered immunotherapy using perfusion-aided scaffold-based tumor-on-a-chip. Nanotheranostics 2024; 8:380-400. [PMID: 38751938 PMCID: PMC11093718 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.87818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multifactorial disease produced by mutations in the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, which result in uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to cell death. Cancer progresses due to the escape of altered cells from immune monitoring, which is facilitated by the tumor's mutual interaction with its microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms involved in immune surveillance evasion and the significance of the tumor microenvironment might thus aid in developing improved therapies. Although in vivo models are commonly utilized, they could be better for time, cost, and ethical concerns. As a result, it is critical to replicate an in vivo model and recreate the cellular and tissue-level functionalities. A 3D cell culture, which gives a 3D architecture similar to that found in vivo, is an appropriate model. Furthermore, numerous cell types can be cocultured, establishing cellular interactions between TME and tumor cells. Moreover, microfluidics perfusion can provide precision flow rates, thus simulating tissue/organ function. Immunotherapy can be used with the perfused 3D cell culture technique to help develop successful therapeutics. Immunotherapy employing nano delivery can target the spot and silence the responsible genes, ensuring treatment effectiveness while minimizing adverse effects. This study focuses on the importance of 3D cell culture in understanding the pathophysiology of 3D tumors and TME, the function of TME in drug resistance, tumor progression, and the development of advanced anticancer therapies for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Suryavanshi
- Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004 India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India
| | - Dhananjay Bodas
- Nanobioscience Group, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004 India
- Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India
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2
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Liang J, Yu D, Luo C, Bennett C, Jedrychowski M, Gygi SP, Widlund HR, Puigserver P. Epigenetic suppression of PGC1α (PPARGC1A) causes collateral sensitivity to HMGCR-inhibitors within BRAF-treatment resistant melanomas. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3251. [PMID: 37277330 PMCID: PMC10241879 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38968-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
While targeted treatment against BRAF(V600E) improve survival for melanoma patients, many will see their cancer recur. Here we provide data indicating that epigenetic suppression of PGC1α defines an aggressive subset of chronic BRAF-inhibitor treated melanomas. A metabolism-centered pharmacological screen further identifies statins (HMGCR inhibitors) as a collateral vulnerability within PGC1α-suppressed BRAF-inhibitor resistant melanomas. Lower PGC1α levels mechanistically causes reduced RAB6B and RAB27A expression, whereby their combined re-expression reverses statin vulnerability. BRAF-inhibitor resistant cells with reduced PGC1α have increased integrin-FAK signaling and improved extracellular matrix detached survival cues that helps explain their increased metastatic ability. Statin treatment blocks cell growth by lowering RAB6B and RAB27A prenylation that reduces their membrane association and affects integrin localization and downstream signaling required for growth. These results suggest that chronic adaptation to BRAF-targeted treatments drive novel collateral metabolic vulnerabilities, and that HMGCR inhibitors may offer a strategy to treat melanomas recurring with suppressed PGC1α expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deyang Yu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chi Luo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Parthenon Therapeutics, Boston, MA, 02135, USA
| | - Christopher Bennett
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Atavistik Bio, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mark Jedrychowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steve P Gygi
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hans R Widlund
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Pere Puigserver
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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3
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Neuendorf HM, Simmons JL, Boyle GM. Therapeutic targeting of anoikis resistance in cutaneous melanoma metastasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1183328. [PMID: 37181747 PMCID: PMC10169659 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1183328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of resistance to anoikis, the cell death induced by loss of adhesion to the extracellular matrix, is an absolute requirement for the survival of disseminating and circulating tumour cells (CTCs), and for the seeding of metastatic lesions. In melanoma, a range of intracellular signalling cascades have been identified as potential drivers of anoikis resistance, however a full understanding of the process is yet to be attained. Mechanisms of anoikis resistance pose an attractive target for the therapeutic treatment of disseminating and circulating melanoma cells. This review explores the range of small molecule, peptide and antibody inhibitors targeting molecules involved in anoikis resistance in melanoma, and may be repurposed to prevent metastatic melanoma prior to its initiation, potentially improving the prognosis for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Neuendorf
- Cancer Drug Mechanisms Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jacinta L. Simmons
- Cancer Drug Mechanisms Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Glen M. Boyle
- Cancer Drug Mechanisms Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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4
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Hypoxia in Skin Cancer: Molecular Basis and Clinical Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054430. [PMID: 36901857 PMCID: PMC10003002 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the Caucasian population. In the United States, it is estimated that at least one in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, leading to significant morbidity and a healthcare burden. Skin cancer mainly arises from cells in the epidermal layer of the skin, where oxygen is scarce. There are three main types of skin cancer: malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Accumulating evidence has revealed a critical role for hypoxia in the development and progression of these dermatologic malignancies. In this review, we discuss the role of hypoxia in treating and reconstructing skin cancers. We will summarize the molecular basis of hypoxia signaling pathways in relation to the major genetic variations of skin cancer.
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5
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Moore PC, Henderson KW, Classon M. The epigenome and the many facets of cancer drug tolerance. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 158:1-39. [PMID: 36990531 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The use of chemotherapeutic agents and the development of new cancer therapies over the past few decades has consequently led to the emergence of myriad therapeutic resistance mechanisms. Once thought to be explicitly driven by genetics, the coupling of reversible sensitivity and absence of pre-existing mutations in some tumors opened the way for discovery of drug-tolerant persisters (DTPs): slow-cycling subpopulations of tumor cells that exhibit reversible sensitivity to therapy. These cells confer multi-drug tolerance, to targeted and chemotherapies alike, until the residual disease can establish a stable, drug-resistant state. The DTP state can exploit a multitude of distinct, yet interlaced, mechanisms to survive otherwise lethal drug exposures. Here, we categorize these multi-faceted defense mechanisms into unique Hallmarks of Cancer Drug Tolerance. At the highest level, these are comprised of heterogeneity, signaling plasticity, differentiation, proliferation/metabolism, stress management, genomic integrity, crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment, immune escape, and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Of these, epigenetics was both one of the first proposed means of non-genetic resistance and one of the first discovered. As we describe in this review, epigenetic regulatory factors are involved in most facets of DTP biology, positioning this hallmark as an overarching mediator of drug tolerance and a potential avenue to novel therapies.
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Oh JM, Gangadaran P, Rajendran RL, Hong CM, Lee J, Ahn BC. Different Expression of Thyroid-Specific Proteins in Thyroid Cancer Cells between 2-Dimensional (2D) and 3-Dimensional (3D) Culture Environment. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223559. [PMID: 36428988 PMCID: PMC9688357 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture as a conventional method has been widely applied in molecular biology fields, but it has limited capability to recapitulate real cell environments, being prone to misinterpretation with poor prediction of in vivo behavior. Recently, the three-dimensional (3D) spheroid culture has been studied extensively. Spheroids are self-assembled cell aggregates that have biomimicry capabilities. The behavior of thyroid cancer under the 3D spheroid culture environment has been studied; however, there are no reports regarding differences in the degree of thyroid cancer cell differentiation under 2D and 3D culture conditions. This study investigated the expression of thyroid differentiation proteins related to iodide-metabolizing mechanisms in thyroid cancer cells under different culture conditions. Four thyroid cancer cell lines and one thyroid follicular epithelial cell line were grown in adherent 2D cell culture and 3D spheroid culture with agarose-coated plates. We observed changes in proliferation, hypoxia, extracellular matrix (ECM), cytoskeleton, thyroid-specific proteins, and thyroid transcription factors. All cell lines were successfully established in the spheroid following cell aggregation. Proliferation considerably decreased, while hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α(HIF1-α) was promoted in 3D spheroids; moreover, 3D spheroids with thyroid cancers showed diminished thyroid differentiation markers, but thyroid follicular epithelial cells revealed either a maintenance or weak decline of protein expression. We verified that the 3D spheroid culture environment can be similar to in vivo conditions because of its alterations in numerous cellular and functional activities, including morphology, cellular proliferation, viability, hypoxia, ECM, cytoskeleton, and thyroid differentiation, compared to the conventional 2D monolayer culture environment. An in vitro experimental study using 3D spheroid culture is ideal for the faster discovery of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Min Oh
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Prakash Gangadaran
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
- BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Ramya Lakshmi Rajendran
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Chae Moon Hong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Jaetae Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Byeong-Cheol Ahn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
- BK21 FOUR KNU Convergence Educational Program of Biomedical Sciences for Creative Future Talents, Department of Biomedical Science, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-420-5583; Fax: +82-53-200-6447
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7
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HO-1 Limits the Efficacy of Vemurafenib/PLX4032 in BRAF V600E Mutated Melanoma Cells Adapted to Physiological Normoxia or Hypoxia. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11061171. [PMID: 35740068 PMCID: PMC9219655 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11061171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Induction of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) favors immune-escape in BRAFV600 melanoma cells treated with Vemurafenib/PLX4032 under standard cell culture conditions. However, the oxygen tension under standard culture conditions (~18 kPa O2) is significantly higher than the physiological oxygen levels encountered in vivo. In addition, cancer cells in vivo are often modified by hypoxia. In this study, MeOV-1 primary melanoma cells bearing the BRAFV600E mutation, were adapted to either 5 kPa O2 (physiological normoxia) or 1 kPa O2 (hypoxia) and then exposed to 10 μM PLX4032. PLX4032 abolished ERK phosphorylation, reduced Bach1 expression and increased HO-1 levels independent of pericellular O2 tension. Moreover, cell viability was significantly reduced further in cells exposed to PLX4032 plus Tin mesoporphyrin IX, a HO-1 inhibitor. Notably, our findings provide the first evidence that HO-1 inhibition in combination with PLX4032 under physiological oxygen tension and hypoxia restores and increases the expression of the NK ligands ULBP3 and B7H6 compared to cells exposed to PLX4032 alone. Interestingly, although silencing NRF2 prevented PLX4032 induction of HO-1, other NRF2 targeted genes were unaffected, highlighting a pivotal role of HO-1 in melanoma resistance and immune escape. The present findings may enhance translation and highlight the potential of the HO-1 inhibitors in the therapy of BRAFV600 melanomas.
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8
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Early Steps of Resistance to Targeted Therapies in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112613. [PMID: 35681591 PMCID: PMC9179469 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Patients with lung cancer benefit from more effective treatments, such as targeted therapies, and the overall survival has increased in the past decade. However, the efficacy of targeted therapies is limited due to the emergence of resistance. Growing evidence suggests that resistances may arise from a small population of drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells. Understanding the mechanisms underlying DTP survival is therefore crucial to develop therapeutic strategies to prevent the development of resistance. Herein, we propose an overview of the current scientific knowledge about the characterisation of DTP, and summarise the new therapeutic strategies that are tested to target these cells. Abstract Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women worldwide. Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are effective therapies for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harbouring EGFR-activating mutations, but are not curative due to the inevitable emergence of resistances. Recent in vitro studies suggest that resistance to EGFR-TKI may arise from a small population of drug-tolerant persister cells (DTP) through non-genetic reprogramming, by entering a reversible slow-to-non-proliferative state, before developing genetically derived resistances. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms governing the dynamics of the drug-tolerant state is therefore a priority to provide sustainable therapeutic solutions for patients. An increasing number of molecular mechanisms underlying DTP survival are being described, such as chromatin and epigenetic remodelling, the reactivation of anti-apoptotic/survival pathways, metabolic reprogramming, and interactions with their micro-environment. Here, we review and discuss the existing proposed mechanisms involved in the DTP state. We describe their biological features, molecular mechanisms of tolerance, and the therapeutic strategies that are tested to target the DTP.
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9
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Olbryt M. Potential Biomarkers of Skin Melanoma Resistance to Targeted Therapy—Present State and Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092315. [PMID: 35565444 PMCID: PMC9102921 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Around 5–10% of advanced melanoma patients progress early on anti-BRAF targeted therapy and 20–30% respond only with the stabilization of the disease. Presumably, these patients could benefit more from first-line immunotherapy. Resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibitors is generated by genetic and non-genetic factors inherent to a tumor or acquired during therapy. Some of them are well documented as a cause of treatment failure. They are potential predictive markers that could improve patients’ selection for both standard and also alternative therapy as some of them have therapeutic potential. Here, a summary of the most promising predictive and therapeutic targets is presented. This up-to-date knowledge may be useful for further study on implementing more accurate genetic/molecular tests in melanoma treatment. Abstract Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer, the number of which is increasing worldwide every year. It is completely curable in its early stage and fatal when spread to distant organs. In addition to new therapeutic strategies, biomarkers are an important element in the successful fight against this cancer. At present, biomarkers are mainly used in diagnostics. Some biological indicators also allow the estimation of the patient’s prognosis. Still, predictive markers are underrepresented in clinics. Currently, the only such indicator is the presence of the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene in cancer cells, which qualifies the patient for therapy with inhibitors of the MAPK pathway. The identification of response markers is particularly important given primary and acquired resistance to targeted therapies. Reliable predictive tests would enable the selection of patients who would have the best chance of benefiting from treatment. Here, up-to-date knowledge about the most promising genetic and non-genetic resistance-related factors is described. These are alterations in MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and RB signaling pathways, e.g., due to mutations in NRAS, RAC1, MAP2K1, MAP2K2, and NF1, but also other changes activating these pathways, such as the overexpression of HGF or EGFR. Most of them are also potential therapeutic targets and this issue is also addressed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Olbryt
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland
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Zamora-Perez P, Xiao C, Sanles-Sobrido M, Rovira-Esteva M, Conesa JJ, Mulens-Arias V, Jaque D, Rivera-Gil P. Multiphoton imaging of melanoma 3D models with plasmonic nanocapsules. Acta Biomater 2022; 142:308-319. [PMID: 35104657 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.01.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis of plasmonic nanocapsules and the cellular responses they induce in 3D melanoma models for their perspective use as a photothermal therapeutic agent. The wall of the nanocapsules is composed of polyelectrolytes. The inner part is functionalized with discrete gold nanoislands. The cavity of the nanocapsules contains a fluorescent payload to show their ability for loading a cargo. The nanocapsules exhibit simultaneous two-photon luminescent, fluorescent properties and X-ray contrasting ability. The average fluorescence lifetime (τ) of the nanocapsules measured with FLIM (0.3 ns) is maintained regardless of the intracellular environment, thus proving their abilities for bioimaging of models such as 3D spheroids with a complex architecture. Their multimodal imaging properties are exploited for the first time to study tumorspheres cellular responses exposed to the nanocapsules. Specifically, we studied cellular uptake, toxicity, intracellular fate, generation of reactive oxygen species, and effect on the levels of hypoxia by using multi-photon and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Because of the high X-ray attenuation and atomic number of the gold nanostructure, we imaged the nanocapsule-cell interactions without processing the sample. We confirmed maintenance of the nanocapsules' geometry in the intracellular milieu with no impairment of the cellular ultrastructure. Furthermore, we observed the lack of cellular toxicity and no alteration in oxygen or reactive oxygen species levels. These results in 3D melanoma models contribute to the development of these nanocapsules for their exploitation in future applications as agents for imaging-guided photothermal therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The novelty of the work is that our plasmonic nanocapsules are multimodal. They are responsive to X-ray and to multiphoton and single-photon excitation. This allowed us to study their interaction with 2D and 3D cellular structures and specifically to obtain information on tumor cell parameters such as hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, and toxicity. These nanocapsules will be further validated as imaging-guided photothermal probes.
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11
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Ray SK, Mukherjee S. Directing hypoxic tumor microenvironment and HIF to illuminate cancer immunotherapy's existing prospects and challenges in drug targets. Curr Drug Targets 2022; 23:471-485. [PMID: 35021970 DOI: 10.2174/1389450123666220111114649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is now also reflected as a disease of the tumor microenvironment, primarily supposed to be a decontrolled genetic and cellular expression disease. Over the past two decades, significant and rapid progress has been made in recognizing the dynamics of the tumor's microenvironment and its contribution to influencing the response to various anti-cancer therapies and drugs. Modulations in the tumor microenvironment and immune checkpoint blockade are interesting in cancer immunotherapy and drug targets. Simultaneously, the immunotherapeutic strategy can be done by modulating the immune regulatory pathway; however, the tumor microenvironment plays an essential role in suppressing the antitumor's immunity by its substantial heterogeneity. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) is a significant contributor to solid tumor heterogeneity and a key stressor in the tumor microenvironment to drive adaptations to prevent immune surveillance. Checkpoint inhibitors here halt the ability of cancer cells to stop the immune system from activating, and in turn, amplify your body's immune system to help destroy cancer cells. Common checkpoints that these inhibitors affect are the PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 pathways and important drugs involved are Ipilimumab and Nivolumab, mainly along with other drugs in this group. Targeting the hypoxic tumor microenvironment may provide a novel immunotherapy strategy, break down traditional cancer therapy resistance, and build the framework for personalized precision medicine and cancer drug targets. We hope that this knowledge can provide insight into the therapeutic potential of targeting Hypoxia and help to develop novel combination approaches of cancer drugs to increase the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies, including immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sukhes Mukherjee
- Department of Biochemistry. All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Bhopal, Madhya pradesh-462020. India
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12
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Liu Q, Wang X, Li J, Wang J, Sun G, Zhang N, Ren T, Zhao L, Zhong R. Development and biological evaluation of AzoBGNU: A novel hypoxia-activated DNA crosslinking prodrug with AGT-inhibitory activity. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112338. [PMID: 34678728 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112338] [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: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroethylnitrosoureas (CENUs) are an important family of chemotherapies in clinical treatment of cancers, which exert antitumor activity by inducing the formation of DNA interstrand crosslinks (dG-dC ICLs). However, the drug resistance mediated by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) and absence of tumor-targeting ability largely decrease the antitumor efficacy of CENUs. In this study, we synthesized an azobenzene-based hypoxia-activated combi-nitrosourea prodrug, AzoBGNU, and evaluated its hypoxic selectivity and antitumor activity. The prodrug was composed of a CENU pharmacophore and an O6-benzylguanine (O6-BG) analog moiety masked by a N,N-dimethyl-4-(phenyldiazenyl)aniline segment as a hypoxia-activated trigger, which was designed to be selectively reduced via azo bond break in hypoxic tumor microenvironment, accompanied with releasing of an O6-BG analog to inhibit AGT and a chloroethylating agent to induce dG-dC ICLs. AzoBGNU exhibited significantly increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis-inducing ability toward DU145 cells under hypoxia compared with normoxia, indicating the hypoxia-responsiveness as expected. Predominant higher cytotoxicity was observed in the cells treated by AzoBGNU than those by traditional CENU chemotherapy ACNU and its combination with O6-BG. The levels of dG-dC ICLs in DU145 cells induced by AzoBGNU was remarkably enhanced under hypoxia, which was approximately 6-fold higher than those in the AzoBGNU-treated groups under normoxia and those in the ACNU-treated groups. The results demonstrated that azobenzene-based combi-nitrosourea prodrug possessed desirable tumor-hypoxia targeting ability and eliminated chemoresistance compared with the conventional CENUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jun Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Guohui Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Ting Ren
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Lijiao Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Rugang Zhong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental & Viral Oncology, Faculty of Environment & Life, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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13
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Abstract
Hypoxia is an important feature of the tumor microenvironment, and is closely associated with cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metabolism and the tumor immune response. All these factors can further promote tumor progression, increase tumor aggressiveness, enhance tumor metastatic potential and lead to poor prognosis. In this review, these effects of hypoxia on tumor biology will be discussed, along with their significance for tumor detection and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (12387Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Clinical Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (12387Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Clinical Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (12387Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.,Clinical Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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14
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Liverani C, De Vita A, Spadazzi C, Miserocchi G, Cocchi C, Bongiovanni A, De Lucia A, La Manna F, Fabbri F, Tebaldi M, Amadori D, Tasciotti E, Martinelli G, Mercatali L, Ibrahim T. Lineage-specific mechanisms and drivers of breast cancer chemoresistance revealed by 3D biomimetic culture. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:921-939. [PMID: 34109737 PMCID: PMC8847989 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
To improve the success rate of current preclinical drug trials, there is a growing need for more complex and relevant models that can help predict clinical resistance to anticancer agents. Here, we present a three‐dimensional (3D) technology, based on biomimetic collagen scaffolds, that enables the modeling of the tumor hypoxic state and the prediction of in vivo chemotherapy responses in terms of efficacy, molecular alterations, and emergence of resistance mechanisms. The human breast cancer cell lines MDA‐MB‐231 (triple negative) and MCF‐7 (luminal A) were treated with scaling doses of doxorubicin in monolayer cultures, 3D collagen scaffolds, or orthotopically transplanted murine models. Lineage‐specific resistance mechanisms were revealed by the 3D tumor model. Reduced drug uptake, increased drug efflux, and drug lysosomal confinement were observed in triple‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells. In luminal A MCF‐7 cells, the selection of a drug‐resistant subline from parental cells with deregulation of p53 pathways occurred. These cells were demonstrated to be insensitive to DNA damage. Transcriptome analysis was carried out to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in treated cells. DEG evaluation in breast cancer patients demonstrated their potential role as predictive biomarkers. High expression of the transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1) and the tumor protein p53‐inducible protein 3 (TP53I3) was associated with shorter relapse in patients affected by ER+ breast tumor. Likewise, the same clinical outcome was associated with high expression of the lysosomal‐associated membrane protein 1 LAMP1 in triple‐negative breast cancer. Hypoxia inhibition by resveratrol treatment was found to partially re‐sensitize cells to doxorubicin treatment. Our model might improve preclinical in vitro analysis for the translation of anticancer compounds as it provides: (a) more accurate data on drug efficacy and (b) enhanced understanding of resistance mechanisms and molecular drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Liverani
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Vita
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Chiara Spadazzi
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giacomo Miserocchi
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Claudia Cocchi
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Alberto Bongiovanni
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Anna De Lucia
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Federico La Manna
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Francesco Fabbri
- Bioscience Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Michela Tebaldi
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Dino Amadori
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Ennio Tasciotti
- Center for Biomimetic Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI), TX, USA.,IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome Sclavo Research Center, Siena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Scientific Directory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Laura Mercatali
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Toni Ibrahim
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
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15
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D'Aguanno S, Mallone F, Marenco M, Del Bufalo D, Moramarco A. Hypoxia-dependent drivers of melanoma progression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:159. [PMID: 33964953 PMCID: PMC8106186 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a condition of low oxygen availability, is a hallmark of tumour microenvironment and promotes cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Many studies reported the essential role of hypoxia in regulating invasiveness, angiogenesis, vasculogenic mimicry and response to therapy in melanoma. Melanoma is an aggressive cancer originating from melanocytes located in the skin (cutaneous melanoma), in the uveal tract of the eye (uveal melanoma) or in mucosal membranes (mucosal melanoma). These three subtypes of melanoma represent distinct neoplasms in terms of biology, epidemiology, aetiology, molecular profile and clinical features.In this review, the latest progress in hypoxia-regulated pathways involved in the development and progression of all melanoma subtypes were discussed. We also summarized current knowledge on preclinical studies with drugs targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1, angiogenesis or vasculogenic mimicry. Finally, we described available evidence on clinical studies investigating the use of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 inhibitors or antiangiogenic drugs, alone or in combination with other strategies, in metastatic and adjuvant settings of cutaneous, uveal and mucosal melanoma.Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-independent pathways have been also reported to regulate melanoma progression, but this issue is beyond the scope of this review.As evident from the numerous studies discussed in this review, the increasing knowledge of hypoxia-regulated pathways in melanoma progression and the promising results obtained from novel antiangiogenic therapies, could offer new perspectives in clinical practice in order to improve survival outcomes of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiana Mallone
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Marenco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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16
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Datta KK, Periasamy P, Mohan SV, Ziegman R, Gowda H. Temporal Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Alterations Associated with Adaptive Response to Hypoxia in Melanoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092175. [PMID: 33946525 PMCID: PMC8124723 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Most solid tumours, including melanoma (skin cancer), are riddled with areas lacking adequate oxygen supply due to insufficient vasculature. Cancer cells in these regions are resistant to therapies and contribute to cancer spread and poor treatment response in patients. Understanding the mechanisms by which cancer cells adapt to survive in such a hostile environment will provide novel avenues for treatment. In this study, we investigated mechanisms that melanoma cells use to adapt and survive in an oxygen-poor environment. We used four different melanoma cell lines and studied how protein levels and phosphorylation patterns on thousands of proteins change when the cells are exposed to poor oxygen conditions. This revealed potential mechanisms on which cancer cells are dependent for survival. These survival mechanisms can be potentially targeted to achieve durable response to therapy. We demonstrate this by targeting one such mechanism required for cancer cell survival. Abstract Hypoxia is a common feature in various solid tumours, including melanoma. Cancer cells in hypoxic environments are resistant to both chemotherapy and radiation. Hypoxia is also associated with immune suppression. Identification of proteins and pathways that regulate cancer cell survival in hypoxic environments can reveal potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited to improve the efficacy of anticancer therapies. We carried out temporal proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling in melanoma cell lines to identify hypoxia-induced protein expression and phosphorylation changes. By employing a TMT-based quantitative proteomics strategy, we report the identification and quantitation of >7000 proteins and >10,000 phosphosites in melanoma cell lines grown in hypoxia. Proteomics data show metabolic reprogramming as one of the prominent adaptive responses in hypoxia. We identify several novel hypoxia-mediated phosphorylation changes that have not been reported before. They reveal kinase signalling pathways that are potentially involved in modulating cellular response to hypoxia. In addition to known protein expression changes, we identify several novel proteomic alterations associated with adaptive response to hypoxia. We show that cancer cells require the ubiquitin–proteasome system to survive in both normoxia and hypoxia. Inhibition of proteasome activity affects cell survival and may provide a novel therapeutic avenue to target cancer cells in hypoxia. Our study can serve as a valuable resource to pursue novel candidates to target hypoxia in cancers and improve the efficacy of anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keshava K. Datta
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.P.); (S.V.M.); (R.Z.)
- Correspondence: (K.K.D.); (H.G.)
| | - Parthiban Periasamy
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.P.); (S.V.M.); (R.Z.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Sonali V. Mohan
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.P.); (S.V.M.); (R.Z.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Rebekah Ziegman
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.P.); (S.V.M.); (R.Z.)
| | - Harsha Gowda
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (P.P.); (S.V.M.); (R.Z.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
- Correspondence: (K.K.D.); (H.G.)
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17
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The Role of Biomimetic Hypoxia on Cancer Cell Behaviour in 3D Models: A Systematic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061334. [PMID: 33809554 PMCID: PMC7999912 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The advancements in 3D tumour models provide in vitro test-beds to study cancer growth, metastasis and response to therapy. We conducted this systematic review on existing experimental studies in order to identify and summarize key biomimetic tumour microenvironmental features which affect aspects of cancer biology. The review noted the significance of in vitro hypoxia and 3D tumour models on epithelial to mesenchymal transition, drug resistance, invasion and migration of cancer cells. We highlight the importance of various experimental parameters used in these studies and their subsequent effects on cancer cell behaviour. Abstract The development of biomimetic, human tissue models is recognized as being an important step for transitioning in vitro research findings to the native in vivo response. Oftentimes, 2D models lack the necessary complexity to truly recapitulate cellular responses. The introduction of physiological features into 3D models informs us of how each component feature alters specific cellular response. We conducted a systematic review of research papers where the focus was the introduction of key biomimetic features into in vitro models of cancer, including 3D culture and hypoxia. We analysed outcomes from these and compiled our findings into distinct groupings to ascertain which biomimetic parameters correlated with specific responses. We found a number of biomimetic features which primed cancer cells to respond in a manner which matched in vivo response.
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18
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Shou Y, Yang L, Yang Y, Zhu X, Li F, Xu J. Determination of hypoxia signature to predict prognosis and the tumor immune microenvironment in melanoma. Mol Omics 2021; 17:307-316. [PMID: 33624645 DOI: 10.1039/d0mo00159g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the highly malignant skin tumors, the incidence and death of which continue to increase. The hypoxic microenvironment drives tumor growth, progression, and heterogeneity; it also triggers a cascade of immunosuppressive responses and affects the levels of T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells. Here, we aim to develop a hypoxia-based gene signature for prognosis evaluation and help evaluate the status of hypoxia and the immune microenvironment in melanoma. Based on the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we performed integrated bioinformatics to analyze the hypoxia-related genes. Using Lasso Cox regression, a hypoxia model was constructed. The receiver operating characteristic and the Kaplan-Meier curve were used to evaluate the predictive capacity of the model. With the CIBERSORT algorithm, the abundance of 22 immune cells in the melanoma microenvironment was analyzed. A total of 20 hypoxia-related genes were significantly related to prognosis in the log-rank test. Lasso regression showed that FBP1, SDC3, FOXO3, IGFBP1, S100A4, EGFR, ISG20, CP, PPARGC1A, KIF5A, and DPYSL4 displayed the best features. Based on these genes, a hypoxia model was established, and the area under the curve for the model was 0.734. Furthermore, the hypoxia score was identified as an independent prognostic factor. Besides, the hypoxia score could also predict the immune microenvironment in melanoma. Down-regulated activated CD4 memory T cells, CD8 T cells, and M1-like macrophages, and up-regulated Tregs were observed in patients with a high hypoxia score. The hypoxia-related genes were identified, and the hypoxia score was found to be a prognostic factor for overall survival and a predictor for the immune microenvironment. Our findings provide new ideas for evaluation and require further validation in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Shou
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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19
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Alexander ET, El Naggar O, Fahey E, Mariner K, Donnelly J, Wolfgang K, Phanstiel O, Gilmour SK. Harnessing the polyamine transport system to treat BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma. Cancer Biol Ther 2021; 22:225-237. [PMID: 33602034 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2021.1883185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BRAF mutations are present in over half of all melanoma tumors. Although BRAF inhibitors significantly improve survival of patients with metastatic melanoma, recurrences occur within several months. We previously reported that BRAF mutant melanoma cells are more sensitive to a novel arylmethyl-polyamine (AP) compound that exploits their increased polyamine uptake compared to that of BRAF wildtype cells. Using an animal model of BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma, we show that co-treatment with the BRAF inhibitor, PLX4720, and AP significantly delays the recurrence of PLX4720-resistant melanoma tumors and decreases tumor-promoting macrophages. Development of BRAF inhibitor-resistance enriches for metastatic cancer stem cells (CSC) and increases tumor-promoting macrophages. In vitro studies demonstrated that CD304+, CXCR4+ spheroid cultures of BRAF mutant melanoma cells are resistant to PLX4720 but are more sensitive to AP compared to monolayer cultures of the same cells. AP significantly inhibited YUMM1.7 melanoma cell invasiveness across a Matrigel-coated filter using the CXCR4 ligand, SDF-1α, as the chemoattractant. AP also blocked the chemotactic effect of SDF-1α on CXCR4+ macrophages and inhibited M2 polarization of macrophages. In melanoma-macrophage co-cultures, AP prevented the PLX4720-induced release of pro-tumorigenic growth factors, such as VEGF, from macrophages and prevented the macrophage rescue of BRAF mutant melanoma cells treated with PLX4720. Our study offers a novel therapy (AP) to treat chemo-resistant melanoma. AP is unique because it targets the polyamine transport system in BRAF inhibitor-resistant CSCs and also blocks CXCR4 signaling in invasive melanoma cells and pro-tumorigenic macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erin Fahey
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA
| | - Kelsey Mariner
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA
| | - Julia Donnelly
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA
| | | | - Otto Phanstiel
- Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Susan K Gilmour
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA.,At Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, USA
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20
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Shou Y, Yang L, Yang Y, Zhu X, Li F, Xu J. Identification of Signatures of Prognosis Prediction for Melanoma Using a Hypoxia Score. Front Genet 2020; 11:570530. [PMID: 33133157 PMCID: PMC7550673 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.570530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers. Hypoxic microenvironment affects multiple cellular pathways and contributes to tumor progression. The purpose of the research was to investigate the association between hypoxia and melanoma, and identify the prognostic value of hypoxia-related genes. Based on the GSVA algorithm, gene expression profile collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used for calculating the hypoxia score. The Kaplan–Meier plot suggested that a high hypoxia score was correlated with the inferior survival of melanoma patients. Using differential gene expression analysis and WGCNA, a total of 337 overlapping genes associated with hypoxia were determined. Protein-protein interaction network and functional enrichment analysis were conducted, and Lasso Cox regression was performed to establish the prognostic gene signature. Lasso regression showed that seven genes displayed the best features. A novel seven-gene signature (including ABCA12, PTK6, FERMT1, GSDMC, KRT2, CSTA, and SPRR2F) was constructed for prognosis prediction. The ROC curve inferred good performance in both the TCGA cohort and validation cohorts. Therefore, our study determined the prognostic implication of the hypoxia score in melanoma and showed a novel seven-gene signature to predict prognosis, which may provide insights into the prognosis evaluation and clinical decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Shou
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongsheng Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinhua Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai, China
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21
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Tangella LP, Clark ME, Gray ES. Resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy in BRAF-mutant melanoma - A mini review. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1865:129736. [PMID: 32956754 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The introduction of targeted therapies for the treatment of BRAF-mutant melanomas have improved survival rates in a significant proportion of patients. Nonetheless, the emergence of resistance to treatment remains inevitable in most patients. SCOPE OF REVIEW Here, we review known and emerging molecular mechanisms that underlay the development of resistance to MAPK inhibition in melanoma cells and the potential strategies to overcome these mechanisms. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Multiple genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to treatment failure, commonly leading to the reactivation of the MAPK pathway. A variety of resistance mechanisms are enabled by the underlying heterogeneity and plasticity of melanoma cells. Moreover, it has become apparent that resistance to targeted therapy is underpinned by early functional adaptations involving the rewiring of cell states and metabolic pathways. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The evidence presented suggest that the use of a combinatorial treatment approach would delay the emergence of resistance and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokeswari P Tangella
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael E Clark
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Elin S Gray
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Western Australia, Australia.
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22
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Wodarz D, Komarova NL. Mutant Evolution in Spatially Structured and Fragmented Expanding Populations. Genetics 2020; 216:191-203. [PMID: 32661138 PMCID: PMC7463292 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutant evolution in spatially structured systems is important for a range of biological systems, but aspects of it still require further elucidation. Adding to previous work, we provide a simple derivation of growth laws that characterize the number of mutants of different relative fitness in expanding populations in spatial models of different dimensionalities. These laws are universal and independent of "microscopic" modeling details. We further study the accumulation of mutants and find that, with advantageous and neutral mutants, more of them are present in spatially structured, compared to well-mixed colonies of the same size. The behavior of disadvantageous mutants is subtle: if they are disadvantageous through a reduction in division rates, the result is the same, and it is the opposite if the disadvantage is due to a death rate increase. Finally, we show that in all cases, the same results are observed in fragmented, nonspatial patch models. This suggests that the patterns observed are the consequence of population fragmentation, and not spatial restrictions per se We provide an intuitive explanation for the complex dependence of disadvantageous mutant evolution on spatial restriction, which relies on desynchronized dynamics in different locations/patches, and plays out differently depending on whether the disadvantage is due to a lower division rate or a higher death rate. Implications for specific biological systems, such as the evolution of drug-resistant cell mutants in cancer or bacterial biofilms, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Wodarz
- Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Program in Public Health, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California Irvine, California 92697
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Irvine, California 92697
| | - Natalia L Komarova
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Irvine, California 92697
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23
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Boumahdi S, de Sauvage FJ. The great escape: tumour cell plasticity in resistance to targeted therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2020; 19:39-56. [PMID: 31601994 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-019-0044-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 383] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The success of targeted therapies in cancer treatment has been impeded by various mechanisms of resistance. Besides the acquisition of resistance-conferring genetic mutations, reversible mechanisms that lead to drug tolerance have emerged. Plasticity in tumour cells drives their transformation towards a phenotypic state that no longer depends on the drug-targeted pathway. These drug-refractory cells constitute a pool of slow-cycling cells that can either regain drug sensitivity upon treatment discontinuation or acquire permanent resistance to therapy and drive relapse. In the past few years, cell plasticity has emerged as a mode of targeted therapy evasion in various cancers, ranging from prostate and lung adenocarcinoma to melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Our understanding of the mechanisms that control this phenotypic switch has also expanded, revealing the crucial role of reprogramming factors and chromatin remodelling. Further deciphering the molecular basis of tumour cell plasticity has the potential to contribute to new therapeutic strategies which, combined with existing anticancer treatments, could lead to deeper and longer-lasting clinical responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soufiane Boumahdi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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24
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Ferguson J, Wilcock DJ, McEntegart S, Badrock AP, Levesque M, Dummer R, Wellbrock C, Smith MP. Osteoblasts contribute to a protective niche that supports melanoma cell proliferation and survival. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2020; 33:74-85. [PMID: 31323160 PMCID: PMC6972519 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer; a primary driver of this high level of morbidity is the propensity of melanoma cells to metastasize. When malignant tumours develop distant metastatic lesions the new local tissue niche is known to impact on the biology of the cancer cells. However, little is known about how different metastatic tissue sites impact on frontline targeted therapies. Intriguingly, melanoma bone lesions have significantly lower response to BRAF or MEK inhibitor therapies. Here, we have investigated how the cellular niche of the bone can support melanoma cells by stimulating growth and survival via paracrine signalling between osteoblasts and cancer cells. Melanoma cells can enhance the differentiation of osteoblasts leading to increased production of secreted ligands, including RANKL. Differentiated osteoblasts in turn can support melanoma cell proliferation and survival via the secretion of RANKL that elevates the levels of the transcription factor MITF, even in the presence of BRAF inhibitor. By blocking RANKL signalling, either via neutralizing antibodies, genetic alterations or the RANKL receptor inhibitor SPD304, the survival advantage provided by osteoblasts could be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Ferguson
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Daniel J. Wilcock
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Sophie McEntegart
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Andrew P. Badrock
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Mitch Levesque
- Department of Dermatology, Universitäts Spital ZürichUniversity of ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- Department of Dermatology, Universitäts Spital ZürichUniversity of ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Claudia Wellbrock
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Michael P. Smith
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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25
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Zhou Y, Song KY, Giubellino A. The Role of MET in Melanoma and Melanocytic Lesions. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 189:2138-2148. [PMID: 31476283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the leading cause of death due to cutaneous malignancy and its incidence is on the rise. Several signaling pathways, including receptor tyrosine kinases, have been recognized to have an etiopathogenetic role in the development and progression of precursor melanocytic lesions and malignant melanoma. Among those, the hepatocyte growth factor/MET (HGF/MET) axis is emerging as a critical player not only in the tumor itself but also in the immune microenvironment in which the tumor grows and advances in its development. Moreover, the activation of this pathway has emerged as a paradigm of tumor resistance to modern targeted therapies, and the assessment of its expression in patients' samples may be a valuable biomarker of tumor progression and response to targeted therapy. Here we summarize our current understanding of this important receptor tyrosine kinase in normal melanocyte proliferation/motility, in tumor progression and metastasis, its genetic alterations in certain subtype of melanocytic lesions, and how its pathway has been explored for the development of selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
| | - Kyu Young Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Alessio Giubellino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Osrodek M, Hartman ML, Czyz M. Physiologically Relevant Oxygen Concentration (6% O 2) as an Important Component of the Microenvironment Impacting Melanoma Phenotype and Melanoma Response to Targeted Therapeutics In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174203. [PMID: 31461993 PMCID: PMC6747123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell phenotype largely depends on oxygen availability. The atmospheric oxygen concentration (21%) used in in vitro studies is much higher than in any human tissue. Using well-characterized patient-derived melanoma cell lines, we compared: (i) activities of several signaling pathways, and (ii) the effects of vemurafenib and trametinib in hyperoxia (21% O2), normoxia (6% O2) and hypoxia (1% O2). A high plasticity of melanoma cells in response to changes in oxygen supplementation and drug treatment was observed, and the transcriptional reprograming and phenotypic changes varied between cell lines. Normoxia enhanced the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), glucose metabolism/transport-related genes, and changed percentages of NGFR- and MITF-positive cells in cell line-dependent manner. Increased protein stability might be responsible for high PGC1α level in MITFlow melanoma cells. Vemurafenib and trametinib while targeting the activity of MAPK/ERK pathway irrespective of oxygen concentration, were less effective in normoxia than hyperoxia in reducing levels of VEGF, PGC1α, SLC7A11 and Ki-67-positive cells in cell line-dependent manner. In conclusion, in vitro studies performed in atmospheric oxygen concentration provide different information on melanoma cell phenotype and response to drugs than performed in normoxia, which might partially explain the discrepancies between results obtained in vitro and in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Osrodek
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Mariusz L Hartman
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
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Modifiable Host Factors in Melanoma: Emerging Evidence for Obesity, Diet, Exercise, and the Microbiome. Curr Oncol Rep 2019; 21:72. [PMID: 31263961 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-019-0814-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We discuss how potentially modifiable factors including obesity, the microbiome, diet, and exercise may impact melanoma development, progression, and therapeutic response. RECENT FINDINGS Obesity is unexpectedly associated with improved outcomes with immune and targeted therapy in melanoma, with early mechanistic data suggesting leptin as one mediator. The gut microbiome is both a biomarker of response to immunotherapy and a potential target. As diet is a major determinant of the gut microbiome, ongoing studies are examining the interaction between diet, the gut microbiome, and immunity. Data are emerging for a potential role of exercise in reducing hypoxia and enhancing anti-tumor immunity, though this has not yet been well-studied in the context of contemporary therapies. Recent data suggests energy balance may play a role in the outcomes of metastatic melanoma. Further studies are needed to demonstrate mechanism and causality as well as the feasibility of targeting these factors.
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Bedognetti D, Ceccarelli M, Galluzzi L, Lu R, Palucka K, Samayoa J, Spranger S, Warren S, Wong KK, Ziv E, Chowell D, Coussens LM, De Carvalho DD, DeNardo DG, Galon J, Kaufman HL, Kirchhoff T, Lotze MT, Luke JJ, Minn AJ, Politi K, Shultz LD, Simon R, Thórsson V, Weidhaas JB, Ascierto ML, Ascierto PA, Barnes JM, Barsan V, Bommareddy PK, Bot A, Church SE, Ciliberto G, De Maria A, Draganov D, Ho WS, McGee HM, Monette A, Murphy JF, Nisticò P, Park W, Patel M, Quigley M, Radvanyi L, Raftopoulos H, Rudqvist NP, Snyder A, Sweis RF, Valpione S, Zappasodi R, Butterfield LH, Disis ML, Fox BA, Cesano A, Marincola FM. Toward a comprehensive view of cancer immune responsiveness: a synopsis from the SITC workshop. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:131. [PMID: 31113486 PMCID: PMC6529999 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0602-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunology has changed the landscape of cancer treatment. Yet, not all patients benefit as cancer immune responsiveness (CIR) remains a limitation in a considerable proportion of cases. The multifactorial determinants of CIR include the genetic makeup of the patient, the genomic instability central to cancer development, the evolutionary emergence of cancer phenotypes under the influence of immune editing, and external modifiers such as demographics, environment, treatment potency, co-morbidities and cancer-independent alterations including immune homeostasis and polymorphisms in the major and minor histocompatibility molecules, cytokines, and chemokines. Based on the premise that cancer is fundamentally a disorder of the genes arising within a cell biologic process, whose deviations from normality determine the rules of engagement with the host's response, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a task force of experts from various disciplines including, immunology, oncology, biophysics, structural biology, molecular and cellular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics to address the complexity of CIR from a holistic view. The task force was launched by a workshop held in San Francisco on May 14-15, 2018 aimed at two preeminent goals: 1) to identify the fundamental questions related to CIR and 2) to create an interactive community of experts that could guide scientific and research priorities by forming a logical progression supported by multiple perspectives to uncover mechanisms of CIR. This workshop was a first step toward a second meeting where the focus would be to address the actionability of some of the questions identified by working groups. In this event, five working groups aimed at defining a path to test hypotheses according to their relevance to human cancer and identifying experimental models closest to human biology, which include: 1) Germline-Genetic, 2) Somatic-Genetic and 3) Genomic-Transcriptional contributions to CIR, 4) Determinant(s) of Immunogenic Cell Death that modulate CIR, and 5) Experimental Models that best represent CIR and its conversion to an immune responsive state. This manuscript summarizes the contributions from each group and should be considered as a first milestone in the path toward a more contemporary understanding of CIR. We appreciate that this effort is far from comprehensive and that other relevant aspects related to CIR such as the microbiome, the individual's recombined T cell and B cell receptors, and the metabolic status of cancer and immune cells were not fully included. These and other important factors will be included in future activities of the taskforce. The taskforce will focus on prioritization and specific actionable approach to answer the identified questions and implementing the collaborations in the follow-up workshop, which will be held in Houston on September 4-5, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Paris, France
| | | | - Karolina Palucka
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Stefani Spranger
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, Cambridge, MT, USA
| | | | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elad Ziv
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Diego Chowell
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Daniel D De Carvalho
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - David G DeNardo
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jérôme Galon
- INSERM, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris Diderot; Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Howard L Kaufman
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA and Replimune, Inc., Woburn, MA, USA
| | - Tomas Kirchhoff
- Perlmutter Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael T Lotze
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Andy J Minn
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adrian Bot
- Kite, a Gilead Company, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Andrea De Maria
- Università degli Studi di Genova and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Winson S Ho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Primary Children's Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Heather M McGee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anne Monette
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Paola Nisticò
- IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Wungki Park
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Laszlo Radvanyi
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nils-Petter Rudqvist
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Sara Valpione
- CRUK Manchester Institute and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Roberta Zappasodi
- Ludwig Collaborative and Swim Across America Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Bernard A Fox
- Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
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Ryabaya O, Prokofieva A, Akasov R, Khochenkov D, Emelyanova M, Burov S, Markvicheva E, Inshakov A, Stepanova E. Metformin increases antitumor activity of MEK inhibitor binimetinib in 2D and 3D models of human metastatic melanoma cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 109:2548-2560. [PMID: 30551515 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant tumors that responsible for majority of skin-cancer related deaths. Here we propose a combination of MEK inhibitor binimetinib with metformin as a promising therapy against human melanoma cells in vitro, including BRAF -mutated A375, Mel Z, and Mel IL cells, and NRAS-mutated Mel MTP and Mel Me cells. Additionally, we obtained two close to clinical practice models of melanoma progression. The first one was vemurafenib-resistant Mel IL/R melanoma cells with acquired resistance to BRAF inhibition-targeted therapy, and the second one was tumor spheroids, which are 3D in vitro model of small-size solid tumors in vivo. The cytotoxicity of binimetinib and metformin was synergistic in both 2D and 3D melanoma culture and mediated through apoptotic pathway. The combination reduced the number of melanoma-formed colonies, inhibited cell invasion and migration, and led to G0/G1 cell cycle arrest through cyclin D/CDK4/CDK6 pathway. The mechanism of metformin and binimetinib synergy in melanoma cells was associated with increased activation of p-AMPKα and decreased p-ERK, but not with alterations in p-mTOR. In summary, the combination of metformin and binimetinib resulted in stronger anti-proliferative effects on melanoma cells compared to binimetinib alone, and therefore could be promising for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oxana Ryabaya
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Anastasia Prokofieva
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Roman Akasov
- Institute of Molecular Medicine Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991, 8-2 Trubetskaya street, Moscow, Russia; Cytomed J.S.Co, Russia; Federal Scientific Research Center «Crystallography and Photonics» Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997, 17a Butlerova st, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Dmitry Khochenkov
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Marina Emelyanova
- Department of Biological Microchips Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, 119991, 32 Vavilova street, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Elena Markvicheva
- Department of Biomaterials and Biotechnologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia.
| | - Andrey Inshakov
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Evgenia Stepanova
- Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Tumor Therapy N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center for Oncology, 115478, 24 Kashirskoe shosse, Moscow, Russia.
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Nunes AS, Barros AS, Costa EC, Moreira AF, Correia IJ. 3D tumor spheroids as in vitro models to mimic in vivo human solid tumors resistance to therapeutic drugs. Biotechnol Bioeng 2018; 116:206-226. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 309] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana S. Nunes
- Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI); Covilhã Portugal
| | - Andreia S. Barros
- Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI); Covilhã Portugal
| | - Elisabete C. Costa
- Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI); Covilhã Portugal
| | - André F. Moreira
- Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI); Covilhã Portugal
| | - Ilídio J. Correia
- Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI); Covilhã Portugal
- Departamento de Engenharia Química; Universidade de Coimbra, (CIEPQF); Coimbra Portugal
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31
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Almeida FV, Douglass SM, Fane ME, Weeraratna AT. Bad company: Microenvironmentally mediated resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2018; 32:237-247. [PMID: 30216694 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This review will focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the development of drug resistance in melanoma. Resistance to mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) in melanoma is observed months after treatment, a phenomenon that is often attributed to the incredible plasticity of melanoma cells but may also depend on the TME. The TME is unique in its cellular composition-it contains fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells, adipocytes, and among others. In addition, the TME provides "non-homeostatic" levels of oxygen, nutrients (hypoxia and metabolic stress), and extracellular matrix proteins, creating a pro-tumorigenic niche that drives resistance to MAPKi treatment. In this review, we will focus on how changes in the tumor microenvironment regulate MAPKi resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe V Almeida
- Immunology, Microenvironment Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen M Douglass
- Immunology, Microenvironment Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mitchell E Fane
- Immunology, Microenvironment Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Immunology, Microenvironment Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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32
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Nunes AS, Costa EC, Barros AS, de Melo-Diogo D, Correia IJ. Establishment of 2D Cell Cultures Derived From 3D MCF-7 Spheroids Displaying a Doxorubicin Resistant Profile. Biotechnol J 2018; 14:e1800268. [PMID: 30242980 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In vitro 3D cancer spheroids generally exhibit a drug resistance profile similar to that found in solid tumors. Due to this property, these models are an appealing for anticancer compounds screening. Nevertheless, the techniques and methods aimed for drug discovery are mostly standardized for cells cultured in 2D. The development of 2D cell culture models displaying a drug resistant profile is required to mimic the in vivo tumors, while the equipment, techniques, and methodologies established for conventional 2D cell cultures can continue to be employed in compound screening. In this work, the response of 3D-derived MCF-7 cells subsequently cultured in 2D in medium supplemented with glutathione (GSH) (antioxidant agent found in high levels in breast cancer tissues and a promoter of cancer cells resistance) to Doxorubicin (DOX) is evaluated. These cells demonstrated a resistance toward DOX closer to that displayed by 3D spheroids, which is higher than that exhibited by standard 2D cell cultures. In fact, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) of DOX in 3D-derived MCF-7 cell cultures supplemented with GSH is about eight-times higher than that obtained for conventional 2D cell cultures (cultured without GSH), and is only about two-times lower than that attained for 3D MCF-7 spheroids (cultured without GSH). Further investigation revealed that this improved resistance of 3D-derived MCF-7 cells may result from their increased P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity and reduced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Nunes
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Elisabete C Costa
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Andreia S Barros
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Duarte de Melo-Diogo
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ilídio J Correia
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, Universidade da Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal.,CIEPQF - Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, Polo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal
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33
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Li Y, Patel SP, Roszik J, Qin Y. Hypoxia-Driven Immunosuppressive Metabolites in the Tumor Microenvironment: New Approaches for Combinational Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1591. [PMID: 30061885 PMCID: PMC6054965 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is not only a prominent contributor to the heterogeneity of solid tumors but also a crucial stressor in the microenvironment to drive adaptations for tumors to evade immunosurveillance. Herein, we discuss the potential role of hypoxia within the microenvironment contributing to immune resistance and immune suppression of tumor cells. We outline recent discoveries of hypoxia-driven adaptive mechanisms that diminish immune cell response via skewing the expression of important immune checkpoint molecules (e.g., cluster of differentiation 47, programmed death ligand 1, and human leukocyte antigen G), altered metabolism and metabolites, and pH regulation. Importantly, inhibition of hypoxic stress-relevant pathways can collectively enhance T-cell-mediated tumor cell killing. Furthermore, we discuss how manipulation of hypoxia stress may pose a promising new strategy for a combinational therapeutic intervention to enhance immunotherapy of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Sapna Pradyuman Patel
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jason Roszik
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yong Qin
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
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Ahmed F, Haass NK. Microenvironment-Driven Dynamic Heterogeneity and Phenotypic Plasticity as a Mechanism of Melanoma Therapy Resistance. Front Oncol 2018; 8:173. [PMID: 29881716 PMCID: PMC5976798 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance constitutes a major challenge in designing melanoma therapies. Microenvironment-driven tumor heterogeneity and plasticity play a key role in this phenomenon. Melanoma is highly heterogeneous with diverse genomic alterations and expression of different biological markers. In addition, melanoma cells are highly plastic and capable of adapting quickly to changing microenvironmental conditions. These contribute to variations in therapy response and durability between individual melanoma patients. In response to changing microenvironmental conditions, like hypoxia and nutrient starvation, proliferative melanoma cells can switch to an invasive slow-cycling state. Cells in this state are more aggressive and metastatic, and show increased intrinsic drug resistance. During continuous treatment, slow-cycling cells are enriched within the tumor and give rise to a new proliferative subpopulation with increased drug resistance, by exerting their stem cell-like behavior and phenotypic plasticity. In melanoma, the proliferative and invasive states are defined by high and low microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression, respectively. It has been observed that in MITFhigh melanomas, inhibition of MITF increases the efficacy of targeted therapies and delays the acquisition of drug resistance. Contrarily, MITF is downregulated in melanomas with acquired drug resistance. According to the phenotype switching theory, the gene expression profile of the MITFlow state is predominantly regulated by WNT5A, AXL, and NF-κB signaling. Thus, different combinations of therapies should be effective in treating different phases of melanoma, such as the combination of targeted therapies with inhibitors of MITF expression during the initial treatment phase, but with inhibitors of WNT5A/AXL/NF-κB signaling during relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzana Ahmed
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nikolas K. Haass
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Discipline of Dermatology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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35
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Torres-Collado AX, Knott J, Jazirehi AR. Reversal of Resistance in Targeted Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma: Lessons Learned from Vemurafenib (BRAF V600E-Specific Inhibitor). Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10060157. [PMID: 29795041 PMCID: PMC6025215 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10060157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and has a very low survival rate. Over 50% of melanomas harbor various BRAF mutations with the most common being the V600E. BRAFV600E mutation that causes constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway leading to drug-, immune-resistance, apoptosis evasion, proliferation, survival, and metastasis of melanomas. The ATP competitive BRAFV600E selective inhibitor, vemurafenib, has shown dramatic success in clinical trials; promoting tumor regression and an increase in overall survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. Regrettably, vemurafenib-resistance develops over an average of six months, which renders melanomas resistant to other therapeutic strategies. Elucidation of the underlying mechanism(s) of acquisition of vemurafenib-resistance and design of novel approaches to override resistance is the subject of intense clinical and basic research. In this review, we summarize recent developments in therapeutic approaches and clinical investigations on melanomas with BRAFV600E mutation to establish a new platform for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Xavier Torres-Collado
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Knott
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Ali R Jazirehi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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36
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Ma S, Pradeep S, Hu W, Zhang D, Coleman R, Sood A. The role of tumor microenvironment in resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. F1000Res 2018; 7:326. [PMID: 29560266 PMCID: PMC5854986 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.11771.1] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic therapy has been demonstrated to increase progression-free survival in patients with many different solid cancers. Unfortunately, the benefit in overall survival is modest and the rapid emergence of drug resistance is a significant clinical problem. Over the last decade, several mechanisms have been identified to decipher the emergence of resistance. There is a multitude of changes within the tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to anti-angiogenic therapy that offers new therapeutic opportunities. In this review, we compile results from contemporary studies related to adaptive changes in the TME in the development of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. These include preclinical models of emerging resistance, dynamic changes in hypoxia signaling and stromal cells during treatment, and novel strategies to overcome resistance by targeting the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaolin Ma
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Reproductive Medicine Research Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
| | - Sunila Pradeep
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dikai Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Research Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China
| | - Robert Coleman
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anil Sood
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Fujii E, Inada Y, Kakoki M, Nishimura N, Endo S, Fujiwara S, Wada N, Kawano Y, Okuno Y, Sugimoto T, Hata H. Bufalin induces DNA damage response under hypoxic condition in myeloma cells. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:6443-6449. [PMID: 29616114 PMCID: PMC5876453 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia serves a crucial role in the development of drug resistance in various cancer cells. Therefore, many attempts targeting hypoxia are underway to overcome the drug resistance mediated by hypoxia. This strategy is useful for multiple myeloma (MM) cells, as MM cells reside within the bone marrow, where oxygen concentrations are relatively low. A natural compound library was screened to identify compounds exerting cytotoxicity in MM cells under hypoxic conditions. Bufalin exhibited marked cytotoxicity to MM cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. No significant toxicity was observed in lymphocytes obtained from healthy donors. Under normoxic conditions, bufalin induced a DNA double strand break (DSB) response, ROS induction and apoptosis within 24 with a rapid response compared with melphalan. Interestingly, the bufalin-induced DSB response was not impaired by low oxygen concentrations while the DSB response by melphalan was reduced. Furthermore, treatment with bufalin abolished HIF-1α expression under hypoxia, suggesting that bufalin exerts cytotoxicity under hypoxia by regulating HIF-1α. These results indicate that bufalin induces apoptosis in MM cells through DSB under hypoxic conditions by inhibiting HIF-1α, suggesting that bufalin could be useful for eradication of drug-resistant MM cells in the hypoxic microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eri Fujii
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Course of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Osaka University Hospital, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Inada
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Course of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
| | - Misaki Kakoki
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Course of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
| | - Nao Nishimura
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Shinya Endo
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Shiho Fujiwara
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Naoko Wada
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Yawara Kawano
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Yutaka Okuno
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
| | - Toshiya Sugimoto
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Course of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hata
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.,Division of Informative Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
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38
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A Novel Polyamine-Targeted Therapy for BRAF Mutant Melanoma Tumors. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:medsci6010003. [PMID: 29304009 PMCID: PMC5872160 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutant serine/threonine protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF) protein is expressed in over half of all melanoma tumors. Although BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) elicit rapid anti-tumor responses in the majority of patients with mutant BRAF melanoma, the tumors inevitably relapse after a short time. We hypothesized that polyamines are essential for tumor survival in mutant BRAF melanomas. These tumors rely on both polyamine biosynthesis and an upregulated polyamine transport system (PTS) to maintain their high intracellular polyamine levels. We evaluated the effect of a novel arylpolyamine (AP) compound that is cytotoxic upon cellular entry via the increased PTS activity of melanoma cells with different BRAF mutational status. Mutant BRAF melanoma cells demonstrated greater PTS activity and increased sensitivity to AP compared to wild type BRAF (BRAFWT) melanoma cells. Treatment with an inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), further upregulated PTS activity in mutant BRAF cells and increased their sensitivity to AP. Furthermore, viability assays of 3D spheroid cultures of mutant BRAF melanoma cells demonstrated greater resistance to the BRAFi, PLX4720, compared to 2D monolayer cultures. However, co-treatment with AP restored the sensitivity of melanoma spheroids to PLX4720. These data indicate that mutant BRAF melanoma cells are more dependent on the PTS compared to BRAFWT melanoma cells, resulting in greater sensitivity to the PTS-targeted cytotoxic AP compound.
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39
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A tool for discovering drug sensitivity and gene expression associations in cancer cells. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176763. [PMID: 28453553 PMCID: PMC5409143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs is a crucial factor for developing effective treatments. However, it is still challenging to precisely predict the effectiveness of therapeutics in humans within a complex genomic and molecular context. We developed an interface which allows the user to rapidly explore drug sensitivity and gene expression associations. Predictions for how expression of various genes affect anticancer drug activity are available for all genes for a set of therapeutics based on data from various cell lines of different origin in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer projects. Our application makes discovery or validation of drug sensitivity and gene expression associations efficient. Effectiveness of this tool is demonstrated by multiple known and novel examples.
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40
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Kozar I, Cesi G, Margue C, Philippidou D, Kreis S. Impact of BRAF kinase inhibitors on the miRNomes and transcriptomes of melanoma cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:2980-2992. [PMID: 28408301 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with increasing incidence worldwide. The development of BRAF kinase inhibitors as targeted treatments for patients with BRAF-mutant tumours contributed profoundly to an improved overall survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. Despite these promising results, the emergence of rapid resistance to targeted therapy remains a serious clinical issue. METHODS To investigate the impact of BRAF inhibitors on miRNomes and transcriptomes, we used in vitro melanoma models consisting of BRAF inhibitor-sensitive and -resistant cell lines generated in our laboratory. Subsequently, microarray analyses were performed followed by RT-qPCR validations. RESULTS Regarding miRNome and transcriptome changes, the long-term effects of BRAF inhibition differed in a cell line-specific manner with the two different BRAF inhibitors inducing comparable responses in three melanoma cell lines. Despite this heterogeneity, several miRNAs (e.g. miR-92a-1-5p, miR-708-5p) and genes (e.g. DOK5, PCSK2) were distinctly differentially expressed in drug-resistant versus -sensitive cell lines. Analyses of coexpressed miRNAs, as well as inversely correlated miRNA-mRNA pairs, revealed a low MITF/AXL ratio in two drug-resistant cell lines that might be regulated by miRNAs. CONCLUSION Several genes and miRNAs were differentially regulated in the drug-resistant and -sensitive cell lines and might be considered as prognostic and/or diagnostic resistance biomarkers in melanoma drug resistance. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Thus far, only little information is available on the significance and role of miRNAs with respect to kinase inhibitor treatments and emergence of drug resistance. In this study, promising miRNAs and genes were identified and associated to BRAF inhibitor-mediated resistance in melanoma. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Biochemistry of Synthetic Biology - Recent Developments" Guest Editor: Dr. Ilka Heinemann and Dr. Patrick O'Donoghue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Kozar
- Life Sciences Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
| | - Giulia Cesi
- Life Sciences Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
| | - Christiane Margue
- Life Sciences Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
| | - Demetra Philippidou
- Life Sciences Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
| | - Stephanie Kreis
- Life Sciences Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg.
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41
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Jeon HM, Lee J. MET: roles in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stemness. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2017; 5:5. [PMID: 28164090 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2016.12.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In a number of cancers, deregulated MET pathway leads to aberrantly activated proliferative and invasive signaling programs that promote malignant transformation, cell motility and migration, angiogenesis, survival in hypoxia, and invasion. A better understanding of oncogenic MET signaling will help us to discover effective therapeutic approaches and to identify which tumors are likely to respond to MET-targeted cancer therapy. In this review, we will summarize the roles of MET signaling in cancer, with particular focus on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness. Then, we will provide update on MET targeting agents and discuss the challenges that should be overcome for the development of an effective therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Min Jeon
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jeongwu Lee
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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