1
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Green JL, Osterhout RE, Klova AL, Merkwirth C, McDonnell SRP, Zavareh RB, Fuchs BC, Kamal A, Jakobsen JS. Molecular characterization of type I IFN-induced cytotoxicity in bladder cancer cells reveals biomarkers of resistance. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 23:547-559. [PMID: 34938855 PMCID: PMC8645427 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although anti-tumor activities of type I interferons (IFNs) have been recognized for decades, the molecular mechanisms contributing to clinical response remain poorly understood. The complex functions of these pleiotropic cytokines include stimulation of innate and adaptive immune responses against tumors as well as direct inhibition of tumor cells. In high-grade, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, nadofaragene firadenovec, a non-replicating adenovirus administered locally to express the IFNα2b transgene, embodies a novel approach to deploy the therapeutic activity of type I IFNs while minimizing systemic toxicities. Deciphering which functions of type I IFN are required for clinical activity will bolster efforts to maximize the efficacy of nadofaragene firadenovec and other type I IFN-based therapies, and inform strategies to address resistance. As such, we characterized the phenotypic and molecular response of human bladder cancer cell lines to IFNα delivered in multiple contexts, including adenoviral delivery. We found that constitutive activation of the type I IFN signaling pathway is a biomarker for resistance to both transcriptional response and direct cytotoxic effects of IFNα. We present several genes that discriminate between sensitive and resistant tumor cells, suggesting they should be explored for utility as biomarkers in future clinical trials of type I IFN-based anti-tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy L Klova
- Ferring Research Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jørn S Jakobsen
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals, International PharmaScience Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
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2
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Zhai M, Yang Z, Zhang C, Li J, Jia J, Zhou L, Lu R, Yao Z, Fu Z. APN-mediated phosphorylation of BCKDK promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and proliferation via the ERK signaling pathway. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:396. [PMID: 32457292 PMCID: PMC7249043 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2610-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent human malignancies worldwide and has high morbidity and mortality. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC recurrence and metastasis is critical to identify new therapeutic targets. This study aimed to determine the roles of aminopeptidase N (APN, also known as CD13) in HCC proliferation and metastasis and its underlying mechanisms. We detected APN expression in clinical samples and HCC cell lines using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, and enzyme activity assays. The effects of APN on HCC metastasis and proliferation were verified in both in vitro and in vivo models. RNA-seq, phosphoproteomic, western blot, point mutation, co-immunoprecipitation, and proximity ligation assays were performed to reveal the potential mechanisms. We found that APN was frequently upregulated in HCC tumor tissues and high-metastatic cell lines. Knockout of APN inhibited HCC cell metastasis and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Functional studies suggested that a loss of APN impedes the ERK signaling pathway in HCC cells. Mechanistically, we found that APN might mediate the phosphorylation at serine 31 of BCKDK (BCKDKS31), promote BCKDK interacting with ERK1/2 and phosphorylating it, thereby activating the ERK signaling pathway in HCC cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that APN mediates the phosphorylation of BCKDKS31 and activates its downstream pathway to promote HCC proliferation and metastasis. Therefore, the APN/BCKDK/ERK axis may serve as a new therapeutic target for HCC therapy, and these findings may be helpful to identify new biomarkers in HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying Zhai
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Zixia Yang
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Chenrui Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Jinping Li
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Kangzhe Pharmaceutical Technology Development Company, Ltd., 300042, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Jia
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Kangzhe Pharmaceutical Technology Development Company, Ltd., 300042, Tianjin, China
| | - Lingyi Zhou
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China
| | - Rong Lu
- Tianjin Kangzhe Pharmaceutical Technology Development Company, Ltd., 300042, Tianjin, China.
| | - Zhi Yao
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China.
- 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Tianjin for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China.
| | - Zheng Fu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease of the Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, 300070, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Kangzhe Pharmaceutical Technology Development Company, Ltd., 300042, Tianjin, China.
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3
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Ni Q, Chen Z, Zheng Q, Xie D, Li JJ, Cheng S, Ma X. Epithelial V-like antigen 1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis via the ERBB-PI3K-AKT pathway. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:1500-1513. [PMID: 31997489 PMCID: PMC7226218 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of epithelial V‐like antigen 1 (EVA1) has been well studied in thymic development and homostasis; however, its putative relationship with cancer remains largely unknown. Therefore, here we investigated the role of EVA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Interestingly, EVA1 expression was significantly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was also associated with a poor prognosis and recurrence in HCC patients. Overexpression of EVA1 promoted cell growth, invasion and migration in vitro. Consistently, knockdown of EVA1 expression inhibited proliferation and migration in vitro, while repressing metastasis of HCC cells in vivo. RNA‐seq analysis indicated that EVA1 is able to upregulate the expression of genes in the ERBB3‐PI3K pathway. Accordingly, an increased level of AKT phosphorylation was detected in HCC cells after EVA1 overexpression. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, inhibited AKT phosphorylation and rescued the tumor‐promoting effect of EVA1 overexpression. Altogether, the present study has revealed the oncogenic role of EVA1 during HCC progression and metastasis through the ERBB‐PI3K‐AKT signaling pathway, reiterating the potential use of EVA1 as a therapeutic target and/or prognostic marker for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- QianZhi Ni
- School of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhua Chen
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianwen Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong Xie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Jing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuqun Cheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery VI, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingyuan Ma
- School of Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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4
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Virus vector-mediated genetic modification of brain tumor stromal cells after intravenous delivery. J Neurooncol 2018; 139:293-305. [PMID: 29767307 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-018-2889-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The malignant primary brain tumor, glioblastoma (GBM) is generally incurable. New approaches are desperately needed. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated delivery of anti-tumor transgenes is a promising strategy, however direct injection leads to focal transgene spread in tumor and rapid tumor division dilutes out the extra-chromosomal AAV genome, limiting duration of transgene expression. Intravenous (IV) injection gives widespread distribution of AAV in normal brain, however poor transgene expression in tumor, and high expression in non-target cells which may lead to ineffective therapy and high toxicity, respectively. Delivery of transgenes encoding secreted, anti-tumor proteins to tumor stromal cells may provide a more stable and localized reservoir of therapy as they are more differentiated than fast-dividing tumor cells. Reactive astrocytes and tumor-associated macrophage/microglia (TAMs) are stromal cells that comprise a large portion of the tumor mass and are associated with tumorigenesis. In mouse models of GBM, we used IV delivery of exosome-associated AAV vectors driving green fluorescent protein expression by specific promoters (NF-κB-responsive promoter and a truncated glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter), to obtain targeted transduction of TAMs and reactive astrocytes, respectively, while avoiding transgene expression in the periphery. We used our approach to express the potent, yet toxic anti-tumor cytokine, interferon beta, in tumor stroma of a mouse model of GBM, and achieved a modest, yet significant enhancement in survival compared to controls. Noninvasive genetic modification of tumor microenvironment represents a promising approach for therapy against cancers. Additionally, the vectors described here may facilitate basic research in the study of tumor stromal cells in situ.
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Chemerin suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through CMKLR1-PTEN-Akt axis. Br J Cancer 2018; 118:1337-1348. [PMID: 29717200 PMCID: PMC5959946 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0077-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemerin, a known chemoattractant, participates in multiple biological events. However, its role in cancer remains largely unknown. METHODS Chemerin expression was evaluated by real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Forced expression, RNAi, immunoprecipitation, etc. were used in function and mechanism study. Mouse models of extrahepatic and intrahepatic metastasis were employed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of chemerin. RESULTS Chemerin expression was significantly downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, and associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Forced expression of chemerin inhibited in vitro migration, invasion and in vivo metastasis of HCC cells. Administration of chemerin effectively suppressed extrahepatic and intrahepatic metastases of HCC cells, resulting in prolonged survival of tumour-bearing nude mice. Chemerin upregulated expression and phosphatase activity of PTEN by interfering with PTEN-CMKLR1 interaction, leading to weakened ubiquitination of PTEN and decreased p-Akt (Ser473) level, which was responsible for suppressed migration, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells. Positive correlation between chemerin and PTEN, and reverse correlation between chemerin and p-Akt (Ser473) were also observed in HCC clinical samples and intrahepatic mouse model in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our study has revealed the suppressive role and therapeutic potential of chemerin in HCC metastasis, providing both a prognostic marker and drug candidate for HCC.
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Zemp FJ, McKenzie BA, Lun X, Maxwell L, Reilly KM, McFadden G, Yong VW, Forsyth PA. Resistance to oncolytic myxoma virus therapy in nf1(-/-)/trp53(-/-) syngeneic mouse glioma models is independent of anti-viral type-I interferon. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65801. [PMID: 23762429 PMCID: PMC3675064 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite promising preclinical studies, oncolytic viral therapy for malignant gliomas has resulted in variable, but underwhelming results in clinical evaluations. Of concern are the low levels of tumour infection and viral replication within the tumour. This discrepancy between the laboratory and the clinic could result from the disparity of xenograft versus syngeneic models in determining in vivo viral infection, replication and treatment efficacy. Here we describe a panel of primary mouse glioma lines derived from Nf1 (+/-) Trp53 (+/-) mice in the C57Bl/6J background for use in the preclinical testing of the oncolytic virus Myxoma (MYXV). These lines show a range of susceptibility to MYXV replication in vitro, but all succumb to viral-mediated cell death. Two of these lines orthotopically grafted produced aggressive gliomas. Intracranial injection of MYXV failed to result in sustained viral replication or treatment efficacy, with minimal tumour infection that was completely resolved by 7 days post-infection. We hypothesized that the stromal production of Type-I interferons (IFNα/β) could explain the resistance seen in these models; however, we found that neither the cell lines in vitro nor the tumours in vivo produce any IFNα/β in response to MYXV infection. To confirm IFNα/β did not play a role in this resistance, we ablated the ability of tumours to respond to IFNα/β via IRF9 knockdown, and generated identical results. Our studies demonstrate that these syngeneic cell lines are relevant preclinical models for testing experimental glioma treatments, and show that IFNα/β is not responsible for the MYXV treatment resistance seen in syngeneic glioma models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz J. Zemp
- Department of Oncology, Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brienne A. McKenzie
- Department of Oncology, Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xueqing Lun
- Department of Oncology, Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lori Maxwell
- Department of Oncology, Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Karlyne M. Reilly
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Grant McFadden
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - V. Wee Yong
- Departments of Clinical Neurosciences and Oncology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter A. Forsyth
- Department of Oncology, Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Clark H. Smith Brain Tumor Center, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute and University of Southern Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
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7
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Kirn DH, Wang Y, Le Boeuf F, Bell J, Thorne SH. Targeting of interferon-beta to produce a specific, multi-mechanistic oncolytic vaccinia virus. PLoS Med 2007; 4:e353. [PMID: 18162040 PMCID: PMC2222946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2007] [Accepted: 10/30/2007] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oncolytic viruses hold much promise for clinical treatment of many cancers, but a lack of systemic delivery and insufficient tumor cell killing have limited their usefulness. We have previously demonstrated that vaccinia virus strains are capable of systemic delivery to tumors in mouse models, but infection of normal tissues remains an issue. We hypothesized that interferon-beta (IFN-beta) expression from an oncolytic vaccinia strain incapable of responding to this cytokine would have dual benefits as a cancer therapeutic: increased anticancer effects and enhanced virus inactivation in normal tissues. We report the construction and preclinical testing of this virus. METHODS AND FINDINGS In vitro screening of viral strains by cytotoxicity and replication assay was coupled to cellular characterization by phospho-flow cytometry in order to select a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus. This virus was then examined in vivo in mouse models by non-invasive imaging techniques. A vaccinia B18R deletion mutant was selected as the backbone for IFN-beta expression, because the B18R gene product neutralizes secreted type-I IFNs. The oncolytic B18R deletion mutant demonstrated IFN-dependent cancer selectivity and efficacy in vitro, and tumor targeting and efficacy in mouse models in vivo. Both tumor cells and tumor-associated vascular endothelial cells were targeted. Complete tumor responses in preclinical models were accompanied by immune-mediated protection against tumor rechallenge. Cancer selectivity was also demonstrated in primary human tumor explant tissues and adjacent normal tissues. The IFN-beta gene was then cloned into the thymidine kinase (TK) region of this virus to create JX-795 (TK-/B18R-/IFN-beta+). JX-795 had superior tumor selectivity and systemic intravenous efficacy when compared with the TK-/B18R- control or wild-type vaccinia in preclinical models. CONCLUSIONS By combining IFN-dependent cancer selectivity with IFN-beta expression to optimize both anticancer effects and normal tissue antiviral effects, we were able to achieve, to our knowledge for the first time, tumor-specific replication, IFN-beta gene expression, and efficacy following systemic delivery in preclinical models.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Survival
- Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism
- Endothelium, Vascular/pathology
- Genes, Reporter
- HCT116 Cells
- Haplorhini
- Humans
- Interferon-alpha/metabolism
- Interferon-beta/genetics
- Interferon-beta/metabolism
- Luciferases
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- NIH 3T3 Cells
- Neoplasms, Experimental/blood supply
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/therapy
- Oncolytic Virotherapy
- Oncolytic Viruses/genetics
- Oncolytic Viruses/metabolism
- Sequence Deletion
- Thymidine Kinase/genetics
- Thymidine Kinase/metabolism
- Time Factors
- Tissue Distribution
- Vaccinia virus/enzymology
- Vaccinia virus/genetics
- Vaccinia virus/metabolism
- Viral Proteins/genetics
- Viral Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Kirn
- Jennerex Biotherapeutics, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Clinical Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yaohe Wang
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Centre, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - John Bell
- Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steve H Thorne
- Jennerex Biotherapeutics, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics and Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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8
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Ohashi M, Yoshida K, Kushida M, Miura Y, Ohnami S, Ikarashi Y, Kitade Y, Yoshida T, Aoki K. Adenovirus-mediated interferon alpha gene transfer induces regional direct cytotoxicity and possible systemic immunity against pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer 2005; 93:441-9. [PMID: 16106250 PMCID: PMC2361577 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated a characteristically high sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) gene transfer, which induced a more prominent growth suppression and cell death in pancreatic cancer cells than in other types of cancers and normal cells. The IFN-alpha protein can exhibit both direct cytotoxicity and indirect immunological antitumour activity. Here, we dissected and examined the two mechanisms, taking advantage of the fact that IFN-alpha did not show any cross-species activity in its in vivo effect. When a human IFN-alpha adenovirus was injected into subcutaneous xenografts of human pancreatic cancer cells in nude mice, tumour growth was significantly suppressed due to cell death in an adenoviral dose-dependent manner. The IFN-alpha protein concentration was markedly increased in the injected subcutaneous tumour, but leakage of the potent cytokine into the systemic blood circulation was minimal. When a mouse IFN-alpha adenovirus was injected into the same subcutaneous tumour system, all mice showed significant tumour inhibition, an effect that was dependent on the indirect antitumour activities of IFN-alpha, notably a stimulation of natural killer cells. Moreover, in this case, tumour regression was observed not only for the injected subcutaneous tumours but also for the untreated tumours at distant sites. This study suggested that a local IFN-alpha gene therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer, due to its dual mechanisms of antitumour activities and lack of significant toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ohashi
- Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - K Yoshida
- Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - M Kushida
- Section for Studies on Host-immune Response, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Y Miura
- Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - S Ohnami
- Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Y Ikarashi
- Pharmacology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Y Kitade
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry, Department of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - T Yoshida
- Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - K Aoki
- Section for Studies on Host-immune Response, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
- Section for Studies on Host-immune Response, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. E-mail:
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9
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Choi EA, Lei H, Maron DJ, Mick R, Barsoum J, Yu QC, Fraker DL, Wilson JM, Spitz FR. Combined 5-fluorouracil/systemic interferon-beta gene therapy results in long-term survival in mice with established colorectal liver metastases. Clin Cancer Res 2004; 10:1535-44. [PMID: 14977858 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-0040-03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated synergistic interactions between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and type I and II IFNs against human colorectal cancer cells. Despite these activities, randomized human trials have failed to identify a clinical benefit for this combination treatment. These limited clinical results may be secondary to the short half-life of recombinant IFN protein and the increased systemic toxicities of 5-FU/IFN combinations. We have previously reported an adenoviral-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy strategy, which may circumvent the pitfalls of recombinant IFN therapy. However, a dose-dependent toxicity and acute inflammatory response to systemically administered adenovirus vectors may limit the clinical application of this therapy. The combination of adenoviral-mediated IFN-beta gene therapy and 5-FU resulted in tumor regression, apoptosis, and improved survival in an established liver metastases model. These therapeutic effects were observed at a significantly lower vector dose than we had previously reported and with limited toxicity. This approach may allow for an effective clinical application of this therapy and warrants additional investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene A Choi
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Human Gene Therapy, The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19404, USA
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10
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Sancéau J, Poupon MF, Delattre O, Sastre-Garau X, Wietzerbin J. Strong inhibition of Ewing tumor xenograft growth by combination of human interferon-alpha or interferon-beta with ifosfamide. Oncogene 2002; 21:7700-9. [PMID: 12400012 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1205881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2002] [Revised: 07/05/2002] [Accepted: 07/18/2002] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone tumor in childhood. Despite aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy strategies, the prognosis of patients with metastatic disease remains poor. We have recently reported that Ewing tumor cell proliferation was strongly inhibited by IFN-beta and to a lesser degree by IFN-alpha. Moreover, under IFN-beta treatment, some cell lines undergo apoptosis. Since the possibility of using IFNs for Ewing tumor treatments may be of interest, we have evaluated the efficacy of Hu-IFNs in a nude mice model of Ewing tumor xenografts. The results reported here show that human type I IFNs, Hu-IFN-alpha and Hu-IFN-beta impaired tumor xenograft take and displayed an anti-growth effect toward established xenografts. Furthermore, we have also shown that combined therapy with Hu-IFNs and ifosfamide (IFO), an alkylating agent widely used in high-dose chemotherapy of Ewing tumors, results in a strong antitumor effect. Pathological analysis showed that Hu-IFN-alpha/IFO and Hu-IFN-beta/IFO were characterized by a dramatic decrease in the mitotic index and marked necrosis, as well as extensive fibrosis associated with numerous calcifications. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a potential antitumor effect of human type I IFNs and IFO on Ewing tumors, providing a rational foundation for a promising therapeutic approach to Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane Sancéau
- INSERM U365, Institut Curie, Section Recherche 26, rue d'Ulm, 75 248 - Paris Cedex 05, France
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