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Gao X, Caruso BR, Li W. Advanced Hydrogels in Breast Cancer Therapy. Gels 2024; 10:479. [PMID: 39057502 PMCID: PMC11276203 DOI: 10.3390/gels10070479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death for women. Depending on the tumor grade and stage, breast cancer is primarily treated with surgery and antineoplastic therapy. Direct or indirect side effects, emotional trauma, and unpredictable outcomes accompany these traditional therapies, calling for therapies that could improve the overall treatment and recovery experiences of patients. Hydrogels, biomimetic materials with 3D network structures, have shown great promise for augmenting breast cancer therapy. Hydrogel implants can be made with adipogenic and angiogenic properties for tissue integration. 3D organoids of malignant breast tumors grown in hydrogels retain the physical and genetic characteristics of the native tumors, allowing for post-surgery recapitulation of the diseased tissues for precision medicine assessment of the responsiveness of patient-specific cancers to antineoplastic treatment. Hydrogels can also be used as carrier matrices for delivering chemotherapeutics and immunotherapeutics or as post-surgery prosthetic scaffolds. The hydrogel delivery systems could achieve localized and controlled medication release targeting the tumor site, enhancing efficacy and minimizing the adverse effects of therapeutic agents delivered by traditional procedures. This review aims to summarize the most recent advancements in hydrogel utilization for breast cancer post-surgery tissue reconstruction, tumor modeling, and therapy and discuss their limitations in clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Gao
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
- Doctor of Medicine Program, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA;
| | - Benjamin R. Caruso
- Doctor of Medicine Program, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA;
| | - Weimin Li
- Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Spokane, WA 99202, USA
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Lin H, Fu H, Sun S, Yin H, Yuan J, Liao J. Patient tissue-derived FGFR4-variant and wild-type colorectal cancer organoid development and anticancer drug sensitivity testing. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30985. [PMID: 38826758 PMCID: PMC11141279 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30985] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives FGFR4-variant and wild-type colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids were developed to investigate the effects of FGFR4-targeted drugs, including FGFR4-IN and erdafitinib, on CRC and their possible molecular mechanism. Methods Clinical CRC tissues were collected, seven CRC organoids were developed, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed. CRC organoids were cultured and organoid drug sensitivity studies were conducted. Finally, an FGFR4-variant (no wild-type) CRC patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model was developed. Western blot measured ERK/AKT/STAT3 pathway-related protein levels. Results WES results revealed the presence of FGFR4-variants in 5 of the 7 CRC organoids. The structural organization and integrity of organoids were significantly altered under the influence of targeted drugs (FGFR4-IN-1 and erdafitinib). The effects of FGFR4 targeted drugs were not selective for FGFR4 genotypes. FGFR4-IN-1 and erdafitinib significantly reduced the growth, diameter, and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) activity of organoids. Furthermore, chemotherapeutic drugs, including 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, inhibited FGFR4-variant and wild-type CRC organoid activity. Moreover, the tumor volume of mice was significantly reduced at week 6, and p-ERK1/2, p-AKT, and p-STAT3 levels were down-regulated following FGFR4-IN-1 and erdafitinib treatment. Conclusions FGFR4-targeted and chemotherapeutic drugs inhibited the activity of FGFR4-variant and wild-type CRC organoids, and targeted drugs were more effective than chemotherapeutic drugs at the same concentration. Additionally, FGFR4 inhibitors hindered tumorigenesis in FGFR4-variant CRC organoids through ERK1/2, AKT, and STAT3 pathways. However, no wild-type control was tested in this experiment, which need further confirmation in the next study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailing Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongbo Fu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Shishen Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Yin
- Department of General Surgery, Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, Foshan Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China
| | - Jilin Liao
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
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Feigelman G, Simanovich E, Brockmeyer P, Rahat MA. EMMPRIN promotes spheroid organization and metastatic formation: comparison between monolayers and spheroids of CT26 colon carcinoma cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1374088. [PMID: 38725999 PMCID: PMC11079191 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1374088] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In vitro studies often use two-dimensional (2D) monolayers, but 3D cell organization, such as in spheroids, better mimics the complexity of solid tumors. To metastasize, cancer cells undergo the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to become more invasive and pro-angiogenic, with expression of both epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Aims We asked whether EMMPRIN/CD147 contributes to the formation of the 3D spheroid structure, and whether spheroids, which are often used to study proliferation and drug resistance, could better model the EMT process and the metastatic properties of cells, and improve our understanding of the role of EMMPRIN in them. Methods We used the parental mouse CT26 colon carcinoma (CT26-WT) cells, and infected them with a lentivirus vector to knock down EMMPRIN expression (CT26-KD cells), or with an empty lentivirus vector (CT26-NC) that served as a negative control. In some cases, we repeated the experiments with the 4T1 or LLC cell lines. We compared the magnitude of change between CT26-KD and CT26-WT/NC cells in different metastatic properties in cells seeded as monolayers or as spheroids formed by the scaffold-free liquid overlay method. Results We show that reduced EMMPRIN expression changed the morphology of cells and their spatial organization in both 2D and 3D models. The 3D models more clearly demonstrated how reduced EMMPRIN expression inhibited proliferation and the angiogenic potential, while it enhanced drug resistance, invasiveness, and EMT status, and moreover it enhanced cell dormancy and prevented CT26-KD cells from forming metastatic-like lesions when seeded on basement membrane extract (BME). Most interestingly, this approach enabled us to identify that EMMPRIN and miR-146a-5p form a negative feedback loop, thus identifying a key mechanism for EMMPRIN activities. These results underline EMMPRIN role as a gatekeeper that prevents dormancy, and suggest that EMMPRIN links EMT characteristics to the process of spheroid formation. Conclusions Thus, 3D models can help identify mechanisms by which EMMPRIN facilitates tumor and metastasis progression, which might render EMMPRIN as a promising target for anti-metastatic tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Feigelman
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Research Laboratories, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Elina Simanovich
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Research Laboratories, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Phillipp Brockmeyer
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michal A. Rahat
- Immunotherapy Laboratory, Research Laboratories, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Immunology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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Lamichhane A, Luker GD, Agarwal S, Tavana H. Inhibiting BRAF/EGFR/MEK suppresses cancer stemness and drug resistance of primary colorectal cancer cells. Oncotarget 2023; 14:879-889. [PMID: 37791907 PMCID: PMC10549774 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28517] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a major barrier against successful treatments of cancer patients. Gain of stemness under drug pressure is a major mechanism that renders treatments ineffective. Identifying approaches to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) is expected to improve treatment outcomes for patients. To elucidate the role of cancer stemness in resistance of colorectal cancer cells to targeted therapies, we developed spheroid cultures of patient-derived BRAFmut and KRASmut tumor cells and studied resistance mechanisms to inhibition of MAPK pathway through phenotypic and gene and protein expression analysis. We found that treatments enriched the expression of CSC markers CD166, ALDH1A3, CD133, and LGR5 and activated PI3K/Akt pathway in cancer cells. We examined various combination treatments to block these activities and found that a triple combination against BRAF, EGFR, and MEK significantly reduced stemness and activities of oncogenic signaling pathways. This study demonstrates the feasibility of blocking stemness-mediated drug resistance and tumorigenic activities in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astha Lamichhane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Department of Radiology, Microbiology and Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Seema Agarwal
- Department of Pathology, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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Reflections on the Biology of Cell Culture Models: Living on the Edge of Oxidative Metabolism in Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032717. [PMID: 36769044 PMCID: PMC9916950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, the study of cell metabolism is a hot topic in cancer research. Many studies have used 2D conventional cell cultures for their simplicity and the facility to infer mechanisms. However, the limitations of bidimensional cell cultures to recreate architecture, mechanics, and cell communication between tumor cells and their environment, have forced the development of other more realistic in vitro methodologies. Therefore, the explosion of 3D culture techniques and the necessity to reduce animal experimentation to a minimum has attracted the attention of researchers in the field of cancer metabolism. Here, we revise the limitations of actual culture models and discuss the utility of several 3D culture techniques to resolve those limitations.
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Lamichhane A, Shahi Thakuri P, Singh S, Rafsanjani Nejad P, Heiss J, Luker GD, Tavana H. Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer Stem Cells Prevents Resistance of Colorectal Cancer Cells to MEK Inhibition. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:724-734. [PMID: 36110381 PMCID: PMC9469186 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance is a leading cause for the failure of cancer treatments. Plasticity of cancer cells to acquire stem cell-like properties enables them to escape drug toxicity through different adaptive mechanisms. Eliminating cancer stem cells (CSCs) can potentially improve treatment outcomes for patients. To determine the role of CSCs in resistance of colorectal cancer cells to targeted therapies and identify treatment strategies, we treated spheroids of BRAFmut and KRASmut colorectal cancer cells with inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and studied resistance mechanisms through gene and protein expression analyses. We found that treatments activated several oncogenic pathways and expression of CSC markers CD166 and ALDH1A3. We identified a specific combination treatment using trametinib and mithramycin A to simultaneously inhibit the CSC phenotype and activities of several pathways in cancer cells. This study demonstrates the feasibility of therapeutic targeting of CSCs as a strategy to block tumorigenic activities of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astha Lamichhane
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Pradip Shahi Thakuri
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Sunil Singh
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Pouria Rafsanjani Nejad
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Jacob Heiss
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Department
of Radiology, Microbiology and Immunology, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
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