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Xie S, Shi W, Duan S, Huang X, Liu A, Hou X, Lin X, Zhong D, Sun S, Ding Z, Yang X, Chen X, Lu X. A nanobody-guided multifunctional T cell engager promotes strong anti-tumor responses via synergistic immuno-photothermal effects. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:561. [PMID: 39272205 PMCID: PMC11401270 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02781-1] [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: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T cell-based immunotherapies are facing great challenges in the recruitment and activation of tumor-specific T cells against solid tumors. Among which, utilizing nanobody (Nb) or nanobodies (Nbs) to construct T cell engager has emerged as a more practical potential for enhancing the anti-tumor effectiveness of T cells. Here, we designed a new Nb-guided multifunctional T cell engager (Nb-MuTE) that not only recruited effector T cells into the tumor tissues, but also efficiently activated T cells anti-tumor immunity when synergies with photothermal effect. RESULTS The Nb-MuTE, which was constructed based on an indocyanine green (ICG)-containing liposome with surface conjugation of CD105 and CD3 Nbs, and showed excellent targetability to both tumor and T cells, following enhancement of activation, proliferation and cytokine secretion of tumor-specific T cells. Notably, the immunological anti-tumor functions of Nb-MuTE-mediated T cells were further enhanced by the ICG-induced photothermal effect in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Such a new platform Nb-MuTE provides a practical and "all-in-one" strategy to potentiate T cell responses for the treatment of solid tumor in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenxia Xie
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Wei Shi
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Siliang Duan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
- Department of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi, 545005, P. R. China
| | - Xianing Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Aiqun Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqiong Hou
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Xuandong Lin
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Dani Zhong
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Shuyang Sun
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Ziqiang Ding
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China
| | - Xiaomei Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China.
- School of Basic Medical Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore.
| | - Xiaoling Lu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Nanobody Research, Guangxi Nanobody Engineering Research Center, College of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, P. R. China.
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Heumann P, Albert A, Gülow K, Tümen D, Müller M, Kandulski A. Insights in Molecular Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1831. [PMID: 38791911 PMCID: PMC11120383 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data and clinical trials (MEDLINE), as well as published congress contributions and active recruiting clinical trials on targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Combinations of different agents and medical therapy along with radiological interventions were analyzed for the setting of advanced HCC. Those settings were also analyzed in combination with adjuvant situations after resection or radiological treatments. We summarized the current knowledge for each therapeutic setting and combination that currently is or has been under clinical evaluation. We further discuss the results in the background of current treatment guidelines. In addition, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways for each of these investigated targets and drugs to further elucidate the molecular background and underlying mechanisms of action. Established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for patients are considered for systemic treatment: atezolizumab/bevacizumab, durvalumab/tremelimumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab. Combination treatment for systemic treatment and local ablative treatment or transarterial chemoembolization and adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment strategies are under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Heumann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Arne Kandulski
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
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3
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Smith BN, Mishra R, Billet S, Placencio-Hickok VR, Kim M, Zhang L, Duong F, Madhav A, Scher K, Moldawer N, Oppenheim A, Angara B, You S, Tighiouart M, Posadas EM, Bhowmick NA. Antagonizing CD105 and androgen receptor to target stromal-epithelial interactions for clinical benefit. Mol Ther 2023; 31:78-89. [PMID: 36045587 PMCID: PMC9840108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.08.019] [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: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSIs) are standard of care for advanced prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Eventual resistance to ARSIs can include the expression of androgen receptor (AR) splice variant, AR-V7, expression as a recognized means of ligand-independent androgen signaling. We demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-6-mediated AR-V7 expression requires bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and CD105 receptor activity in both PCa and associated fibroblasts. Chromatin immunoprecipitation supported CD105-dependent ID1- and E2F-mediated expression of RBM38. Further, RNA immune precipitation demonstrated RBM38 binds the AR-cryptic exon 3 to enable AR-V7 generation. The forced expression of AR-V7 by primary prostatic fibroblasts diminished PCa sensitivity to ARSI. Conversely, downregulation of AR-V7 expression in cancer epithelia and associated fibroblasts was achieved by a CD105-neutralizing antibody, carotuximab. These compelling pre-clinical findings initiated an interventional study in PCa patients developing ARSI resistance. The combination of carotuximab and ARSI (i.e., enzalutamide or abiraterone) provided disease stabilization in four of nine assessable ARSI-refractory patients. Circulating tumor cell evaluation showed AR-V7 downregulation in the responsive subjects on combination treatment and revealed a three-gene panel that was predictive of response. The systemic antagonism of BMP/CD105 signaling can support ARSI re-sensitization in pre-clinical models and subjects that have otherwise developed resistance due to AR-V7 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany N Smith
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Rajeev Mishra
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208024, India
| | - Sandrine Billet
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | | | - Minhyung Kim
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Le Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Frank Duong
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Anisha Madhav
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Kevin Scher
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Nancy Moldawer
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Amy Oppenheim
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Bryan Angara
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Mourad Tighiouart
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Edwin M Posadas
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Neil A Bhowmick
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Cancer, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA.
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Pourhamzeh M, Asadian S, Mirzaei H, Minaei A, Shahriari E, Shpichka A, Es HA, Timashev P, Hassan M, Vosough M. Novel antigens for targeted radioimmunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:23-37. [PMID: 35708866 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04483-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth common cancer and forth cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Based on usually advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the time of diagnosis, therapeutic options are limited and, in many cases, not effective, and typically result in the tumor recurrence with a poor prognosis. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) offers a selective internal radiation therapy approach using beta or alpha emitting radionuclides conjugated with tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), or specific selective peptides. When compared to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, radiolabeled mAbs against cancer-associated antigens could provide a high therapeutic and exclusive radiation dose for cancerous cells while decreasing the exposure-induced side effects to healthy tissues. The recent advances in cancer immunotherapy, such as blockade of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has changed the landscape of cancer therapy, and the efficacy of different classes of immunotherapy has been tested in many clinical trials. Taking into account the use of ICIs in the liver tumor microenvironment, combined therapies with different approaches may enhance the outcome in the future clinical studies. With the development of novel immunotherapy treatment options in the recent years, there has been a great deal of information about combining the diverse treatment modalities to boost the effectiveness of immunomodulatory drugs. In this opinion review, we will discuss the recent advancements in RIT. The current status of immunotherapy and internal radiotherapy will be updated, and we will propose novel approaches for the combination of both techniques. Potential target antigens for radioimmunotherapy in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC radioimmunotherapy target antigens are the most specific and commonly accessible antigens on the surface of HCC cells. CTLA-4 ligand and receptor, TAMs, PD-1/PD-L, TIM-3, specific IEXs/TEXs, ROBO1, and cluster of differentiation antigens CD105, CD147 could all be used in HCC radioimmunotherapy. Abbreviations: TAMs, tumor-associated macrophages; CTLA-4, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4; PD-1, Programmed cell death protein 1; PD-L, programmed death-ligand1; TIM-3, T-cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and mucin-domain containing protein-3; IEXs, immune cell-derived exosomes; TEXs, tumor-derived exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Pourhamzeh
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Departments of Pathology and Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samieh Asadian
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Azita Minaei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Elahe Shahriari
- Departments of Pathology and Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Anastasia Shpichka
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Peter Timashev
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia. .,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia. .,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Moustapha Hassan
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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5
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Chen S, Li T, Meng L, Liu K. Advances in immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy of gestational trophoblastic tumor: current practice and future perspectives. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:2422-2432. [PMID: 35812047 PMCID: PMC9251702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a rare pregnancy-related gynecological malignancy caused by abnormal proliferation of placental trophoblastic cells. It can invade the uterine muscle layer and metastasize early, more common in women of childbearing age. GTN is invasive and can destroy surrounding tissues and blood vessels, causing massive bleeding in uterus and metastatic sites (such as lung, liver, brain, etc.) through blood transfer. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for GTN, and the disease is extremely sensitive to chemotherapy and can be cured by chemotherapy. However, in clinical practice, a large number of patients have failed chemotherapy or even multiple treatments due to drug resistance, recurrence or metastasis of special sites. Therefore, how to individually select the initial chemotherapy regimen and reduce the occurrence of drug resistance is the key to the treatment of high-risk GTN. With the remarkable efficacy of immunotherapy in endometrial cancer, cervical cancer and other diseases, the research on GTN has been further deepened. Therefore, this review discusses the mechanism, methods and efficacy of GTN immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy, in order to provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of GTN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzhu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Taiping Li
- Department of Neuro-Psychiatric Institute, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lijuan Meng
- Department of Geriatric Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kangsheng Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care HospitalNanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
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6
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Brown ZJ, Hewitt DB, Pawlik TM. Experimental drug treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinical trial failures 2015 to 2021. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2022; 31:693-706. [PMID: 35580650 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2079491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide with limited systemic therapy options. Since the approval of sorafenib in 2008, no systemic therapy has provided a sustained/robust/survival benefit for patients with advanced HCC until recently. Many initially promising therapies have been trialed, but survival outcomes remained stagnant. As such, knowledge concerning previous treatment failures may help guide further areas of study, as well inform future therapeutic approaches. AREA COVERED This article reviews recent advances in the treatment of HCC. Despite some recent success, many systemic and locoregional therapies have failed to produce significant improvements in outcome. These treatment failures are examined and insight into pathways for future success are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Combination atezolizumab and bevacizumab has changed the landscape of systemic treatment for patients with HCC when it became the first therapy after demonstrating improve outcomes over sorafenib. Clinical trials in patients with advanced HCC have inherent difficulty with challenges to determine if a patient's declining liver function is secondary to disease progression, worsening cirrhosis, or drug toxicity, which may skew results. As we gain more knowledge of underlying genetic alterations behind the pathophysiology of the development of HCC, molecular markers may be identified to assist in predicting which patients would respond to a specific therapy.
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Zhang H, Zhang W, Jiang L, Chen Y. Recent advances in systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomark Res 2022; 10:3. [PMID: 35000616 PMCID: PMC8744248 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and lethal malignant tumors in the world. Therapeutic options for advanced HCC are limited. Systemic treatment, especially with conventional cytotoxic drugs, is usually ineffective. For more than a decade, sorafenib has been the only systemic drug that has been proven to be clinically effective for treating advanced HCC. However, over the past three years, the rapid progress of molecular targeted therapies has dramatically changed the treatment landscape for advanced HCC. Immune checkpoint therapies are now being incorporated into HCC therapies, and their combination with molecular targeted therapy is emerging as a tool to enhance the immune response. In this review, we summarize the development and progress of molecular targeted agents and immunotherapies in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Wuyang Zhang
- Clinical skills training center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Longying Jiang
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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8
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Pawlak JB, Blobe GC. TGF-β superfamily co-receptors in cancer. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:137-163. [PMID: 33797167 PMCID: PMC8484463 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily signaling via their cognate receptors is frequently modified by TGF-β superfamily co-receptors. Signaling through SMAD-mediated pathways may be enhanced or depressed depending on the specific co-receptor and cell context. This dynamic effect on signaling is further modified by the release of many of the co-receptors from the membrane to generate soluble forms that are often antagonistic to the membrane-bound receptors. The co-receptors discussed here include TβRIII (betaglycan), endoglin, BAMBI, CD109, SCUBE proteins, neuropilins, Cripto-1, MuSK, and RGMs. Dysregulation of these co-receptors can lead to altered TGF-β superfamily signaling that contributes to the pathophysiology of many cancers through regulation of growth, metastatic potential, and the tumor microenvironment. Here we describe the role of several TGF-β superfamily co-receptors on TGF-β superfamily signaling and the impact on cellular and physiological functions with a particular focus on cancer, including a discussion on recent pharmacological advances and potential clinical applications targeting these co-receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerard C. Blobe
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center,Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center,Corresponding author: Gerard Blobe, B354 LSRC, Box 91004 DUMC, Durham, NC 27708, , 919-668-1352
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The Dual Effect of the BMP9-ALK1 Pathway in Blood Vessels: An Opportunity for Cancer Therapy Improvement? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215412. [PMID: 34771575 PMCID: PMC8582496 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215412] [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: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The modulation of tumor blood vessels is a great opportunity for improving cancer therapies. Understanding the cellular and molecular players that regulate the biology of tumor blood vessels and tumor angiogenesis is necessary for the development of new anti-tumor strategies. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is a circulating factor with multiple effects in vascular biology through its receptor activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1). In this review, we give an overview of the possible benefits of modulating BMP9–ALK1 functions for cancer therapy improvement. Abstract The improvement of cancer therapy efficacy, the extension of patient survival and the reduction of adverse side effects are major challenges in cancer research. Targeting blood vessels has been considered a promising strategy in cancer therapy. Since the tumor vasculature is disorganized, leaky and triggers immunosuppression and tumor hypoxia, several strategies have been studied to modify tumor vasculature for cancer therapy improvement. Anti-angiogenesis was first described as a mechanism to prevent the formation of new blood vessels and prevent the oxygen supply to tumor cells, showing numerous limitations. Vascular normalization using low doses of anti-angiogenic drugs was purposed to overcome the limitations of anti-angiogenic therapies. Other strategies such as vascular promotion or the induction of high endothelial venules are being studied now to improve cancer therapy. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) exerts a dual effect through the activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) receptor in blood vessel maturation or activation phase of angiogenesis. Thus, it is an interesting pathway to target in combination with chemotherapies or immunotherapies. This review manuscript explores the effect of the BMP9–ALK1 pathway in tumor angiogenesis and the possible usefulness of targeting this pathway in anti-angiogenesis, vascular normalization or vascular promotion therapies.
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Lin X, Li H, Li X, Yang X, Shi W, Ding Z, Zhong D, Li Y, Yang W, Yu X, Xie S, Jiang X, Lu X. A Single-Chain Variable Fragment Antibody/Chemokine Fusion Protein Targeting Human Endoglin to Enhance the Anti-Tumor Activity of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2021; 17:1574-1583. [PMID: 34544535 DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2021.3140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy is an ideal candidate for adoptive cell transfer therapy. However, therapeutic approaches to enhance the anti-tumor activity of cytokine-induced killer cells remain to be explored. Here, we described the successful development of a novel antibody-chemokine fusion protein containing the anti-human Endoglin antibody in the single-chain variable fragment format and human interferon-gamma-induced protein 10 (hENG scFv/hIP-10). Its anti-Endoglin immunoreactivity and chemotactic activity against the cytokine-induced killer cells were characterized in vitro. To evaluate the anti-tumor effect in vivo, cytokine-induced killer cells were intravenously injected into human hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing nude mice, together with intratumoral administration of the fusion protein hENG scFv/hIP-10 as an enhancer. The tumor volume and survival time of the mice were monitored, whilst the tumor-infiltrating cytokine-induced killer cells, serum levels of interferon-gamma, tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis were measured. The results demonstrated that hENG scFv/hIP-10 and cytokine-induced killer cells synergistically inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, the number of tumor-infiltrating cytokine-induced killer cells, serum levels of interferon-gamma, and tumor cell apoptosis were increased, accompanied with decreased tumor proliferation and angiogenesis. Thus, our study suggests that hENG scFv/hIP-10 could enhance the anti-tumor activity of cytokine-induced killer cells against human hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuandong Lin
- College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Haixia Li
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xi Li
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xiaomei Yang
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Wei Shi
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Ziqiang Ding
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Dani Zhong
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Yangzi Li
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Wenli Yang
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xia Yu
- National Center for International Research of Biological Targeting Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Shenxia Xie
- International Nanobody Research Center of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xiaoling Lu
- College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
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11
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Niu M, Yi M, Li N, Wu K, Wu K. Advances of Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:719896. [PMID: 34381735 PMCID: PMC8350567 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.719896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common and fatal malignancies, which is a significant global health problem. The clinical applicability of traditional surgery and other locoregional therapies is limited, and these therapeutic strategies are far from satisfactory in improving the outcomes of advanced HCC. In the past decade, targeted therapy had made a ground-breaking progress in advanced HCC. Those targeted therapies exert antitumor effects through specific signals, including anti-angiogenesis or cell cycle progression. As a standard systemic therapy option, it tremendously improves the survival of this devastating disease. Moreover, the combination of targeted therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has demonstrated more potent anticancer effects and becomes the hot topic in clinical studies. The combining medications bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of advanced HCC. In this review, we presented all approved targeted agents for advanced HCC with an emphasis on their clinical efficacy, summarized the advances of multi-target drugs in research for HCC and potential therapeutic targets for drug development. We also discussed the exciting results of the combination between targeted therapy and ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kongju Wu
- Department of Nursing, Medical School of Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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12
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Jeng KS, Sheen IS, Lin SS, Leu CM, Chang CF. The Role of Endoglin in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063208. [PMID: 33809908 PMCID: PMC8004096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Endoglin (CD105) is a type-1 integral transmembrane glycoprotein and coreceptor for transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) ligands. The endoglin/TGF-β signaling pathway regulates hemostasis, cell proliferation/migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis contributes to early progression, invasion, postoperative recurrence, and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most widespread malignancies globally. Endoglin is overexpressed in newly formed HCC microvessels. It increases microvessel density in cirrhotic and regenerative HCC nodules. In addition, circulating endoglin is present in HCC patients, suggesting potential for use as a diagnostic or prognostic factor. HCC angiogenesis is dynamic and endoglin expression varies by stage. TRC105 (carotuximab) is an antibody against endoglin, and three of its clinical trials were related to liver diseases. A partial response was achieved when combining TRC105 with sorafenib. Although antiangiogenic therapy still carries some risks, combination therapy with endoglin inhibitors or other targeted therapies holds promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Shyang Jeng
- Division of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 22060, Taiwan; (K.-S.J.); (S.-S.L.)
| | - I-Shyan Sheen
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan city 33305, Taiwan;
| | - Shu-Sheng Lin
- Division of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 22060, Taiwan; (K.-S.J.); (S.-S.L.)
| | - Chuen-Miin Leu
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei city 11221, Taiwan;
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Division of General Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei 22060, Taiwan; (K.-S.J.); (S.-S.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2-7728-4564
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13
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Endoglin in the Spotlight to Treat Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063186. [PMID: 33804796 PMCID: PMC8003971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A spotlight has been shone on endoglin in recent years due to that fact of its potential to serve as both a reliable disease biomarker and a therapeutic target. Indeed, endoglin has now been assigned many roles in both physiological and pathological processes. From a molecular point of view, endoglin mainly acts as a co-receptor in the canonical TGFβ pathway, but also it may be shed and released from the membrane, giving rise to the soluble form, which also plays important roles in cell signaling. In cancer, in particular, endoglin may contribute to either an oncogenic or a non-oncogenic phenotype depending on the cell context. The fact that endoglin is expressed by neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells within the tumor microenvironment suggests new possibilities for targeted therapies. Here, we aimed to review and discuss the many roles played by endoglin in different tumor types, as well as the strong evidence provided by pre-clinical and clinical studies that supports the therapeutic targeting of endoglin as a novel clinical strategy.
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14
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Nanobody-based chimeric antigen receptor T cells designed by CRISPR/Cas9 technology for solid tumor immunotherapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:80. [PMID: 33627635 PMCID: PMC7904846 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00462-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor-based T-cell immunotherapy is a promising strategy for treatment of hematological malignant tumors; however, its efficacy towards solid cancer remains challenging. We therefore focused on developing nanobody-based CAR-T cells that treat the solid tumor. CD105 expression is upregulated on neoangiogenic endothelial and cancer cells. CD105 has been developed as a drug target. Here we show the generation of a CD105-specific nanobody, an anti-human CD105 CAR-T cells, by inserting the sequences for anti-CD105 nanobody-linked standard cassette genes into AAVS1 site using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Co-culture with CD105+ target cells led to the activation of anti-CD105 CAR-T cells that displayed the typically activated cytotoxic T-cell characters, ability to proliferate, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the specific killing efficacy against CD105+ target cells in vitro. The in vivo treatment with anti-CD105 CAR-T cells significantly inhibited the growth of implanted CD105+ tumors, reduced tumor weight, and prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing NOD/SCID mice. Nanobody-based CAR-T cells can therefore function as an antitumor agent in human tumor xenograft models. Our findings determined that the strategy of nanobody-based CAR-T cells engineered by CRISPR/Cas9 system has a certain potential to treat solid tumor through targeting CD105 antigen.
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15
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Liu Y, Paauwe M, Nixon AB, Hawinkels LJ. Endoglin Targeting: Lessons Learned and Questions That Remain. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010147. [PMID: 33375670 PMCID: PMC7795616 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 30 years ago, endoglin was identified as a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β coreceptor with a crucial role in developmental biology and tumor angiogenesis. Its selectively high expression on tumor vessels and its correlation with poor survival in cancer patients led to the exploration of endoglin as a therapeutic target for cancer. The endoglin neutralizing antibody TRC105 (Carotuximab®, Tracon Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA, USA) was subsequently tested in a wide variety of preclinical cancer models before being tested in phase I-III clinical studies in cancer patients as both a monotherapy and in combination with other chemotherapeutic and anti-angiogenic therapies. The combined data of these studies have revealed new insights into the role of endoglin in angiogenesis and its expression and functional role on other cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we will summarize the preclinical work, clinical trials and biomarker studies of TRC105 and explore what these studies have enabled us to learn and what questions remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmiao Liu
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (Y.L.); (A.B.N.)
| | - Madelon Paauwe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Andrew B. Nixon
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; (Y.L.); (A.B.N.)
| | - Lukas J.A.C. Hawinkels
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-71-526-6736
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16
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Endoglin Promotes Myofibroblast Differentiation and Extracellular Matrix Production in Diabetic Nephropathy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207713. [PMID: 33081058 PMCID: PMC7589772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus that can lead to proteinuria and a progressive decline in renal function. Endoglin, a co-receptor of TGF-β, is known primarily for regulating endothelial cell function; however, endoglin is also associated with hepatic, cardiac, and intestinal fibrosis. This study investigates whether endoglin contributes to the development of interstitial fibrosis in DN. Kidney autopsy material from 80 diabetic patients was stained for endoglin and Sirius Red and scored semi-quantitatively. Interstitial endoglin expression was increased in samples with DN and was correlated with Sirius Red staining (p < 0.001). Endoglin expression was also correlated with reduced eGFR (p = 0.001), increased creatinine (p < 0.01), increased systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), hypertension (p < 0.05), and higher IFTA scores (p < 0.001). Biopsy samples from DN patients were also co-immunostained for endoglin together with CD31, CD68, vimentin, or α-SMA Endoglin co-localized with both the endothelial marker CD31 and the myofibroblast marker α-SMA. Finally, we used shRNA to knockdown endoglin expression in a human kidney fibroblast cell line. We found that TGF-β1 stimulation upregulated SERPINE1, CTGF, and ACTA2 mRNA and α-SMA protein, and that these effects were significantly reduced in fibroblasts after endoglin knockdown. Taken together, these data suggest that endoglin plays a role in the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis in DN.
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17
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Wu HW, Sheard MA, Malvar J, Fernandez GE, DeClerck YA, Blavier L, Shimada H, Theuer CP, Sposto R, Seeger RC. Anti-CD105 Antibody Eliminates Tumor Microenvironment Cells and Enhances Anti-GD2 Antibody Immunotherapy of Neuroblastoma with Activated Natural Killer Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:4761-4774. [PMID: 31068371 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We determined whether elimination of CD105+ cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) with anti-CD105 antibodies enhanced anti-disialoganglioside (GD2) antibody dinutuximab therapy of neuroblastoma when combined with activated natural killer (aNK) cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The effect of MSCs and monocytes on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by dinutuximab with aNK cells against neuroblastoma cells was determined in vitro. ADCC with anti-CD105 mAb TRC105 and aNK cells against MSCs, monocytes, and endothelial cells, which express CD105, was evaluated. Anti-neuroblastoma activity in immunodeficient NSG mice of dinutuximab with aNK cells without or with anti-CD105 mAbs was determined using neuroblastoma cell lines and a patient-derived xenograft. RESULTS ADCC mediated by dinutuximab with aNK cells against neuroblastoma cells in vitro was suppressed by addition of MSCs and monocytes, and dinutuximab with aNK cells was less effective against neuroblastomas formed with coinjected MSCs and monocytes in NSG mice than against those formed by tumor cells alone. Anti-CD105 antibody TRC105 with aNK cells mediated ADCC against MSCs, monocytes, and endothelial cells. Neuroblastomas formed in NSG mice by two neuroblastoma cell lines or a patient-derived xenograft coinjected with MSCs and monocytes were most effectively treated with dinutuximab and aNK cells when anti-human (TRC105) and anti-mouse (M1043) CD105 antibodies were added, which depleted human MSCs and murine endothelial cells and macrophages from the TME. CONCLUSIONS Immunotherapy of neuroblastoma with anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab and aNK cells is suppressed by CD105+ cells in the TME, but suppression is overcome by adding anti-CD105 antibodies to eliminate CD105+ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Wei Wu
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael A Sheard
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jemily Malvar
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - G Esteban Fernandez
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - Yves A DeClerck
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Laurence Blavier
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California
| | - Hiroyuki Shimada
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Richard Sposto
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Robert C Seeger
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, California. .,Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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18
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Kasprzak A, Adamek A. Role of Endoglin (CD105) in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Anti-Angiogenic Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3887. [PMID: 30563158 PMCID: PMC6321450 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is perfused by both arterial and venous blood, with a resulting abnormal microenvironment selecting for more-aggressive malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer, the sixth most common cancer globally, and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. HCC is characterized by its hypervascularization. Improving the efficiency of anti-angiogenic treatment and mitigation of anti-angiogenic drug resistance are the top priorities in the development of non-surgical HCC therapies. Endoglin (CD105), a transmembrane glycoprotein, is one of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) co-receptors. Involvement of that protein in angiogenesis of solid tumours is well documented. Endoglin is a marker of activated endothelial cells (ECs), and is preferentially expressed in the angiogenic endothelium of solid tumours, including HCC. HCC is associated with changes in CD105-positive ECs within and around the tumour. The large spectrum of endoglin effects in the liver is cell-type- and HCC- stage-specific. High expression of endoglin in non-tumour tissue suggests that this microenvironment might play an especially important role in the progression of HCC. Evaluation of tissue expression, as well as serum concentrations of this glycoprotein in HCC, tends to confirm its role as an important biomarker in HCC diagnosis and prognosis. The role of endoglin in liver fibrosis and HCC progression also makes it an attractive therapeutic target. Despite these facts, the exact molecular mechanisms of endoglin functioning in hepatocarcinogenesis are still poorly understood. This review summarizes the current data concerning the role and signalling pathways of endoglin in hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression, and provides an overview of the strategies available for a specific targeting of CD105 in anti-angiogenic therapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldona Kasprzak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 60-781, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Adamek
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immunodeficiencies, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 61-285, Poland.
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19
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Gomez-Puerto MC, Iyengar PV, García de Vinuesa A, Ten Dijke P, Sanchez-Duffhues G. Bone morphogenetic protein receptor signal transduction in human disease. J Pathol 2018; 247:9-20. [PMID: 30246251 PMCID: PMC6587955 DOI: 10.1002/path.5170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted cytokines that were initially discovered on the basis of their ability to induce bone. Several decades of research have now established that these proteins function in a large variety of physiopathological processes. There are about 15 BMP family members, which signal via three transmembrane type II receptors and four transmembrane type I receptors. Mechanistically, BMP binding leads to phosphorylation of the type I receptor by the type II receptor. This activated heteromeric complex triggers intracellular signaling that is initiated by phosphorylation of receptor‐regulated SMAD1, 5, and 8 (also termed R‐SMADs). Activated R‐SMADs form heteromeric complexes with SMAD4, which engage in specific transcriptional responses. There is convergence along the signaling pathway and, besides the canonical SMAD pathway, BMP‐receptor activation can also induce non‐SMAD signaling. Each step in the pathway is fine‐tuned by positive and negative regulation and crosstalk with other signaling pathways. For example, ligand bioavailability for the receptor can be regulated by ligand‐binding proteins that sequester the ligand from interacting with receptors. Accessory co‐receptors, also known as BMP type III receptors, lack intrinsic enzymatic activity but enhance BMP signaling by presenting ligands to receptors. In this review, we discuss the role of BMP receptor signaling and how corruption of this pathway contributes to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases and cancer. We describe pharmacological tools to interrogate the function of BMP receptor signaling in specific biological processes and focus on how these agents can be used as drugs to inhibit or activate the function of the receptor, thereby normalizing dysregulated BMP signaling. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Catalina Gomez-Puerto
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Prasanna Vasudevan Iyengar
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amaya García de Vinuesa
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gonzalo Sanchez-Duffhues
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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20
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Abstract
Recent improvements in arterial spin labeled (ASL) and vastly undersampled dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisitions are providing a new opportunity to explore the routine use of quantitative perfusion imaging for evaluation of a variety of abdominal diseases in clinical practice. In this review, we discuss different approaches for the acquisition and data analysis of ASL and DCE MRI techniques for quantification of tissue perfusion and present various clinical applications of these techniques in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions in the abdomen.
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21
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Lamar JM, Motilal Nehru V, Weinberg G. Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma as a Model of YAP/TAZ-Driven Cancer: Insights from a Rare Fusion Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10070229. [PMID: 29996478 PMCID: PMC6070876 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10070229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma involving cells with histologic markers that suggest an endothelial origin. Around 90% of EHEs are caused by the fusion of Transcriptional Co-activator with a PDZ-motif (TAZ) with Calmodulin Binding Transcription Activator 1 (CAMTA1), a central nervous system-specific transcription activator. The 10% of EHEs that lack the TAZ–CAMTA1 fusion instead have a fusion of Yes-associated Protein (YAP) and Transcription Factor E3 (TFE3) genes (YAP-TFE3). YAP and TAZ are well-defined downstream effectors in the Hippo pathway that promote cell growth when translocated to the nucleus. The TAZ–CAMTA1 fusion transcript is insensitive to the Hippo inhibitory signals that normally prevent this process and thus constitutively activates the TAZ transcriptome. In EHE, this causes tumors to form in a variety of organs and tissue types, most commonly the liver, lung, and bone. Its clinical course is unpredictable and highly variable. TAZ activation is known to contribute to key aspects of the cancer phenotype, including metastasis and fibrosis, and increased expression of TAZ is thought to be causally related to the progression of many cancers, including breast, lung, and liver. Therefore, understanding TAZ biology and the molecular mechanisms by which it promotes unregulated cell proliferation will yield insights and possibly improved treatments for both EHE as well as much more common cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Lamar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
| | | | - Guy Weinberg
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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22
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Ehlerding EB, Ferreira CA, Aluicio-Sarduy E, Jiang D, Lee HJ, Theuer CP, Engle JW, Cai W. 86/90Y-Based Theranostics Targeting Angiogenesis in a Murine Breast Cancer Model. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:2606-2613. [PMID: 29787283 PMCID: PMC6028311 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is widely recognized as one of the hallmarks of cancer. Therefore, imaging and therapeutic agents targeted to angiogenic vessels may be widely applicable in many types of cancer. To this end, the theranostic isotope pair, 86Y and 90Y, were used to create a pair of agents for targeted imaging and therapy of neovasculature in murine breast cancer models using a chimeric anti-CD105 antibody, TRC105. Serial positron emission tomography imaging with 86Y-DTPA-TRC105 demonstrated high uptake in 4T1 tumors, peaking at 9.6 ± 0.3%ID/g, verified through ex vivo studies. Additionally, promising results were obtained in therapeutic studies with 90Y-DTPA-TRC105, wherein significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased tumor volumes were observed for the targeted treatment group over all control groups near the end of the study. Dosimetric extrapolation and tissue histological analysis corroborated trends found in vivo. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of the pair 86/90Y for theranostics, enabling personalized treatments for cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/chemistry
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Cell Line, Tumor/transplantation
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoconjugates/chemistry
- Immunoconjugates/pharmacology
- Immunoconjugates/therapeutic use
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/diagnostic imaging
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/radiotherapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/drug therapy
- Positron-Emission Tomography/methods
- Radioimmunotherapy/methods
- Theranostic Nanomedicine/methods
- Tissue Distribution
- Treatment Outcome
- Yttrium Radioisotopes/chemistry
- Yttrium Radioisotopes/pharmacology
- Yttrium Radioisotopes/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolina A Ferreira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , Univesity of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
| | | | | | | | - Charles P Theuer
- TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , San Diego , California 92122 , United States
| | | | - Weibo Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering , Univesity of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
- Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53792 , United States
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23
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Ippolito D, Inchingolo R, Grazioli L, Drago SG, Nardella M, Gatti M, Faletti R. Recent advances in non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2018; 24:2413-2426. [PMID: 29930464 PMCID: PMC6010944 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i23.2413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver is an important tool for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions and for assessment of diffuse liver disease, having several intrinsic characteristics, represented by high soft tissue contrast, avoidance of ionizing radiation or iodinated contrast media, and more recently, by application of several functional imaging techniques (i.e., diffusion-weighted sequences, hepatobiliary contrast agents, perfusion imaging, magnetic resonance (MR)-elastography, and radiomics analysis). MR functional imaging techniques are extensively used both in routine practice and in the field of clinical and pre-clinical research because, through a qualitative rather than quantitative approach, they can offer valuable information about tumor tissue and tissue architecture, cellular biomarkers related to the hepatocellular functions, or tissue vascularization profiles related to tumor and tissue biology. This kind of approach offers in vivo physiological parameters, capable of evaluating physiological and pathological modifications of tissues, by the analysis of quantitative data that could be used in tumor detection, characterization, treatment selection, and follow-up, in addition to those obtained from standard morphological imaging. In this review we provide an overview of recent advanced techniques in MR for the diagnosis and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma, and their role in the assessment of response treatment evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Ippolito
- School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, HS Gerardo Monza, Monza (MB) 20900, Italy
| | - Riccardo Inchingolo
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Matera 75100, Italy
| | - Luigi Grazioli
- Department of Radiology, University of Brescia “Spedali Civili”, Brescia 25123, Italy
| | - Silvia Girolama Drago
- School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, HS Gerardo Monza, Monza (MB) 20900, Italy
| | - Michele Nardella
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Matera 75100, Italy
| | - Marco Gatti
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology Unit, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Riccardo Faletti
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology Unit, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
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Thomas MB, Garrett-Mayer E, Anis M, Anderton K, Bentz T, Edwards A, Brisendine A, Weiss G, Siegel AB, Bendell J, Baron A, Duddalwar V, El-Khoueiry A. A Randomized Phase II Open-Label Multi-Institution Study of the Combination of Bevacizumab and Erlotinib Compared to Sorafenib in the First-Line Treatment of Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Oncology 2018; 94:329-339. [PMID: 29719302 DOI: 10.1159/000485384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of the combination of bevacizumab (B) and erlotinib (E) compared to sorafenib (S) as first-line treatment for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS A total of 90 patients with advanced HCC, Child-Pugh class A-B7 cirrhosis, and no prior systemic therapy were randomly assigned (1: 1) to receive either 10 mg/kg B intravenously every 14 days and 150 mg E orally daily (n = 47) (B+E) or 400 mg S orally twice daily (n = 43). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included event-free survival (EFS), objective response rate based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1), time to progression, and safety and tolerability. RESULTS The median OS was 8.55 months (95% CI: 7.00-13.9) for patients treated with B+E and 8.55 months (95% CI: 5.69-12.2) for patients receiving S. The hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.57-1.47). The median EFS was 4.37 months (95% CI: 2.99-7.36) for patients receiving B+E and 2.76 months (95% CI: 1.84-4.80) for patients receiving S. The HR for EFS was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.42-1.07; p = 0.09), favoring B+E over S. When OS was assessed among patients who were Child-Pugh class A, the median OS was 11.4 months (95% CI: 7.5-15.7) for patients treated with B+E (n = 39) and 10.26 months (95% CI: 5.9-13.0) for patients treated with S (n = 38) (HR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.53-1.46). CONCLUSIONS There was no difference in efficacy between the B+E and S arms, although the safety and tolerability profile tended to favor B+E over S based on competing risk analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie B Thomas
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.,Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Munazza Anis
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kate Anderton
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Tricia Bentz
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Andie Edwards
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Alan Brisendine
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Geoffrey Weiss
- Department of Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Abby B Siegel
- New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Johanna Bendell
- GI Oncology Research, Sarah Canon Research Institute, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ari Baron
- California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Vinay Duddalwar
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anthony El-Khoueiry
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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25
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Viala M, Vinches M, Alexandre M, Mollevi C, Durigova A, Hayaoui N, Homicsko K, Cuenant A, Gongora C, Gianni L, Tosi D. Strategies for clinical development of monoclonal antibodies beyond first-in-human trials: tested doses and rationale for dose selection. Br J Cancer 2018; 118:679-697. [PMID: 29438365 PMCID: PMC5846071 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous survey on first-in-human trials (FIHT) of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) showed that, due to their limited toxicity, the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) was only tentatively defined. METHODS We identified, by MEDLINE search, articles on single-agent trials of mAbs with an FIHT included in our previous survey. For each mAb, we examined tested dose(s) and dose selection rationale in non-FIHTs (NFIHTs). We also assessed the correlation between doses tested in the registration trials (RTs) of all FDA-approved mAbs and the corresponding FIHT results. RESULTS In the 37 dose-escalation NFIHTs, the RP2D indication was still poorly defined. In phase II-III NFIHTs (n=103 on 37 mAbs), the FIHT RP2D was the only dose tested for five mAbs. For 16 mAbs, only doses different from the FIHT RP2D or the maximum administered dose (MAD) were tested and the dose selection rationale infrequently indicated. In the 60 RTs on 27 FDA-approved mAbs with available FIHT, the FIHT RP2D was tested only for two mAbs, and RT doses were much lower than the FIHT MAD. CONCLUSIONS The rationale beyond dose selection in phase II and III trials of mAbs is often unclear in published articles and not based on FIHT data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Viala
- Institut du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Vinches
- Institut du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | | | - Nadia Hayaoui
- Institut du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Alice Cuenant
- Institut du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Céline Gongora
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Inserm U1194, Montpellier, France
| | - Luca Gianni
- San Raffaele – Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Tosi
- Institut du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Inserm U1194, Montpellier, France
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26
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Wagner SC, Ichim TE, Bogin V, Min WP, Silva F, Patel AN, Kesari S. Induction and characterization of anti-tumor endothelium immunity elicited by ValloVax therapeutic cancer vaccine. Oncotarget 2018; 8:28595-28613. [PMID: 28404894 PMCID: PMC5438675 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ValloVax is a placental endothelium derived vaccine which induces tissue-nonspecific antitumor immunity by blocking tumor angiogesis. To elucidate mechanisms of action, we showed that production of ValloVax, which involves treating placental endothelial cells with IFN-gamma, results in upregulation of HLA and costimulatory molecules. It was shown that in mixed lymphocyte reaction, ValloVax induces Type I cytokines and allo-proliferative responses. Plasma from ValloVax immunized mice was capable of killing in vitro tumor-like endothelium but not control endothelium. Using defined antigens associated with tumor endothelial cells, specific molecular entities were identified as being targeted by ValloVax induced antibodies. Binding of predominantly IgG antibodies to ValloVax cells was confirmed by flow cytometry. Further suggesting direct killing of tumor endothelial cells was expression of TUNEL positive cells, as well as, reduction in tumor oxygenation. Supporting a role for antibody mediated responses, cell depletion experiments suggested a predominant role of B cells in maintaining an intact anti-tumor endothelial response. Adoptive transfer experiments suggested that infusion of CD3+ T cells from immunized mice was sufficient to transfer tumor protection. Generation of memory T cells selective to tumor endothelial specific markers was observed. Functional confirmation of memory responses was observed in tumor rechallenge experiments. Furthermore, we observed that both PD-1 or CTLA-4 blockade augmented antitumor effects of ValloVax. These data suggest a T cell induced B cell mediated anti-tumor endothelial response and set the framework clinical trials through elucidation of mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wei-Ping Min
- Department of Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Francisco Silva
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Amit N Patel
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Santosh Kesari
- John Wayne Cancer Institute and Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
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27
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Correnti M, Raggi C. Stem-like plasticity and heterogeneity of circulating tumor cells: current status and prospect challenges in liver cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 8:7094-7115. [PMID: 27738343 PMCID: PMC5351693 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Poor prognosis and high recurrence remain leading causes of primary liver cancerassociated mortality. The spread of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood plays a major role in the initiation of metastasis and tumor recurrence after surgery. Nevertheless, only a subset of CTCs can survive, migrate to distant sites and establish secondary tumors. Consistent with cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis, stem-like CTCs might represent a potential source for cancer relapse and distant metastasis. Thus, identification of stem-like metastasis-initiating CTC-subset may provide useful clinically prognostic information. This review will emphasize the most relevant findings of CTCs in the context of stem-like biology associated to liver carcinogenesis. In this view, the emerging field of stem-like CTCs may deliver substantial contribution in liver cancer field in order to move to personalized approaches for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Correnti
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Chiara Raggi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
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28
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Tian H, Huang JJ, Golzio C, Gao X, Hector-Greene M, Katsanis N, Blobe GC. Endoglin interacts with VEGFR2 to promote angiogenesis. FASEB J 2018; 32:2934-2949. [PMID: 29401587 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700867rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Endoglin, a TGF-β coreceptor predominantly expressed in endothelial cells, plays an important role in vascular development and tumor-associated angiogenesis. However, the mechanism by which endoglin regulates angiogenesis, especially during tip cell formation, remains largely unknown. In this study, we report that endoglin promoted VEGF-induced tip cell formation. Mechanistically, endoglin interacted with VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-2 in a VEGF-dependent manner, which sustained VEGFR2 on the cell surface and prevented its degradation. Endoglin mutants deficient in the ability to interact with VEGFR2 failed to sustain VEGFR2 on the cell surface and to promote VEGF-induced tip cell formation. Further, an endoglin-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb), TRC105, cooperated with a VEGF-A targeting mAb, bevacizumab, to inhibit VEGF signaling and tip cell formation in vitro and to inhibit tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor-associated angiogenesis in a murine tumor model. This study demonstrate a novel mechanism by which endoglin initiates and regulates VEGF-driven angiogenesis while providing a rationale for combining anti-VEGF and anti-endoglin therapy in patients with cancer.-Tian, H., Huang, J. J., Golzio, C., Gao, X., Hector-Greene, M., Katsanis, N., Blobe, G. C. Endoglin interacts with VEGFR2 to promote angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Tian
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer J Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christelle Golzio
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xia Gao
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melissa Hector-Greene
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicholas Katsanis
- Center for Human Disease Modeling, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gerard C Blobe
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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29
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Roman BL, Hinck AP. ALK1 signaling in development and disease: new paradigms. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:4539-4560. [PMID: 28871312 PMCID: PMC5687069 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2636-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Activin A receptor like type 1 (ALK1) is a transmembrane serine/threonine receptor kinase in the transforming growth factor-beta receptor family that is expressed on endothelial cells. Defects in ALK1 signaling cause the autosomal dominant vascular disorder, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), which is characterized by development of direct connections between arteries and veins, or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Although previous studies have implicated ALK1 in various aspects of sprouting angiogenesis, including tip/stalk cell selection, migration, and proliferation, recent work suggests an intriguing role for ALK1 in transducing a flow-based signal that governs directed endothelial cell migration within patent, perfused vessels. In this review, we present an updated view of the mechanism of ALK1 signaling, put forth a unified hypothesis to explain the cellular missteps that lead to AVMs associated with ALK1 deficiency, and discuss emerging roles for ALK1 signaling in diseases beyond HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth L Roman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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30
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Su F, Zhao J, Qin S, Wang R, Li Y, Wang Q, Tan Y, Jin H, Zhu F, Ou Y, Cheng Z, Su W, Zhao F, Yang Y, Zhou Z, Zheng J, Li Y, Li Z, Wu Q. Over-expression of Thrombospondin 4 correlates with loss of miR-142 and contributes to migration and vascular invasion of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:23277-23288. [PMID: 28177895 PMCID: PMC5410303 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy found worldwide and is associated with a high incidence of metastasis and vascular invasion. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underlie HCC tumorigenesis and progression is necessary for the development of novel therapeutics. By analyzing the Cancer Genome Atlas Network (TCGA) dataset, we identified Thrombospondin 4 (THBS4) is significantly overexpressed in HCC samples and is correlated with prognosis. Overexpression of THBS4 was also highly correlated with vascular invasion of advanced HCC. While THBS4 is often overexpressed in HCC it has also been shown to inhibit tumor growth by mediating cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. Here, we identified that knockdown of THBS4 inhibits migration and invasion of HCC cells and inhibits HCC induced angiogenesis. MiRNAs are crucial regulators of multiple cellular processes, and aberrant expression of miRNAs has been observed to effect cancer development and progression. We further found that miR-142 is an upstream regulator of THBS4 in HCC cells. Moreover, miR-142 was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissue samples and correlated with overexpression of THBS4. Overexpression of miR-142 inhibited invasion and angiogenesis of HCC cells and re-expression of THBS4 overcame these effects of miR-142 expression. Stable over-expression of miR-142 significantly inhibited tumour growth in a xenograft tumour model through inhibiting THBS4 expression and tumor angiogenesis. In conclusion, our findings indicate that loss of miR-142 results in the over-expression of THBS4, which enhances HCC migration and vascular invasion. Thus, targeting THBS4 or miR-142 may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Su
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, Anhui, China
| | - Shukui Qin
- Department of Medical Oncology, PLA Cancer Center, Nanjing Bayi Hospital, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Yumei Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Information Center, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Yi Tan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Hao Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Fangquan Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Yurong Ou
- Departments of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Zenong Cheng
- Departments of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Wen Su
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Fuyou Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Zhengguang Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Jiyue Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Yawei Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
| | - Zhongwen Li
- Department of Biologic Science, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233030, Anhui, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, Anhui, China
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31
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Ehlerding EB, Lacognata S, Jiang D, Ferreira CA, Goel S, Hernandez R, Jeffery JJ, Theuer CP, Cai W. Targeting angiogenesis for radioimmunotherapy with a 177Lu-labeled antibody. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2017; 45:123-131. [PMID: 28821931 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-017-3793-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Increased angiogenesis is a marker of aggressiveness in many cancers. Targeted radionuclide therapy of these cancers with angiogenesis-targeting agents may curtail this increased blood vessel formation and slow the growth of tumors, both primary and metastatic. CD105, or endoglin, has a primary role in angiogenesis in a number of cancers, making this a widely applicable target for targeted radioimmunotherapy. METHODS The anti-CD105 antibody, TRC105 (TRACON Pharmaceuticals), was conjugated with DTPA for radiolabeling with 177Lu (t 1/2 6.65 days). Balb/c mice were implanted with 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells, and five study groups were used: 177Lu only, TRC105 only, 177Lu-DTPA-IgG (a nonspecific antibody), 177Lu-DTPA-TRC105 low-dose, and 177Lu-DTPA-TRC105 high-dose. Toxicity of the agent was monitored by body weight measurements and analysis of blood markers. Biodistribution studies of 177Lu-DTPA-TRC105 were also performed at 1 and 7 days after injection. Ex vivo histology studies of various tissues were conducted at 1, 7, and 30 days after injection of high-dose 177Lu-DTPA-TRC105. RESULTS Biodistribution studies indicated steady uptake of 177Lu-DTPA-TRC105 in 4T1 tumors between 1 and 7 days after injection (14.3 ± 2.3%ID/g and 11.6 ± 6.1%ID/g, respectively; n = 3) and gradual clearance from other organs. Significant inhibition of tumor growth was observed in the high-dose group, with a corresponding significant increase in survival (p < 0.001, all groups). In most study groups (all except the nonspecific IgG group), the body weights of the mice did not decrease by more than 10%, indicating the safety of the injected agents. Serum alanine transaminase levels remained nearly constant indicating no damage to the liver (a primary clearance organ of the agent), and this was confirmed by ex vivo histological analyses. CONCLUSION 177Lu-DTPA-TRC105, when administered at a sufficient dose, is able to curtail tumor growth and provide a significant survival benefit without off-target toxicity. Thus, this targeted agent could be used in combination with other treatment options to slow tumor growth allowing the other agents to be more effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B Ehlerding
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Saige Lacognata
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Dawei Jiang
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Carolina A Ferreira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Shreya Goel
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Reinier Hernandez
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Justin J Jeffery
- Small Animal Imaging Facility, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Weibo Cai
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA. .,Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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32
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Duffy AG, Ma C, Ulahannan SV, Rahma OE, Makarova-Rusher O, Cao L, Yu Y, Kleiner DE, Trepel J, Lee MJ, Tomita Y, Steinberg SM, Heller T, Turkbey B, Choyke PL, Peer CJ, Figg WD, Wood BJ, Greten TF. Phase I and Preliminary Phase II Study of TRC105 in Combination with Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:4633-4641. [PMID: 28465443 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-3171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Endoglin (CD105) is an endothelial cell membrane receptor highly expressed on proliferating tumor vasculature, including that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is associated with poor prognosis. Endoglin is essential for angiogenesis, and its expression is induced by hypoxia and VEGF pathway inhibition. TRC105 is a chimeric IgG1 CD105 mAb that inhibits angiogenesis and causes antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and apoptosis of proliferating endothelium.Experimental Design: Patients with HCC (Child-Pugh A/B7), ECOG 0/1, were enrolled in a phase I study of TRC105 at 3, 6, 10, and 15 mg/kg every 2 weeks given with sorafenib 400 mg twice daily. Correlative biomarkers included DCE-MRI and plasma levels of angiogenic factors, including soluble endoglin. Pharmacokinetics were assessed in serum.Results: Twenty-six patients were enrolled, of whom 25 received treatment, 15 with cirrhosis. Hep B/C: 3/15; M:F 19:6; mean age of 60 (range, 18-76); 1 DLT (grade 3 AST) occurred at 10 mg/kg. The most frequent toxicity was low-grade epistaxis, a known toxicity of TRC105. One patient experienced an infusion reaction and was replaced. One patient with coronary stenosis developed a fatal myocardial infarction, and one patient developed G3 cerebral tumor hemorrhage. MTD was not established and DL4 (15 mg/kg) was expanded. The overall response rate in 24 evaluable patients at all 4 dose levels was 21% [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.1-42.2], and 25% (95% CI, 8.7-49.1) in patients with measureable disease. Four patients had confirmed stable disease, one of whom was treated for 22 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) for 24 patients evaluable for PFS was 3.8 months (95% CI, 3.2-5.6 months); median overall survival was 15.5 months (95% CI, 8.5-26.3 months).Conclusions: TRC105 combined with sorafenib was well tolerated at the recommended single agent doses of both drugs. Encouraging evidence of activity to date (PR rate 25%) was observed, and the study is now continuing to recruit in the phase II stage as a multicenter study to confirm activity of the combination. Clin Cancer Res; 23(16); 4633-41. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin G Duffy
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic-GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | - Chi Ma
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic-GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Susanna V Ulahannan
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic-GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Osama E Rahma
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic-GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Oxana Makarova-Rusher
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic-GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Liang Cao
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yunkai Yu
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David E Kleiner
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jane Trepel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Min-Jung Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yusuke Tomita
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Seth M Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Theo Heller
- Liver Diseases Branch, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Baris Turkbey
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter L Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Program, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Cody J Peer
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - William D Figg
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brad J Wood
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Center for Cancer Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancies Section, Thoracic-GI Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Endoglin: a novel target for therapeutic intervention in acute leukemias revealed in xenograft mouse models. Blood 2017; 129:2526-2536. [PMID: 28351936 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2017-01-763581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Endoglin (CD105), a receptor of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, has been reported to identify functional long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells, and has been detected in certain subtypes of acute leukemias. Whether this receptor plays a functional role in leukemogenesis remains unknown. We identified endoglin expression on the majority of blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Using a xenograft model, we find that CD105+ blasts are endowed with superior leukemogenic activity compared with the CD105- population. We test the effect of targeting this receptor using the monoclonal antibody TRC105, and find that in AML, TRC105 prevented the engraftment of primary AML blasts and inhibited leukemia progression following disease establishment, but in B-ALL, TRC105 alone was ineffective due to the shedding of soluble CD105. However, in both B-ALL and AML, TRC105 synergized with reduced intensity myeloablation to inhibit leukemogenesis, indicating that TRC105 may represent a novel therapeutic option for B-ALL and AML.
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Nomura Y, Yamashita T, Oishi N, Nio K, Hayashi T, Yoshida M, Hayashi T, Hashiba T, Asahina Y, Okada H, Sunagozaka H, Takatori H, Honda M, Kaneko S. De Novo Emergence of Mesenchymal Stem-Like CD105 + Cancer Cells by Cytotoxic Agents in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Transl Oncol 2017; 10:184-189. [PMID: 28182993 PMCID: PMC5299205 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2017.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered a pivotal target for the eradication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, we reported that the CSC markers epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD90 are expressed independently in primary HCCs and cell lines, and CD90+ cells share features of metastatic vascular endothelial cells and express the vascular endothelial marker CD105, a co-receptor of transforming growth factor-beta. METHODS: The EpCAM+ cell lines HuH1 and HuH7 were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or epirubicin in vitro. Gene and protein expression levels were evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, respectively. The expression of CD105 in primary HCC was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The relationship of CD105 expression status and HCC prognosis was evaluated using 85 surgically resected HCC tissues by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: 5-FU or epirubicin treatment resulted in the generation of CD90+ and CD105+ cells in vitro in HuH1 and HuH7 cells, which originally contain no CD90+ or CD105+ cells. This phenomenon was validated by qRT-PCR analysis with activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program regulators Snail family zinc finger 1 (SNAI1) and SNAI2. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that CD105+ cells were morphologically identical to vascular endothelial cells in untreated primary HCCs. However, surgically resected specimens after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization clearly indicated that CD105+ cancer cells survived at the peripheral edge of the tumor. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicated that HCCs expressing CD105 showed poor prognosis after surgery with statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data highlight the role of CD105+ HCC cells with activation of the EMT program generated de novo after cytotoxic therapy on the prognosis of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimoto Nomura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Taro Yamashita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
| | - Naoki Oishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Kouki Nio
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takehiro Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Mariko Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tomomi Hashiba
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Asahina
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hikari Okada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hajime Sunagozaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hajime Takatori
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Masao Honda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
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Chen BB, Hsu CY, Yu CW, Liang PC, Hsu C, Hsu CH, Cheng AL, Shih TTF. Early perfusion changes within 1 week of systemic treatment measured by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI may predict survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur Radiol 2016; 27:3069-3079. [PMID: 27957638 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-016-4670-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To correlate early changes in the parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) within 1 week of systemic therapy with overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Eighty-nine patients with advanced HCC underwent DCE-MRI before and within 1 week following systemic therapy. The relative changes of six DCE-MRI parameters (Peak, Slope, AUC, Ktrans, Kep and Ve) of the tumours were correlated with OS using the Kaplan-Meier model and the double-sided log-rank test. RESULTS All patients died and the median survival was 174 days. Among the six DCE-MRI parameters, reductions in Peak, AUC, and Ktrans, were significantly correlated with one another. In addition, patients with a high Peak reduction following treatment had longer OS (P = 0.023) compared with those with a low Peak reduction. In multivariate analysis, a high Peak reduction was an independent favourable prognostic factor in all patients [hazard ratio (HR), 0.622; P = 0.038] after controlling for age, sex, treatment methods, tumour size and stage, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. CONCLUSIONS Early perfusion changes within 1 week following systemic therapy measured by DCE-MRI may aid in the prediction of the clinical outcome in patients with advanced HCC. KEY POINTS • DCE-MRI is helpful to evaluate perfusion changes of HCC after systemic treatment. • Early perfusion changes within 1 week after treatment may predict overall survival. • High Peak reduction was an independent favourable prognostic factor after systemic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang-Bin Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Yu Hsu
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Radiology, Taipei Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wei Yu
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Liang
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chiun Hsu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hung Hsu
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ann-Lii Cheng
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tiffany Ting-Fang Shih
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan. .,Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan. .,Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, No 7, Chung-Shan South Rd, Taipei, 10016, Taiwan.
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Shen YN, He HG, Shi Y, Cao J, Yuan JY, Wang ZC, Shi CF, Zhu N, Wei YP, Liu F, Huang JL, Yang GS, Lu JH. Krüppel-like factor 8 promotes cancer stem cell-like traits in hepatocellular carcinoma through Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:751-760. [PMID: 27478926 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and contributes to tumor initiation and progression by promoting HCC cell proliferation and invasion. However, the role of KLF8 in liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) is not known. In the current study, we investigated the role of KLF8 in LCSCs to determine if KLF8 is a novel marker of these cells. We found that KLF8 was highly expressed in primary HCC tumors, distant migrated tissues, and LCSCs. Patients with high KLF8 expression had a poor prognosis. KLF8 promoted stem cell-like features through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Cell apoptosis was significantly increased in HCC cells with knockdown of KLF8 compared with the control cells when treated with the same doses of sorafenib or cisplatin. Taken together, our study shows that KLF8 plays a potent oncogenic role in HCC tumorigenesis by maintaining stem cell-like features through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and promoting chemoresistance. Thus, targeting KLF8 may provide an effective therapeutic approach to suppress tumorigenicity of HCC. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Nan Shen
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Guan He
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Shi
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Cao
- The 3rd Department of Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Jiujiang, Jiujiang, Jiangxi Prov, China
| | - Jian-Yong Yuan
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhou-Chong Wang
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Feng Shi
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Zhu
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Peng Wei
- Xiangan Institute of Health of Retired Cadres, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Liu
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Li Huang
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Shun Yang
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Hua Lu
- The 5th Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Doi T, Lee KH, Kim TM, Ohtsu A, Kim TY, Ikeda M, Yoh K, Gallo Stampino C, Hirohashi T, Suzuki A, Fujii Y, Andrew Williams J, Bang YJ. A phase I study of the human anti-activin receptor-like kinase 1 antibody PF-03446962 in Asian patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Med 2016; 5:1454-63. [PMID: 27075560 PMCID: PMC4944871 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies suggest that ALK-1 signaling mediates a complementary angiogenesis pathway activated upon development of resistance to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapies. Inhibition of ALK-1 signaling may lead to disruption of tumor angiogenesis and growth. We report findings from a multicenter, open-label, phase I study of the fully human anti-ALK-1 mAb PF-03446962 conducted in Japan and South Korea, in Asian patients with advanced solid tumors. The dose escalation Part 1 of the study was based on a standard 3 + 3 design (n = 16). In Part 2, patients were treated with PF-03446962 at 7 and 10 mg/kg (10/cohort), including patients with disease progression following prior VEGF receptor (R)-targeted therapy. Primary objectives were determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Secondary objectives included safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of PF-03446962. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was noted in the 12 DLT-evaluable patients. Treatment was well tolerated. The MTD for biweekly intravenous administration was estimated to be 10 mg/kg and the RP2D 7 mg/kg. Treatment-related grades 1-3 thrombocytopenia was experienced by 27.8% patients. The most frequent nonhematologic treatment-related AEs were grades 1-2 pyrexia and epistaxis. Four patients (3/4 with hepatocellular carcinoma) developed telangiectasia suggesting vascular targeting and in vivo ALK-1 inhibition by PF-03446962. Stable disease for 12 weeks or more was observed in 25.7% of patients and in 44.4% of those with hepatocellular carcinoma. ALK-1 inhibition by PF-03446962 may represent a novel antiangiogenic strategy for patients with advanced solid malignancies complementary to current treatment with VEGF(R)-targeted inhibitors or chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Doi
- National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kyung-Hun Lee
- Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Tae-Min Kim
- Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Atsushi Ohtsu
- National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tae Yong Kim
- Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Masafumi Ikeda
- National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Yoh
- National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Corrado Gallo Stampino
- Pfizer Global Oncology Research and Development, Via Anna Maria Mozzoni, 12, Milan, 20152, Italy
| | | | - Akiyuki Suzuki
- Pfizer Japan, 3-22-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-8589, Japan
| | - Yosuke Fujii
- Pfizer Japan, 3-22-7 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-8589, Japan
| | | | - Yung-Jue Bang
- Seoul National University College of Medicine and Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
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