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El-Derby AM, Khedr MA, Ghoneim NI, Gabr MM, Khater SM, El-Badri N. Plasma-derived extracellular matrix for xenofree and cost-effective organoid modeling for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2024; 22:487. [PMID: 38773585 PMCID: PMC11110239 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05230-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes significant cancer mortality worldwide. Cancer organoids can serve as useful disease models by high costs, complexity, and contamination risks from animal-derived products and extracellular matrix (ECM) that limit its applications. On the other hand, synthetic ECM alternatives also have limitations in mimicking native biocomplexity. This study explores the development of a physiologically relevant HCC organoid model using plasma-derived extracellular matrix as a scaffold and nutritive biomatrix with different cellularity components to better mimic the heterogenous HCC microenvironment. Plasma-rich platelet is recognized for its elevated levels of growth factors, which can promote cell proliferation. By employing it as a biomatrix for organoid culture there is a potential to enhance the quality and functionality of organoid models for diverse applications in biomedical research and regenerative medicine and to better replicate the heterogeneous microenvironment of HCC. METHOD To generate the liver cancer organoids, HUH-7 hepatoma cells were cultured alone (homogenous model) or with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (heterogeneous model) in plasma-rich platelet extracellular matrix (ECM). The organoids were grown for 14 days and analyzed for cancer properties including cell viability, invasion, stemness, and drug resistance. RESULTS HCC organoids were developed comprising HUH-7 hepatoma cells with or without human mesenchymal stromal and endothelial cells in plasma ECM scaffolds. Both homogeneous (HUH-7 only) and heterogeneous (mixed cellularity) organoids displayed viability, cancer hallmarks, and chemoresistance. The heterogeneous organoids showed enhanced invasion potential, cancer stem cell populations, and late-stage HCC genetic signatures versus homogeneous counterparts. CONCLUSION The engineered HCC organoids system offers a clinically relevant and cost-effective model to study liver cancer pathogenesis, stromal interactions, and drug resistance. The plasma ECM-based culture technique could enable standardized and reproducible HCC modeling. It could also provide a promising option for organoid culture and scaling up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azza M El-Derby
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt
| | - Mennatallah A Khedr
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt
| | - Nehal I Ghoneim
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud M Gabr
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Sherry M Khater
- Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Nagwa El-Badri
- Center of Excellence for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CESC), Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October City, Giza, 12582, Egypt.
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2
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Haider MT, Freytag V, Krause L, Spethmann T, Gosau T, Beine MC, Knies C, Schröder-Schwarz J, Horn M, Riecken K, Lange T. Comparison of ex vivo bioluminescence imaging, Alu-qPCR and histology for the quantification of spontaneous lung and bone metastases in subcutaneous xenograft mouse models. Clin Exp Metastasis 2024; 41:103-115. [PMID: 38353934 PMCID: PMC10972982 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-024-10268-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is a non-invasive state-of-the-art-method for longitudinal tracking of tumor cells in mice. The technique is commonly used to determine bone metastatic burden in vivo and also suitable ex vivo to detect even smallest bone micro-metastases in spontaneous metastasis xenograft models. However, it is unclear to which extent ex vivo BLI correlates with alternative methods for metastasis quantification. Here, we compared ex vivo BLI, human DNA-based Alu-qPCR, and histology for the quantification of bone vs. lung metastases, which are amongst the most common sites of metastasis in prostate cancer (PCa) patients and spontaneous PCa xenograft models. Data from 93 immunodeficient mice were considered, each of which were subcutaneously injected with luciferase/RGB-labeled human PCa PC-3 cells. The primary tumors were resected at ~ 0.75 cm³ and mice were sacrificed ~ 3 weeks after surgery and immediately examined by ex vivo BLI. Afterwards, the right lungs and hind limbs with the higher BLI signal (BLIHi bone) were processed for histology, whereas the left lung lobes and hind limbs with the lower BLI signal (BLILo bone) were prepared for Alu-qPCR. Our data demonstrate remarkable differences in the correlation coefficients of the different methods for lung metastasis detection (r ~ 0.8) vs. bone metastasis detection (r ~ 0.4). However, the BLI values of the BLIHi and BLILo bones correlated very strongly (r ~ 0.9), indicating that the method per se was reliable under identical limitations; the overall level of metastasis to contralateral bones was astonishingly similar. Instead, the level of lung metastasis only weakly to moderately correlated with the level of bone metastasis formation. Summarized, we observed a considerable discrepancy between ex vivo BLI and histology/Alu-qPCR in the quantification of bone metastases, which was not observed in the case of lung metastases. Future studies using ex vivo BLI for bone metastasis quantification should combine multiple methods to accurately determine metastatic load in bone samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Therese Haider
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Vera Freytag
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Linda Krause
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Spethmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Tobias Gosau
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Mia C Beine
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Christine Knies
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schröder-Schwarz
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
| | - Michael Horn
- Core Facility In Vivo Optical Imaging, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kristoffer Riecken
- Research Department Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Lange
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany.
- Institute of Anatomy I, University Hospital Jena, Teichgraben 7, Jena, 07743, Germany.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Central Germany (CCCG), Ulm, Germany.
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3
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Rospo G, Chilà R, Matafora V, Basso V, Lamba S, Bartolini A, Bachi A, Di Nicolantonio F, Mondino A, Germano G, Bardelli A. Non-canonical antigens are the largest fraction of peptides presented by MHC class I in mismatch repair deficient murine colorectal cancer. Genome Med 2024; 16:15. [PMID: 38243308 PMCID: PMC10797964 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01275-3] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy based on checkpoint inhibitors is highly effective in mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) colorectal cancer (CRC). These tumors carry a high number of mutations, which are predicted to translate into a wide array of neoepitopes; however, a systematic classification of the neoantigen repertoire in MMRd CRC is lacking. Mass spectrometry peptidomics has demonstrated the existence of MHC class I associated peptides (MAPs) originating from non-coding DNA regions. Based on these premises we investigated DNA genomic regions responsible for generating MMRd-induced peptides. METHODS We exploited mouse CRC models in which the MMR gene Mlh1 was genetically inactivated. Isogenic cell lines CT26 Mlh1+/+ and Mlh1-/- were inoculated in immunocompromised and immunocompetent mice. Whole genome and RNA sequencing data were generated from samples obtained before and after injection in murine hosts. First, peptide databases were built from transcriptomes of isogenic cell lines. We then compiled a database of peptides lost after tumor cells injection in immunocompetent mice, likely due to immune editing. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and matched next-generation sequencing databases were employed to identify the DNA regions from which the immune-targeted MAPs originated. Finally, we adopted in vitro T cell assays to verify whether MAP-specific T cells were part of the in vivo immune response against Mlh1-/- cells. RESULTS Whole genome sequencing analyses revealed an unbalanced distribution of immune edited alterations across the genome in Mlh1-/- cells grown in immunocompetent mice. Specifically, untranslated (UTR) and coding regions exhibited the largest fraction of mutations leading to highly immunogenic peptides. Moreover, the integrated computational and LC-MS/MS analyses revealed that MAPs originate mainly from atypical translational events in both Mlh1+/+ and Mlh1-/- tumor cells. In addition, mutated MAPs-derived from UTRs and out-of-frame translation of coding regions-were highly enriched in Mlh1-/- cells. The MAPs trigger T-cell activation in mice primed with Mlh1-/- cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that-in comparison to MMR proficient CRC-MMRd tumors generate a significantly higher number of non-canonical mutated peptides able to elicit T cell responses. These results reveal the importance of evaluating the diversity of neoepitope repertoire in MMRd tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Rospo
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Present address: Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rosaria Chilà
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Vittoria Matafora
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Basso
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Via Olgettina, 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Lamba
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Alice Bartolini
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy
| | - Angela Bachi
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Di Nicolantonio
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy
| | - Anna Mondino
- Lymphocyte Activation Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute Via Olgettina, 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Germano
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alberto Bardelli
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, 20139, Milan, Italy.
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Zhdanov AV, Sen R, Devoy C, Li L, Tangney M, Papkovsky DB. Analysis of tumour oxygenation in model animals on a phosphorescence lifetime based macro-imager. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18732. [PMID: 37907625 PMCID: PMC10618169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46224-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring of tissue O2 is essential for cancer development and treatment, as hypoxic tumour regions develop resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. We describe a minimally invasive technique for the monitoring of tissue oxygenation in developing grafted tumours, which uses the new phosphorescence lifetime based Tpx3Cam imager. CT26 cells stained with a near-infrared emitting nanoparticulate O2 probe NanO2-IR were injected into mice to produce grafted tumours with characteristic phosphorescence. The tumours were allowed to develop for 3, 7, 10 and 17 days, with O2 imaging experiments performed on live and euthanised animals at different time points. Despite a marked trend towards decreased O2 in dead animals, their tumour areas produced phosphorescence lifetime values between 44 and 47 µs, which corresponded to hypoxic tissue with 5-20 μM O2. After the O2 imaging in animals, confocal Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy was conducted to examine the distribution of NanO2-IR probe in the tumours, which were excised, fixed and sliced for the purpose. The probe remained visible as bright and discrete 'islands' embedded in the tumour tissue until day 17 of tumour growth. Overall, this O2 macro-imaging method using NanO2-IR holds promise for long-term studies with grafted tumours in live animal models, providing quantitative 2D mapping of tissue O2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Zhdanov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Rajannya Sen
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Devoy
- Cancer Research @UCC, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Liang Li
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Mark Tangney
- Cancer Research @UCC, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Dmitri B Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
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5
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Yun S, Kim K, Shin K, Park H, Lee S, Shin Y, Paing AS, Choi S, Lim C. Effect of Sevoflurane on the Proliferation of A549 Lung Cancer Cells. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:medicina59030613. [PMID: 36984614 PMCID: PMC10054785 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59030613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Sevoflurane has opposing effects on cancer progression, depending on its concentration and the cancer type. This study investigated the effects of sevoflurane on the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells. Materials and Methods: In vitro, the number of A549 cells exposed to different concentrations of sevoflurane was counted. The size and weight of tumors from a xenograft mouse model exposed to air or sevoflurane were measured in vivo experiments. Additionally, hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemical detection of Ki-67 in the harvested tumor tissues were performed. Results: A total of 72 culture dishes were used and 24 dishes were assigned to each group: Air group; 2% Sevo group (air + 2% sevoflurane); and 4% Sevo group (air + 4% sevoflurane). The number of A549 cells in the 2% Sevo group was less than that in the Air and 4% Sevo groups (Air: 7.9 ± 0.5; 0.5, 2% Sevo: 6.8 ± 0.4, 4% Sevo: 8.1 ± 0.3; p = 0.000). The tumor size was not significantly different between the two groups (Air: 1.5 ± 0.7, 2% Sevo: 2.4 ± 1.9; p = 0.380). Conclusions: The in vitro data showed that sevoflurane inhibited the proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells in a concentration-specific manner. However, the in vivo data showed no correlation between sevoflurane exposure and A549 cell proliferation. Thus, further research is required to understand fully the effects of sevoflurane on cancer progression and to reconcile differences between the in vitro and in vivo experimental results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwon Yun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyongsik Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital, Sejong 30099, Republic of Korea
| | - Keuna Shin
- Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanmi Park
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunyeul Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongsup Shin
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Aung Soe Paing
- Department of Surgery, 1000 Bedded Naypyitaw General Hospital, Naypyitaw 15011, Myanmar
| | - Songyi Choi
- Department of Pathology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
| | - Chaeseong Lim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea
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6
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Böckelmann LC, Freytag V, Ahlers AK, Maar H, Gosau T, Baranowsky A, Schmitz R, Pantel K, Schumacher U, Haider MT, Lange T. Efficacy of zoledronic acid for the elimination of disseminated tumor cells in a clinically relevant, spontaneously metastatic prostate cancer xenograft model. Bone 2023; 171:116741. [PMID: 36934984 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2023.116741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Bone metastases develop in >90 % of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) through complex interactions between the bone microenvironment and tumor cells. Previous androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), which is known to cause bone loss, as well as anti-resorptive agents such as zoledronic acid (ZA), used to prevent skeletal complications, may influence these interactions and thereby the growth of disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in the bone marrow (BM). Here, a spontaneously metastatic xenograft tumor model of human PCa was further optimized to mimic the common clinical situation of ADT (castration) combined with primary tumor resection in vivo. The effects of these interventions, alone or in combination with ZA treatment, on tumor cell dissemination to the BM and other distant sites were analyzed. Metastatic burden was quantified by human-specific Alu-qPCR, bioluminescence imaging (BLI), and immunohistochemistry. Further, bone remodeling was assessed by static histomorphometry and serum parameters. Initial comparative analysis between NSG and SCID mice showed that spontaneous systemic dissemination of subcutaneous PC-3 xenograft tumors was considerably enhanced in NSG mice. Primary tumor resection and thereby prolonged observational periods resulted in a higher overall metastatic cell load at necropsy and tumor growth alone caused significant bone loss, which was further augmented by surgical castration. In addition, castrated mice showed a strong trend towards higher bone metastasis loads. Weekly treatment of mice with ZA completely prevented castration- and tumor-induced bone loss but had no effect on bone metastasis burden. Conversely, the total lung metastasis load as determined by BLI was significantly decreased upon ZA treatment. These findings provide a basis for future research on the role of ZA not only in preventing skeletal complications but also in reducing metastasis to other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Clemens Böckelmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vera Freytag
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ann-Kristin Ahlers
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Maar
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Anatomy I, Cancer Center Central Germany, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Tobias Gosau
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Baranowsky
- Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Schmitz
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Pantel
- Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Udo Schumacher
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marie-Therese Haider
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Lange
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Anatomy I, Cancer Center Central Germany, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
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7
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Mukha A, Kahya U, Linge A, Chen O, Löck S, Lukiyanchuk V, Richter S, Alves TC, Peitzsch M, Telychko V, Skvortsov S, Negro G, Aschenbrenner B, Skvortsova II, Mirtschink P, Lohaus F, Hölscher T, Neubauer H, Rivandi M, Labitzky V, Lange T, Franken A, Behrens B, Stoecklein NH, Toma M, Sommer U, Zschaeck S, Rehm M, Eisenhofer G, Schwager C, Abdollahi A, Groeben C, Kunz-Schughart LA, Baretton GB, Baumann M, Krause M, Peitzsch C, Dubrovska A. GLS-driven glutamine catabolism contributes to prostate cancer radiosensitivity by regulating the redox state, stemness and ATG5-mediated autophagy. Theranostics 2021; 11:7844-7868. [PMID: 34335968 PMCID: PMC8315064 DOI: 10.7150/thno.58655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy is one of the curative treatment options for localized prostate cancer (PCa). The curative potential of radiotherapy is mediated by irradiation-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in tumor cells. However, PCa radiocurability can be impeded by tumor resistance mechanisms and normal tissue toxicity. Metabolic reprogramming is one of the major hallmarks of tumor progression and therapy resistance. Specific metabolic features of PCa might serve as therapeutic targets for tumor radiosensitization and as biomarkers for identifying the patients most likely to respond to radiotherapy. The study aimed to characterize a potential role of glutaminase (GLS)-driven glutamine catabolism as a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for PCa radiosensitization. Methods: We analyzed primary cell cultures and radioresistant (RR) derivatives of the conventional PCa cell lines by gene expression and metabolic assays to identify the molecular traits associated with radiation resistance. Relative radiosensitivity of the cell lines and primary cell cultures were analyzed by 2-D and 3-D clonogenic analyses. Targeting of glutamine (Gln) metabolism was achieved by Gln starvation, gene knockdown, and chemical inhibition. Activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) and autophagy was assessed by gene expression, western blotting, and fluorescence microscopy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were analyzed by fluorescence and luminescence probes, respectively. Cancer stem cell (CSC) properties were investigated by sphere-forming assay, CSC marker analysis, and in vivo limiting dilution assays. Single circulating tumor cells (CTCs) isolated from the blood of PCa patients were analyzed by array comparative genome hybridization. Expression levels of the GLS1 and MYC gene in tumor tissues and amino acid concentrations in blood plasma were correlated to a progression-free survival in PCa patients. Results: Here, we found that radioresistant PCa cells and prostate CSCs have a high glutamine demand. GLS-driven catabolism of glutamine serves not only for energy production but also for the maintenance of the redox state. Consequently, glutamine depletion or inhibition of critical regulators of glutamine utilization, such as GLS and the transcription factor MYC results in PCa radiosensitization. On the contrary, we found that a combination of glutamine metabolism inhibitors with irradiation does not cause toxic effects on nonmalignant prostate cells. Glutamine catabolism contributes to the maintenance of CSCs through regulation of the alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG)-dependent chromatin-modifying dioxygenase. The lack of glutamine results in the inhibition of CSCs with a high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, decreases the frequency of the CSC populations in vivo and reduces tumor formation in xenograft mouse models. Moreover, this study shows that activation of the ATG5-mediated autophagy in response to a lack of glutamine is a tumor survival strategy to withstand radiation-mediated cell damage. In combination with autophagy inhibition, the blockade of glutamine metabolism might be a promising strategy for PCa radiosensitization. High blood levels of glutamine in PCa patients significantly correlate with a shorter prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time. Furthermore, high expression of critical regulators of glutamine metabolism, GLS1 and MYC, is significantly associated with a decreased progression-free survival in PCa patients treated with radiotherapy. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that GLS-driven glutaminolysis is a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PCa radiosensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mukha
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden, Germany
| | - Uğur Kahya
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden, Germany
| | - Annett Linge
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
| | - Oleg Chen
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Department of Cell Signaling, Institute of Cell Biology, NAS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Steffen Löck
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Vasyl Lukiyanchuk
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden, Germany
| | - Susan Richter
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Tiago C Alves
- Department for Clinical Pathobiochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Mirko Peitzsch
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Vladyslav Telychko
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
| | - Sergej Skvortsov
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- EXTRO-Lab, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Giulia Negro
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- EXTRO-Lab, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bertram Aschenbrenner
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- EXTRO-Lab, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ira-Ida Skvortsova
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- EXTRO-Lab, Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Peter Mirtschink
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Fabian Lohaus
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias Hölscher
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
| | - Hans Neubauer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mahdi Rivandi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Labitzky
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Lange
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, Center for Experimental Medicine, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - André Franken
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bianca Behrens
- General, Visceral and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nikolas H Stoecklein
- General, Visceral and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marieta Toma
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrich Sommer
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sebastian Zschaeck
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Maximilian Rehm
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Graeme Eisenhofer
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Schwager
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core Center, Clinical Cooperation Units (CCU) Translational Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Medical Faculty (HDMF), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amir Abdollahi
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT), Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core Center, Clinical Cooperation Units (CCU) Translational Radiation Oncology and Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg Institute of Radiation Oncology (HIRO), National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (NCRO), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Molecular and Translational Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg Medical Faculty (HDMF), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christer Groeben
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Leoni A Kunz-Schughart
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
| | - Gustavo B Baretton
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Baumann
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Mechthild Krause
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
| | - Claudia Peitzsch
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Dubrovska
- OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany
- Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
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