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Meneceur S, De Vos CE, Petzsch P, Köhrer K, Niegisch G, Hoffmann MJ. New synergistic combination therapy approaches with HDAC inhibitor quisinostat, cisplatin or PARP inhibitor talazoparib for urothelial carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18342. [PMID: 38693852 PMCID: PMC11063726 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18342] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) urgently requires new therapeutic options. Histone deacetylases (HDAC) are frequently dysregulated in UC and constitute interesting targets for the development of alternative therapy options. Thus, we investigated the effect of the second generation HDAC inhibitor (HDACi) quisinostat in five UC cell lines (UCC) and two normal control cell lines in comparison to romidepsin, a well characterized HDACi which was previously shown to induce cell death and cell cycle arrest. In UCC, quisinostat led to cell cycle alterations, cell death induction and DNA damage, but was well tolerated by normal cells. Combinations of quisinostat with cisplatin or the PARP inhibitor talazoparib led to decrease in cell viability and significant synergistic effect in five UCCs and platinum-resistant sublines allowing dose reduction. Further analyses in UM-UC-3 and J82 at low dose ratio revealed that the mechanisms included cell cycle disturbance, apoptosis induction and DNA damage. These combinations appeared to be well tolerated in normal cells. In conclusion, our results suggest new promising combination regimes for treatment of UC, also in the cisplatin-resistant setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Meneceur
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital DüsseldorfHeinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) DüsseldorfCIO Aachen Bonn Köln DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Caroline E. De Vos
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital DüsseldorfHeinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) DüsseldorfCIO Aachen Bonn Köln DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Patrick Petzsch
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) DüsseldorfCIO Aachen Bonn Köln DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
- Genomics and Transcriptomics Laboratory (GTL), Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ)Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Karl Köhrer
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) DüsseldorfCIO Aachen Bonn Köln DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
- Genomics and Transcriptomics Laboratory (GTL), Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ)Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital DüsseldorfHeinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) DüsseldorfCIO Aachen Bonn Köln DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Michèle J. Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital DüsseldorfHeinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
- Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) DüsseldorfCIO Aachen Bonn Köln DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
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Sturm S, Niegisch G, Windolf J, Suschek CV. Exposure of Bladder Cancer Cells to Blue Light (λ = 453 nm) in the Presence of Riboflavin Synergistically Enhances the Cytotoxic Efficiency of Gemcitabine. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4868. [PMID: 38732087 PMCID: PMC11084806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094868] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is a common tumour in men and women. In case of resistance to the standard therapeutic agents, gemcitabine can be used as off-label instillation therapy into the bladder. To reduce potential side effects, continuous efforts are made to optimise the therapeutic potential of drugs, thereby reducing the effective dose and consequently the pharmacological burden of the medication. We recently demonstrated that it is possible to significantly increase the therapeutic efficacy of mitomycin C against a bladder carcinoma cell line by exposure to non-toxic doses of blue light (453 nm). In the present study, we investigated whether the therapeutically supportive effect of blue light can be further enhanced by the additional use of the wavelength-specific photosensitiser riboflavin. We found that the gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity of bladder cancer cell lines (BFTC-905, SW-1710, RT-112) was significantly enhanced by non-toxic doses of blue light in the presence of riboflavin. Enhanced cytotoxicity correlated with decreased levels of mitochondrial ATP synthesis and increased lipid peroxidation was most likely the result of increased oxidative stress. Due to these properties, blue light in combination with riboflavin could represent an effective therapy option with few side effects and increase the success of local treatment of bladder cancer, whereby the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent used and thus the chemical load could be significantly reduced with similar or improved therapeutic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Sturm
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joachim Windolf
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph V. Suschek
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Frerichs LM, Frerichs B, Petzsch P, Köhrer K, Windolf J, Bittersohl B, Hoffmann MJ, Grotheer V. Tumorigenic effects of human mesenchymal stromal cells and fibroblasts on bladder cancer cells. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1228185. [PMID: 37781195 PMCID: PMC10534007 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1228185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer face a poor prognosis due to rapid disease progression and chemoresistance. Thus, there is an urgent need for a new therapeutic treatment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has crucial roles in tumor development, growth, progression, and therapy resistance. TME cells may also survive standard treatment of care and fire up disease recurrence. However, whether specific TME components have tumor-promoting or tumor-inhibitory properties depends on cell type and cancer entity. Thus, a deeper understanding of the interaction mechanisms between the TME and cancer cells is needed to develop new cancer treatment approaches that overcome therapy resistance. Little is known about the function and interaction between mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) or fibroblasts (FB) as TME components and bladder cancer cells. Methods We investigated the functional impact of conditioned media (CM) from primary cultures of different donors of MSC or FB on urothelial carcinoma cell lines (UCC) representing advanced disease stages, namely, BFTC-905, VMCUB-1, and UMUC-3. Underlying mechanisms were identified by RNA sequencing and protein analyses of cancer cells and of conditioned media by oncoarrays. Results Both FB- and MSC-CM had tumor-promoting effects on UCC. In some experiments, the impact of MSC-CM was more pronounced. CM augmented the aggressive phenotype of UCC, particularly of those with epithelial phenotype. Proliferation and migratory and invasive capacity were significantly increased; cisplatin sensitivity was reduced. RNA sequencing identified underlying mechanisms and molecules contributing to the observed phenotype changes. NRF2 and NF-κB signaling was affected, contributing to improved cisplatin detoxification. Likewise, interferon type I signaling was downregulated and regulators of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) were increased. Altered protein abundance of CXCR4, hyaluronan receptor CD44, or TGFβ-signaling was induced by CM in cancer cells and may contribute to phenotypical changes. CM contained high levels of CCL2/MCP-1, MMPs, and interleukins which are well known for their impact on other cancer entities. Conclusions The CM of two different TME components had overlapping tumor-promoting effects and increased chemoresistance. We identified underlying mechanisms and molecules contributing to the aggressiveness of bladder cancer cells. These need to be further investigated for targeting the TME to improve cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie M. Frerichs
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bastian Frerichs
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Patrick Petzsch
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl Köhrer
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Joachim Windolf
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bernd Bittersohl
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michèle J. Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vera Grotheer
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Meneceur S, Grunewald CM, Niegisch G, Hoffmann MJ. Epigenetic Priming and Development of New Combination Therapy Approaches. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2684:259-281. [PMID: 37410240 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3291-8_16] [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] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (MIBC) has been treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy for over 30 years. With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody drug conjugates and FGFR3 inhibitors new therapeutic options have been approved for patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) and are still under investigation regarding association between patients' response and recently defined molecular subtypes. Unfortunately, similar to chemotherapy, only a fraction of UC patients responds to these new treatment approaches. Thus, either further new efficacious therapeutic options for treatment of individual subtypes or new approaches to overcome treatment resistance and to increase patients' response to standard of care treatment are needed.Epigenetic modifications of DNA and chromatin are known to mediate cellular plasticity or treatment resistance, and the responsible epigenetic regulators are frequently mutated or aberrantly expressed in UC. Thus, these enzymes provide targets for novel drug combination therapies to "episensitize" toward approved standard therapies by epigenetic priming. In general, these epigenetic regulators comprise writers and erasers like DNA methyltransferases and DNA demethylases (for DNA methylation), histone methyltransferases and histone demethylases (for histone methylation), as well as acetyl transferases and histone deacetylases (for histone and nonhistone acetylation). Such modifications, e.g., acetyl groups, are recognized by further epigenetic reader proteins, e.g., like the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family proteins that often interact in multi-protein complexes and finally regulate chromatin conformation and transcriptional activity.Concurringly, epigenetic regulators target a plethora of cellular functions. Their pharmaceutical inhibitors often inhibit enzymatic activity of more than one isoenzyme or may have further noncanonical cytotoxic effects. Thus, analysis of their functions in UC pathogenesis as well as of the antineoplastic capacity of corresponding inhibitors alone or in combination with other approved drugs should follow a multidimensional approach. Here, we present our standard approach to analyze cellular effects of new epigenetic inhibitors on UC cells alone to define their potency and to conclude on putative reasonable combination therapy partners. We further describe our approach to identify efficacious synergistic combination therapies (e.g., with cisplatin or PARP inhibitors) that may have reduced normal toxicity through dose reduction, which can then be further analyzed in animal experiments. This approach may also serve as prototype for the preclinical evaluation of other epigenetic treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Meneceur
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Camilla M Grunewald
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Michèle J Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
- German Study Group of Bladder Cancer (DFBK e.V.), Munich, Germany.
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Downregulation of PTCD1 in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Predicts Poor Prognosis and Levels of Immune Infiltration. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:1146186. [PMID: 35799606 PMCID: PMC9256401 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1146186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pentatricopeptide repeat domain 1 (PTCD1) was reported to regulate mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. However, the effect and mechanism of PTCD1 in the development of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) remain unclear. The databases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) were used to analyze the expression changes, clinical features, and prognostic values of PTCD1. A nomogram was built to predict the prognostic outcomes of BLCA cases. The potential genes interacting with PTCD1 were explored by Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA). The estimation of associations between PTCD1 and tumor mutations, tumor immunities, and m6A methylations was performed. The study found that the gradual decrease of PTCD1 expression was observed with the increase of stage and grade. Low PTCD1 expression was greatly correlated with higher pathological stage, N stage, and poor prognosis in TCGA cohorts; interestingly, low-grade BLCA cases all exhibited high expression of PTCD1. HPA database analysis implied that the expression of PTCD1 protein in BLCA was lower than that in normal bladder tissue, and the protein expression of PTCD1 in high-grade BLCA was lower than that in low-grade BLCA. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that PTCD1 may serve as an independent factor influencing prognosis of BLCA. Mechanistically, PTCD1 played a regulatory role in BLCA progression through multiple tumor-related pathways containing PI3K-Akt signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, oxidative phosphorylation, and extracellular matrix organization. WGCNA reported that PTCD1 had a strong positive correlation with POLR2J, ZNHT1, ATP5MF, PDAP1, BUD31, and COPS6. Besides, the mRNA expression of PTCD1 was negatively associated with immune cells' infiltrations, immune functions, and checkpoints, especially with some m6A methylation regulators in BLCA. In sum, downregulation of PTCD1 expression may be involved in the development of BLCA and remarkably correlated with poor prognosis. Meantime, it showed an influence in immune cell infiltration and may serve as an agreeable prognostic indicator in BLCA.
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Naz F, Shi M, Sajid S, Yang Z, Yu C. Cancer stem cells: a major culprit of intra-tumor heterogeneity. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5782-5811. [PMID: 35018226 PMCID: PMC8727794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is recognized as a preeminent factor of the world's mortality. Although various modalities have been designed to cure this life-threatening ailment, a significant impediment in the effective output of cancer treatment is heterogeneity. Cancer is characterized as a heterogeneous health disorder that comprises a distinct group of transformed cells to assist anomalous proliferation of affected cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a leading cause of cancer heterogeneity that is continually transformed by cellular extrinsic and intrinsic factors. They intensify neoplastic cells aggressiveness by strengthening their dissemination, relapse and therapy resistance. Considering this viewpoint, in this review article we have discussed some intrinsic (transcription factors, cell signaling pathways, genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and epitranscriptomics) and extrinsic factors (tumor microenvironment (TME)) that contribute to CSC heterogeneity and plasticity, which may help scientists to meddle these processes and eventually improve cancer research and management. Besides, the potential role of CSCs heterogeneity in establishing metastasis and therapy resistance has been articulated which signifies the importance of developing novel anticancer therapies to target CSCs along with targeting bulk tumor mass to achieve an effective output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Naz
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
| | - Mengran Shi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
| | - Salvia Sajid
- Department of Biotechnology, Jinnah University for WomenKarachi 74600, Pakistan
| | - Zhao Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
- College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Protection and Utilization of Biological Resources in Tarim Basin of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Tarim UniversityAlar 843300, Xinjiang, China
| | - Changyuan Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical TechnologyBeijing 100029, China
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Leonce C, Saintigny P, Ortiz-Cuaran S. Cell-intrinsic mechanisms of drug tolerance to systemic therapies in cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 20:11-29. [PMID: 34389691 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In cancer patients with metastatic disease, the rate of complete tumor response to systemic therapies is low, and residual lesions persist in the majority of patients due to early molecular adaptation in cancer cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that a subpopulation of drug-tolerant « persister » cells - a reversible phenotype characterized by reduced drug sensitivity and decreased cell proliferation - maintains residual disease and may serve as a reservoir for resistant phenotypes. The survival of these residual tumor cells can be caused by reactivation of specific signaling pathways, phenotypic plasticity (i.e., transdifferentiation), epigenetic or metabolic reprogramming, downregulation of apoptosis as well as transcriptional remodeling. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms that enable adaptive survival in drug-tolerant cells. We describe the main characteristics and dynamic nature of this persistent state, and highlight the current therapeutic strategies that may be used to interfere with the establishment of drug-tolerant cells, as an alternative to improve objective response to systemic therapies and delay the emergence of resistance to improve long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Leonce
- Univ Lyon, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon
| | - Pierre Saintigny
- Department of Medical Oncology, Univ Lyon, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon. Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard
| | - Sandra Ortiz-Cuaran
- Univ Lyon, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Cancer Research Center of Lyon
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Skowron MA, Oing C, Bremmer F, Ströbel P, Murray MJ, Coleman N, Amatruda JF, Honecker F, Bokemeyer C, Albers P, Nettersheim D. The developmental origin of cancers defines basic principles of cisplatin resistance. Cancer Lett 2021; 519:199-210. [PMID: 34320371 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Cisplatin-based chemotherapy has been used for more than four decades as a standard therapeutic option in several tumor entities. However, being a multifaceted and heterogeneous phenomenon, inherent or acquired resistance to cisplatin remains a major obstacle during the treatment of several solid malignancies and inevitably results in disease progression. Hence, we felt there was an urgent need to evaluate common mechanisms between multifarious cancer entities to identify patient-specific therapeutic strategies. We found joint molecular and (epi)genetic resistance mechanisms and specific cisplatin-induced mutational signatures that depended on the developmental origin (endo-, meso-, ectoderm) of the tumor tissue. Based on the findings of thirteen tumor entities, we identified three resistance groups, where Group 1 (endodermal origin) prominently indicates NRF2-pathway activation, Group 2 (mesodermal origin, primordial germ cells) shares elevated DNA repair mechanisms and decreased apoptosis induction, and Group 3 (ectodermal and paraxial mesodermal origin) commonly presents deregulated apoptosis induction and alternating pathways as the main cisplatin-induced resistance mechanisms. This review further proposes potential and novel therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome of cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Christoph Oing
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinsstraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Mildred Scheel Cancer Career Center HaTriCs4, University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinsstraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Felix Bremmer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str.4, 37075 Gottingen, Germany.
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str.4, 37075 Gottingen, Germany.
| | - Matthew J Murray
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK; Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
| | - Nicholas Coleman
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK; Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
| | - James F Amatruda
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Friedemann Honecker
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section Pneumology, Hubertus Wald-Tumorzentrum, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinsstraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; Tumor and Breast Center ZeTuP St. Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 150, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Carsten Bokemeyer
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section of Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinsstraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Peter Albers
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Laboratory, Translational UroOncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Melendez-Zajgla J, Maldonado V. The Role of lncRNAs in the Stem Phenotype of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6374. [PMID: 34203589 PMCID: PMC8232220 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest tumors. This neoplasia is characterized by an important cellular and phenotypic heterogeneity. In particular, it has been shown that at least two subtypes can be found: basal-like, which presents stem-like properties, and classical. Cancer stem cells have been isolated and characterized from these tumors, showing their dependance on general and tissue-specific stem transcription factors and signaling pathways. Nevertheless, little is known about their tissue microenvironment and cell non-autonomous regulators, such as long-non-coding RNAs. (lncRNAs). In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the positive and negative effects of lncRNAs in the stemness phenotype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Melendez-Zajgla
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica, Periferico Sur 4809, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14610, Mexico;
| | - Vilma Maldonado
- Epigenomics Laboratory, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica, Periferico Sur 4809, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14610, Mexico
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Epigenetic Treatment of Urothelial Carcinoma Cells Sensitizes to Cisplatin Chemotherapy and PARP Inhibitor Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061376. [PMID: 33803654 PMCID: PMC8002916 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UC) is treated with chemotherapies based on the DNA-damaging drug cisplatin, which only works temporarily due to the development of drug resistance. In this study, we show that it may be possible to overcome such resistances by treating the cancer cells with specific epigenetic drugs. We investigated the “epidrug” PLX51107 that inhibits the chromatin regulator BRD4 (Bromodomain Containing 4). PLX51107 inhibited cell growth, caused DNA damage, and blocked DNA repair response in UC cells. Concomitant application of PLX51107 with cisplatin or the drug talazoparib, interfering with DNA repair, caused cell death very efficiently. PLX51107 thus sensitizes UC cells to other drugs and may allow therapy with novel effective anti-tumor drugs like talazoparib that normally only work in a small proportion of patients with specific gene mutations. These results may help to improve current standard therapy and to develop new treatment options urgently required for UC patients. Abstract Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (UC) is treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, which is only moderately efficient, mostly due to development of resistance. New therapy approaches are therefore urgently needed. Epigenetic alterations due to frequent mutations in epigenetic regulators contribute to development of the disease and to treatment resistance, and provide targets for novel drug combination therapies. Here, we determined the cytotoxic impact of the second-generation bromodomain protein inhibitor (BETi) PLX51107 on UC cell lines (UCC) and normal HBLAK control cells. PLX51107 inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis, and acted synergistically with the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin. While PLX51107 caused significant DNA damage, DNA damage signaling and DNA repair were impeded, a state defined as BRCAness. Accordingly, the drug strongly synergized with cisplatin more efficiently than romidepsin, and with the PARP inhibitor talazoparib to inhibit proliferation and induce cell death in UCC. Thus, a BETi can be used to “episensitize” UC cells to cytotoxic chemotherapy and inhibitors of DNA repair by inducing BRCAness in non BRCA1/2 mutated cancers. In clinical applications, the synergy between PLX51107 and other drugs should permit significant dosage reductions to minimize effects on normal tissues.
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Nini A, Hoffmann MJ, Lampignano R, Große Siemer R, van Dalum G, Szarvas T, Cotarelo CL, Schulz WA, Niederacher D, Neubauer H, Stoecklein NH, Niegisch G. Evaluation of HER2 expression in urothelial carcinoma cells as a biomarker for circulating tumor cells. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2020; 98:355-367. [PMID: 32212383 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) by techniques based on epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is suboptimal in urothelial carcinoma (UC). As HER2 is thought to be broadly expressed in UC, we explored its utility for CTC detection. METHODS HER2 and EpCAM expression was analyzed in 18 UC cell lines (UCCs) by qRT-PCR, western blot and fluorescence-activated cell scanning (FACS) and compared to the strongly HER2-expressing breast cancer cell line SKBR3 and other controls. HER2 expression in UC patient tissues was measured by qRT PCR and correlated with data on survival and risk for metastasis. UCCs with high EpCAM and variable HER2 expression were used for spike-in experiments in the CellSearch system. Twenty-one blood samples from 13 metastatic UC patients were analyzed for HER2-positive CTCs with CellSearch. RESULTS HER2 mRNA and protein were broadly expressed in UCC, with some heterogeneity, but at least 10-fold lower than in the HER-2+ SKBR3 cells. Variations were unrelated to cellular phenotype or clinicopathological characteristics. EpCAM expression was essentially restricted to UCCs with epitheloid phenotypes. Heterogeneity of EpCAM and HER2 expression was observed also in spike-in experiments. The 7 of 21 blood samples from 6 of 13 patients were enumerated as CTC positive via EpCAM, but only one sample stained weakly positive (1+) for HER2. CONCLUSIONS Detection rate of CTCs by EpCAM in UC is poor, even in metastatic patients. Because of its widespread expression, particularly in patients with high risk of metastasis, detection of HER2 could improve identification of UC CTCs, which is why combined detection using antibodies for EpCAM and HER2 may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nini
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Department of Urology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Michèle Janine Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Rita Lampignano
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert Große Siemer
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Guus van Dalum
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Tibor Szarvas
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Urology, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cristina Lopez Cotarelo
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Arthur Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Niederacher
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Disseminated Cancer Cell Network (DCCNet) Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Hans Neubauer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Disseminated Cancer Cell Network (DCCNet) Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Nikolas Hendrik Stoecklein
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Disseminated Cancer Cell Network (DCCNet) Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
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12
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Ossick MV, Ferrari KL, Nunes-Silva I, Denardi F, Reis LO. Chorioallantoic urothelial tumor avatar. A clinical tool for phenotype-based therapy. Acta Cir Bras 2020; 34:e201901207. [PMID: 32049187 PMCID: PMC7011207 DOI: 10.1590/s0102-865020190120000007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In the muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) standard of care treatment only patients presenting a major pathological tumor response are more likely to show the established modest 5% absolute survival benefit at 5 years after cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). To overcome the drawbacks of a blind NAC (i.e. late cystectomy with unnecessary NAC adverse events) with potential to survival improvements, preclinical models of urothelial carcinoma have arisen in this generation as a way to pre-determine drug resistance even before therapy is targeted. The implantation of tumor specimens in the chorioallantoic membrane (MCA) of the chicken embryo results in a high-efficiency graft, thus allowing large-scale studies of patient-derived “tumor avatar”. This article discusses a novel approach that exploits cancer multidrug resistance to provide personalized phenotype-based therapy utilizing the MIBC NAC dilemma.
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13
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Dai M, Cai Z, Chen N, Li J, Wen J, Tan L, Guo D. [Matrine suppresses stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating β-catenin signaling pathway]. NAN FANG YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO = JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2019; 39:1239-1245. [PMID: 31801708 DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2019.10.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of matrine on the proliferation, tumor cell stemness, β-catenin transcriptional activity and AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 and Huh7 cells. METHODS The proliferation and colony formation ability of HepG2 and Huh7 cells treated with 200, 400, and 800 μg/mL matrine were evaluated with MTT assay and colony formation assay, respectively. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expressions of CD90, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD133, and dual-luciferase assay was used to detect the transcriptional activity of β-catenin in the treated cells. The effects of matrine on the expressions of protein kinase B (AKT), P-AKT, GSK-3β, P-GSK-3β, P-β-catenin and β-catenin proteins in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were assessed using Western blotting. RESULTS Matrine inhibited the proliferation of the two HCC cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The half-inhibitory concentrations of matrine were 2369, 1565 and 909.1 μg/mL at 24, 48 and 72 h in HepG2 cells, respectively, and were 1355, 781.8, and 612.8 μg/mL in Huh7 cells, respectively. Matrine concentrationdependently suppressed colony formation of the HCC cells, producing significant inhibitory effects at 400 μg/mL P < 0.01) and 800 μg/mL P < 0.001) in HepG2 cells and at 200 μg/mL P < 0.05), 400 μg/mL P < 0.01), and 800 μg/mL P < 0.001) in Huh7 cells. Matrine at 400 and 800 μg/mL significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of CD90, EpCAM and CD133 and the transcriptional level of β-catenin in both HepG2 and Huh7 cells P < 0.05 or 0.01). Matrine at 400 and 800 μg/mL also significantly decreased the protein levels of β-catenin, P-AKT and P-GSK-3β and increased the phosphorylation level of β-catenin in both of the cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Matrine inhibits the proliferation, colony formation, and the expressions of tumor stem cell markers CD90, EpCAM and CD133 in both HepG2 and Huh7 cells probably by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the transcriptional activity ofβ-catenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqin Dai
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhuo Cai
- Department of Pharmacy, Air Force Hospital of Southern Military Command, Guangzhou 510602, China
| | - Nana Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinzhou Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiayong Wen
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lizhuan Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Dan Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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14
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Skowron MA, Petzsch P, Hardt K, Wagner N, Beier M, Stepanow S, Drechsler M, Rieder H, Köhrer K, Niegisch G, Hoffmann MJ, Schulz WA. Distinctive mutational spectrum and karyotype disruption in long-term cisplatin-treated urothelial carcinoma cell lines. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14476. [PMID: 31597922 PMCID: PMC6785536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50891-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA-damaging compound cisplatin is broadly employed for cancer chemotherapy. The mutagenic effects of cisplatin on cancer cell genomes are poorly studied and might even contribute to drug resistance. We have therefore analyzed mutations and chromosomal alterations in four cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cell lines (LTTs) by whole-exome-sequencing and array-CGH. 720–7479 genes in the LTTs contained point mutations, with a characteristic mutational signature. Only 53 genes were mutated in all LTTs, including the presumed cisplatin exporter ATP7B. Chromosomal alterations were characterized by segmented deletions and gains leading to severely altered karyotypes. The few chromosomal changes shared among LTTs included gains involving the anti-apoptotic BCL2L1 gene and losses involving the NRF2 regulator KEAP1. Overall, the extent of genomic changes paralleled cisplatin treatment concentrations. In conclusion, bladder cancer cell lines selected for cisplatin-resistance contain abundant and characteristic drug-induced genomic changes. Cisplatin treatment may therefore generate novel tumor genomes during patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Patrick Petzsch
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karin Hardt
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nicholas Wagner
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Manfred Beier
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefanie Stepanow
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Matthias Drechsler
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Harald Rieder
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Karl Köhrer
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michèle J Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang A Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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15
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Vlachostergios PJ, Faltas BM. Treatment resistance in urothelial carcinoma: an evolutionary perspective. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; 15:495-509. [PMID: 29720713 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-018-0026-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of treatment-resistant clones is a critical barrier to cure in patients with urothelial carcinoma. Setting the stage for the evolution of resistance, urothelial carcinoma is characterized by extensive mutational heterogeneity, which is detectable even in patients with early stage disease. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy both act as selective pressures that shape the evolutionary trajectory of urothelial carcinoma throughout the course of the disease. A detailed understanding of the dynamics of evolutionary drivers is required for the rational development of curative therapies. Herein, we describe the molecular basis of the clonal evolution of urothelial carcinomas and the use of genomic approaches to predict treatment responses. We discuss various mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy with a focus on the mutagenic effects of the DNA dC->dU-editing enzymes APOBEC3 family of proteins. We also review the evolutionary mechanisms underlying resistance to immunotherapy, such as the loss of clonal tumour neoantigens. By dissecting treatment resistance through an evolutionary lens, the field will advance towards true precision medicine for urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis J Vlachostergios
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bishoy M Faltas
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. .,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Hänze J, Kessel F, Di Fazio P, Hofmann R, Hegele A. Effects of multi and selective targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors on function and signaling of different bladder cancer cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:316-325. [PMID: 29966976 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Signaling of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) is dysregulated in various malignancies including bladder cancer. RTKs trigger pro-proliferative, anti-apoptotic and metastatic signaling pathways. Here, we assessed the effects of a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) (BGJ398) targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and a pan-TKI (TKI258) targeting (FGFR), platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) in bladder cancer cells. METHODS Levels of mRNA transcripts were measured in nine human cell lines by quantitative RT-PCR. Cell function was assessed for viability, colony formation, migration, apoptosis and proliferation. Protein mediators of signal transduction were measured by Western-blot. RESULTS mRNA transcripts encoding RTK-related components, transcription factors, epithelial and mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers as well as cell cycle and apoptotic factors were determined in the cell lines. Principal component analysis ordered one epithelial-like cell cluster (5637, BFTC-905, MGHU4, RT112) and one mesenchymal-like cell cluster (T24, UMUC3, HU456, TCC-SUP). Cell response scores towards TKI258 and BGJ398 treatment were heterogeneous between cell lines and correlated with certain transcript levels. Analysis of signal transduction pathways revealed inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling and induction of cell cycle dependent kinase (CDKN1A, p21) in epithelial-like cells differing in this regard from responses to mesenchymal-like cells that exhibited inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). CONCLUSION RTK and EMT related transcript analysis separate bladder cancer cells in two clusters. Functional responses towards TKI258 and BGJ398 treatment of bladder Fcancer cells were heterogeneous with deviating effects on signaling and possibly different therapeutic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Hänze
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology Philipps-University Marburg, Germany.
| | - Friederike Kessel
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
| | - Pietro Di Fazio
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Hofmann
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
| | - Axel Hegele
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
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17
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Redfern AD, Spalding LJ, Thompson EW. The Kraken Wakes: induced EMT as a driver of tumour aggression and poor outcome. Clin Exp Metastasis 2018; 35:285-308. [PMID: 29948647 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-018-9906-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) describes the shift of cells from an epithelial form to a contact independent, migratory, mesenchymal form. In cancer the change is linked to invasion and metastasis. Tumour conditions, including hypoxia, acidosis and a range of treatments can trigger EMT, which is implicated in the subsequent development of resistance to those same treatments. Consequently, the degree to which EMT occurs may underpin the entire course of tumour progression and treatment response in a patient. In this review we look past the protective effect of EMT against the initial treatment, to the role of the mesenchymal state, once triggered, in promoting disease growth, spread and future treatment insensitivity. In patients a correlation was found between the propensity of a treatment to induce EMT and failure of that treatment to provide a survival benefit, implicating EMT induction in accelerated tumour progression after treatment cessation. Looking to the mechanisms driving this detrimental effect; increased proliferation, suppressed apoptosis, stem cell induction, augmented angiogenesis, enhanced metastatic dissemination, and immune tolerance, can all result from treatment-induced EMT and could worsen outcome. Evidence also suggests EMT induction with earlier therapies attenuates benefits of later treatments. Looking beyond epithelial tumours, de-differentiation also has therapy-attenuating effects and reversal thereof may yield similar rewards. A range of potential therapies are in development that may address the diverse mechanisms and molecular control systems involved in EMT-induced accelerated progression. Considering the broad reaching effects of mesenchymal shift identified, successful deployment of such treatments could substantially improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Redfern
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia (UWA), Harry Perkins Building, Fiona Stanley Hospital Campus, Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
| | - Lisa J Spalding
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia (UWA), Harry Perkins Building, Fiona Stanley Hospital Campus, Robin Warren Drive, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia.,Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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18
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Jolly MK, Kulkarni P, Weninger K, Orban J, Levine H. Phenotypic Plasticity, Bet-Hedging, and Androgen Independence in Prostate Cancer: Role of Non-Genetic Heterogeneity. Front Oncol 2018; 8:50. [PMID: 29560343 PMCID: PMC5845637 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that genetic mutations can drive drug resistance and lead to tumor relapse. Here, we focus on alternate mechanisms-those without mutations, such as phenotypic plasticity and stochastic cell-to-cell variability that can also evade drug attacks by giving rise to drug-tolerant persisters. The phenomenon of persistence has been well-studied in bacteria and has also recently garnered attention in cancer. We draw a parallel between bacterial persistence and resistance against androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer (PCa), the primary standard care for metastatic disease. We illustrate how phenotypic plasticity and consequent mutation-independent or non-genetic heterogeneity possibly driven by protein conformational dynamics can stochastically give rise to androgen independence in PCa, and suggest that dynamic phenotypic plasticity should be considered in devising therapeutic dosing strategies designed to treat and manage PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Keith Weninger
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - John Orban
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, United States
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
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19
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Skowron MA, Melnikova M, van Roermund JGH, Romano A, Albers P, Thomale J, Schulz WA, Niegisch G, Hoffmann MJ. Multifaceted Mechanisms of Cisplatin Resistance in Long-Term Treated Urothelial Carcinoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020590. [PMID: 29462944 PMCID: PMC5855812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin-based treatment of late stage urothelial carcinoma (UC) is limited by chemoresistance. To elucidate underlying mechanisms and to develop new approaches for overcoming resistance, we generated long-term cisplatin treated (LTT) UC cell lines, characterised their cisplatin response, and determined the expression of molecules involved in cisplatin transport and detoxification, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Inhibitors of metallothioneins and Survivin were applied to investigate their ability to sensitise towards cisplatin. Cell growth, proliferation, and clonogenicity were examined after cisplatin treatment by MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, EdU (5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine) incorporation assay, and Giemsa staining, respectively. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were quantified by flow cytometry. mRNA and protein expressions were measured by real-time quantitative (qRT)-PCR, western blot, or immunofluorescence staining. LTTs recovered rapidly from cisplatin stress compared to parental cells. In LTTs, to various extents, cisplatin exporters and metallothioneins were induced, cisplatin adduct levels and DNA damage were decreased, whereas expression of DNA repair factors and specific anti-apoptotic factors was elevated. Pharmacological inhibition of Survivin, but not of metallothioneins, sensitised LTTs to cisplatin, in an additive manner. LTTs minimise cisplatin-induced DNA damage and evade apoptosis by increased expression of anti-apoptotic factors. The observed diversity among the four LTTs highlights the complexity of cisplatin resistance mechanisms even within one tumour entity, explaining heterogeneity in patient responses to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
| | - Margarita Melnikova
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen Medical School, 45122 Essen, Germany.
| | - Joep G H van Roermund
- Department of Urology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Peter Albers
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
| | - Juergen Thomale
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen Medical School, 45122 Essen, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang A Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
| | - Michèle J Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
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20
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Schlütermann D, Skowron MA, Berleth N, Böhler P, Deitersen J, Stuhldreier F, Wallot-Hieke N, Wu W, Peter C, Hoffmann MJ, Niegisch G, Stork B. Targeting urothelial carcinoma cells by combining cisplatin with a specific inhibitor of the autophagy-inducing class III PtdIns3K complex. Urol Oncol 2017; 36:160.e1-160.e13. [PMID: 29276062 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cisplatin-based regimens are routinely employed for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma. However, therapeutic success is hampered by the primary presence of or the development of cisplatin resistance. This chemoresistance is executed by multiple cellular pathways. In recent years, the cellular process of autophagy has been identified as a prosurvival pathway of cancer cells. On the one hand, autophagy enables cancer cells to survive conditions of low oxygen or nutrient supply, frequently found in tumors. On the other hand, autophagy supports chemoresistance of cancer cells. Here, we aimed at investigating the involvement of autophagy for cisplatin resistance in different urothelial carcinoma cell lines. MATERIALS & METHODS We analyzed the expression levels of different autophagy-related proteins in cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant urothelial carcinoma cell lines. Furthermore, we performed cell viability assays and caspase activity assays with cells treated with cisplatin, non-specific or specific autophagy inhibitors (chloroquine, 3-methyladenine, SAR405) or combinations thereof. RESULTS We found that autophagy-related proteins are up-regulated in different cisplatin-resistant urothelial carcinoma cells compared to the sensitive parental cell lines. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy, in general, or of the autophagy-inducing class III PtdIns3K complex, in particular, sensitized both sensitive and resistant urothelial carcinoma cells to cisplatin-induced cytotoxic effects. CONCLUSION We propose that targeting the autophagic machinery might represent a suitable approach to complement or even increase cisplatin efficacy in order to overcome cisplatin resistance in urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Schlütermann
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Niklas Berleth
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philip Böhler
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jana Deitersen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian Stuhldreier
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nora Wallot-Hieke
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wenxian Wu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Peter
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michèle J Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Björn Stork
- Institute of Molecular Medicine I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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21
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Targeting mTOR in urothelial cancer-Beating a dead horse or ready for prime time? Urol Oncol 2017; 35:600-601. [PMID: 28774722 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Various Mechanisms Involve the Nuclear Factor (Erythroid-Derived 2)-Like (NRF2) to Achieve Cytoprotection in Long-Term Cisplatin-Treated Urothelial Carcinoma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081680. [PMID: 28767070 PMCID: PMC5578070 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for advanced-stage urothelial carcinoma (UC) is limited by drug resistance. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) pathway is a major regulator of cytoprotective responses. We investigated its involvement in cisplatin resistance in long-term cisplatin treated UC cell lines (LTTs). Expression of NRF2 pathway components and targets was evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting in LTT sublines from four different parental cells. NRF2 transcriptional activity was determined by reporter assays and total glutathione (GSH) was quantified enzymatically. Effects of siRNA-mediated NRF2 knockdown on chemosensitivity were analysed by viability assays, γH2AX immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. Increased expression of NRF2, its positive regulator p62/SQSTM1, and elevated NRF2 activity was observed in 3/4 LTTs, which correlated with KEAP1 expression. Expression of cytoprotective enzymes and GSH concentration were upregulated in some LTTs. NRF2 knockdown resulted in downregulation of cytoprotective enzymes and resensitised 3/4 LTTs towards cisplatin as demonstrated by reduced IC50 values, increased γH2AX foci formation, and elevated number of apoptotic cells. In conclusion, while LTT lines displayed diversity in NRF2 activation, NRF2 signalling contributed to cisplatin resistance in LTT lines, albeit in diverse ways. Accordingly, inhibition of NRF2 can be used to resensitise UC cells to cisplatin, but responses in patients may likewise be variable.
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Skowron MA, Sathe A, Romano A, Hoffmann MJ, Schulz WA, van Koeveringe GA, Albers P, Nawroth R, Niegisch G. Applying the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay to study treatment approaches in urothelial carcinoma. Urol Oncol 2017; 35:544.e11-544.e23. [PMID: 28551413 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2017.05.003] [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: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid development of novel treatment options demands valid preclinical screening models for urothelial carcinoma (UC). The translational value of high-throughput drug testing using 2-dimensional (2D) cultures is limited while for xenograft models handling efforts and costs often become prohibitive for larger-scale drug testing. Therefore, we investigated to which extent the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay might provide an alternative model to study antineoplastic treatment approaches for UC. METHODS The ability of 8 human UC cell lines (UCCs) to form tumors after implantation on CAMs was investigated. Epithelial-like RT-112 and mesenchymal-like T-24 UCCs in cell culture or as CAM tumors were treated with cisplatin alone or combined with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) romidepsin and suberanilohydroxamic acid. Tumor weight, size, and bioluminescence activity were monitored; tumor specimens were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. Western blotting and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction were used to measure protein and mRNA expression. RESULTS UCCs were reliably implantable on the CAM, but tumor development varied among cell lines. Expression of differentiation markers (E-cadherin, vimentin, CK5, CK18, and CK20) was similar in CAM tumors and 2D cultures. Cellular phenotypes also remained stable after recultivation of CAM tumors in 2D cultures. Bioluminescence images correlated with tumor weight. Cisplatin and HDACi decreased weight and growth of CAM tumors in a dose-dependent manner, but HDACi treatment acted less efficiently as in 2D cultures, especially on its typically associated molecular markers. Synergistic effects of HDACi and subsequent cisplatin treatment on UCCs were neither detected in 2D cultures nor detected in CAM tumors. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the CAM assay is a useful tool for studying tumor growth and response to conventional anticancer drugs under 3D conditions, especially cytotoxic drugs as cisplatin. With some limitations, it might serve as a cost- and time-effective preclinical screening assay for novel therapeutic approaches before further assessment in expensive and cumbersome animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Anuja Sathe
- Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität Muenchen, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michèle J Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang A Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Peter Albers
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Roman Nawroth
- Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität Muenchen, Munich, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Hoffmann MJ, Koutsogiannouli E, Skowron MA, Pinkerneil M, Niegisch G, Brandt A, Stepanow S, Rieder H, Schulz WA. The New Immortalized Uroepithelial Cell Line HBLAK Contains Defined Genetic Aberrations Typical of Early Stage Urothelial Tumors. Bladder Cancer 2016; 2:449-463. [PMID: 28035326 PMCID: PMC5181672 DOI: 10.3233/blc-160065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Background: Cell culture models of normal urothelial cells are important for studying differentiation, disease mechanisms and anticancer drug development. Beyond primary cultures with their limitations in lifespan, interindividual heterogeneity and supply, few conditionally immortalized cell lines with limited applicability due to partial transformation or impaired differentiation capacity are available. We describe characteristics of the new spontaneously immortalized cell line HBLAK derived from a primary culture of uroepithelial cells. Objective: To characterize utility and limitations of HBLAK cells as an urothelial cell culture model. Methods: Differentiation markers were investigated by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR, genetic changes by standard karyotyping, array-CGH, PCR, RT-PCR and exome sequencing; expression of p53 and p21 by Western blotting. Results: HBLAK cells proliferated for >50 passages without senescing. They expressed cytokeratins of basal urothelial cells. Terminal differentiation markers appeared only after induction of differentiation by specific protocols. The karyotype was stable, with few chromosomal changes, especially gains of chromosomes 5 and 20 and a chromosome 9p21 deletion resulting in p16INK4A loss. A C228T TERT promoter mutation was present, but no other mutation typical of urothelial carcinoma. TP53 was wild-type and the cell cycle was arrested in response to genomic stress. Conclusions: HBLAK cells retain some differentiation potential and respond to cytotoxic agents similar to normal urothelial cells, but contain genetic changes contributing to immortalization in urothelial tumors. HBLAK may be valuable for evaluating the tumor specificity of novel cancer drugs, but may also be applied as an urothelial in vitro carcinogenesis model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle J Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Margaretha A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maria Pinkerneil
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Artur Brandt
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefanie Stepanow
- Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Harald Rieder
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang A Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf, Germany
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25
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Zhang Y, Sun B, Zhao X, Sun H, Cui W, Liu Z, Yao X, Dong X. Spheres derived from the human SN12C renal cell carcinoma cell line are enriched in tumor initiating cells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2016; 35:163. [PMID: 27756344 PMCID: PMC5070383 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0442-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Recently, tumor initiating cells (TICs), which possess self-renewal and other stem cell properties, are regarded as the cause of tumor initiation, recurrence and metastasis. The isolation and identification of TICs could help to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Methods In this study, we isolated spheroid cells from human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell line SN12C in stem cell-conditioned medium. The stemness characteristics of spheroid cells, including tumorigenicity, self-renewal, proliferation and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity were evaluated; the expression levels of stemness genes and related proteins were assessed. Furthermore, study examined the differentiation of TICs into endothelial cells and the relationship between TICs and EMT. Results Our data demonstrated that spheroid cells cultured in defined serum-free medium possessed TIC properties, such as high tumorigenic capacity, upregulation of TIC-related genes and proteins, persistent self-renewal and extensive proliferation. Furthermore, spheroid cells were more aggressive in growth, invasion, scratch recovery, clonogenic survival and high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Interestingly, a marked increase in tumor vascularity compared to adherent tumors in vivo, and spheroid cells can differentiate into functional endothelial-like cells in vitro suggesting a role of tumor initiating cells in tumor angiogenesis. The spheroid cells also demonstrated down-regulated E-cadherin and up-regulated Vimentin expression, which is the typical phenotype of EMT. Conclusions These results suggest that spheroid cells with tumor initiating cells-like characteristics contributed to tumor generation, progression, high tumorigenicity, pro-angiogenic capability and relationship with EMT. Further experiments using more refined selection criteria such as a combination of two or multiple markers would be useful to specifically identify and purify TICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Baocun Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China. .,Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China. .,Department of Pathology, Tianjin General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Huizhi Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Tianjin Third Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300170, China
| | - Zhiyong Liu
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Xin Yao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Xueyi Dong
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, Tianjin General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
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Garg M. Epithelial plasticity in urothelial carcinoma: Current advancements and future challenges. World J Stem Cells 2016. [PMID: 27621760 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v8.i8.00] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder is characterized by high recurrence rate where a subset of these cells undergoes transition to deadly muscle invasive disease and later metastasizes. Urothelial cancer stem cells (UroCSCs), a tumor subpopulation derived from transformation of urothelial stem cells, are responsible for heterogeneous tumor formation and resistance to systemic treatment in UC of the bladder. Although the precise reason for pathophysiologic spread of tumor is not clear, transcriptome analysis of microdissected cancer cells expressing multiple progenitor/stem cell markers validates the upregulation of genes that derive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Experimental studies on human bladder cancer xenografts describe the mechanistic functions and regulation of epithelial plasticity for its cancer-restraining effects. It has been further examined to be associated with the recruitment of a pool of UroCSCs into cell division in response to damages induced by adjuvant therapies. This paper also discusses the various probable therapeutic approaches to attenuate the progressive manifestation of chemoresistance by co-administration of inhibitors of epithelial plasticity and chemotherapeutic drugs by abrogating the early tumor repopulation as well as killing differentiated cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minal Garg
- Minal Garg, Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
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27
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Garg M. Epithelial plasticity in urothelial carcinoma: Current advancements and future challenges. World J Stem Cells 2016; 8:260-267. [PMID: 27621760 PMCID: PMC4999653 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v8.i8.260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder is characterized by high recurrence rate where a subset of these cells undergoes transition to deadly muscle invasive disease and later metastasizes. Urothelial cancer stem cells (UroCSCs), a tumor subpopulation derived from transformation of urothelial stem cells, are responsible for heterogeneous tumor formation and resistance to systemic treatment in UC of the bladder. Although the precise reason for pathophysiologic spread of tumor is not clear, transcriptome analysis of microdissected cancer cells expressing multiple progenitor/stem cell markers validates the upregulation of genes that derive epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Experimental studies on human bladder cancer xenografts describe the mechanistic functions and regulation of epithelial plasticity for its cancer-restraining effects. It has been further examined to be associated with the recruitment of a pool of UroCSCs into cell division in response to damages induced by adjuvant therapies. This paper also discusses the various probable therapeutic approaches to attenuate the progressive manifestation of chemoresistance by co-administration of inhibitors of epithelial plasticity and chemotherapeutic drugs by abrogating the early tumor repopulation as well as killing differentiated cancer cells.
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