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Hasan AM, Cavalu S, Saber S, Doghish AS, Hamad RS, Abdel-Reheim MA, Alghamdi M, Alamri MMS, Alfaifi J, Adam MIE, Alqarni AA, Rezigalla AA, Negm S, El-Kott AF, Alshehri AS, BinAfeef SF, Abdel-Ghany S, Attia MA, Mohammed OA. Hedgehog signaling mastery: R51211's promise in augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib. Life Sci 2024; 351:122791. [PMID: 38848936 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122791] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor employed for managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The emergence of sorafenib resistance presents an obstacle to its therapeutic efficacy. One notable approach to overcoming sorafenib resistance is the exploration of combination therapies. The role of hedgehog signaling in sorafenib resistance has been also examined in HCC. R51211, known as itraconazole, has been safely employed in clinical practice. Through in vitro and in vivo investigations, we assessed the potential of R51211 to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib by inhibiting the hedgehog signaling. The zero-interaction potency synergy model demonstrated a synergistic interaction between R51211 and sorafenib, a phenomenon reversed by the action of a smoothened receptor agonist. This dual therapy exhibited an increased capacity to induce apoptosis, as evidenced by alterations in the Bax/BCL-2 ratio and caspase-3, along with a propensity to promote autophagy, as indicated by changes in BECN1, p62, and the LC3I/LC3II ratio. Furthermore, the combination therapy resulted in significant reductions in biomarkers associated with liver preneoplastic alterations, improved liver microstructure, and mitigated changes in liver function enzymes. The substantial decrease in hedgehog components (Shh, SMO, GLI1, and GLI2) following R51211 treatment appears to be a key factor contributing to the increased efficacy of sorafenib. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of R51211 as an adjunct to sorafenib, introducing a new dimension to this combination therapy through the modulation of the hedgehog signaling pathway. Further investigations are essential to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this combined approach in inhibiting the development of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Madalin Hasan
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
| | - Simona Cavalu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
| | - Sameh Saber
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa 11152, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11231, Egypt.
| | - Rabab S Hamad
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; Central Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza 12411, Egypt.
| | - Mustafa Ahmed Abdel-Reheim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Aldawadmi 11961, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt.
| | - Mushabab Alghamdi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohannad Mohammad S Alamri
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Jaber Alfaifi
- Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Masoud I E Adam
- Department of Medical Education and Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdullah Ali Alqarni
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Assad Ali Rezigalla
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sally Negm
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science and Art Mahyel Aseer, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Attalla F El-Kott
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61421 Abha, Saudi Arabia; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt.
| | - Ali S Alshehri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61421 Abha, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Shahad Fuad BinAfeef
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21421, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sameh Abdel-Ghany
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences, Amman 16197, Jordan.
| | - Mohammed A Attia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, AlMaarefa University, Diriyiah, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Osama A Mohammed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt; Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.
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Liu R, Liu Y, Zhang W, Zhang G, Zhang Z, Huang L, Tang N, Wang K. PCK1 attenuates tumor stemness via activating the Hippo signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Genes Dis 2024; 11:101114. [PMID: 38560500 PMCID: PMC10978540 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.101114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer stem cells were found to rely on glycolysis as the preferred metabolic program. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase 1 (PCK1), a gluconeogenic metabolic enzyme, is down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and is closely related to poor prognosis. The oncogenesis and progression of tumors are closely related to cancer stem cells. It is not completely clear whether the PCK1 deficiency increases the stemness of hepatoma cells and promotes the oncogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, the results showed that PCK1 inhibited the self-renewal property of hepatoma cells, reduced the mRNA level of cancer stem cell markers, and inhibited tumorigenesis. Moreover, PCK1 increased the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib. Furthermore, we found that PCK1 activated the Hippo pathway by enhancing the phosphorylation of YAP and inhibiting its nuclear translocation. Verteporfin reduced the stemness of hepatoma cells and promoted the pro-apoptotic effect of sorafenib. Thus, combined treatment with verteporfin and sorafenib may be a potential anti-tumor strategy in hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Wenlu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Guiji Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Zhirong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Luyi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Ni Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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Bartolini D, Stabile AM, Migni A, Gurrado F, Lioci G, De Franco F, Mandarano M, Svegliati-Baroni G, Di Cristina M, Bellezza G, Rende M, Galli F. Subcellular distribution and Nrf2/Keap1-interacting properties of Glutathione S-transferase P in hepatocellular carcinoma. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 757:110043. [PMID: 38789086 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.110043] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The oncogene and drug metabolism enzyme glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP) is also a GSH-dependent chaperone of signal transduction and transcriptional proteins with key role in liver carcinogenesis. In this study, we explored this role of GSTP in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) investigating the possible interaction of this protein with one of its transcription factor and metronome of the cancer cell redox, namely the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Expression, cellular distribution, and function as glutathionylation factor of GSTP1-1 isoform were investigated in the mouse model of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced HCC and in vitro in human HCC cell lines. The physical and functional interaction of GSTP protein with Nrf2 and Keap1 were investigated by immunoprecipitation and gene manipulation experiments. GSTP protein increased its liver expression, enzymatic activity and nuclear levels during DEN-induced tumor development in mice; protein glutathionylation (PSSG) was increased in the tumor masses. Higher levels and a preferential nuclear localization of GSTP protein were also observed in HepG2 and Huh-7 hepatocarcinoma cells compared to HepaRG non-cancerous cells, along with increased basal and Ebselen-stimulated levels of free GSH and PSSG. GSTP activity inhibition with the GSH analogue EZT induced apoptotic cell death in HCC cells. Hepatic Nrf2 and c-Jun, two transcription factors involved in GSTP expression and GSH biosynthesis, were induced in DEN-HCC compared to control animals; the Nrf2 inhibitory proteins Keap1 and β-TrCP also increased and oligomeric forms of GSTP co-immunoprecipitated with both Nrf2 and Keap1. Nrf2 nuclear translocation and β-TrCP expression also increased in HCC cells, and GSTP transfection in HepaRG cells induced Nrf2 activation. In conclusion, GSTP expression and subcellular distribution are modified in HCC cells and apparently contribute to the GSH-dependent reprogramming of the cellular redox in this type of cancer directly influencing the transcriptional system Nrf2/Keap1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirée Bartolini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Stabile
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Anna Migni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Fabio Gurrado
- Department of Gastroenterology, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Gessica Lioci
- Department of Gastroenterology, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
| | | | - Martina Mandarano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianluca Svegliati-Baroni
- Department of Gastroenterology, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy; Obesity Center, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy and Liver Injury and Transplant Unit, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Manlio Di Cristina
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Guido Bellezza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Mario Rende
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Francesco Galli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
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4
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Xu Y, Bai Z, Lan T, Fu C, Cheng P. CD44 and its implication in neoplastic diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e554. [PMID: 38783892 PMCID: PMC11112461 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.554] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
CD44, a nonkinase single span transmembrane glycoprotein, is a major cell surface receptor for many other extracellular matrix components as well as classic markers of cancer stem cells and immune cells. Through alternative splicing of CD44 gene, CD44 is divided into two isoforms, the standard isoform of CD44 (CD44s) and the variant isoform of CD44 (CD44v). Different isoforms of CD44 participate in regulating various signaling pathways, modulating cancer proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, with its aberrant expression and dysregulation contributing to tumor initiation and progression. However, CD44s and CD44v play overlapping or contradictory roles in tumor initiation and progression, which is not fully understood. Herein, we discuss the present understanding of the functional and structural roles of CD44 in the pathogenic mechanism of multiple cancers. The regulation functions of CD44 in cancers-associated signaling pathways is summarized. Moreover, we provide an overview of the anticancer therapeutic strategies that targeting CD44 and preclinical and clinical trials evaluating the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and drug-related toxicity about CD44-targeted therapies. This review provides up-to-date information about the roles of CD44 in neoplastic diseases, which may open new perspectives in the field of cancer treatment through targeting CD44.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Xu
- Department of BiotherapyLaboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ziyi Bai
- Department of BiotherapyLaboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Tianxia Lan
- Department of BiotherapyLaboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Chenying Fu
- Laboratory of Aging and Geriatric Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Ping Cheng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
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5
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Cai C, Liu Q, Shan H, Zhong C, Chen G, Cai Z, Zheng Y, Lu J, Tang J, Lin Z. Aberrant Super-Enhancer Landscape in Enzalutamide-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2024; 28:243-256. [PMID: 38722048 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2023.0280] [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: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which has developed resistance to next-generation antiandrogens, such as enzalutamide (Enz), is a lethal disease. Furthermore, transcriptional regulation by super enhancers (SEs) is crucial for the growth and spread of prostate cancer, as well as drug resistance. The functions of SEs, a significant class of noncoding DNA cis-regulatory elements, have been the subject of numerous recent studies in the field of cancer research. Materials and Methods: The goal of this research was to identify SEs associated with Enz resistance in C4-2B cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag). Using HOMER analysis to predict protein/gene-binding motifs, we identified master transcription factors (TFs) that may bind to SE sites. Using small interfering RNA, WST-1 assays, and qRT-PCR, we then confirmed the associations between TFs of SEs and Enz resistance. Results: A total of 999 SEs were screened from C4-2B EnzR cells in total. Incorporating analysis with RNA-seq data revealed 41 SEs to be strongly associated with the promotion of Enz resistance. In addition, we finally predicted that master TFs bind to SE-binding regions. Subsequently, we selected zinc finger protein 467 (ZFP467) and SMAD family member 3 to confirm the functional connections of master TFs with Enz resistance through SEs (ZNF467). Conclusions: In this study, SMAD3 and ZNF467 were found to be closely related to Enz-resistant CRPC. Our research uncovered a sizable group of SEs linked to Enz resistance in prostate cancer, dissected the mechanisms underlying SE Enz resistance, and shed light on potential clinical uses for SEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Cai
- Department of Urology, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urology, Guangzhou Institute of Urology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinwei Liu
- Department of Urology, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urology, Guangzhou Institute of Urology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haoran Shan
- Department of Urology, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urology, Guangzhou Institute of Urology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanfan Zhong
- Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guidong Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhouda Cai
- Department of Andrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianming Lu
- Department of Andrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaojiao Tang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhuoyuan Lin
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Chen M, Liu Y, Xing W. SALL4 upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor to mediate Hedgehog signaling to inhibit carboplatin sensitivity in colon adenocarcinoma. Pharmacogenomics 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38884945 DOI: 10.1080/14622416.2024.2344429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in colon adenocarcinoma, specifically its impact on sensitivity to carboplatin. Methods: mRNA and clinical information of colon adenocarcinoma samples were obtained from TCGA database. Differential expression analysis, transcription factor prediction, gene set enrichment analysis were performed in silico. qRT-PCR, western blot, CCK-8 and CHIP assay were employed. Results: BDNF demonstrated high expression in colon adenocarcinoma. Silencing of BDNF enhanced carboplatin sensitivity, while exerting opposite effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). BDNF was enriched in Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway. SALL4 was identified as an upstream regulator of BDNF. Upregulation of BDNF by SALL4 promoted EMT and inhibited carboplatin sensitivity. Conclusion: SALL4 promoted BDNF expression to facilitate the aggressive phenotypes of colon adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhan Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, 310013, China
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, The 903rd Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou, 310013, China
| | - Weihua Xing
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuhu Conch Hospital, Wuhu, 241001, China
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7
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Cao J, Hong K, Lv C, Jiang W, Chen Q, Wang R, Wang Y. Reduction-sensitive polymeric carrier for the targeted delivery of a quinazoline derivative for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species against cancer. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:2626-2638. [PMID: 38526801 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm02136j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest malignant tumors and the development of effective therapeutics against HCC is urgently needed. A novel quinazoline derivative 04NB-03 (Qd04) has been proved to be highly effective against HCC without obvious toxic side-effects. However, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability in vivo severely limit its clinical application. In addition, Qd04 kills tumor cells by inducing an accumulation of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is highly impeded by the overexpression of glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells. Herein, we designed a disulfide cross-linked polyamino acid micelle to deliver Qd04 for HCC therapy. The disulfide linkage not only endowed a tumor-targeted delivery of Qd04 by responding to tumor cell GSH but also depleted GSH to achieve increased levels of ROS generation, which improved the therapeutic efficiency of Qd04. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that the synthesized nanodrug exerted good anti-hepatoma effects, which provided a potential application for HCC therapy in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrong Cao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Keze Hong
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Chengqi Lv
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Weiting Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Rongze Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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8
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Zheng J, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Li Z, Yang L, Gao J, Zhu J. Augmentation of hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy by annexin A5 through modulation of invasion and angiogenesis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38742797 DOI: 10.1080/00365521.2024.2353103] [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: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to play a substantial role in cancer-related morbidity and mortality, largely owing to its pronounced tumor heterogeneity and propensity for recurrence. This underscores the pressing need for in-depth examination of its highly malignant mechanisms. Annexin A5 (ANXA5), recognized as a hallmark tumor protein, has emerged as a focal point of interest because of its ambiguous function and mechanism in HCC prognosis. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of ANXA5 in the malignant progression of human HCC cells by employing an integrative approach that combines conventional experimental methods with RNA sequencing. METHODS Differences in ANXA5 expression between HCC tissues and corresponding nontumor tissues were evaluated using immunofluorescence (n = 25). Correlation analysis was subsequently performed to assess the association between ANXA5 expression and clinicopathological features (n = 65). The role of ANXA5 in human HCC cell lines with ANXA5 gene knockout and overexpression was explored in vitro using migration and invasion assays and Ki-67 indices and in vivo based on node mice xenograft model. A tube formation assay using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was conducted to demonstrate the angiogenic effects of ANXA5 in HCC. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing was used to further investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. RESULTS This study revealed that ANXA5 is highly expressed in patients with HCC and correlates with poor prognosis. Assays for migration, invasion, and proliferation based on ANXA5 gene knockout and overexpression systems in human HCC cell lines have demonstrated that ANXA5 enhances HCC malignancy in vitro and in vivo. Tube formation assays of HUVECs indicated that ANXA5 facilitates angiogenesis and recruits endothelial cells to HCC cells. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data analysis further confirmed that ANXA5 expression in HCC is associated with hepatocyte metabolism, immune response activation, and various oncogenic signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a meaningful association between elevated ANXA5 expression in tumor tissues and an unfavorable prognosis in patients with HCC. In addition, ANXA5 promotes HCC malignancy by promoting invasion and angiogenesis. Thus, ANXA5 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for HCC and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuheng Zhou
- Department of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of HCC and Liver Cirrhosis, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Center of Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Institute of Organ Transplantation, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of HCC and Liver Cirrhosis, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Center of Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Institute of Organ Transplantation, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiye Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of HCC and Liver Cirrhosis, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Center of Liver Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Institute of Organ Transplantation, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
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9
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Xu C, Gao X, Ren T, Geng H, Yang K, Huang Y, Zhang W, Hou S, Song A, Zhang Y, Zhao Q. The ADAM17 inhibitor ZLDI-8 sensitized hepatocellular carcinoma cells to sorafenib through Notch1-integrin β-talk. Pharmacol Res 2024; 203:107142. [PMID: 38522759 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
ZLDI-8 is an A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 17 (ADAM17) inhibitor that suppresses the shedding of Notch1 to the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD). In previous studies, we found that ZLDI-8 was able to sensitize HCC to sorafenib, but the mechanism of action remains unclear. The sensitizing effects of ZLDI-8 were tested both in vitro and in vivo. EMT-related factors, sorafenib sensitivity-related proteins and ECM-related gene expression were assessed using immunohistochemistry, RTPCR and Western blotting. Knockdown assays were conducted to determine the relationship between the Notch and Integrin pathways. CoIP assays, nuclear and cytoplasmic fractionation and immunofluorescence colocalization were applied to explore the interaction between the Notch and Integrin pathways. Appropriate statistical analysis methods were used to assess the significance of the experimental results and to ensure the scientific validity and reliability of the experimental design. We found that ECM- and EMT-related proteins were downregulated after ZLDI-8 treatment (P<0.05). ZLDI-8 significantly downregulated Integrinβ1 and Integrinβ3 in HCC in vitro and in vivo (P<0.05), possibly through Foxc2-dependent regulation. Mechanistically, interfering with the expression of both Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and the NICD may downregulate the expression of proteins targeted by sorafenib, thereby sensitizing cells to sorafenib. The retroregulation of Integrinβ by ILK may occur through the interaction between the NICD and ILK and may be the result of the translocation of the complexus. Our study indicates that blocking the Notch pathway may affect Integrinβ through crosstalk between the Notch1 and Integrinβ/ILK signaling pathways, thus providing a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Xu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xudong Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Tianshu Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Hefeng Geng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Kaisi Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yaoguang Huang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Weige Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Shanbo Hou
- Shandong Luoxin Pharmaceutical Group Stock Co., Ltd., No. 18, Huxi Rd., National New and High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Linyi, Shandong 276017, China
| | - Aigang Song
- Shandong Luoxin Pharmaceutical Group Stock Co., Ltd., No. 18, Huxi Rd., National New and High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Linyi, Shandong 276017, China
| | - Yingshi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Qingchun Zhao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China.
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10
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Jeng KS, Chang CF, Tsang YM, Sheen IS, Jeng CJ. Reappraisal of the Roles of the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1739. [PMID: 38730691 PMCID: PMC11083695 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
HCC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related death globally. The main challenges in treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) primarily arise from high rates of postoperative recurrence and the limited efficacy in treating advanced-stage patients. Various signaling pathways involved in HCC have been reported. Among them, the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is crucial. The presence of SHH ligands is identified in approximately 60% of HCC tumor tissues, including tumor nests. PTCH-1 and GLI-1 are detected in more than half of HCC tissues, while GLI-2 is found in over 84% of HCC tissues. The SHH signaling pathway (including canonical and non-canonical) is involved in different aspects of HCC, including hepatocarcinogenesis, tumor growth, tumor invasiveness, progression, and migration. The SHH signaling pathway also contributes to recurrence, metastasis, modulation of the cancer microenvironment, and sustaining cancer stem cells. It also affects the resistance of HCC cells to chemotherapy, target therapy, and radiotherapy. Reappraisal of the roles of the SHH signaling pathway in HCC may trigger some novel therapies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Shyang Jeng
- Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 220, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Fang Chang
- Department of Medical Research, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 220, Taiwan;
| | - Yuk-Ming Tsang
- Department of Imaging Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 220, Taiwan;
| | - I-Shyan Sheen
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Linkou Chang Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan;
| | - Chi-Juei Jeng
- Graduate Institude of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei City 10617, Taiwan;
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11
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Jabri A, Khan J, Taftafa B, Alsharif M, Mhannayeh A, Chinnappan R, Alzhrani A, Kazmi S, Mir MS, Alsaud AW, Yaqinuddin A, Assiri AM, AlKattan K, Vashist YK, Broering DC, Mir TA. Bioengineered Organoids Offer New Possibilities for Liver Cancer Studies: A Review of Key Milestones and Challenges. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:346. [PMID: 38671768 PMCID: PMC11048289 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11040346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatic cancer is widely regarded as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite recent advances in treatment options, the prognosis of liver cancer remains poor. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more representative in vitro models of liver cancer for pathophysiology and drug screening studies. Fortunately, an exciting new development for generating liver models in recent years has been the advent of organoid technology. Organoid models hold huge potential as an in vitro research tool because they can recapitulate the spatial architecture of primary liver cancers and maintain the molecular and functional variations of the native tissue counterparts during long-term culture in vitro. This review provides a comprehensive overview and discussion of the establishment and application of liver organoid models in vitro. Bioengineering strategies used to construct organoid models are also discussed. In addition, the clinical potential and other relevant applications of liver organoid models in different functional states are explored. In the end, this review discusses current limitations and future prospects to encourage further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Jabri
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Jibran Khan
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Bader Taftafa
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Mohamed Alsharif
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Abdulaziz Mhannayeh
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Raja Chinnappan
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Alzhrani
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21423, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shadab Kazmi
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
- Pathology and laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mohammad Shabab Mir
- School of Pharmacy, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh 147301, Punjab, India;
| | - Aljohara Waleed Alsaud
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Ahmed Yaqinuddin
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
| | - Abdullah M. Assiri
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled AlKattan
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yogesh K. Vashist
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dieter C. Broering
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tanveer Ahmad Mir
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia (R.C.); (A.W.A.); (K.A.)
- Tissue/Organ Bioengineering and BioMEMS Lab, Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence (TR&I Dpt), King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
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12
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Lamichhane A, Tavana H. Three-Dimensional Tumor Models to Study Cancer Stemness-Mediated Drug Resistance. Cell Mol Bioeng 2024; 17:107-119. [PMID: 38737455 PMCID: PMC11082110 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-024-00798-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors often contain genetically different populations of cancer cells, stromal cells, various structural and soluble proteins, and other soluble signaling molecules. The American Cancer society estimated 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths in the United States in 2023. A major barrier against successful treatment of cancer patients is drug resistance. Gain of stem cell-like states by cancer cells under drug pressure or due to interactions with the tumor microenvironment is a major mechanism that renders therapies ineffective. Identifying approaches to target cancer stem cells is expected to improve treatment outcomes for patients. Most of our understanding of drug resistance and the role of cancer stemness is from monolayer cell cultures. Recent advances in cell culture technologies have enabled developing sophisticated three-dimensional tumor models that facilitate mechanistic studies of cancer drug resistance. This review summarizes the role of cancer stemness in drug resistance and highlights the various tumor models that are used to discover the underlying mechanisms and test potentially novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astha Lamichhane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325 USA
| | - Hossein Tavana
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325 USA
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13
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Yang W, Chen H, Ma L, Wei M, Xue X, Li Y, Jin Z, dong J, Xiao H. The oncogene MYBL2 promotes the malignant phenotype and suppresses apoptosis through hedgehog signaling pathway in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27772. [PMID: 38510035 PMCID: PMC10950673 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple cancers have been associated with MYB-related protein B (MYBL2), its involvement in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has yet to be demonstrated. Our study revealed a significant upregulation of MYBL2 in ccRCC tissues, correlating with clinicopathological features and patient prognosis. Increased MYBL2 expression promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis. RNA-seq analysis unveiled a reduction in smoothened (SMO) expression upon MYBL2 silencing. However, luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated MYBL2's positive regulation of SMO expression by directly targeting the SMO promoter. Reintroduction of SMO expression in MYBL2-knocked down cells partially restored cell proliferation and mitigated apoptosis inhibition. Overall, these results indicate that MYBL2 facilitates ccRCC progression by enhancing SMO expression, suggesting its potential as an intriguing drug target for ccRCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mengchao Wei
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Xue
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Yingjie Li
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Zhaoheng Jin
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Jie dong
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - He Xiao
- Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing, 100000, China
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14
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Ning RX, Liu CY, Wang SQ, Li WK, Kong X, He ZW. Application status and optimization suggestions of tumor organoids and CAR-T cell co-culture models. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:98. [PMID: 38443969 PMCID: PMC10916304 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor organoids, especially patient-derived organoids (PDOs) exhibit marked similarities in histopathological morphology, genomic alterations, and specific marker expression profiles to those of primary tumour tissues. They are applied in various fields including drug screening, gene editing, and identification of oncogenes. However, CAR-T therapy in the treatment of solid tumours is still at an exploratory stage. Tumour organoids offer unique advantages over other preclinical models commonly used for CAR-T therapy research, which the preservation of the biological characteristics of primary tumour tissue is critical for the study of early-stage solid tumour CAR-T therapies. Although some investigators have used this co-culture model to validate newly targeted CAR-T cells, optimise existing CAR-T cells and explore combination therapy strategies, there is still untapped potential in the co-culture models used today. This review introduces the current status of the application of tumour organoid and CAR-T cell co-culture models in recent years and commented on the limitations of the current co-cultivation model. Meanwhile, we compared the tumour organoid model with two pre-clinical models commonly used in CAR-T therapy research. Eventually, combined with the new progress of organoid technologies, optimization suggestions were proposed for the co-culture model from five perspectives: preserving or reconstructing the tumor microenvironment, systematization, vascularization, standardized culture procedures, and expanding the tumor organoids resource library, aimed at assisting related researchers to better utilize co-culture models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Xuan Ning
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, No. 42 Jiaoping Road, Tangxia Town, Dongguan, 523710, Guangdong Province, China
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Cun-Yu Liu
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shi-Qi Wang
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wen-Kai Li
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xia Kong
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China.
- School of Basic Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Zhi-Wei He
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, No. 42 Jiaoping Road, Tangxia Town, Dongguan, 523710, Guangdong Province, China.
- China-America Cancer Research Institute, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong Province, China.
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15
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Ma X, Wang Q, Li G, Li H, Xu S, Pang D. Cancer organoids: A platform in basic and translational research. Genes Dis 2024; 11:614-632. [PMID: 37692477 PMCID: PMC10491878 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.02.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
An accumulation of previous work has established organoids as good preclinical models of human tumors, facilitating translation from basic research to clinical practice. They are changing the paradigm of preclinical cancer research because they can recapitulate the heterogeneity and pathophysiology of human cancers and more closely approximate the complex tissue environment and structure found in clinical tumors than in vitro cell lines and animal models. However, the potential applications of cancer organoids remain to be comprehensively summarized. In the review, we firstly describe what is currently known about cancer organoid culture and then discuss in depth the basic mechanisms, including tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis, and describe recent advances in patient-derived tumor organoids (PDOs) for drug screening and immunological studies. Finally, the present challenges faced by organoid technology in clinical practice and its prospects are discussed. This review highlights that organoids may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ma
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Sino-Russian Medical Research Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China), College of Pharmacy of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China
| | - Guozheng Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
| | - Shouping Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China
| | - Da Pang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- Sino-Russian Medical Research Center, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, China
- Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China
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16
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Li Y, Guo M, Qiu Y, Li M, Wu Y, Shen M, Wang Y, Zhang F, Shao J, Xu X, Zhang Z, Zheng S. Autophagy activation is required for N6-methyladenosine modification to regulate ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Redox Biol 2024; 69:102971. [PMID: 38056309 PMCID: PMC10749285 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Although ferroptosis holds promise as a new strategy for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there are several obstacles that need to be overcome. One major challenge is the lack of understanding about the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis. Additionally, while the m6A modification has been shown to regulate various forms of cell death, its role in regulating ferroptosis in HCC has been largely overlooked. Bridging this knowledge gap, our study aimed to elucidate the regulatory influence of m6A modification on HCC ferroptosis. MATERIALS Dot blot and EpiQuik m6A RNA Methylation Quantitative kit detected changes in overall m6A modification level during ferroptosis in HCC. MeRIP-qPCR and RIP-qPCR identified that the m6A modification of ATG5 mRNA was significant changed. BALB/c nude mice were used to construct xenograft tumor models to verify the phenotypes upon YTHDC2 silencing. In addition, patient-derived organoid models were used to demonstrate that induction of ferroptosis was an effective strategy against HCC. RESULTS Our study has shown that inducing ferroptosis is a promising strategy for combatting HCC. Specifically, we have found a significant correlation between ferroptosis and high levels of m6A modification in HCC. Notably, we discovered that the elevation of ATG5 mRNA m6A modification mediated by WTAP is dependent on the reading protein YTHDC2. Importantly, inhibition of either WTAP or YTHDC2 effectively prevented ferroptosis and suppressed HCC development in both in vitro and in vivo models. CONCLUSION Our study revealed that WTAP upregulates ATG5 expression post-transcriptionally in an m6A-YTHDC2-dependent manner, thereby promoting the translation of ATG5 mRNA during ferroptosis in HCC. These findings have significant implications for the development of innovative and effective therapeutic approaches for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mei Guo
- School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yangling Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mengran Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Pancreas Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Min Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Yingqian Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jiangjuan Shao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xuefen Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine.
| | - Zili Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Shizhong Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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17
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Xiu Z, Yang Q, Xie F, Han F, He W, Liao W. Revolutionizing digestive system tumor organoids research: Exploring the potential of tumor organoids. J Tissue Eng 2024; 15:20417314241255470. [PMID: 38808253 PMCID: PMC11131411 DOI: 10.1177/20417314241255470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Digestive system tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite ongoing research, our understanding of their mechanisms and treatment remain inadequate. One promising tool for clinical applications is the use of gastrointestinal tract tumor organoids, which serve as an important in vitro model. Tumor organoids exhibit a genotype similar to the patient's tumor and effectively mimic various biological processes, including tissue renewal, stem cell, and ecological niche functions, and tissue response to drugs, mutations, or injury. As such, they are valuable for drug screening, developing novel drugs, assessing patient outcomes, and supporting immunotherapy. In addition, innovative materials and techniques can be used to optimize tumor organoid culture systems. Several applications of digestive system tumor organoids have been described and have shown promising results in related aspects. In this review, we discuss the current progress, limitations, and prospects of this model for digestive system tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhian Xiu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
- Jiujiang Clinical Precision Medicine Research Center, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fusheng Xie
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
- Jiujiang Clinical Precision Medicine Research Center, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Feng Han
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
- Jiujiang Clinical Precision Medicine Research Center, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Weiwei He
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
- Jiujiang Clinical Precision Medicine Research Center, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Weifang Liao
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
- Jiujiang Clinical Precision Medicine Research Center, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China
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18
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Gao Y, Li Y, Zhu Y, Luo Q, Lu Y, Wen K, Du B, Xi X, Li G. Emodin is a Potential Drug Targeting CD44-positive Hepatocellular Cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24:510-518. [PMID: 38099524 DOI: 10.2174/0115680096256913231101103719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer of the digestive system in our country. The most common subtype of this disease is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, treatment options for HCC patients include surgical resection, liver transplantation, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization, and biologic-targeted therapy. However, the efficacy of these treatments is suboptimal, as they are prone to drug resistance, metastasis, spread, and recurrence. These attributes are closely related to cancer stem cells (CSCs). Therefore, the utilization of drugs targeting CSCs may effectively inhibit the development and recurrence of HCC. METHODS HepG2 and Huh7 cells were used to analyze the antitumor activity of emodin by quantifying cell growth and metastasis, as well as to study its effect on stemness. RESULTS Emodin effectively suppressed the growth and movement of HCC cells. Emodin also significantly inhibited the proliferation of CD44-positive hepatoma cells. CONCLUSION Emodin shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent for HCC by targeting CD44-- positive hepatoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- Department of General Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Youling Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Yunhe Zhu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Qiao Luo
- Department of General Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Yifeng Lu
- Department of General Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Ke Wen
- Department of General Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Boyu Du
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Xueyan Xi
- Department of General Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of General Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan City, Hubei Province, 442000, P.R. China
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19
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Song F, Chen Z. Preclinical liver cancer models in the context of immunoprecision therapy: Application and perspectives. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2023; 31:989-1000. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v31.i24.989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, continues to pose challenges in achieving optimal treatment outcomes. The complex nature of HCC, characterized by high spatiotemporal heterogeneity, invasive potential, and drug resistance, presents difficulties in its research. Consequently, an in-depth understanding and accurate simulation of the immune microenvironment of HCC are of paramount importance. This article comprehensively explores the application of preclinical models in HCC research, encompassing cell line models, patient-derived xenograft mouse models, genetically engineered mouse models, chemically induced models, humanized mouse models, organoid models, and microfluidic chip-based patient derived organotypic spheroids models. Each model possesses its distinct advantages and limitations in replicating the biological behavior and immune microenvironment of HCC. By scrutinizing the limitations of existing models, this paper aims to propel the development of next-generation cancer models, enabling more precise emulation of HCC characteristics. This will, in turn, facilitate the optimization of treatment strategies, drug efficacy prediction, and safety assessments, ultimately contributing to the realization of personalized and precision therapies. Additionally, this article also provides insights into future trends and challenges in the fields of tumor biology and preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
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20
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Chen S, Zhou B, Huang W, Li Q, Yu Y, Kuang X, Huang H, Wang W, Xie P. The deubiquitinating enzyme USP44 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by inhibiting Hedgehog signaling and PDL1 expression. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:830. [PMID: 38097536 PMCID: PMC10721641 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06358-y] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest malignancies in the world. Research into the key genes that maintain the malignant behavior of cancer cells is crucial for the treatment of HCC. Here, we identified ubiquitin-specific peptidase 44 (USP44), a member of the deubiquitinase family, as a novel regulator of HCC progression. The tumor suppressive function of USP44 was evaluated in a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Through quantitative proteomics examination, we demonstrated that USP44 inhibits HCC PDL1 expression by downregulating the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Mechanistically, we found that USP44 directly interacts with Itch, an E3 ligase involved in Hh signaling, and promotes the deubiquitination and stabilization of Itch. These events result in the proteasomal degradation of Gli1 and subsequent inactivation of Hh signaling, which ultimately suppresses PDL1 expression and the progression of HCC. Furthermore, the HCC tissue microarray was analyzed by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the pathological relevance of the USP44/Itch/Gli1/PDL1 axis. Finally, the Gli1 inhibitor GANT61 was found to act in synergy with anti-PDL1 therapy. Overall, USP44 can act as a suppressive gene in HCC by modulating Hh signaling, and co-inhibition of Gli1 and PDL1 might be an effective novel combination strategy for treating HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Binghai Zhou
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, PR China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Ye Yu
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Xiuqing Kuang
- Department of Physical Examination, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Huabin Huang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, PR China.
| | - Peiyi Xie
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, PR China.
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21
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Yang Z, Li H, Dong T, Li G, Chen D, Li S, Wang Y, Pan Y, Lu T, Yang G, Zhang G, Cheng P, Wang X. Comprehensive analysis of resistance mechanisms to EGFR-TKIs and establishment and validation of prognostic model. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:13773-13792. [PMID: 37532906 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05129-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the first-line therapy for patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) harboring activating EGFR mutations. However, the emergence of drug resistance to EGFR-TKIs remains a critical obstacle for successful treatment and is associated with poor patient outcomes. The overarching objective of this study is to apply bioinformatics tools to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying resistance to EGFR-TKIs and develop a robust predictive model. METHODS The genes associated with gefitinib resistance in the LUAD cell Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were identified using gene chip expression data. Functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and immune infiltration analysis were performed to comprehensively explore the mechanism of gefitinib resistance. Furthermore, a GRRG_score was constructed by integrating genes related to LUAD prognosis from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database with the screened Gefitinib Resistant Related differentially expressed genes (GRRDEGs) using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analyses. Furthermore, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) features and their association with immune infiltration between different GRRG_score groups. A prognostic model for LUAD was developed based on the GRRG_score and validated. The HPA database was used to validate protein expression. The CTR-DB database was utilized to validate the results of drug therapy prediction based on the relevant genes. RESULTS A total of 110 differentially expression genes were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in Mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Sphingolipid metabolism. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that biological processes strongly correlated with gefitinib resistance were cell proliferation and immune-related pathways, EPITHELIAL_MESENCHYMAL_TRANSITION, APICAL_SURFACE, and APICAL_JUNCTION were highly expressed in the drug-resistant group; KRAS_SIGNALING_DN, HYPOXIA, and HEDGEHOG_SIGNALING were highly expressed in the drug-resistant group. The GRRG_score was constructed based on the expression levels of 13 genes, including HSPA2, ATP8B3, SPOCK1, EIF6, NUP62CL, BCAR3, PCSK9, NT5E, FLNC, KRT8, FSCN1, ANGPTL4, and ID1. We further screened and validated two key genes, namely, NUP62CL and KRT8, which exhibited predictive value for both prognosis and drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified several novel GRRDEGs and provided insight into the underlying mechanisms of gefitinib resistance in LUAD. Our results have implications for developing more effective treatment strategies and prognostic models for LUAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzheng Yang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiming Li
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tongjing Dong
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guangda Li
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shujiao Li
- Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuancan Pan
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Taicheng Lu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guowang Yang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ganlin Zhang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyu Cheng
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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22
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Zaarour RF, Ribeiro M, Azzarone B, Kapoor S, Chouaib S. Tumor microenvironment-induced tumor cell plasticity: relationship with hypoxic stress and impact on tumor resistance. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1222575. [PMID: 37886168 PMCID: PMC10598765 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1222575] [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: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of tumor interaction with stromal components during carcinogenesis is crucial for the design of efficient cancer treatment approaches. It is widely admitted that tumor hypoxic stress is associated with tumor aggressiveness and thus impacts susceptibility and resistance to different types of treatments. Notable biological processes that hypoxia functions in include its regulation of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity. While hypoxia has been reported as a major player in tumor survival and dissemination regulation, the significance of hypoxia inducible factors in cancer stem cell development remains poorly understood. Several reports indicate that the emergence of cancer stem cells in addition to their phenotype and function within a hypoxic tumor microenvironment impacts cancer progression. In this respect, evidence showed that cancer stem cells are key elements of intratumoral heterogeneity and more importantly are responsible for tumor relapse and escape to treatments. This paper briefly reviews our current knowledge of the interaction between tumor hypoxic stress and its role in stemness acquisition and maintenance. Our review extensively covers the influence of hypoxia on the formation and maintenance of cancer stem cells and discusses the potential of targeting hypoxia-induced alterations in the expression and function of the so far known stem cell markers in cancer therapy approaches. We believe that a better and integrated understanding of the effect of hypoxia on stemness during carcinogenesis might lead to new strategies for exploiting hypoxia-associated pathways and their targeting in the clinical setting in order to overcome resistance mechanisms. More importantly, at the present time, efforts are oriented towards the design of innovative therapeutical approaches that specifically target cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- RF. Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - M. Ribeiro
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - B. Azzarone
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S. Kapoor
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - S. Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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23
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Zou Z, Lin Z, Wu C, Tan J, Zhang J, Peng Y, Zhang K, Li J, Wu M, Zhang Y. Micro-Engineered Organoid-on-a-Chip Based on Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Predict Immunotherapy Responses of HCC Patients. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302640. [PMID: 37485650 PMCID: PMC10520686 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Patient-derived organoid (PDO) has great potential in precision oncology, but low success rate, time-consuming culture, and lack of tumor microenvironment (TME) limit its application. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) accumulate in primary site to support tumor growth and recruit immune cells to form TME. Here, MSC and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) coculture is used to construct HCC organoid-on-a-chip mimicking original TME and provide a high-throughput drug-screening platform to predict outcomes of anti-HCC immunotherapies. HCC-PDOs and PBMC are co-cultured with MSC and Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). MSC increases success rate of biopsy-derived PDO culture, accelerates PDO growth, and promotes monocyte survival and differentiation into tumor-associated macrophages. A multi-layer microfluidic chip is designed to achieve high-throughput co-culture for drug screening. Compared to conventional PDOs, MSC-PDO-PBMC and CAF-PDO-PBMC models show comparable responses to chemotherapeutic or targeted anti-tumor drugs but more precise prediction potential in assessing patients' responses to anti-PD-L1 drugs. Moreover, this microfluidic platform shortens PDO growth time and improves dimensional uniformity of organoids. In conclusion, the study successfully constructs microengineered organoid-on-a-chip to mimic TME for high-throughput drug screening, providing novel platform to predict immunotherapy response of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Zou
- Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Zhun Lin
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510006China
| | - Chenglin Wu
- The First Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Jizhou Tan
- The First Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510006China
| | - Yanwen Peng
- The Third Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510635China
| | - Kunsong Zhang
- The First Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Jiaping Li
- The First Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Minhao Wu
- Zhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Yuanqing Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510006China
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24
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Yang Q, Li M, Yang X, Xiao Z, Tong X, Tuerdi A, Li S, Lei L. Flourishing tumor organoids: History, emerging technology, and application. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10559. [PMID: 37693042 PMCID: PMC10487342 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant tumors are one of the leading causes of death which impose an increasingly heavy burden on all countries. Therefore, the establishment of research models that closely resemble original tumor characteristics is crucial to further understanding the mechanisms of malignant tumor development, developing safer and more effective drugs, and formulating personalized treatment plans. Recently, organoids have been widely used in tumor research owing to their advantages including preserving the structure, heterogeneity, and cellular functions of the original tumor, together with the ease of manipulation. This review describes the history and characteristics of tumor organoids and the synergistic combination of three-dimensional (3D) culture approaches for tumor organoids with emerging technologies, including tissue-engineered cell scaffolds, microfluidic devices, 3D bioprinting, rotating wall vessels, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9). Additionally, the progress in research and the applications in basic and clinical research of tumor organoid models are summarized. This includes studies of the mechanism of tumor development, drug development and screening, precision medicine, immunotherapy, and simulation of the tumor microenvironment. Finally, the existing shortcomings of tumor organoids and possible future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Mengmeng Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Xinming Yang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Zian Xiao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Xinying Tong
- Department of Hemodialysis, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Ayinuer Tuerdi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Shisheng Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Lanjie Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
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25
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Jing J, Wu Z, Wang J, Luo G, Lin H, Fan Y, Zhou C. Hedgehog signaling in tissue homeostasis, cancers, and targeted therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:315. [PMID: 37596267 PMCID: PMC10439210 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01559-5] [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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has seen significant advances in our understanding of Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway in various biological events. HH signaling pathway exerts its biological effects through a complex signaling cascade involved with primary cilium. HH signaling pathway has important functions in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. It plays a central role in the regulation of the proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells. Importantly, it has become increasingly clear that HH signaling pathway is associated with increased cancer prevalence, malignant progression, poor prognosis and even increased mortality. Understanding the integrative nature of HH signaling pathway has opened up the potential for new therapeutic targets for cancer. A variety of drugs have been developed, including small molecule inhibitors, natural compounds, and long non-coding RNA (LncRNA), some of which are approved for clinical use. This review outlines recent discoveries of HH signaling in tissue homeostasis and cancer and discusses how these advances are paving the way for the development of new biologically based therapies for cancer. Furthermore, we address status quo and limitations of targeted therapies of HH signaling pathway. Insights from this review will help readers understand the function of HH signaling in homeostasis and cancer, as well as opportunities and challenges of therapeutic targets for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhuoxuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiahe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Guowen Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hengyi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yi Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Cariology and Endodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Chenchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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26
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Gao Q, An K, Lv Z, Wang Y, Ding C, Huang W. E2F3 accelerates the stemness of colon cancer cells by activating the STAT3 pathway. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1203712. [PMID: 37456248 PMCID: PMC10346838 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1203712] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies and causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Thus, further research is required to explicate the latent molecular mechanisms and look for novel biomarkers. E2F3 has been confirmed to be an oncogene in a variety of cancers. However, the particular regulation of E2F3 in colon cancer needs further investigation. Methods The self-renewal ability was detected through a sphere formation assay. The tumorigenic ability was measured through nude mice in vivo assay. The protein expression of genes was examined through a Western blot. The expression of E2F3 in tumor tissues was detected through an IHC assay. The resistance to cisplatin was assessed through the CCK-8 assay. The cell migration and invasion abilities were measured after upregulating or suppressing E2F3 through the Transwell assay. Results Results uncovered that E2F3 was upregulated in spheroid cells. In addition, E2F3 facilitates stemness in colon cancer. Moreover, E2F3 facilitated colon cancer cell migration and invasion. Finally, it was revealed that E2F3 affected the STAT3 pathway to modulate stemness in colon cancer. E2F3 served as a promoter regulator in colon cancer, aggravating tumorigenesis and stemness in colon cancer progression through the STAT3 pathway. Conclusion E2F3 may be a useful biomarker for anticancer treatment in colon cancer.
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27
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Chen Y, Liu Y, Chen S, Zhang L, Rao J, Lu X, Ma Y. Liver organoids: a promising three-dimensional model for insights and innovations in tumor progression and precision medicine of liver cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1180184. [PMID: 37334366 PMCID: PMC10272526 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1180184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is one type of cancer with high incidence rate and high mortality rate in the worldwide. Systemic therapy is the major treatment for PLC, including surgical resection, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. However, mainly due to the heterogeneity of tumors, responses to the above drug therapy differ from person to person, indicating the urgent needs for personalized treatment for PLC. Organoids are 3D models derived from adult liver tissues or pluripotent stem cells. Based on the ability to recapitulate the genetic and functional features of in vivo tissues, organoids have assisted biomedical research to make tremendous progress in understanding disease origin, progression and treatment strategies since their invention and application. In liver cancer research, liver organoids contribute greatly to reflecting the heterogeneity of liver cancer and restoring tumor microenvironment (TME) by co-organizing tumor vasculature and stromal components in vitro. Therefore, they provide a promising platform for further investigation into the biology of liver cancer, drug screening and precision medicine for PLC. In this review, we discuss the recent advances of liver organoids in liver cancer, in terms of generation methods, application in precision medicine and TME modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Chen
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujun Liu
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shimin Chen
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Rao
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinjun Lu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Ma
- Organ Transplant Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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28
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Borlongan MC, Wang H. Profiling and targeting cancer stem cell signaling pathways for cancer therapeutics. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1125174. [PMID: 37305676 PMCID: PMC10247984 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1125174] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation of cells within the tumor that express genetic and phenotypic profiles and signaling pathways distinct from the other tumor cells. CSCs have eluded many conventional anti-oncogenic treatments, resulting in metastases and relapses of cancers. Effectively targeting CSCs' unique self-renewal and differentiation properties would be a breakthrough in cancer therapy. A better characterization of the CSCs' unique signaling mechanisms will improve our understanding of the pathology and treatment of cancer. In this paper, we will discuss CSC origin, followed by an in-depth review of CSC-associated signaling pathways. Particular emphasis is given on CSC signaling pathways' ligand-receptor engagement, upstream and downstream mechanisms, and associated genes, and molecules. Signaling pathways associated with regulation of CSC development stand as potential targets of CSC therapy, which include Wnt, TGFβ (transforming growth factor-β)/SMAD, Notch, JAK-STAT (Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription), Hedgehog (Hh), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Lastly, we will also discuss milestone discoveries in CSC-based therapies, including pre-clinical and clinical studies featuring novel CSC signaling pathway cancer therapeutics. This review aims at generating innovative views on CSCs toward a better understanding of cancer pathology and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia C. Borlongan
- Master Program of Pharmaceutical Science College of Graduate Studies, Elk Grove, CA, United States
| | - Hongbin Wang
- Master Program of Pharmaceutical Science College of Graduate Studies, Elk Grove, CA, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Elk Grove, CA, United States
- Department of Basic Science College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA, United States
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Sun H, Yang H, Mao Y. Personalized treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of targeted medicine and bioengineering. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1150151. [PMID: 37214451 PMCID: PMC10198383 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1150151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health burden, causing approximately 8.3 million deaths each year, and it is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with a relative 5-year survival rate of around 18%. Due to the advanced stage of diagnosis in most patients, systemic treatment based on targeted therapy has become the only feasible option. Genomic studies have established a profile of molecular alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma with potentially actionable mutations, but these mutations have yet to be translated into clinical practice. The first targeted drug approved for systemic treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was Sorafenib, which was a milestone. Subsequent clinical trials have identified multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as Lenvatinib, Cabozantinib, and Regorafenib, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, with survival benefits for the patient. Ongoing systemic therapy studies and trials include various immune-based combination therapies, with some early results showing promise and potential for new therapy plans. Systemic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma is complicated by the significant heterogeneity of the disease and its propensity for developing drug resistance. Therefore, it is essential to choose a better, individualized treatment plan to benefit patients. Preclinical models capable of preserving in vivo tumor characteristics are urgently needed to circumvent heterogeneity and overcome drug resistance. In this review, we summarize current approaches to targeted therapy for HCC patients and the establishment of several patient-derived preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma and how to achieve personalized treatment with the continuous development of targeted therapies and bioengineering technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huayu Yang
- *Correspondence: Huayu Yang, ; Yilei Mao,
| | - Yilei Mao
- *Correspondence: Huayu Yang, ; Yilei Mao,
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30
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Chen K, Li Y, Wang B, Yan X, Tao Y, Song W, Xi Z, He K, Xia Q. Patient-derived models facilitate precision medicine in liver cancer by remodeling cell-matrix interaction. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1101324. [PMID: 37215109 PMCID: PMC10192760 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1101324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is an aggressive tumor originating in the liver with a dismal prognosis. Current evidence suggests that liver cancer is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second most deadly type of malignancy. Tumor heterogeneity accounts for the differences in drug responses among patients, emphasizing the importance of precision medicine. Patient-derived models of cancer are widely used preclinical models to study precision medicine since they preserve tumor heterogeneity ex vivo in the study of many cancers. Patient-derived models preserving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions better recapitulate in vivo conditions, including patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs), patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived tumor spheroids (PDTSs). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different modalities used to establish preclinical models for precision medicine in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwen Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanran Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingran Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuehan Yan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiying Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weizhou Song
- Ottawa-Shanghai Joint School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhifeng Xi
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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31
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Sun XC, Kong DF, Zhao J, Faber KN, Xia Q, He K. Liver organoids: established tools for disease modeling and drug development. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:02009842-202304010-00019. [PMID: 36972388 PMCID: PMC10043560 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, liver organoids have evolved rapidly as valuable research tools, providing novel insights into almost all types of liver diseases, including monogenic liver diseases, alcohol-associated liver disease, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, various types of (viral) hepatitis, and liver cancers. Liver organoids in part mimic the microphysiology of the human liver and fill a gap in high-fidelity liver disease models to a certain extent. They hold great promise to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of a diversity of liver diseases and play a crucial role in drug development. Moreover, it is challenging but opportunistic to apply liver organoids for tailored therapies of various liver diseases. The establishment, applications, and challenges of different types of liver organoids, for example, derived from embryonic, adult, or induced pluripotent stem cells, to model different liver diseases, are presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Cheng Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - De-Fu Kong
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Klaas Nico Faber
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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32
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Chai C, Ji P, Xu H, Tang H, Wang Z, Zhang H, Zhou W. Targeting cancer drug resistance utilizing organoid technology. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114098. [PMID: 36528918 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer organoids generated from 3D in vitro cell cultures have contributed to the study of drug resistance. Maintenance of genomic and transcriptomic similarity between organoids and parental cancer allows organoids to have the ability of accurate prediction in drug resistance testing. Protocols of establishing therapy-sensitive and therapy-resistant organoids are concluded in two aspects, which are generated directly from respective patients' cancer and by induction of anti-cancer drug. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses and gene editing have been applied to organoid studies to identify key targets in drug resistance and FGFR3, KHDRBS3, lnc-RP11-536 K7.3 and FBN1 were found to be key targets. Furthermore, mechanisms contributing to resistance have been identified, including metabolic adaptation, activation of DNA damage response, defects in apoptosis, reduced cellular senescence, cellular plasticity, subpopulation interactions and gene fusions. Additionally, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been verified to be involved in drug resistance utilizing organoid technology. Reversal of drug resistance can be achieved by targeting key genes and CSCs in cancer organoids. In this review, we summarize applications of organoids to cancer drug resistance research, indicating prospects and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changpeng Chai
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China; The Forth Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Pengfei Ji
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Hao Xu
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Huan Tang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Zhengfeng Wang
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
| | - Wence Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China; The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China.
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33
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Yuan J, Li X, Yu S. Cancer organoid co-culture model system: Novel approach to guide precision medicine. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1061388. [PMID: 36713421 PMCID: PMC9877297 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1061388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional cancer organoids derived from self-organizing cancer stems are ex vivo miniatures of tumors that faithfully recapitulate their structure, distinctive cancer features, and genetic signatures. As novel tools, current cancer organoids have been well established and rapidly applied in drug testing, genome editing, and transplantation, with the ultimate aim of entering clinical practice for guiding personalized therapy. However, given that the lack of a tumor microenvironment, including immune cells and fibrous cells, is a major limitation of this emerging methodology, co-culture models inspire high hope for further application of this technology in cancer research. Co-culture of cancer organoids and immune cells or fibroblasts is available to investigate the tumor microenvironment, molecular interactions, and chimeric antigen receptor-engineered lymphocytes in cancer treatment. In light of the recent progress in cancer organoid co-culture models, it is only possible to recognize the advantages and drawbacks of this novel model to exploit its full potential. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the application of cancer organoids and co-culture models and how they could be improved in the future to benefit cancer research, especially precision medicine.
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Xie C, Gu A, Khan M, Yao X, Chen L, He J, Yuan F, Wang P, Yang Y, Wei Y, Tang F, Su H, Chen J, Li J, Cen B, Xu Z. Opportunities and challenges of hepatocellular carcinoma organoids for targeted drugs sensitivity screening. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1105454. [PMID: 36686807 PMCID: PMC9853547 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1105454] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the malignancies worldwide with a high mortality rate and an increasing incidence. Molecular Targeted agents are its common first-line treatment. Organoid technology, as a cutting-edge technology, is gradually being applied in the development of therapeutic oncology. Organoid models can be used to perform sensitivity screening of targeted drugs to facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic agents for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the opportunities and challenges of hepatocellular carcinoma organoids in targeted drug sensitivity testing as well as a future outlook.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiying Xie
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ancheng Gu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Khan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangcao Yao
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Leping Chen
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiali He
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fumiao Yuan
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yufan Yang
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yerong Wei
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang Tang
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hualong Su
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiamin Chen
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinxia Li
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bohong Cen
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China,*Correspondence: Bohong Cen, ; Zhongyuan Xu,
| | - Zhongyuan Xu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Bohong Cen, ; Zhongyuan Xu,
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35
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From mesenchymal niches to engineered in vitro model systems: Exploring and exploiting biomechanical regulation of vertebrate hedgehog signalling. Mater Today Bio 2022; 17:100502. [PMID: 36457847 PMCID: PMC9707069 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue patterning is the result of complex interactions between transcriptional programs and various mechanical cues that modulate cell behaviour and drive morphogenesis. Vertebrate Hedgehog signalling plays key roles in embryogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis, and is central to skeletal development and the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The expression of several components of the Hedgehog signalling pathway have been reported to be mechanically regulated in mesodermal tissue patterning and osteogenic differentiation in response to external stimulation. Since a number of bone developmental defects and skeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis, are directly linked to aberrant Hedgehog signalling, a better knowledge of the regulation of Hedgehog signalling in the mechanosensitive bone marrow-residing mesenchymal stromal cells will present novel avenues for modelling these diseases and uncover novel opportunities for extracellular matrix-targeted therapies. In this review, we present a brief overview of the key molecular players involved in Hedgehog signalling and the basic concepts of mechanobiology, with a focus on bone development and regeneration. We also highlight the correlation between the activation of the Hedgehog signalling pathway in response to mechanical cues and osteogenesis in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. Finally, we propose different tissue engineering strategies to apply the expanding knowledge of 3D material-cell interactions in the modulation of Hedgehog signalling in vitro for fundamental and translational research applications.
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36
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Song SL, Li B, Carvalho MR, Wang HJ, Mao DL, Wei JT, Chen W, Weng ZH, Chen YC, Deng CX, Reis RL, Oliveira JM, He YL, Yan LP, Zhang CH. Complex in vitro 3D models of digestive system tumors to advance precision medicine and drug testing: Progress, challenges, and trends. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 239:108276. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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37
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Ren J, Wang B, Wu Q, Wang G. Combination of niclosamide and current therapies to overcome resistance for cancer: New frontiers for an old drug. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113789. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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38
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Yu YY, Zhu YJ, Xiao ZZ, Chen YD, Chang XS, Liu YH, Tang Q, Zhang HB. The pivotal application of patient-derived organoid biobanks for personalized treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Biomark Res 2022; 10:73. [PMID: 36207749 PMCID: PMC9547471 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00421-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) occupy more than 30% of the cancer-related incidence and mortality around the world. Despite advances in the treatment strategies, the long-term overall survival has not been improved for patients with GICs. Recently, the novel patient-derived organoid (PDO) culture technology has become a powerful tool for GICs in a manner that recapitulates the morphology, pathology, genetic, phenotypic, and behavior traits of the original tumors. Excitingly, a number of evidences suggest that the versatile technology has great potential for personalized treatment, suppling the clinical application of molecularly guided personalized treatment. In the paper, we summarize the literature on the topics of establishing organoid biobanks of PDOs, and their application in the personalized treatment allowing for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy selection for GICs. Despite the limitations of current organoid models, high-throughput drug screening of GIC PDO combined with next-generation sequencing technology represents a novel and pivotal preclinical model for precision medicine of tumors and has a great value in promoting the transformation from basic cancer research to clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ya Yu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan-Juan Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Xiao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ya-Dong Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xue-Song Chang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi-Hong Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qing Tang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Clinical and Basic Research Team of TCM Prevention and Treatment of NSCLC, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Bo Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Oncology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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39
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Dong R, Zhang B, Zhang X. Liver organoids: an in vitro 3D model for liver cancer study. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:152. [PMID: 36085085 PMCID: PMC9463833 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00890-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and its morbidity unceasingly increases these years. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection accounted for approximately 50% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases globally in 2015. Due to the lack of an effective model to study HBV-associated liver carcinogenesis, research has made slow progress. Organoid, an in vitro 3D model which maintains self-organization, has recently emerged as a powerful tool to investigate human diseases. In this review, we first summarize the categories and development of liver organoids. Then, we mainly focus on the functions of culture medium components and applications of organoids for HBV infection and HBV-associated liver cancer studies. Finally, we provide insights into a potential patient-derived organoid model from those infected with HBV based on our study, as well as the limitations and future applications of organoids in liver cancer research.
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40
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Shokouhian B, Aboulkheyr Es H, Negahdari B, Tamimi A, Shahdoust M, Shpichka A, Timashev P, Hassan M, Vosough M. Hepatogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis: Alignment of the main signaling pathways. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:3984-4000. [PMID: 36037302 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Development is a symphony of cells differentiation in which different signaling pathways are orchestrated at specific times and periods to form mature and functional cells from undifferentiated cells. The similarity of the gene expression profile in malignant and undifferentiated cells is an interesting topic that has been proposed for many years and gave rise to the differentiation-therapy concept, which appears a rational insight and should be reconsidered. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as the sixth common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, is one of the health-threatening complications in communities where hepatotropic viruses are endemic. Sedentary lifestyle and high intake of calories are other risk factors. HCC is a complex condition in which various dimensions must be addressed, including heterogeneity of cells in the tumor mass, high invasiveness, and underlying diseases that limit the treatment options. Under these restrictions, recognizing, and targeting common signaling pathways during liver development and HCC could expedite to a rational therapeutic approach, reprograming malignant cells to well-differentiated ones in a functional state. Accordingly, in this review, we highlighted the commonalities of signaling pathways in hepatogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis, and comprised an update on the current status of targeting these pathways in laboratory studies and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahare Shokouhian
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Babak Negahdari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atena Tamimi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Shahdoust
- School of Biological Science, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), Tehran, Iran
| | - Anastasia Shpichka
- World-Class Research Center "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Timashev
- World-Class Research Center "Digital biodesign and personalized healthcare", Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Moustapha Hassan
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Research Center (KFC) and Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Research Center (KFC) and Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (CAST), Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
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Heterogeneity, inherent and acquired drug resistance in patient-derived organoid models of primary liver cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:1019-1036. [PMID: 36036881 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to elucidate the applicability of tumor organoids for inherent drug resistance of primary liver cancer (PLC) and mechanisms of acquired drug resistance. METHODS PLC tissues were used to establish organoids, organoid-derived xenograft (ODX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Acquired drug resistance was induced in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) organoids. Gene expression profiling was performed by RNA-sequencing. RESULTS Fifty-two organoids were established from 153 PLC patients. Compared with establishing PDX models, establishing organoids of HCC showed a trend toward a higher success rate (29.0% vs. 23.7%) and took less time (13.0 ± 4.7 vs. 25.1 ± 5.4 days, p = 2.28 × 10-13). Larger tumors, vascular invasion, higher serum AFP levels, advanced stages and upregulation of stemness- and proliferation-related genes were significantly associated with the successful establishment of HCC organoids and PDX. Organoids and ODX recapitulated PLC histopathological features, but were enriched in more aggressive cell types. PLC organoids were mostly resistant to lenvatinib in vitro but sensitive to lenvatinib in ODX models. Stemness- and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene sets were found to be upregulated, whereas liver development- and liver specific molecule-related gene sets were downregulated in acquired sorafenib-resistant organoids. Targeting the mTOR signaling pathway was effective in treating acquired sorafenib-resistant HCC organoids, possibly via inducing phosphorylated S6 kinase. Genes upregulated in acquired sorafenib-resistant HCC organoids were associated with an unfavorable prognosis. CONCLUSIONS HCC organoids perform better than PDX for drug screening. Acquired sorafenib resistance in organoids promotes HCC aggressiveness via facilitating stemness, retro-differentiation and EMT. Phosphorylated S6 kinase may be predictive for drug resistance in HCC.
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42
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Zhao J, Li M, Xu J, Cheng W. The modulation of ion channels in cancer chemo-resistance. Front Oncol 2022; 12:945896. [PMID: 36033489 PMCID: PMC9399684 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.945896] [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: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels modulate the flow of ions into and out of a cell or intracellular organelle, leading to generation of electrical or chemical signals and regulating ion homeostasis. The abundance of ion channels in the plasma and intracellular membranes are subject to physiological and pathological regulations. Abnormal and dysregulated expressions of many ion channels are found to be linked to cancer and cancer chemo-resistance. Here, we will summarize ion channels distribution in multiple tumors. And the involvement of ion channels in cancer chemo-resistance will be highlighted.
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43
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Mechanisms of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in liver cancer stem cells and potential therapeutic approaches. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:371-386. [PMID: 35818992 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of advanced-stage patients is common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, therapy resistance is often encountered, and its emergence eventually curtails long-term clinical benefits. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are essential drivers of tumor recurrence and therapy resistance; thus, the elucidation of key hallmarks of resistance mechanisms of liver CSC-driven HCC may help improve patient outcomes and reduce relapse. The present review provides a comprehensive summary of the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of TKI resistance in liver CSCs, which mediate treatment failure, and discusses potential strategies to overcome TKI resistance from a preclinical perspective.
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Mir-326 potentiates radiosensitivity of cervical squamous cell carcinoma through downregulating SMO expression in the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Genes Genomics 2022; 44:981-991. [PMID: 35751784 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01276-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiotherapy resistance affects the therapeutic effect of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Smoothened (Smo) is an anticancer target of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway and its mutation is related to drug resistance. OBJECTIVE To explore the roles of miR-326 and Smoothened (SMO) on radiation resistance in patients with cervical carcinoma. METHODS Expression of miR-326 and SMO in cervical cancer tissue and radioresistant cell lines were analyzed. The radiation response with the expression of miR-326 was evaluated in tissue and cells. Bioinformatics analysis and literature review were performed to explore the target of miR-326. The regulation of miR-326 to SMO mRNA was verified through the dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS Patients with poor radiation response have lower miR-326 and higher SMO expression. Upregulation of miR-326 decreased SMO expression and its downstream proteins but does not affect the proliferation of CSCC cells. The upregulation of miR-326 increased radiation sensitivity of the CSCC cell through downregulating SMO and its downstream proteins in the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS miR-326 may predict the treatment response to radiation, and upregulating miR-326 may improve the treatment response to radiation.
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45
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Aslam A, Sheikh N, Shahzad M, Saeed G, Fatima N, Akhtar T. Quercetin ameliorates thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis and oxidative stress by antagonizing the Hedgehog signaling pathway. J Cell Biochem 2022; 123:1356-1365. [PMID: 35696520 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway has emerged as a potential target for effectual hepatic repair based on convincing clinical and preclinical evidence that proves its significance in regulating hepatic damage. The purpose of this study is to probe the effect of quercetin on liver fibrosis through the modulation of the Hh pathway. Healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 10). The control group was treated with saline, rats in the remaining three groups received twice a week intoxication with intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (200 mg/kg) for the induction of hepatic fibrosis for 6 weeks. After 28 days of quercetin and silymarin treatment, histological changes, serum biochemical index, antioxidant enzyme activity, key mediators of Hh pathway and inflammation were analyzed. Serological analysis showed statistically improved cholesterol, H.D.L-Cholesterol, and L.D.L-Cholesterol in the treatment groups. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were found to be increased after the treatment with quercetin and silymarin. mRNA expression of important mediators of the Hh signaling, and inflammation including Shh, Ihh, Ptch-1, Smo, Hhip, Gli-3, TNF-α, NFκ-β, and Socs-3 were significantly downregulated after the use of quercetin and silymarin. Quercetin also minimized the thioacetamide-induced histopathological changes, as confirmed by a lower degree of hepatic lobule degeneration, the intralobular occurrence of inflammatory cells, and a lower degree of hepatocytic necrosis. Sudan Black B staining showed remarked lipids improvements in the treatment groups. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that quercetin could ameliorate hepatic fibrosis by antagonizing the hedgehog pathway and also suggest the hedgehog pathway as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andleeb Aslam
- Cell and Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Nadeem Sheikh
- Cell and Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahzad
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ghazala Saeed
- Cell and Molecular Biology Lab, Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Naz Fatima
- Department of Zoology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Tasleem Akhtar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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Zheng X, Liu X, Lei Y, Wang G, Liu M. Glypican-3: A Novel and Promising Target for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:824208. [PMID: 35251989 PMCID: PMC8889910 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.824208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glypican-3 (GPC3) is a membrane-associated proteoglycan that is specifically up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) although rarely or not expressed in normal liver tissues, making it a perfect diagnostic and treatment target for HCC. Several GPC3-based clinical trials are ongoing and recently several innovative GPC3-targeted therapeutic methods have emerged with exciting results, including GPC3 vaccine, anti-GPC3 immunotoxin, combined therapy with immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T or NK cells. Here, we review the value of GPC3 in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC, together with its signaling pathways, with a specific focus on GPC3-targeted treatments of HCC and some prospects for the future GPC3-based therapeutic strategies in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufeng Zheng
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xun Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanna Lei
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Wang J, Feng X, Li Z, Chen Y, Huang W. Patient-derived organoids as a model for tumor research. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 189:259-326. [PMID: 35595351 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer represents a leading cause of death, despite the rapid progress of cancer research, leading to urgent need for accurate preclinical model to further study of tumor mechanism and accelerate translational applications. Cancer cell lines cannot fully recapitulate tumors of different patients due to the lack of tumor complexity and specification, while the high technical difficulty, long time, and substantial cost of patient-derived xenograft model makes it unable to be used extensively for all types of tumors and large-scale drug screening. Patient-derived organoids can be established rapidly with a high success rate from many tumors, and precisely replicate the key histopathological, genetic, and phenotypic features, as well as therapeutic response of patient tumor. Therefore, they are extensively used in cancer basic research, biobanking, disease modeling and precision medicine. The combinations of cancer organoids with other advanced technologies, such as 3D bio-printing, organ-on-a-chip, and CRISPR-Cas9, contributes to the more complete replication of complex tumor microenvironment and tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the various methods of the establishment and the application of patient-derived organoids in diverse tumors as well as the limitations and future prospects of these models. Further advances of tumor organoids are expected to bridge the huge gap between bench and bedside and provide the unprecedented opportunities to advance cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaoying Feng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhichao Li
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Shenzhen, China; International Cancer Center of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yongsong Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Weiren Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Department of Urology, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Shenzhen, China; International Cancer Center of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
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48
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Yu JH, Ma S. Organoids as research models for hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Cell Res 2021; 411:112987. [PMID: 34942189 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Organoid culture is an emerging research tool that has proved tremendously useful in a multitude of aspects, one of which is cancer research. They largely overcome the limitations of previous cancer models by their faithful recapitulation of the in vivo biology, while still remaining amenable to perturbations. Using a cocktail of biologicals that mimic the stem cell niche signaling, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) organoids could be generated from tissue samples of both human and murine origin. Existing reports show that HCC organoids retain key characteristics of their parental tumor tissue, including the histological architecture, genomic landscape, expression profile and intra-tumor heterogeneity. There is ongoing effort to establish living biobanks of patient-derived cancer organoids, annotated with multi-omics data and clinical data, and they can be particularly valuable in stratification of HCC subtypes, pre-clinical drug discovery and personalized medicine. In the future, efforts in the standardization of procedures and nomenclature, refinement of protocols, as well as engineering of the culture systems will enable scientists to unleash the full potential of organoid technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Hy Yu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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49
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Aptamer-mediated doxorubicin delivery reduces HCC burden in 3D organoids model. J Control Release 2021; 341:341-350. [PMID: 34848243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a surface marker which is frequently overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but minimally expressed on mature hepatocytes. We developed a specific aptamer against EpCAM (EpCAM-apt) and tested its potential as a drug delivery agent for HCC. The targeting ability of EpCAM-apt was confirmed in vitro and in vivo after which the complex was conjugated with doxorubicin (Dox) to form EpCAM-apt-Dox. The targeting efficacy of the drug-loaded complex against liver cancer stem-like cells (LCSCs) and therapeutic effects in HCC were evaluated. EpCAM-expressing (EpCAM+) HCC cells showed characteristics of stem like cells including greater proliferative capacity and tumour sphere formation. EpCAM-apt-Dox selectively delivered Dox to EpCAM+ HCC cells with high drug retention and accumulation versus control. EpCAM-apt-Dox reduced the self-renewal capacity and stem-like cell frequency in vitro. Elimination of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) with EpCAM-apt-Dox significantly inhibited the growth of HCC cells and patient-derived HCC organoids but exerted minimal cytotoxicity to normal liver organoids. Moreover, EpCAM-apt-Dox suppressed the growth of xenograft tumours derived from HCC organoids in vivo and prolonged mouse survival without inducing adverse effects to major organs. Thus, aptamer-based drug delivery to the stem-like cell population is a promising strategy for HCC treatment.
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50
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Qu J, Kalyani FS, Liu L, Cheng T, Chen L. Tumor organoids: synergistic applications, current challenges, and future prospects in cancer therapy. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2021; 41:1331-1353. [PMID: 34713636 PMCID: PMC8696219 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived cancer cells (PDCs) and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are often used as tumor models, but have many shortcomings. PDCs not only lack diversity in terms of cell type, spatial organization, and microenvironment but also have adverse effects in stem cell cultures, whereas PDX are expensive with a low transplantation success rate and require a long culture time. In recent years, advances in three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture technology have led to the development of novel physiological systems that model the tissues of origin more precisely than traditional culture methods. Patient-derived cancer organoids bridge the conventional gaps in PDC and PDX models and closely reflect the pathophysiological features of natural tumorigenesis and metastasis, and have led to new patient-specific drug screening techniques, development of individualized treatment regimens, and discovery of prognostic biomarkers and mechanisms of resistance. Synergistic combinations of cancer organoids with other technologies, for example, organ-on-a-chip, 3D bio-printing, and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homology-independent organoid transgenesis, and with treatments, such as immunotherapy, have been useful in overcoming their limitations and led to the development of more suitable model systems that recapitulate the complex stroma of cancer, inter-organ and intra-organ communications, and potentially multiorgan metastasis. In this review, we discuss various methods for the creation of organ-specific cancer organoids and summarize organ-specific advances and applications, synergistic technologies, and treatments as well as current limitations and future prospects for cancer organoids. Further advances will bring this novel 3D organoid culture technique closer to clinical practice in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Qu
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,Lung Cancer and Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Farhin Shaheed Kalyani
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Thoracic Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Li Liu
- Lung Cancer and Gastroenterology Department, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Tianli Cheng
- Thoracic Medicine Department 1, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, P. R. China
| | - Lijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
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