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Meng F, Zhai X, Ma J, Li A, Wang X, Bai J. Enzyme-Induced Shape-Shifting Peptide Nanocarrier Coloaded with Paclitaxel and Dipyridamole Inhibits Platelet Function and Tumor Metastasis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:166-177. [PMID: 38143309 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c13855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-associated platelets can bind to tumor cells and protect circulating tumor cells from NK-mediated immune surveillance. Tumor-associated platelets secrete cytokines to induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells, which promotes tumor metastasis. Combining chemotherapeutic agents with antiplatelet drugs can reduce the occurrence of metastasis, but the systemic application of chemotherapeutic agents and antiplatelet drugs is prone to causing serious side effects. Therefore, delivering drugs to the tumor microthrombus site for long-lasting inhibition is a problem that needs to be addressed. Here, we show that small molecule peptide nanoparticles containing the Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala (CREKA) peptide can deliver the platelet inhibitor dipyridamole (DIP) and the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PTX) to tumor tissues, thereby inhibiting tumor-associated platelet function while killing tumor cells. The drug-loaded nanoparticles PD/Pep1 inhibited platelet-tumor cell interactions, were effectively taken up by tumor cells, and underwent morphological transformation induced by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to prolong the retention time of the drugs. After intravenous injection, PD/Pep1 can target tumors and inhibit tumor metastasis. Thus, this small molecule peptide nanoformulation provides a simple strategy for efficient drug delivery and shows promise as a novel cancer therapy platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanhu Meng
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Xiaoqing Zhai
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Jihong Ma
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Aimei Li
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Xizhen Wang
- Medical Imaging Center, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
| | - Jingkun Bai
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
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Guizhen Z, Guanchang J, Liwen L, Huifen W, Zhigang R, Ranran S, Zujiang Y. The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and its targeting strategy by CAR-T cell immunotherapy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:918869. [PMID: 36093115 PMCID: PMC9452721 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.918869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major subtype of liver cancer, which ranks sixth in cancer incidence and third in mortality. Although great strides have been made in novel therapy for HCC, such as immunotherapy, the prognosis remains less than satisfactory. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) exerts a significant role in the evolution of HCC and has a non-negligible impact on the efficacy of HCC treatment. In the past two decades, the success in hematological malignancies made by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cell therapy leveraging it holds great promise for cancer treatment. However, in the face of a hostile TME in solid tumors like HCC, the efficacy of CAR-T cells will be greatly compromised. Here, we provide an overview of TME features in HCC, discuss recent advances and challenges of CAR-T immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Guizhen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Guanchang
- Department of Urology People’s Hospital of Puyang, Puyang, China
| | - Liu Liwen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wang Huifen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ren Zhigang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sun Ranran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Zujiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
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3
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Gallon J, Coto-Llerena M, Ercan C, Bianco G, Paradiso V, Nuciforo S, Taha-Melitz S, Meier MA, Boldanova T, Pérez-Del-Pulgar S, Rodríguez-Tajes S, von Flüe M, Soysal SD, Kollmar O, Llovet JM, Villanueva A, Terracciano LM, Heim MH, Ng CKY, Piscuoglio S. Epigenetic priming in chronic liver disease impacts the transcriptional and genetic landscapes of hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:665-682. [PMID: 34863035 PMCID: PMC8807355 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) usually arise from chronic liver disease (CLD). Precancerous cells in chronically inflamed environments may be 'epigenetically primed', sensitising them to oncogenic transformation. We investigated whether epigenetic priming in CLD may affect HCC outcomes by influencing the genomic and transcriptomic landscapes of HCC. Analysis of DNA methylation arrays from 10 paired CLD-HCC identified 339 shared dysregulated CpG sites and 18 shared differentially methylated regions compared with healthy livers. These regions were associated with dysregulated expression of genes with relevance in HCC, including ubiquitin D (UBD), cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 19 (CYP2C19) and O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Methylation changes were recapitulated in an independent cohort of nine paired CLD-HCC. High CLD methylation score, defined using the 124 dysregulated CpGs in CLD and HCC in both cohorts, was associated with poor survival, increased somatic genetic alterations and TP53 mutations in two independent HCC cohorts. Oncogenic transcriptional and methylation dysregulation is evident in CLD and compounded in HCC. Epigenetic priming in CLD sculpts the transcriptional landscape of HCC and creates an environment favouring the acquisition of genetic alterations, suggesting that the extent of epigenetic priming in CLD could influence disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Gallon
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mairene Coto-Llerena
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Caner Ercan
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gaia Bianco
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Viola Paradiso
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sandro Nuciforo
- Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Taha-Melitz
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Anne Meier
- Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tujana Boldanova
- Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Markus von Flüe
- Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Savas D Soysal
- Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Otto Kollmar
- Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Josep M Llovet
- Translational Research in Hepatic Oncology, Liver Unit, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Spain.,Liver Cancer Program, Divisions of Liver Diseases and Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Liver Cancer Program, Divisions of Liver Diseases and Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luigi M Terracciano
- Department of Pathology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Markus H Heim
- Hepatology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Clarunis, Department of Visceral Surgery, University Centre for Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, St. Clara Hospital and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte K Y Ng
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Switzerland.,SIB, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Piscuoglio
- Visceral Surgery and Precision Medicine Research Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
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Blidisel A, Marcovici I, Coricovac D, Hut F, Dehelean CA, Cretu OM. Experimental Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma-A Preclinical Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3651. [PMID: 34359553 PMCID: PMC8344976 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most frequent form of primary liver carcinoma, is a heterogenous and complex tumor type with increased incidence, poor prognosis, and high mortality. The actual therapeutic arsenal is narrow and poorly effective, rendering this disease a global health concern. Although considerable progress has been made in terms of understanding the pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms, genetics, and therapeutical approaches, several facets of human HCC remain undiscovered. A valuable and prompt approach to acquire further knowledge about the unrevealed aspects of HCC and novel therapeutic candidates is represented by the application of experimental models. Experimental models (in vivo and in vitro 2D and 3D models) are considered reliable tools to gather data for clinical usability. This review offers an overview of the currently available preclinical models frequently applied for the study of hepatocellular carcinoma in terms of initiation, development, and progression, as well as for the discovery of efficient treatments, highlighting the advantages and the limitations of each model. Furthermore, we also focus on the role played by computational studies (in silico models and artificial intelligence-based prediction models) as promising novel tools in liver cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Blidisel
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania; (A.B.); (F.H.); (O.M.C.)
| | - Iasmina Marcovici
- Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Dorina Coricovac
- Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Florin Hut
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania; (A.B.); (F.H.); (O.M.C.)
| | - Cristina Adriana Dehelean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Octavian Marius Cretu
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, RO-300041 Timișoara, Romania; (A.B.); (F.H.); (O.M.C.)
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