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Zafar S, Armaghan M, Khan K, Hassan N, Sharifi-Rad J, Habtemariam S, Kieliszek M, Butnariu M, Bagiu IC, Bagiu RV, Cho WC. New insights into the anticancer therapeutic potential of maytansine and its derivatives. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115039. [PMID: 37364476 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Maytansine is a pharmacologically active 19-membered ansamacrolide derived from various medicinal plants and microorganisms. Among the most studied pharmacological activities of maytansine over the past few decades are anticancer and anti-bacterial effects. The anticancer mechanism of action is primarily mediated through interaction with the tubulin thereby inhibiting the assembly of microtubules. This ultimately leads to decreased stability of microtubule dynamics and cause cell cycle arrest, resulting in apoptosis. Despite its potent pharmacological effects, the therapeutic applications of maytansine in clinical medicine are quite limited due to its non-selective cytotoxicity. To overcome these limitations, several derivatives have been designed and developed mostly by modifying the parent structural skeleton of maytansine. These structural derivatives exhibit improved pharmacological activities as compared to maytansine. The present review provides a valuable insight into maytansine and its synthetic derivatives as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameen Zafar
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Armaghan
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Khushbukhat Khan
- Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Nazia Hassan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research & Herbal Analysis Services UK, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham-Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK.
| | - Marek Kieliszek
- Department of Food Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159 C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Monica Butnariu
- University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timisoara, 300645, Calea Aradului 119, Timis, Romania.
| | - Iulia-Cristina Bagiu
- Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Department of Microbiology, Timisoara, Romania; Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Radu Vasile Bagiu
- Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Department of Microbiology, Timisoara, Romania; Preventive Medicine Study Center, Timisoara, Romania
| | - William C Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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2
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Munnik C, Xaba MP, Malindisa ST, Russell BL, Sooklal SA. Drosophila melanogaster: A platform for anticancer drug discovery and personalized therapies. Front Genet 2022; 13:949241. [PMID: 36003330 PMCID: PMC9393232 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.949241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease whereby multiple genetic aberrations, epigenetic modifications, metabolic reprogramming, and the microenvironment contribute to the development of a tumor. In the traditional anticancer drug discovery pipeline, drug candidates are usually screened in vitro using two-dimensional or three-dimensional cell culture. However, these methods fail to accurately mimic the human disease state. This has led to the poor success rate of anticancer drugs in the preclinical stages since many drugs are abandoned due to inefficacy or toxicity when transitioned to whole-organism models. The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has emerged as a beneficial system for modeling human cancers. Decades of fundamental research have shown the evolutionary conservation of key genes and signaling pathways between flies and humans. Moreover, Drosophila has a lower genetic redundancy in comparison to mammals. These factors, in addition to the advancement of genetic toolkits for manipulating gene expression, allow for the generation of complex Drosophila genotypes and phenotypes. Numerous studies have successfully created Drosophila models for colorectal, lung, thyroid, and brain cancers. These models were utilized in the high-throughput screening of FDA-approved drugs which led to the identification of several compounds capable of reducing proliferation and rescuing phenotypes. More noteworthy, Drosophila has also unlocked the potential for personalized therapies. Drosophila ‘avatars’ presenting the same mutations as a patient are used to screen multiple therapeutic agents targeting multiple pathways to find the most appropriate combination of drugs. The outcomes of these studies have translated to significant responses in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma and metastatic colorectal cancers. Despite not being widely utilized, the concept of in vivo screening of drugs in Drosophila is making significant contributions to the current drug discovery pipeline. In this review, we discuss the application of Drosophila as a platform in anticancer drug discovery; with special focus on the cancer models that have been generated, drug libraries that have been screened and the status of personalized therapies. In addition, we elaborate on the biological and technical limitations of this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamoné Munnik
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Malungi P. Xaba
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sibusiso T. Malindisa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Bonnie L. Russell
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
- Buboo (Pty) Ltd, The Innovation Hub, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Selisha A. Sooklal
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Selisha A. Sooklal,
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3
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena E. Richardson
- Cell Cycle and Development Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 7 St Andrew's place, East Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 7 St Andrew's place, East Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, 1-100 Grattan street, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, 1-100 Grattan street, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
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4
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Mignot F, Kirova Y, Verrelle P, Teulade-Fichou MP, Megnin-Chanet F. In vitro effects of Trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1) and concurrent irradiation on HER2-positive breast cancer cells. Cancer Radiother 2021; 25:126-134. [PMID: 33431297 DOI: 10.1016/j.canrad.2020.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine the effects of concurrent irradiation and T-DM1 on HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines. METHODS Five human breast cancer cell lines (in vitro study) presenting various levels of HER2 expression were used to determine the potential therapeutic effect of T-DM1 combined with radiation. The toxicity of T-DM1 was assessed using viability assay and cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry after BrdU incorporation. HER2 cells were irradiated at different dose levels after exposure to T-DM1. Survival curves were determined by cell survival assays (after 5 population doubling times). RESULTS The results revealed that T-DM1 induced significant lethality due to the intracellular action of DM1 on the cell cycle with significant G2/M phase blocking. Even after a short time incubation, the potency of T-DM1 was maintained and even enhanced over time, with a higher rate of cell death. After irradiation alone, the D10 (dose required to achieve 10% cell survival) was significantly higher for high HER2-expressing cell lines than for low HER2-expressing cells, with a linearly increasing relationship. In combination with irradiation, using conditions that allow cell survival, T-DM1 does not induce a radiosensitivity. CONCLUSIONS Although there is a linear correlation between intrinsic HER2 expression and radioresistance, the results indicated that T-DM1 is not a radiation-sensitizer under the experimental conditions of this study that allowed cell survival. However, further investigations are needed, in particular in vivo studies before reaching a final conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Mignot
- Institut Curie, département de radiothérapie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Y Kirova
- Institut Curie, département de radiothérapie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
| | - P Verrelle
- Institut Curie, département de radiothérapie, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
| | - M-P Teulade-Fichou
- Institut Curie, Bât. 110-112, rue H. Becquerel, centre universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, centre universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France; INSERM U1196/CNRS UMR9187, France
| | - F Megnin-Chanet
- Institut Curie, Bât. 110-112, rue H. Becquerel, centre universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France; Université Paris-Saclay, centre universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France; INSERM U1196/CNRS UMR9187, France
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5
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Jonckheere S, Adams J, De Groote D, Campbell K, Berx G, Goossens S. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) as a Therapeutic Target. Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 211:157-182. [PMID: 33401271 DOI: 10.1159/000512218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumour to distant sites and organs throughout the body. It is the primary cause of cancer morbidity and mortality, and is estimated to account for 90% of cancer-related deaths. During the initial steps of the metastatic cascade, epithelial cancer cells undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and as a result become migratory and invasive mesenchymal-like cells while acquiring cancer stem cell properties and therapy resistance. As EMT is involved in such a broad range of processes associated with malignant transformation, it has become an increasingly interesting target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Anti-EMT therapeutic strategies could potentially not only prevent the invasion and dissemination of cancer cells, and as such prevent the formation of metastatic lesions, but also attenuate cancer stemness and increase the effectiveness of more classical chemotherapeutics. In this review, we give an overview about the pros and cons of therapies targeting EMT and discuss some already existing candidate drug targets and high-throughput screening tools to identify novel anti-EMT compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Jonckheere
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jamie Adams
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic De Groote
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kyra Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Geert Berx
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, .,Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium,
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6
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Shim KH, Kim SH, Hur J, Kim DH, Demirev AV, Yoon SY. Small-molecule drug screening identifies drug Ro 31-8220 that reduces toxic phosphorylated tau in Drosophila melanogaster. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104519. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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7
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Cagan RL, Zon LI, White RM. Modeling Cancer with Flies and Fish. Dev Cell 2019; 49:317-324. [PMID: 31063751 PMCID: PMC6506185 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer has joined heart disease as the leading source of mortality in the US. In an era of organoids, patient-derived xenografts, and organs on a chip, model organisms continue to thrive with a combination of powerful genetic tools, rapid pace of discovery, and affordability. Model organisms enable the analysis of both the tumor and its associated microenvironment, aspects that are particularly relevant to our understanding of metastasis and drug resistance. In this Perspective, we explore some of the strengths of fruit flies and zebrafish for addressing fundamental cancer questions and how these two organisms can contribute to identifying promising therapeutic candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross L Cagan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Richard M White
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Su TT. Drug screening in Drosophila; why, when, and when not? WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2019; 8:e346. [PMID: 31056843 DOI: 10.1002/wdev.346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The best global seller among oncology drugs in 2018 is lenalidomide, an analog of thalidomide. It took 53 years and a circuitous route from the discovery of thalidomide to approval of an analog for use in treatment of cancer. We understand now a lot more about the genetic and molecular basis of diseases than we did in 1953 when thalidomide was discovered. We have also no shortage of chemical libraries with hundreds of thousands of compounds, both synthetic and natural. What we need are better ways to search among these rich resources for compounds with the potential to do what we want them to do. This review summarizes examples from the literature that make Drosophila melanogaster a good model to screen for drugs, and discusses knowledge gaps and technical challenges that make Drosophila models not as widely used as they could or should be. This article is categorized under: Technologies > Analysis of Cell, Tissue, and Animal Phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tin Tin Su
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.,Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
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9
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Stumpf PK, Cittelly DM, Robin TP, Carlson JA, Stuhr KA, Contreras-Zarate MJ, Lai S, Ormond DR, Rusthoven CG, Gaspar LE, Rabinovitch R, Kavanagh BD, Liu A, Diamond JR, Kabos P, Fisher CM. Combination of Trastuzumab Emtansine and Stereotactic Radiosurgery Results in High Rates of Clinically Significant Radionecrosis and Dysregulation of Aquaporin-4. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:3946-3953. [PMID: 30940654 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-2851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with human EGFR2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer have a high incidence of brain metastases, and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is often employed. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is frequently utilized, and case series report increased toxicity with combination SRS and T-DM1. We provide an update of our experience of T-DM1 and SRS evaluating risk of clinically significant radionecrosis (CSRN) and propose a mechanism for this toxicity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Patients with breast cancer who were ≤45 years regardless of HER2 status or had HER2+ disease regardless of age and underwent SRS for brain metastases were included. Rates of CSRN, SRS data, and details of T-DM1 administration were recorded. Proliferation and astrocytic swelling studies were performed to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity. RESULTS A total of 45 patients were identified; 66.7% were HER2+, and 60.0% were ≤ 45 years old. Of the entire cohort, 10 patients (22.2%) developed CSRN, 9 of whom received T-DM1. CSRN was observed in 39.1% of patients who received T-DM1 versus 4.5% of patients who did not. Receipt of T-DM1 was associated with a 13.5-fold (P = 0.02) increase in CSRN. Mechanistically, T-DM1 targeted reactive astrocytes and increased radiation-induced cytotoxicity and astrocytic swelling via upregulation of Aquaporin-4 (Aqp4). CONCLUSIONS The strong correlation between development of CSRN after SRS and T-DM1 warrants prospective studies controlling for variations in timing of T-DM1 and radiation dosing to further stratify risk of CSRN and mitigate toxicity. Until such studies are completed, we advise caution in the combination of SRS and T-DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla K Stumpf
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
| | - Diana M Cittelly
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Tyler P Robin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Julie A Carlson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Mary's Oncology Group, Grand Junction, Colorado
| | - Kelly A Stuhr
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Steven Lai
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - D Ryan Ormond
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Chad G Rusthoven
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Laurie E Gaspar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Rachel Rabinovitch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Brian D Kavanagh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Arthur Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jennifer R Diamond
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Peter Kabos
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
| | - Christine M Fisher
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.
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10
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Mirzoyan Z, Sollazzo M, Allocca M, Valenza AM, Grifoni D, Bellosta P. Drosophila melanogaster: A Model Organism to Study Cancer. Front Genet 2019; 10:51. [PMID: 30881374 PMCID: PMC6405444 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multistep disease driven by the activation of specific oncogenic pathways concomitantly with the loss of function of tumor suppressor genes that act as sentinels to control physiological growth. The conservation of most of these signaling pathways in Drosophila, and the ability to easily manipulate them genetically, has made the fruit fly a useful model organism to study cancer biology. In this review we outline the basic mechanisms and signaling pathways conserved between humans and flies responsible of inducing uncontrolled growth and cancer development. Second, we describe classic and novel Drosophila models used to study different cancers, with the objective to discuss their strengths and limitations on their use to identify signals driving growth cell autonomously and within organs, drug discovery and for therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhasmine Mirzoyan
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Manuela Sollazzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Allocca
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Daniela Grifoni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Bellosta
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.,Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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11
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Park J, Ahn HM, Kwon T, Seo S, Park S, Jin YW, Seong KM. Epithelial cell shape change of Drosophila as a biomonitoring model for the dose assessment of environmental radiation. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 157:292-299. [PMID: 29627413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.03.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Inevitable exposure to ionizing radiation from natural and human-made sources has been increasing over time. After nuclear disasters, such as the Fukushima accident, the public concerns on health risk of radiation exposure because of radioactive contamination of the environment have increased. However, it is very difficult to assess the biological effects of exposure caused by environmental radiation. A reliable and rapid bioassay to monitor the physiological effects of radiation exposure is therefore needed. Here, we quantitatively analyzed the changes in cell shape in Drosophila epidermis after irradiation as a model for biomonitoring of radiation. Interestingly, the number of irregularly shaped epithelial cells was increased by irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. A dose-response curve constructed with the obtained data suggests that the measurement of the number of irregular shaped cell in the epidermis is useful for the assessment of radiation dose. In addition, a comparison of the variation in the different samples and the data scored by different observers showed that our evaluation for cellular morphology was highly reliable and accurate and would, therefore, have immense practical application. Overall, our study suggests that detection of morphological changes in the epithelial cells is one of the efficient ways to quantify the levels of exposure to radioactive radiation from the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jina Park
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyo Min Ahn
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
| | - TaeWoo Kwon
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
| | - Songwon Seo
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sunhoo Park
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea; Departments of Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Woo Jin
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ki Moon Seong
- Laboratory of Low Dose Risk Assessment, National Radiation Emergency Medical Center, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
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12
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Morciano P, Cipressa F, Porrazzo A, Esposito G, Tabocchini MA, Cenci G. Fruit Flies Provide New Insights in Low-Radiation Background Biology at the INFN Underground Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS). Radiat Res 2018; 190:217-225. [PMID: 29863430 DOI: 10.1667/rr15083.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Deep underground laboratories (DULs) were originally created to host particle, astroparticle or nuclear physics experiments requiring a low-background environment with vastly reduced levels of cosmic-ray particle interference. More recently, the range of science projects requiring an underground experiment site has greatly expanded, thus leading to the recognition of DULs as truly multidisciplinary science sites that host important studies in several fields, including geology, geophysics, climate and environmental sciences, technology/instrumentation development and biology. So far, underground biology experiments are ongoing or planned in a few of the currently operating DULs. Among these DULs is the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (LNGS), where the majority of radiobiological data have been collected. Here we provide a summary of the current scenario of DULs around the world, as well as the specific features of the LNGS and a summary of the results we obtained so far, together with other findings collected in different underground laboratories. In particular, we focus on the recent results from our studies of Drosophila melanogaster, which provide the first evidence of the influence of the radiation environment on life span, fertility and response to genotoxic stress at the organism level. Given the increasing interest in this field and the establishment of new projects, it is possible that in the near future more DULs will serve as sites of radiobiology experiments, thus providing further relevant biological information at extremely low-dose-rate radiation. Underground experiments can be nicely complemented with above-ground studies at increasing dose rate. A systematic study performed in different exposure scenarios provides a potential opportunity to address important radiation protection questions, such as the dose/dose-rate relationship for cancer and non-cancer risk, the possible existence of dose/dose-rate threshold(s) for different biological systems and/or end points and the possible role of radiation quality in triggering the biological response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Morciano
- a Dipartimento Biologia e Biotecnologie "C. Darwin", SAPIENZA Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Cipressa
- a Dipartimento Biologia e Biotecnologie "C. Darwin", SAPIENZA Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.,c Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Porrazzo
- a Dipartimento Biologia e Biotecnologie "C. Darwin", SAPIENZA Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Esposito
- b Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS) and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Antonella Tabocchini
- b Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS) and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione Roma 1, Rome, Italy.,c Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cenci
- a Dipartimento Biologia e Biotecnologie "C. Darwin", SAPIENZA Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.,c Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", Rome, Italy
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13
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Das TK, Cagan RL. Non-mammalian models of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:T91-T104. [PMID: 29348307 PMCID: PMC5935467 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Twenty-five years ago, RET was identified as the primary driver of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) syndrome. MEN2 is characterized by several transformation events including pheochromocytoma, parathyroid adenoma and, especially penetrant, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Overall, MTC is a rare but aggressive type of thyroid cancer for which no effective treatment currently exists. Surgery, radiation, radioisotope treatment and chemotherapeutics have all shown limited success, and none of these approaches have proven durable in advanced disease. Non-mammalian models that incorporate the oncogenic RET isoforms associated with MEN2 and other RET-associated diseases have been useful in delineating mechanisms underlying disease progression. These models have also identified novel targeted therapies as single agents and as combinations. These studies highlight the importance of modeling disease in the context of the whole animal, accounting for the complex interplay between tumor and normal cells in controlling disease progression as well as response to therapy. With convenient access to whole genome sequencing data from expanded thyroid cancer patient cohorts, non-mammalian models will become more complex, sophisticated and continue to complement future mammalian studies. In this review, we explore the contributions of non-mammalian models to our understanding of thyroid cancer including MTC, with a focus on Danio rerio and Drosophila melanogaster (fish and fly) models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirtha K Das
- Department of Cell Developmental and Regenerative Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ross L Cagan
- Department of Cell Developmental and Regenerative Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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14
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Levinson S, Cagan RL. Drosophila Cancer Models Identify Functional Differences between Ret Fusions. Cell Rep 2017; 16:3052-3061. [PMID: 27626672 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We generated and compared Drosophila models of RET fusions CCDC6-RET and NCOA4-RET. Both RET fusions directed cells to migrate, delaminate, and undergo EMT, and both resulted in lethality when broadly expressed. In all phenotypes examined, NCOA4-RET was more severe than CCDC6-RET, mirroring their effects on patients. A functional screen against the Drosophila kinome and a library of cancer drugs found that CCDC6-RET and NCOA4-RET acted through different signaling networks and displayed distinct drug sensitivities. Combining data from the kinome and drug screens identified the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 plus the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib as a synergistic drug combination that is specific for NCOA4-RET. Our work emphasizes the importance of identifying and tailoring a patient's treatment to their specific RET fusion isoform and identifies a multi-targeted therapy that may prove effective against tumors containing the NCOA4-RET fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Levinson
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-1020, USA
| | - Ross L Cagan
- Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-1020, USA.
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15
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Drosophila Wnt and STAT Define Apoptosis-Resistant Epithelial Cells for Tissue Regeneration after Irradiation. PLoS Biol 2016; 14:e1002536. [PMID: 27584613 PMCID: PMC5008734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster larvae irradiated with doses of ionizing radiation (IR) that kill about half of the cells in larval imaginal discs still develop into viable adults. How surviving cells compensate for IR-induced cell death to produce organs of normal size and appearance remains an active area of investigation. We have identified a subpopulation of cells within the continuous epithelium of Drosophila larval wing discs that shows intrinsic resistance to IR- and drug-induced apoptosis. These cells reside in domains of high Wingless (Wg, Drosophila Wnt-1) and STAT92E (sole Drosophila signal transducer and activator of transcription [STAT] homolog) activity and would normally form the hinge in the adult fly. Resistance to IR-induced apoptosis requires STAT and Wg and is mediated by transcriptional repression of the pro-apoptotic gene reaper. Lineage tracing experiments show that, following irradiation, apoptosis-resistant cells lose their identity and translocate to areas of the wing disc that suffered abundant cell death. Our findings provide a new paradigm for regeneration in which it is unnecessary to invoke special damage-resistant cell types such as stem cells. Instead, differences in gene expression within a population of genetically identical epithelial cells can create a subpopulation with greater resistance, which, following damage, survive, alter their fate, and help regenerate the tissue. After widespread radiation damage in the developing fruit fly, organs are formed by regeneration from an apoptosis-resistant subpopulation of cells marked by high levels of Wingless and STAT. Like other insects, Drosophila larvae have epithelial structures called imaginal discs that will give rise to most of the external adult structures, such as wings, limbs, or antennae; these organ precursors are formed by a single layer of epithelial cells that folds into a sac. Imaginal discs manage to regenerate efficiently if they are damaged. Previous studies have shown that dying cells produce signals that activate cell proliferation of some of their neighbors, allowing them to regenerate the disc and thereby enabling the flies to develop into normal adults. But a dedicated stem cell population that contributes to regeneration, if any, remained to be identified. Here, we report the identification of a subpopulation of cells in wing imaginal discs that is more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of radiation and drugs. We show that the protection of these cells depends on two signaling pathways—Wingless and STAT—that are conserved in humans. Following tissue damage by radiation, we observe that protected cells change their location and their identity, allowing them to fill in for dead cells in other parts of the same organ precursor. In sum, this work identified ways in which a subset of cells in Drosophila imaginal wing discs is preserved through radiation exposure so that they could participate in regeneration of the organ after radiation damage. We also discuss how this situation may resemble human cancers.
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Yadav AK, Srikrishna S, Gupta SC. Cancer Drug Development Using Drosophila as an in vivo Tool: From Bedside to Bench and Back. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2016; 37:789-806. [PMID: 27298020 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2016.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been used for modeling cancer and as an in vivo tool for the validation and/or development of cancer therapeutics. The impetus for the use of Drosophila in cancer research stems from the high conservation of its signaling pathways, lower genetic redundancy, short life cycle, genetic amenability, and ease of maintenance. Several cell signaling pathways in Drosophila have been used for cancer drug development. The efficacy of combination therapy and uptake/bioavailability of drugs have also been studied. Drosophila has been validated using several FDA-approved drugs, suggesting a potential application of this model in drug repurposing. The model is emerging as a powerful tool for high-throughput screening and should significantly reduce the cost and time associated with drug development. In this review we discuss the applications of Drosophila in cancer drug development. The advantages and limitations of the model are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amarish Kumar Yadav
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India
| | - Saripella Srikrishna
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India.
| | - Subash Chandra Gupta
- Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India.
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17
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Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure is a fundamental process for eukaryotes. Regulators include DNA methylation, microRNAs and chromatin modifications. Within the chromatin modifiers, one class of enzymes that can functionally bind and modify chromatin, through the removal of methyl marks, is the histone lysine demethylases. Here, we summarize the current findings of the 13 known histone lysine demethylases in Drosophila melanogaster, and discuss the critical role of these histone-modifying enzymes in the maintenance of genomic functions. Additionally, as histone demethylase dysregulation has been identified in cancer, we discuss the advantages for using Drosophila as a model system to study tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreana Holowatyj
- a Department of Oncology ; Wayne State University School of Medicine ; Detroit , MI USA
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18
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Christofi T, Apidianakis Y. Drosophila and the hallmarks of cancer. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 135:79-110. [PMID: 23615878 DOI: 10.1007/10_2013_190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
: Cancer was the disease of the twentieth century. Today it is still a leading cause of death worldwide despite being intensively investigated. Abundant knowledge exists regarding the pathological and molecular mechanisms that drive healthy cells to become malignant and form metastatic tumors. The relation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors to the genetic trigger of carcinogenesis is unquestionable. However, the development of the disease requires many characteristics that due to their proven role in cancer are collectively described as the "hallmarks of cancer." We highlight here the historic discoveries made using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and its contributions to biomedical and cancer research. Flies are utilized as a model organism for the investigation of each and every aspect of cancer hallmarks. Due to the significant conservation between flies and mammals at the signaling and tissue physiology level it is possible to explore the genes and mechanisms responsible for cancer pathogenesis in flies. Recent Drosophila studies suggest novel aspects of therapeutic intervention and are expected to guide cancer research in the twenty-first century.
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Shen J, Lu J, Sui L, Wang D, Yin M, Hoffmann I, Legler A, Pflugfelder GO. The orthologous Tbx transcription factors Omb and TBX2 induce epithelial cell migration and extrusion in vivo without involvement of matrix metalloproteinases. Oncotarget 2015; 5:11998-2015. [PMID: 25344916 PMCID: PMC4322970 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factors TBX2 and TBX3 are overexpressed in various human cancers. Here, we investigated the effect of overexpressing the orthologous Tbx genes Drosophila optomotor-blind (omb) and human TBX2 in the epithelium of the Drosophila wing imaginal disc and observed two types of cell motility. Omb/TBX2 overexpressing cells could move within the plane of the epithelium. Invasive cells migrated long-distance as single cells retaining or regaining normal cell shape and apico-basal polarity in spite of attenuated apical DE-cadherin concentration. Inappropriate levels of DE-cadherin were sufficient to drive cell migration in the wing disc epithelium. Omb/TBX2 overexpression and reduced DE-cadherin-dependent adhesion caused the formation of actin-rich lateral cell protrusions. Omb/TBX2 overexpressing cells could also delaminate basally, penetratingthe basal lamina, however, without degradation of extracellular matrix. Expression of Timp, an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases, blocked neither intraepithelial motility nor basal extrusion. Our results reveal an MMP-independent mechanism of cell invasion and suggest a conserved role of Tbx2-related proteins in cell invasion and metastasis-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Shen
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Lu
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Liyuan Sui
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Meizhen Yin
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Inka Hoffmann
- Institute of Genetics, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anne Legler
- Institute of Genetics, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
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20
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Xing Y, Su TT, Ruohola-Baker H. Tie-mediated signal from apoptotic cells protects stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7058. [PMID: 25959206 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many types of normal and cancer stem cells are resistant to killing by genotoxins, but the mechanism for this resistance is poorly understood. Here we show that adult stem cells in Drosophila melanogaster germline and midgut are resistant to ionizing radiation (IR) or chemically induced apoptosis and dissect the mechanism for this protection. We find that upon IR the receptor tyrosine kinase Tie/Tie-2 is activated, leading to the upregulation of microRNA bantam that represses FOXO-mediated transcription of pro-apoptotic Smac/DIABLO orthologue, Hid in germline stem cells. Knockdown of the IR-induced putative Tie ligand, Pvf1, a functional homologue of human Angiopoietin, in differentiating daughter cells renders germline stem cells sensitive to IR, suggesting that the dying daughters send a survival signal to protect their stem cells for future repopulation of the tissue. If conserved in cancer stem cells, this mechanism may provide therapeutic options for the eradication of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Xing
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell &Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle Washington 98109, USA
| | - Tin Tin Su
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0347, USA
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- 1] Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Stem Cell &Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle Washington 98109, USA [2] Departments of Biology, Genome Sciences and Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle Washington 98109, USA
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21
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Dying cells protect survivors from radiation-induced cell death in Drosophila. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004220. [PMID: 24675716 PMCID: PMC3967929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a phenomenon wherein induction of cell death by a variety of means in wing imaginal discs of Drosophila larvae resulted in the activation of an anti-apoptotic microRNA, bantam. Cells in the vicinity of dying cells also become harder to kill by ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis. Both ban activation and increased protection from IR required receptor tyrosine kinase Tie, which we identified in a genetic screen for modifiers of ban. tie mutants were hypersensitive to radiation, and radiation sensitivity of tie mutants was rescued by increased ban gene dosage. We propose that dying cells activate ban in surviving cells through Tie to make the latter cells harder to kill, thereby preserving tissues and ensuring organism survival. The protective effect we report differs from classical radiation bystander effect in which neighbors of irradiated cells become more prone to death. The protective effect also differs from the previously described effect of dying cells that results in proliferation of nearby cells in Drosophila larval discs. If conserved in mammals, a phenomenon in which dying cells make the rest harder to kill by IR could have implications for treatments that involve the sequential use of cytotoxic agents and radiation therapy. In multicellular organisms where cells exist in the context of other cells, the behavior of one affects the others. The consequences of such interactions include not just cell fate choices but also life and death decisions. In the wing primordia of Drosophila melanogaster larvae, dying cells release mitogenic signals that stimulate the neighbors to proliferate. Such an effect is proposed to compensate for cell loss and help regenerate the tissue. We report here that, in the same experimental system, dying cells activate a pro-survival microRNA, bantam, in surviving cells. This results in increased protection from the killing effect of ionizing radiation (IR). Activation of ban requires tie, which encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase. tie and ban mutant larvae are hypersensitive to killing by IR, suggesting that the responses described here are important for organismal survival following radiation exposure.
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22
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Abstract
Here we report the development of an in vivo system to study the interaction of stem cells with drugs using a tumor model in the adult Drosophila intestine. Strikingly, we find that some Food and Drug Administration-approved chemotherapeutics that can inhibit the growth of Drosophila tumor stem cells can paradoxically promote the hyperproliferation of their wild-type counterparts. These results reveal an unanticipated side effect on stem cells that may contribute to tumor recurrence. We propose that the same side effect may occur in humans based on our finding that it is driven in Drosophila by the evolutionarily conserved Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway. An immediate implication of our findings is that supplementing traditional chemotherapeutics with anti-inflammatories may reduce tumor recurrence.
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23
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Gonzalez C. Drosophila melanogaster: a model and a tool to investigate malignancy and identify new therapeutics. Nat Rev Cancer 2013; 13:172-83. [PMID: 23388617 DOI: 10.1038/nrc3461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
For decades, lower-model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster have often provided the first glimpse into the mechanism of action of human cancer-related proteins, thus making a substantial contribution to elucidating the molecular basis of the disease. More recently, D. melanogaster strains that are engineered to recapitulate key aspects of specific types of human cancer have been paving the way for the future role of this 'workhorse' of biomedical research, helping to further investigate the process of malignancy, and serving as platforms for therapeutic drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cayetano Gonzalez
- IRB-Barcelona, c/Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona, Spain. gonzalez@ irbbarcelona.org
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24
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Common variants of Drosophila melanogaster Cyp6d2 cause camptothecin sensitivity and synergize with loss of Brca2. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2013; 3:91-9. [PMID: 23316441 PMCID: PMC3538347 DOI: 10.1534/g3.112.003996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many chemotherapeutic agents selectively target rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, by causing DNA damage that leads to genome instability and cell death. We used Drosophila melanogaster to study how mutations in key DNA repair genes affect an organism's response to chemotherapeutic drugs. In this study, we focused on camptothecin and its derivatives, topotecan and irinotecan, which are type I topoisomerase inhibitors that create DNA double-strand breaks in rapidly dividing cells. Here, we describe two polymorphisms in Drosophila Cyp6d2 that result in extreme sensitivity to camptothecin but not topotecan or irinotecan. We confirmed that the sensitivity was due to mutations in Cyp6d2 by rescuing the defect with a wild-type copy of Cyp6d2. In addition, we showed that combining a cyp6d2 mutation with mutations in Drosophila brca2 results in extreme sensitivity to camptothecin. Given the frequency of the Cyp6d2 polymorphisms in publcly available Drosophila stocks, our study demonstrates the need for caution when interpreting results from drug sensitivity screens in Drosophila and other model organisms. Furthermore, our findings illustrate how genetic background effects can be important when determining the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in various DNA repair mutants.
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25
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Willoughby LF, Schlosser T, Manning SA, Parisot JP, Street IP, Richardson HE, Humbert PO, Brumby AM. An in vivo large-scale chemical screening platform using Drosophila for anti-cancer drug discovery. Dis Model Mech 2012; 6:521-9. [PMID: 22996645 PMCID: PMC3597034 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.009985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-cancer drug development involves enormous expenditure and risk. For rapid and economical identification of novel, bioavailable anti-tumour chemicals, the use of appropriate in vivo tumour models suitable for large-scale screening is key. Using a Drosophila Ras-driven tumour model, we demonstrate that tumour overgrowth can be curtailed by feeding larvae with chemicals that have the in vivo pharmacokinetics essential for drug development and known efficacy against human tumour cells. We then develop an in vivo 96-well plate chemical screening platform to carry out large-scale chemical screening with the tumour model. In a proof-of-principle pilot screen of 2000 compounds, we identify the glutamine analogue, acivicin, a chemical with known activity against human tumour cells, as a potent and specific inhibitor of Drosophila tumour formation. RNAi-mediated knockdown of candidate acivicin target genes implicates an enzyme involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis, CTP synthase, as a possible crucial target of acivicin-mediated inhibition. Thus, the pilot screen has revealed that Drosophila tumours are glutamine-dependent, which is an emerging feature of many human cancers, and has validated the platform as a powerful and economical tool for in vivo chemical screening. The platform can also be adapted for use with other disease models, thus offering widespread applications in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee F Willoughby
- Cell Cycle and Development Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 7 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne 3002, Victoria, Australia
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26
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Gladstone M, Frederick B, Zheng D, Edwards A, Yoon P, Stickel S, DeLaney T, Chan DC, Raben D, Su TT. A translation inhibitor identified in a Drosophila screen enhances the effect of ionizing radiation and taxol in mammalian models of cancer. Dis Model Mech 2012; 5:342-50. [PMID: 22344740 PMCID: PMC3339828 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.008722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We described previously a screening protocol in Drosophila melanogaster that allows us to identify small molecules that increase the killing effect of ionizing radiation in vivo in a multicellular context. The ability of this screen to identify agents that enhance the effect of radiation in human cancer models has been validated in published proof-of-concept studies. Here we describe an agent, identified by screening through two National Cancer Institute (NCI) small molecule libraries in Drosophila, that increases the effect of radiation. This agent, Bouvardin (NSC 259968), inhibits the elongation step of protein synthesis. We find that Bouvardin enhances the killing effect of X-rays in both Drosophila larvae and in human cancer cells. More detailed analysis showed that Bouvardin also increases the effect of radiation in clonogenic assays and in human cancer xenografts in mice. Finally, we present data that Bouvardin can also increase the efficacy of taxol. Regulation of translation is important to cancer biology. Current therapies target every aspect of cancer cell proliferation from growth factor signaling to cell division, with the exception of translation elongation. Our identification of Bouvardin as an enhancer of radio- and chemo-therapeutic agents suggests that targeting this niche has the potential to improve existing cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Gladstone
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, 347 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-80347, USA
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27
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Hazra B, Ghosh S, Kumar A, Pandey BN. The prospective role of plant products in radiotherapy of cancer: a current overview. Front Pharmacol 2012; 2:94. [PMID: 22291649 PMCID: PMC3253585 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2011.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2011] [Accepted: 12/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of cancer often requires exposure to radiation, which has several limitations involving non-specific toxicity toward normal cells, reducing the efficacy of treatment. Efforts are going on to find chemical compounds which would effectively offer protection to the normal tissues after radiation exposure during radiotherapy of cancer. In this regard, plant-derived compounds might serve as “leads” to design ideal radioprotectors/radiosensitizers. This article reviews some of the recent findings on prospective medicinal plants, phytochemicals, and their analogs, based on both in vitro and in vivo tumor models especially focused with relevance to cancer radiotherapy. Also, pertinent discussion has been presented on the molecular mechanism of apoptotic death in relation to the oxidative stress in cancer cells induced by some of these plant samples and their active constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banasri Hazra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University Kolkata, India.
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28
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Gladstone M, Su TT. Chemical genetics and drug screening in Drosophila cancer models. J Genet Genomics 2011; 38:497-504. [PMID: 22035870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2011.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 09/10/2011] [Accepted: 09/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Drug candidates often fail in preclinical and clinical testing because of reasons of efficacy and/or safety. It would be time- and cost-efficient to have screening models that reduce the rate of such false positive candidates that appear promising at first but fail later. In this regard, it would be particularly useful to have a rapid and inexpensive whole animal model that can pre-select hits from high-throughput screens but before testing in costly rodent assays. Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a potential whole animal model for drug screening. Of particular interest have been drugs that must act in the context of multi-cellularity such as those for neurological disorders and cancer. A recent review provides a comprehensive summary of drug screening in Drosophila, but with an emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review Drosophila screens in the literature aimed at cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Gladstone
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
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29
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Stefanatos RKA, Vidal M. Tumor invasion and metastasis in Drosophila: a bold past, a bright future. J Genet Genomics 2011; 38:431-8. [PMID: 22035864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2011.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2011] [Revised: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Invasion and metastasis are the most deadly hallmarks of cancer. Once a cancer has acquired the ability to colonize new sites in the body it becomes dramatically more difficult to treat. This has made it a focus of much of cancer research. The humble fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has despite its relative simplicity, made significant contributions to the understanding of tumor progression. In this review we outline and highlight those with an emphasis on modeling the genetic and epigenetic changes required for invasion and metastasis. We will revisit the early years of cancer modeling in Drosophila where the first parallels were drawn between Drosophila and vertebrate neoplasms and highlight recent advances using genetic screens and interactions with the epithelial microenvironment and innate immune system. We focus on the power and limitations of current fly models of metastasis.
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