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Long JE, Jankovic M, Maddalo D. Drug discovery oncology in a mouse: concepts, models and limitations. Future Sci OA 2021; 7:FSO737. [PMID: 34295539 PMCID: PMC8288236 DOI: 10.2144/fsoa-2021-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The utilization of suitable mouse models is a critical step in the drug discovery oncology workflow as their generation and use are important for target identification and validation as well as toxicity and efficacy assessments. Current murine models have been instrumental in furthering insights into the mode of action of drugs before transitioning into the clinic. Recent advancements in genome editing with the development of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and the possibility of applying such technology directly in vivo have expanded the toolkit of preclinical models available. In this review, a brief presentation of the current models used in drug discovery will be provided with a particular emphasis on the novel CRISPR/Cas9 models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Long
- Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Maja Jankovic
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Danilo Maddalo
- Department of Translational Oncology, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, 4070, Switzerland
- Author for correspondence:
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Druzhkova I, Shirmanova M, Ignatova N, Dudenkova V, Lukina M, Zagaynova E, Safina D, Kostrov S, Didych D, Kuzmich A, Sharonov G, Rakitina O, Alekseenko I, Sverdlov E. Expression of EMT-Related Genes in Hybrid E/M Colorectal Cancer Cells Determines Fibroblast Activation and Collagen Remodeling. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218119. [PMID: 33143259 PMCID: PMC7662237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagen, the main non-cellular component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is profoundly reorganized during tumorigenesis and has a strong impact on tumor behavior. The main source of collagen in tumors is cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer cells can also participate in the synthesis of ECM; however, the contribution of both types of cells to collagen rearrangements during the tumor progression is far from being clear. Here, we investigated the processes of collagen biosynthesis and remodeling in parallel with the transcriptome changes during cancer cells and fibroblasts interactions. Combining immunofluorescence, RNA sequencing, and second harmonic generation microscopy, we have explored the relationships between the ratio of epithelial (E) and mesenchymal (M) components of hybrid E/M cancer cells, their ability to activate fibroblasts, and the contributions of both cell types to collagen remodeling. To this end, we studied (i) co-cultures of colorectal cancer cells and normal fibroblasts in a collagen matrix, (ii) patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts, and (iii) mouse xenograft models. We found that the activation of normal fibroblasts that form dense collagen networks consisting of large, highly oriented fibers depends on the difference in E/M ratio in the cancer cells. The more-epithelial cells activate the fibroblasts more strongly, which correlates with a dense and highly ordered collagen structure in tumors in vivo. The more-mesenchymal cells activate the fibroblasts to a lesser degree; on the other hand, this cell line has a higher innate collagen remodeling capacity. Normal fibroblasts activated by cancer cells contribute to the organization of the extracellular matrix in a way that is favorable for migratory potency. At the same time, in co-culture with epithelial cancer cells, the contribution of fibroblasts to the reorganization of ECM is more pronounced. Therefore, one can expect that targeting the ability of epithelial cancer cells to activate normal fibroblasts may provide a new anticancer therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Druzhkova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Marina Shirmanova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Nadezhda Ignatova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Varvara Dudenkova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Maria Lukina
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
| | - Elena Zagaynova
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Dina Safina
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
| | - Sergey Kostrov
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
| | - Dmitry Didych
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
| | - Alexey Kuzmich
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - George Sharonov
- Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (I.D.); (M.S.); (N.I.); (V.D.); (M.L.); (E.Z.); (G.S.)
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Rakitina
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
| | - Irina Alekseenko
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
- Department of Genomics and Postgenomic Technologies, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of The Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (D.D.); (O.R.)
- Laboratory of Epigenetics, FSBI «National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov» Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene Sverdlov
- Department of Molecular-Genetic Basis of Biotechnology and Protein Engineering, Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.S.); (S.K.); (I.A.); (E.S.)
- National Research Center «Kurchatov Institute», 123182 Moscow, Russia
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Willers C, Svitina H, Rossouw MJ, Swanepoel RA, Hamman JH, Gouws C. Models used to screen for the treatment of multidrug resistant cancer facilitated by transporter-based efflux. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 145:1949-1976. [PMID: 31292714 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-02973-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Efflux transporters of the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette (ABC)-superfamily play an important role in the development of multidrug resistance (multidrug resistant; MDR) in cancer. The overexpression of these transporters can directly contribute to the failure of chemotherapeutic drugs. Several in vitro and in vivo models exist to screen for the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs against MDR cancer, specifically facilitated by efflux transporters. RESULTS This article reviews a range of efflux transporter-based MDR models used to test the efficacy of compounds to overcome MDR in cancer. These models are classified as either in vitro or in vivo and are further categorised as the most basic, conventional models or more complex and advanced systems. Each model's origin, advantages and limitations, as well as specific efflux transporter-based MDR applications are discussed. Accordingly, future modifications to existing models or new research approaches are suggested to develop prototypes that closely resemble the true nature of multidrug resistant cancer in the human body. CONCLUSIONS It is evident from this review that a combination of both in vitro and in vivo preclinical models can provide a better understanding of cancer itself, than using a single model only. However, there is still a clear lack of progression of these models from basic research to high-throughput clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Willers
- Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Hanna Svitina
- Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Michael J Rossouw
- Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Roan A Swanepoel
- Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Josias H Hamman
- Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
| | - Chrisna Gouws
- Pharmacen™, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
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DNA damage and tissue repair: What we can learn from planaria. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2018; 87:145-159. [PMID: 29727725 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2018.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Faithful renewal of aging and damaged tissues is central to organismal lifespan. Stem cells (SCs) generate the cellular progeny that replenish adult tissues across the body but this task becomes increasingly compromised over time. The age related decline in SC-mediated tissue maintenance is a multifactorial event that commonly affects genome integrity. The presence of DNA damage in SCs that are under continuous demand to divide poses a great risk for age-related disorders such as cancer. However, performing analysis of SCs with genomic instability and the DNA damage response during tissue renewal present significant challenges. Here we introduce an alternative experimental system based on the planaria flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea to address at the organismal level studies intersecting SC-mediated tissue renewal in the presence of genomic instability. Planaria have abundant SCs (neoblasts) that maintain high rates of cellular turnover and a variety of molecular tools have been developed to induce DNA damage and dissect how neoblasts respond to this stressor. S. mediterranea displays high evolutionary conservation of DNA repair mechanisms and signaling pathways regulating adult SCs. We describe genetically induced-DNA damage models and highlight body-wide signals affecting cellular decisions such as survival, proliferation, and death in the presence of genomic instability. We also discuss transcriptomic changes in the DNA damage response during injury repair and propose DNA repair as key component of tissue regeneration. Additional studies using planaria will provide insights about mechanisms regulating survival and growth of cells with DNA damage during tissue renewal and regeneration.
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Szadvari I, Krizanova O, Babula P. Athymic nude mice as an experimental model for cancer treatment. Physiol Res 2017; 65:S441-S453. [PMID: 28006926 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.933526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Athymic nude mice, a murine strain bearing spontaneous deletion in the Foxn1 gene that causes deteriorated or absent thymus (which results in inhibited immune system with reduction of number of T cells), represent a widely used model in cancer research having long lasting history as a tool for preclinical testing of drugs. The review describes three models of athymic mice that utilize cancer cell lines to induce tumors. In addition, various methods that can be applied in order to evaluate activity of anticancer agents in these models are shown and discussed. Although each model has certain disadvantages, they are still considered as inevitable instruments in many fields of cancer research, particularly in finding new drugs that would more effectively combat the cancer disease or enhance the use of current chemotherapy. Finally, the review summarizes strengths and weaknesses as well as future perspectives of the athymic nude mice model in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Szadvari
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Peiris TH, Ramirez D, Barghouth PG, Ofoha U, Davidian D, Weckerle F, Oviedo NJ. Regional signals in the planarian body guide stem cell fate in the presence of genomic instability. Development 2016; 143:1697-709. [PMID: 27013241 DOI: 10.1242/dev.131318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cellular fate decisions are influenced by their topographical location in the adult body. For instance, tissue repair and neoplastic growth are greater in anterior than in posterior regions of adult animals. However, the molecular underpinnings of these regional differences are unknown. We identified a regional switch in the adult planarian body upon systemic disruption of homologous recombination with RNA-interference of Rad51 Rad51 knockdown increases DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) throughout the body, but stem cells react differently depending on their location along the anteroposterior axis. In the presence of extensive DSBs, cells in the anterior part of the body resist death, whereas cells in the posterior region undergo apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that proliferation of cells with DNA damage is induced in the presence of brain tissue and that the retinoblastoma pathway enables overproliferation of cells with DSBs while attending to the demands of tissue growth and repair. Our results implicate both autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms as key mediators of regional cell behavior and cellular transformation in the adult body.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Harshani Peiris
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Daniel Ramirez
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Paul G Barghouth
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Udokanma Ofoha
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Devon Davidian
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Frank Weckerle
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Néstor J Oviedo
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
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Abstract
Transplants of human tumors in nude mice have shown a progressive increase during the past 15 years as an experimental model for cancer research. A variety of factors, including relatively fragile health, have been identified that require appropriate experimental controls if the investigator is obtain consistent results. Not all tumors grow in nude mice. The frequency of tumor 'take' varies according to tumor origin, tumor type, inoculation site, age and conditioning of the mouse host, and a variety of other factors. Manipulation of these variables has led to successful propagation of almost every known variety of human malignancy. Following transplant, changes in characteristics have been documented, but the frequency and degree of such changes remains uncertain. Tumor growth rate probably increases after transplantation, requiring great care in the interpretation of chemotherapy experiments, but biochemical characteristics may be more stable. The nude mouse offers great interest as a model for the in vivo study of metastasis, as a number of experimental variables, mainly immunological, have been shown to affect this process. Spontaneous tumors have been shown to arise in these animals, but the controversy over their frequency relative to the thymus-bearing background strain is unresolved. We conclude that the nude mouse/tumor xenograft model, while requiring meticulous experimental controls, is nevertheless an extremely useful tool for cancer research.
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