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Cogno N, Axenie C, Bauer R, Vavourakis V. Agent-based modeling in cancer biomedicine: applications and tools for calibration and validation. Cancer Biol Ther 2024; 25:2344600. [PMID: 38678381 PMCID: PMC11057625 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2024.2344600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Computational models are not just appealing because they can simulate and predict the development of biological phenomena across multiple spatial and temporal scales, but also because they can integrate information from well-established in vitro and in vivo models and test new hypotheses in cancer biomedicine. Agent-based models and simulations are especially interesting candidates among computational modeling procedures in cancer research due to the capability to, for instance, recapitulate the dynamics of neoplasia and tumor - host interactions. Yet, the absence of methods to validate the consistency of the results across scales can hinder adoption by turning fine-tuned models into black boxes. This review compiles relevant literature that explores strategies to leverage high-fidelity simulations of multi-scale, or multi-level, cancer models with a focus on verification approached as simulation calibration. We consolidate our review with an outline of modern approaches for agent-based models' validation and provide an ambitious outlook toward rigorous and reliable calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Cogno
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, Technische Universit¨at Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Cristian Axenie
- Computer Science Department and Center for Artificial Intelligence, Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Roman Bauer
- Nature Inspired Computing and Engineering Research Group, Computer Science Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Vasileios Vavourakis
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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2
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Bishop RT, Miller AK, Froid M, Nerlakanti N, Li T, Frieling JS, Nasr MM, Nyman KJ, Sudalagunta PR, Canevarolo RR, Silva AS, Shain KH, Lynch CC, Basanta D. The bone ecosystem facilitates multiple myeloma relapse and the evolution of heterogeneous drug resistant disease. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2458. [PMID: 38503736 PMCID: PMC10951361 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46594-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is an osteolytic malignancy that is incurable due to the emergence of treatment resistant disease. Defining how, when and where myeloma cell intrinsic and extrinsic bone microenvironmental mechanisms cause relapse is challenging with current biological approaches. Here, we report a biology-driven spatiotemporal hybrid agent-based model of the MM-bone microenvironment. Results indicate MM intrinsic mechanisms drive the evolution of treatment resistant disease but that the protective effects of bone microenvironment mediated drug resistance (EMDR) significantly enhances the probability and heterogeneity of resistant clones arising under treatment. Further, the model predicts that targeting of EMDR deepens therapy response by eliminating sensitive clones proximal to stroma and bone, a finding supported by in vivo studies. Altogether, our model allows for the study of MM clonal evolution over time in the bone microenvironment and will be beneficial for optimizing treatment efficacy so as to significantly delay disease relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan T Bishop
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Anna K Miller
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Matthew Froid
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Niveditha Nerlakanti
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jeremy S Frieling
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Mostafa M Nasr
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Karl J Nyman
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Praneeth R Sudalagunta
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Rafael R Canevarolo
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Ariosto Siqueira Silva
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Kenneth H Shain
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Department of Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Conor C Lynch
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| | - David Basanta
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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3
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Li H, Yang Z, Tu F, Deng L, Han Y, Fu X, Wang L, Gu D, Werner B, Huang W. Mutation divergence over space in tumour expansion. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230542. [PMID: 37989227 PMCID: PMC10681009 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutation accumulation in tumour evolution is one major cause of intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH), which often leads to drug resistance during treatment. Previous studies with multi-region sequencing have shown that mutation divergence among samples within the patient is common, and the importance of spatial sampling to obtain a complete picture in tumour measurements. However, quantitative comparisons of the relationship between mutation heterogeneity and tumour expansion modes, sampling distances as well as the sampling methods are still few. Here, we investigate how mutations diverge over space by varying the sampling distance and tumour expansion modes using individual-based simulations. We measure ITH by the Jaccard index between samples and quantify how ITH increases with sampling distance, the pattern of which holds in various sampling methods and sizes. We also compare the inferred mutation rates based on the distributions of variant allele frequencies under different tumour expansion modes and sampling sizes. In exponentially fast expanding tumours, a mutation rate can always be inferred for any sampling size. However, the accuracy compared with the true value decreases when the sampling size decreases, where small sampling sizes result in a high estimate of the mutation rate. In addition, such an inference becomes unreliable when the tumour expansion is slow, such as in surface growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Li
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
- Evolutionary Dynamics Group, Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Zixuan Yang
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fengyu Tu
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Deng
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Han
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xing Fu
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Long Wang
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
| | - Di Gu
- The first affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Benjamin Werner
- Evolutionary Dynamics Group, Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Weini Huang
- Group of Theoretical Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Bio-control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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4
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Surendran A, Jenner AL, Karimi E, Fiset B, Quail DF, Walsh LA, Craig M. Agent-Based Modelling Reveals the Role of the Tumor Microenvironment on the Short-Term Success of Combination Temozolomide/Immune Checkpoint Blockade to Treat Glioblastoma. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 387:66-77. [PMID: 37442619 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common and deadly primary brain tumor in adults. All glioblastoma patients receiving standard-of-care surgery-radiotherapy-chemotherapy (i.e., temozolomide (TMZ)) recur, with an average survival time of only 15 months. New approaches to the treatment of glioblastoma, including immune checkpoint blockade and oncolytic viruses, offer the possibility of improving glioblastoma outcomes and have as such been under intense study. Unfortunately, these treatment modalities have thus far failed to achieve approval. Recently, in an attempt to bolster efficacy and improve patient outcomes, regimens combining chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been tested in trials. Unfortunately, these efforts have not resulted in significant increases to patient survival. To better understand the various factors impacting treatment outcomes of combined TMZ and immune checkpoint blockade, we developed a systems-level, computational model that describes the interplay between glioblastoma, immune, and stromal cells with this combination treatment. Initializing our model to spatial resection patient samples labeled using imaging mass cytometry, our model's predictions show how the localization of glioblastoma cells, influence therapeutic success. We further validated these predictions in samples of brain metastases from patients given they generally respond better to checkpoint blockade compared with primary glioblastoma. Ultimately, our model provides novel insights into the mechanisms of therapeutic success of immune checkpoint inhibitors in brain tumors and delineates strategies to translate combination immunotherapy regimens more effectively into the clinic. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Extending survival times for glioblastoma patients remains a critical challenge. Although immunotherapies in combination with chemotherapy hold promise, clinical trials have not shown much success. Here, systems models calibrated to and validated against patient samples can improve preclinical and clinical studies by shedding light on the factors distinguishing responses/failures. By initializing our model with imaging mass cytometry visualization of patient samples, we elucidate how factors such as localization of glioblastoma cells and CD8+ T cell infiltration impact treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anudeep Surendran
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
| | - Adrianne L Jenner
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
| | - Elham Karimi
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
| | - Benoit Fiset
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
| | - Daniela F Quail
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
| | - Logan A Walsh
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
| | - Morgan Craig
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (A.S., M.C.); Centre de recherches mathématiques, Montréal, Canada (A.S.); School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia (A.L.J.); Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (E.K., B.F., D.F.Q., L.A.W.); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (D.F.Q.); Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (L.A.W.); and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, Canada (M.C.)
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5
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Pang Y, Kosmin M, Li Z, Deng X, Li Z, Li X, Zhang Y, Royle G, Manolopoulos S. Isotoxic dose escalated radiotherapy for glioblastoma based on diffusion-weighted MRI and tumor control probability-an in-silico study. Br J Radiol 2023; 96:20220384. [PMID: 37102792 PMCID: PMC10230387 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20220384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor with local recurrence after radiotherapy (RT), the most common mode of failure. Standard RT practice applies the prescription dose uniformly across tumor volume disregarding radiological tumor heterogeneity. We present a novel strategy using diffusion-weighted (DW-) MRI to calculate the cellular density within the gross tumor volume (GTV) in order to facilitate dose escalation to a biological target volume (BTV) to improve tumor control probability (TCP). METHODS The pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps derived from DW-MRI of ten GBM patients treated with radical chemoradiotherapy were used to calculate the local cellular density based on published data. Then, a TCP model was used to calculate TCP maps from the derived cell density values. The dose was escalated using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to the BTV, defined as the voxels for which the expected pre-boost TCP was in the lowest quartile of the TCP range for each patient. The SIB dose was chosen so that the TCP in the BTV increased to match the average TCP of the whole tumor. RESULTS By applying a SIB of between 3.60 Gy and 16.80 Gy isotoxically to the BTV, the cohort's calculated TCP increased by a mean of 8.44% (ranging from 7.19 to 16.84%). The radiation dose to organ at risk is still under their tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that TCPs of GBM patients could be increased by escalating radiation doses to intratumoral locations guided by the patient's biology (i.e., cellularity), moreover offering the possibility for personalized RT GBM treatments. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE A personalized and voxel level SIB radiotherapy method for GBM is proposed using DW-MRI, which can increase the tumor control probability and maintain organ at risk dose constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Pang
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Zhuangling Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaonian Deng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zihuang Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xianming Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gary Royle
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, United Kingdom
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Bon JJ, Bretherton A, Buchhorn K, Cramb S, Drovandi C, Hassan C, Jenner AL, Mayfield HJ, McGree JM, Mengersen K, Price A, Salomone R, Santos-Fernandez E, Vercelloni J, Wang X. Being Bayesian in the 2020s: opportunities and challenges in the practice of modern applied Bayesian statistics. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2023; 381:20220156. [PMID: 36970822 PMCID: PMC10041356 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2022.0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Building on a strong foundation of philosophy, theory, methods and computation over the past three decades, Bayesian approaches are now an integral part of the toolkit for most statisticians and data scientists. Whether they are dedicated Bayesians or opportunistic users, applied professionals can now reap many of the benefits afforded by the Bayesian paradigm. In this paper, we touch on six modern opportunities and challenges in applied Bayesian statistics: intelligent data collection, new data sources, federated analysis, inference for implicit models, model transfer and purposeful software products. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bayesian inference: challenges, perspectives, and prospects'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Bon
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam Bretherton
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Katie Buchhorn
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Susanna Cramb
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Christopher Drovandi
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Conor Hassan
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adrianne L. Jenner
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helen J. Mayfield
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - James M. McGree
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kerrie Mengersen
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aiden Price
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert Salomone
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Edgar Santos-Fernandez
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Julie Vercelloni
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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7
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Lee ND, Kaveh K, Bozic I. Clonal interactions in cancer: integrating quantitative models with experimental and clinical data. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 92:61-73. [PMID: 37023969 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumors consist of different genotypically distinct subpopulations-or subclones-of cells. These subclones can influence neighboring clones in a process called "clonal interaction." Conventionally, research on driver mutations in cancer has focused on their cell-autonomous effects that lead to an increase in fitness of the cells containing the driver. Recently, with the advent of improved experimental and computational technologies for investigating tumor heterogeneity and clonal dynamics, new studies have shown the importance of clonal interactions in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. In this review we provide an overview of clonal interactions in cancer, discussing key discoveries from a diverse range of approaches to cancer biology research. We discuss common types of clonal interactions, such as cooperation and competition, its mechanisms, and the overall effect on tumorigenesis, with important implications for tumor heterogeneity, resistance to treatment, and tumor suppression. Quantitative models-in coordination with cell culture and animal model experiments-have played a vital role in investigating the nature of clonal interactions and the complex clonal dynamics they generate. We present mathematical and computational models that can be used to represent clonal interactions and provide examples of the roles they have played in identifying and quantifying the strength of clonal interactions in experimental systems. Clonal interactions have proved difficult to observe in clinical data; however, several very recent quantitative approaches enable their detection. We conclude by discussing ways in which researchers can further integrate quantitative methods with experimental and clinical data to elucidate the critical-and often surprising-roles of clonal interactions in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Lee
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Kamran Kaveh
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Ivana Bozic
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Herbold Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
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8
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West J, Robertson-Tessi M, Anderson ARA. Agent-based methods facilitate integrative science in cancer. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:300-311. [PMID: 36404257 PMCID: PMC10918696 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this opinion, we highlight agent-based modeling as a key tool for exploration of cell-cell and cell-environment interactions that drive cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. These biological phenomena are particularly suited to be captured at the cell-scale resolution possible only within agent-based or individual-based mathematical models. These modeling approaches complement experimental work (in vitro and in vivo systems) through parameterization and data extrapolation but also feed forward to drive new experiments that test model-generated predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey West
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Mark Robertson-Tessi
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alexander R A Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
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9
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Jia Y, Xu S, Han G, Wang B, Wang Z, Lan C, Zhao P, Gao M, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Qiu B, Liu R, Hsu YC, Sun Y, Liu C, Liu Y, Bai R. Transmembrane water-efflux rate measured by magnetic resonance imaging as a biomarker of the expression of aquaporin-4 in gliomas. Nat Biomed Eng 2023; 7:236-252. [PMID: 36376487 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The water-selective channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4) contributes to the migration and proliferation of gliomas, and to their resistance to therapy. Here we show, in glioma cell cultures, in subcutaneous and orthotopic gliomas in rats, and in glioma tumours in patients, that transmembrane water-efflux rate is a sensitive biomarker of AQP4 expression and can be measured via conventional dynamic-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Water-efflux rates correlated with stages of glioma proliferation as well as with changes in the heterogeneity of intra-tumoural and inter-tumoural AQP4 in rodent and human gliomas following treatment with temozolomide and with the AQP4 inhibitor TGN020. Regions with low water-efflux rates contained higher fractions of stem-like slow-cycling cells and therapy-resistant cells, suggesting that maps of water-efflux rates could be used to identify gliomas that are resistant to therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinhang Jia
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Shangchen Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Guangxu Han
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bao Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zejun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chuanjin Lan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Meng Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenhong Jiang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Biying Qiu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Cheng Hsu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Sun
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China
| | - Chong Liu
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yingchao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.
- Shandong National Center for Applied Mathematics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
| | - Ruiliang Bai
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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10
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Jørgensen ACS, Hill CS, Sturrock M, Tang W, Karamched SR, Gorup D, Lythgoe MF, Parrinello S, Marguerat S, Shahrezaei V. Data-driven spatio-temporal modelling of glioblastoma. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221444. [PMID: 36968241 PMCID: PMC10031411 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical oncology provides unique and invaluable insights into tumour growth on both the microscopic and macroscopic levels. This review presents state-of-the-art modelling techniques and focuses on their role in understanding glioblastoma, a malignant form of brain cancer. For each approach, we summarize the scope, drawbacks and assets. We highlight the potential clinical applications of each modelling technique and discuss the connections between the mathematical models and the molecular and imaging data used to inform them. By doing so, we aim to prime cancer researchers with current and emerging computational tools for understanding tumour progression. By providing an in-depth picture of the different modelling techniques, we also aim to assist researchers who seek to build and develop their own models and the associated inference frameworks. Our article thus strikes a unique balance. On the one hand, we provide a comprehensive overview of the available modelling techniques and their applications, including key mathematical expressions. On the other hand, the content is accessible to mathematicians and biomedical scientists alike to accommodate the interdisciplinary nature of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ciaran Scott Hill
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Marc Sturrock
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
| | - Wenhao Tang
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Saketh R. Karamched
- Division of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London (UCL), London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Dunja Gorup
- Division of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London (UCL), London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Mark F. Lythgoe
- Division of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London (UCL), London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Simona Parrinello
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Samuel Marguerat
- Genomics Translational Technology Platform, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Vahid Shahrezaei
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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11
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Jenner AL, Kelly W, Dallaston M, Araujo R, Parfitt I, Steinitz D, Pooladvand P, Kim PS, Wade SJ, Vine KL. Examining the efficacy of localised gemcitabine therapy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer using a hybrid agent-based model. PLoS Comput Biol 2023; 19:e1010104. [PMID: 36649330 PMCID: PMC9891514 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients has not significantly improved in the past 3 decades, highlighting the need for more effective treatment approaches. Poor patient outcomes and lack of response to therapy can be attributed, in part, to a lack of uptake of perfusion of systemically administered chemotherapeutic drugs into the tumour. Wet-spun alginate fibres loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent gemcitabine have been developed as a potential tool for overcoming the barriers in delivery of systemically administrated drugs to the PDAC tumour microenvironment by delivering high concentrations of drug to the tumour directly over an extended period. While exciting, the practicality, safety, and effectiveness of these devices in a clinical setting requires further investigation. Furthermore, an in-depth assessment of the drug-release rate from these devices needs to be undertaken to determine whether an optimal release profile exists. Using a hybrid computational model (agent-based model and partial differential equation system), we developed a simulation of pancreatic tumour growth and response to treatment with gemcitabine loaded alginate fibres. The model was calibrated using in vitro and in vivo data and simulated using a finite volume method discretisation. We then used the model to compare different intratumoural implantation protocols and gemcitabine-release rates. In our model, the primary driver of pancreatic tumour growth was the rate of tumour cell division. We were able to demonstrate that intratumoural placement of gemcitabine loaded fibres was more effective than peritumoural placement. Additionally, we quantified the efficacy of different release profiles from the implanted fibres that have not yet been tested experimentally. Altogether, the model developed here is a tool that can be used to investigate other drug delivery devices to improve the arsenal of treatments available for PDAC and other difficult-to-treat cancers in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne L. Jenner
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Wayne Kelly
- School of Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Dallaston
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robyn Araujo
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Isobelle Parfitt
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dominic Steinitz
- Tweag Software Innovation Lab, London, United Kingdom
- Kingston University, Kingston, United Kingdom
| | - Pantea Pooladvand
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter S. Kim
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samantha J. Wade
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kara L. Vine
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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12
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Sové RJ, Verma BK, Wang H, Ho WJ, Yarchoan M, Popel AS. Virtual clinical trials of anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma using a quantitative systems pharmacology model. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e005414. [PMID: 36323435 PMCID: PMC9639136 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer and is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the median survival for patients with advanced HCC treated with modern systemic therapy is less than 2 years. This leaves the advanced stage patients with limited treatment options. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or its ligand, are widely used in the treatment of HCC and are associated with durable responses in a subset of patients. ICIs targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) also have clinical activity in HCC. Combination therapy of nivolumab (anti-PD-1) and ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) is the first treatment option for HCC to be approved by Food and Drug Administration that targets more than one immune checkpoints. METHODS In this study, we used the framework of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) to perform a virtual clinical trial for nivolumab and ipilimumab in HCC patients. Our model incorporates detailed biological mechanisms of interactions of immune cells and cancer cells leading to antitumor response. To conduct virtual clinical trial, we generate virtual patient from a cohort of 5,000 proposed patients by extending recent algorithms from literature. The model was calibrated using the data of the clinical trial CheckMate 040 (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01658878). RESULTS Retrospective analyses were performed for different immune checkpoint therapies as performed in CheckMate 040. Using machine learning approach, we predict the importance of potential biomarkers for immune blockade therapies. CONCLUSIONS This is the first QSP model for HCC with ICIs and the predictions are consistent with clinically observed outcomes. This study demonstrates that using a mechanistic understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, QSP models can facilitate patient selection and design clinical trials with improved success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Sové
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Babita K Verma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Won Jin Ho
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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13
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Jenner AL, Smalley M, Goldman D, Goins WF, Cobbs CS, Puchalski RB, Chiocca EA, Lawler S, Macklin P, Goldman A, Craig M. Agent-based computational modeling of glioblastoma predicts that stromal density is central to oncolytic virus efficacy. iScience 2022; 25:104395. [PMID: 35637733 PMCID: PMC9142563 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are emerging cancer immunotherapy. Despite notable successes in the treatment of some tumors, OV therapy for central nervous system cancers has failed to show efficacy. We used an ex vivo tumor model developed from human glioblastoma tissue to evaluate the infiltration of herpes simplex OV rQNestin (oHSV-1) into glioblastoma tumors. We next leveraged our data to develop a computational, model of glioblastoma dynamics that accounts for cellular interactions within the tumor. Using our computational model, we found that low stromal density was highly predictive of oHSV-1 therapeutic success, suggesting that the efficacy of oHSV-1 in glioblastoma may be determined by stromal-to-tumor cell regional density. We validated these findings in heterogenous patient samples from brain metastatic adenocarcinoma. Our integrated modeling strategy can be applied to suggest mechanisms of therapeutic responses for central nervous system cancers and to facilitate the successful translation of OVs into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne L. Jenner
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Munisha Smalley
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - William F. Goins
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Charles S. Cobbs
- Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ralph B. Puchalski
- Ben and Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - E. Antonio Chiocca
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sean Lawler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Macklin
- Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Aaron Goldman
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Morgan Craig
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
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14
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Tondepu C, Karumbaiah L. Glycomaterials to Investigate the Functional Role of Aberrant Glycosylation in Glioblastoma. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101956. [PMID: 34878733 PMCID: PMC9048137 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a stage IV astrocytoma that carries a dismal survival rate of ≈10 months postdiagnosis and treatment. The highly invasive capacity of GBM and its ability to escape therapeutic challenges are key factors contributing to the poor overall survival rate. While current treatments aim to target the cancer cell itself, they fail to consider the significant role that the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) plays in promoting tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. The GBM tumor glycocalyx and glycan-rich extracellular matrix (ECM), which are important constituents of the TME have received little attention as therapeutic targets. A wide array of aberrantly modified glycans in the GBM TME mediate tumor growth, invasion, therapeutic resistance, and immunosuppression. Here, an overview of the landscape of aberrant glycan modifications in GBM is provided, and the design and utility of 3D glycomaterials are discussed as a tool to evaluate glycan-mediated GBM progression and therapeutic efficacy. The development of alternative strategies to target glycans in the TME can potentially unveil broader mechanisms of restricting tumor growth and enhancing the efficacy of tumor-targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Tondepu
- Regenerative Bioscience Science Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - L. Karumbaiah
- Regenerative Bioscience Science Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA,Division of Neuroscience, Biomedical & Translational Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA,Edgar L. Rhodes center for ADS, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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15
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Tira A, Buckingham L. Evidence for age-related contributions of DNA damage and epigenetics in brain tumorigenesis. Int J Exp Pathol 2021; 102:232-241. [PMID: 34716726 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain tumour displaying rapid cell proliferation and infiltration. GBM primarily occurs at older age; however, younger populations have also been affected. In GBM and other cancers, genetic and epigenetic alterations promote tumorigenesis causing increased cell proliferation and invasiveness. This investigation explored epigenetic events as contributing factors, especially in gliomas that arise in patients aged 40-60 years. Furthermore, DNA damage in tumours with respect to age was assessed. Archival fixed tissues from 88 cases of glioblastoma and adjacent non-malignant tissues were tested. Global methylation and DNA damage were measured using ELISA detection of 5-methyl cytosine and 8-hydroxy guanine, respectively. IDH mutations and CDKN2 promoter hypermethylation were analysed by pyrosequencing. Tumour tissue was hypomethylated compared with non-malignant tissue (P = .001), and there was a trend towards increased methylation with increasing age. There was a significant increase in DNA damage in patients older than forty years compared with those aged forty years or younger (P = .035). CDKN2 promoter methylation levels followed the age trends of global methylation in this patient group. Patients younger than 60 had more frequently mutated IDH (P = .004). Conclusions: The data support the potential of epigenetic factors in promoting tumorigenesis in younger patients, while increased DNA damage contributes to tumorigenesis in the older patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Tira
- Rush University College of Health Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lela Buckingham
- Rush University College of Health Sciences, Chicago, IL, USA
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16
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Aoki K, Suzuki H, Yamamoto T, Yamamoto KN, Maeda S, Okuno Y, Ranjit M, Motomura K, Ohka F, Tanahashi K, Hirano M, Nishikawa T, Shimizu H, Kitano Y, Yamaguchi J, Yamazaki S, Nakamura H, Takahashi M, Narita Y, Nakada M, Deguchi S, Mizoguchi M, Momii Y, Muragaki Y, Abe T, Akimoto J, Wakabayashi T, Saito R, Ogawa S, Haeno H, Natsume A. Mathematical Modeling and Mutational Analysis Reveal Optimal Therapy to Prevent Malignant Transformation in Grade II IDH-Mutant Gliomas. Cancer Res 2021; 81:4861-4873. [PMID: 34333454 PMCID: PMC9635454 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant low-grade gliomas (IDHmut-LGG) grow slowly but frequently undergo malignant transformation, which eventually leads to premature death. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments prolong survival, but can also induce genetic (or epigenetic) alterations involved in transformation. Here, we developed a mathematical model of tumor progression based on serial tumor volume data and treatment history of 276 IDHmut-LGGs classified by chromosome 1p/19q codeletion (IDHmut/1p19qcodel and IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel) and performed genome-wide mutational analyses, including targeted sequencing and longitudinal whole-exome sequencing data. These analyses showed that tumor mutational burden correlated positively with malignant transformation rate, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy significantly suppressed tumor growth but increased malignant transformation rate per cell by 1.8 to 2.8 times compared with before treatment. This model revealed that prompt adjuvant chemoradiotherapy prolonged malignant transformation-free survival in small IDHmut-LGGs (≤ 50 cm3). Furthermore, optimal treatment differed according to genetic alterations for large IDHmut-LGGs (> 50 cm3); adjuvant therapies delayed malignant transformation in IDHmut/1p19qnoncodel but often accelerated it in IDHmut/1p19qcodel. Notably, PI3K mutation was not associated with malignant transformation but increased net postoperative proliferation rate and decreased malignant transformation-free survival, prompting the need for adjuvant therapy in IDHmut/1p19qcodel. Overall, this model uncovered therapeutic strategies that could prevent malignant transformation and, consequently, improve overall survival in patients with IDHmut-LGGs. SIGNIFICANCE: A mathematical model successfully estimates malignant transformation-free survival and reveals a link between genetic alterations and progression, identifying precision medicine approaches for optimal treatment of IDH-mutant low-grade gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Aoki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Institute of Nano-Life-Systems, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Corresponding Authors: Kosuke Aoki, Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4668550, Japan. Phone: 815-2744-2353; E-mail: ; Hiroshi Haeno, ; and Atsushi Natsume,
| | - Hiromichi Suzuki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kimiyo N. Yamamoto
- Departments of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical College Hospital, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Sachi Maeda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yusuke Okuno
- Medical Genomics Center, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Virology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Melissa Ranjit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kazuya Motomura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Fumiharu Ohka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Tanahashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masaki Hirano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomohide Nishikawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Shimizu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yotaro Kitano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Junya Yamaguchi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shintaro Yamazaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hideo Nakamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masamichi Takahashi
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Narita
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neuro-oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsutoshi Nakada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shoichi Deguchi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Masahiro Mizoguchi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasutomo Momii
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oita University, Yufu, Oita, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Muragaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Abe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan
| | - Jiro Akimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Wakabayashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ryuta Saito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Seishi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Haeno
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, Japan.,Corresponding Authors: Kosuke Aoki, Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4668550, Japan. Phone: 815-2744-2353; E-mail: ; Hiroshi Haeno, ; and Atsushi Natsume,
| | - Atsushi Natsume
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Institute of Nano-Life-Systems, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Corresponding Authors: Kosuke Aoki, Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4668550, Japan. Phone: 815-2744-2353; E-mail: ; Hiroshi Haeno, ; and Atsushi Natsume,
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17
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Karagiannis D, Rampias T. HDAC Inhibitors: Dissecting Mechanisms of Action to Counter Tumor Heterogeneity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3575. [PMID: 34298787 PMCID: PMC8307174 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra-tumoral heterogeneity presents a major obstacle to cancer therapeutics, including conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Stochastic events such as mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and epigenetic dysregulation, as well as micro-environmental selection pressures related to nutrient and oxygen availability, immune infiltration, and immunoediting processes can drive immense phenotypic variability in tumor cells. Here, we discuss how histone deacetylase inhibitors, a prominent class of epigenetic drugs, can be leveraged to counter tumor heterogeneity. We examine their effects on cellular processes that contribute to heterogeneity and provide insights on their mechanisms of action that could assist in the development of future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Karagiannis
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Theodoros Rampias
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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18
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Tampakaki M, Oraiopoulou ME, Tzamali E, Tzedakis G, Makatounakis T, Zacharakis G, Papamatheakis J, Sakkalis V. PML Differentially Regulates Growth and Invasion in Brain Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126289. [PMID: 34208139 PMCID: PMC8230868 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor among adults. Despite multimodality treatment, it remains incurable, mainly because of its extensive heterogeneity and infiltration in the brain parenchyma. Recent evidence indicates dysregulation of the expression of the Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein (PML) in primary Glioblastoma samples. PML is implicated in various ways in cancer biology. In the brain, PML participates in the physiological migration of the neural progenitor cells, which have been hypothesized to serve as the cell of origin of Glioblastoma. The role of PML in Glioblastoma progression has recently gained attention due to its controversial effects in overall Glioblastoma evolution. In this work, we studied the role of PML in Glioblastoma pathophysiology using the U87MG cell line. We genetically modified the cells to conditionally overexpress the PML isoform IV and we focused on its dual role in tumor growth and invasive capacity. Furthermore, we targeted a PML action mediator, the Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), via the inhibitory drug DZNeP. We present a combined in vitro–in silico approach, that utilizes both 2D and 3D cultures and cancer-predictive computational algorithms, in order to differentiate and interpret the observed biological results. Our overall findings indicate that PML regulates growth and invasion through distinct cellular mechanisms. In particular, PML overexpression suppresses cell proliferation, while it maintains the invasive capacity of the U87MG Glioblastoma cells and, upon inhibition of the PML-EZH2 pathway, the invasion is drastically eliminated. Our in silico simulations suggest that the underlying mechanism of PML-driven Glioblastoma physiology regulates invasion by differential modulation of the cell-to-cell adhesive and diffusive capacity of the cells. Elucidating further the role of PML in Glioblastoma biology could set PML as a potential molecular biomarker of the tumor progression and its mediated pathway as a therapeutic target, aiming at inhibiting cell growth and potentially clonal evolution regarding their proliferative and/or invasive phenotype within the heterogeneous tumor mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tampakaki
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.T.); (M.-E.O.); (E.T.); (G.T.)
- School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Mariam-Eleni Oraiopoulou
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.T.); (M.-E.O.); (E.T.); (G.T.)
| | - Eleftheria Tzamali
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.T.); (M.-E.O.); (E.T.); (G.T.)
| | - Giorgos Tzedakis
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.T.); (M.-E.O.); (E.T.); (G.T.)
| | - Takis Makatounakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Giannis Zacharakis
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (J.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Joseph Papamatheakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece;
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (J.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Vangelis Sakkalis
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013 Heraklion, Greece; (M.T.); (M.-E.O.); (E.T.); (G.T.)
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (J.P.); (V.S.)
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19
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Falco J, Agosti A, Vetrano IG, Bizzi A, Restelli F, Broggi M, Schiariti M, DiMeco F, Ferroli P, Ciarletta P, Acerbi F. In Silico Mathematical Modelling for Glioblastoma: A Critical Review and a Patient-Specific Case. J Clin Med 2021; 10:2169. [PMID: 34067871 PMCID: PMC8156762 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10102169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma extensively infiltrates the brain; despite surgery and aggressive therapies, the prognosis is poor. A multidisciplinary approach combining mathematical, clinical and radiological data has the potential to foster our understanding of glioblastoma evolution in every single patient, with the aim of tailoring therapeutic weapons. In particular, the ultimate goal of biomathematics for cancer is the identification of the most suitable theoretical models and simulation tools, both to describe the biological complexity of carcinogenesis and to predict tumor evolution. In this report, we describe the results of a critical review about different mathematical models in neuro-oncology with their clinical implications. A comprehensive literature search and review for English-language articles concerning mathematical modelling in glioblastoma has been conducted. The review explored the different proposed models, classifying them and indicating the significative advances of each one. Furthermore, we present a specific case of a glioblastoma patient in which our recently proposed innovative mechanical model has been applied. The results of the mathematical models have the potential to provide a relevant benefit for clinicians and, more importantly, they might drive progress towards improving tumor control and patient's prognosis. Further prospective comparative trials, however, are still necessary to prove the impact of mathematical neuro-oncology in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Falco
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
| | - Abramo Agosti
- MOX, Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.A.); (P.C.)
| | - Ignazio G. Vetrano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
| | - Alberto Bizzi
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Francesco Restelli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
| | - Morgan Broggi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
| | - Marco Schiariti
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
| | - Francesco DiMeco
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimora, MD 21205, USA
| | - Paolo Ferroli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
| | - Pasquale Ciarletta
- MOX, Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.A.); (P.C.)
| | - Francesco Acerbi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20133 Milan, Italy; (J.F.); (I.G.V.); (F.R.); (M.B.); (M.S.); (F.D.); (P.F.)
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20
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Multiregional Sequencing of IDH-WT Glioblastoma Reveals High Genetic Heterogeneity and a Dynamic Evolutionary History. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092044. [PMID: 33922652 PMCID: PMC8122908 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain malignancy in adults. In addition to extensive inter-patient heterogeneity, glioblastoma shows intra-tumor extensive cellular and molecular heterogeneity, both spatially and temporally. This heterogeneity is one of the main reasons for the poor prognosis and overall survival. Moreover, it raises the important question of whether the molecular characterization of a single biopsy sample, as performed in standard diagnostics, actually represents the entire lesion. In this study, we sequenced the whole exome of nine spatially different cancer regions of three primary glioblastomas. We characterized their mutational profiles and copy number alterations, with implications for our understanding of tumor biology in relation to clonal architecture and evolutionary dynamics, as well as therapeutically relevant alterations. Abstract Glioblastoma is one of the most common and lethal primary neoplasms of the brain. Patient survival has not improved significantly over the past three decades and the patient median survival is just over one year. Tumor heterogeneity is thought to be a major determinant of therapeutic failure and a major reason for poor overall survival. This work aims to comprehensively define intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity by mapping the genomic and mutational landscape of multiple areas of three primary IDH wild-type (IDH-WT) glioblastomas. Using whole exome sequencing, we explored how copy number variation, chromosomal and single loci amplifications/deletions, and mutational burden are spatially distributed across nine different tumor regions. The results show that all tumors exhibit a different signature despite the same diagnosis. Above all, a high inter-tumor heterogeneity emerges. The evolutionary dynamics of all identified mutations within each region underline the questionable value of a single biopsy and thus the therapeutic approach for the patient. Multiregional collection and subsequent sequencing are essential to try to address the clinical challenge of precision medicine. Especially in glioblastoma, this approach could provide powerful support to pathologists and oncologists in evaluating the diagnosis and defining the best treatment option.
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21
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Peeri H, Shalev N, Vinayaka AC, Nizar R, Kazimirsky G, Namdar D, Anil SM, Belausov E, Brodie C, Koltai H. Specific Compositions of Cannabis sativa Compounds Have Cytotoxic Activity and Inhibit Motility and Colony Formation of Human Glioblastoma Cells In Vitro. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1720. [PMID: 33916466 PMCID: PMC8038598 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal subtype of glioma. Cannabis sativa is used for the treatment of various medical conditions. Around 150 phytocannabinoids have been identified in C. sativa, among them Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) that trigger GBM cell death. However, the optimal combinations of cannabis molecules for anti-GBM activity are unknown. Chemical composition was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Cytotoxic activity was determined by XTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays and apoptosis and cell cycle by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). F-actin structures were observed by confocal microscopy, gene expression by quantitative PCR, and cell migration and invasion by scratch and transwell assays, respectively. Fractions of a high-THC cannabis strain extract had significant cytotoxic activity against GBM cell lines and glioma stem cells derived from tumor specimens. A standard mix (SM) of the active fractions F4 and F5 induced apoptosis and expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress associated-genes. F4 and F5 inhibited cell migration and invasion, altered cell cytoskeletons, and inhibited colony formation in 2 and 3-dimensional models. Combinations of cannabis compounds exert cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory effects and should be examined for efficacy on GBM in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadar Peeri
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (R.N.); (G.K.); (C.B.)
| | - Nurit Shalev
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
| | - Ajjampura C. Vinayaka
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
| | - Rephael Nizar
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (R.N.); (G.K.); (C.B.)
| | - Gila Kazimirsky
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (R.N.); (G.K.); (C.B.)
| | - Dvora Namdar
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
| | - Seegehalli M. Anil
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
| | - Eduard Belausov
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
| | - Chaya Brodie
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; (R.N.); (G.K.); (C.B.)
- Davidson Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis, Hermelin Brain Tumor Center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Hinanit Koltai
- Institute of Plant Science, Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel; (H.P.); (N.S.); (A.C.V.); (D.N.); (S.M.A.); (E.B.)
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22
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Ibarra LE, Vilchez ML, Caverzán MD, Milla Sanabria LN. Understanding the glioblastoma tumor biology to optimize photodynamic therapy: From molecular to cellular events. J Neurosci Res 2020; 99:1024-1047. [PMID: 33370846 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has recently gained attention as an alternative treatment of malignant gliomas. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent within tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Conventional treatments for this CNS tumor include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Surgery is still being considered as the treatment of choice. Even so, the poor prognosis and/or recurrence of the disease after applying any of these treatments highlight the urgency of exploring new therapies and/or improving existing ones to achieve the definitive eradication of tumor masses and remaining cells. PDT is a therapeutic modality that involves the destruction of tumor cells by reactive oxygen species induced by light, which were previously treated with a photosensitizing agent. However, in recent years, its experimental application has expanded to other effects that could improve overall performance against GBM. In the current review, we revisit the main advances of PDT for GBM management and also, the recent mechanistic insights about cellular and molecular aspects related to tumoral resistance to PDT of GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Exequiel Ibarra
- Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS), Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Río Cuarto, Argentina.,Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físico-Químicas y Naturales, UNRC, Río Cuarto, Argentina
| | - María Laura Vilchez
- Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS), Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Río Cuarto, Argentina.,Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físico-Químicas y Naturales, UNRC, Río Cuarto, Argentina
| | - Matías Daniel Caverzán
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físico-Químicas y Naturales, UNRC, Río Cuarto, Argentina
| | - Laura Natalia Milla Sanabria
- Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS), Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC) y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Río Cuarto, Argentina.,Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físico-Químicas y Naturales, UNRC, Río Cuarto, Argentina
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23
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Park DS, Luddy KA, Robertson-Tessi M, O'Farrelly C, Gatenby RA, Anderson ARA. Searching for Goldilocks: How Evolution and Ecology Can Help Uncover More Effective Patient-Specific Chemotherapies. Cancer Res 2020; 80:5147-5154. [PMID: 32934022 PMCID: PMC10940023 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-3981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Deaths from cancer are mostly due to metastatic disease that becomes resistant to therapy. A mainstay treatment for many cancers is chemotherapy, for which the dosing strategy is primarily limited by patient toxicity. While this MTD approach builds upon the intuitively appealing principle that maximum therapeutic benefit is achieved by killing the largest possible number of cancer cells, there is increasing evidence that moderation might allow host-specific features to contribute to success. We believe that a "Goldilocks Window" of submaximal chemotherapy will yield improved overall outcomes. This window combines the complex interplay of cancer cell death, immune activity, emergence of chemoresistance, and metastatic dissemination. These multiple activities driven by chemotherapy have tradeoffs that depend on the specific agents used as well as their dosing levels and schedule. Here we present evidence supporting the idea that MTD may not always be the best approach and offer suggestions toward a more personalized treatment regime that integrates insights into patient-specific eco-evolutionary dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek S Park
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Kimberly A Luddy
- Trinity Biosciences Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Mark Robertson-Tessi
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Robert A Gatenby
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Alexander R A Anderson
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
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A Mechanistic Investigation into Ischemia-Driven Distal Recurrence of Glioblastoma. Bull Math Biol 2020; 82:143. [PMID: 33159592 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-020-00814-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with a short median survival. Tumor recurrence is a clinical expectation of this disease and usually occurs along the resection cavity wall. However, previous clinical observations have suggested that in cases of ischemia following surgery, tumors are more likely to recur distally. Through the use of a previously established mechanistic model of GBM, the Proliferation Invasion Hypoxia Necrosis Angiogenesis (PIHNA) model, we explore the phenotypic drivers of this observed behavior. We have extended the PIHNA model to include a new nutrient-based vascular efficiency term that encodes the ability of local vasculature to provide nutrients to the simulated tumor. The extended model suggests sensitivity to a hypoxic microenvironment and the inherent migration and proliferation rates of the tumor cells are key factors that drive distal recurrence.
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25
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Tzamali E, Tzedakis G, Sakkalis V. Modeling How Heterogeneity in Cell Cycle Length Affects Cancer Cell Growth Dynamics in Response to Treatment. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1552. [PMID: 33042800 PMCID: PMC7518087 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors are complex, dynamic, and adaptive biological systems characterized by high heterogeneity at genetic, epigenetic, phenotypic, as well as tissue microenvironmental level. In this work, utilizing cellular automata methods, we focus on intrinsic heterogeneity with respect to cell cycle duration and explore whether and to what extent this heterogeneity affects cancer cell growth dynamics when cytotoxic treatment is applied. We assume that treatment acts on cancer cells specifically during mitosis and compare it with a (cell cycle-non-specific) cytotoxic treatment that acts randomly regardless of the cell cycle phase. We simulate the spatiotemporal evolution of tumor cells with different initial spatial configurations and different cell length probability distributions. We observed that in heterogeneous populations, strong selection forces act on cancer cells favoring the faster cells, when the death rates are lower than the proliferation rates. However, at higher mitotic death rates, selection of the slower proliferative cells is favored, leading to slower post-treatment regrowth rates, as compared to untreated growth. Of note, random cell death progressively eliminates the slower proliferative cells, consistently, favoring highly proliferative phenotypes. Interestingly, compared to the monoclonal populations that exhibit complete response at high random death rates, emergent resistance arises naturally in heterogeneous populations during treatment. As divergent selection forces may act on a heterogeneous cancer cell population, we argue that treatment plan selection can considerably alter the post-treatment tumor dynamics, cell survival, and emergence of resistance, proving its significant biological and therapeutic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Tzamali
- Computational Bio-Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Georgios Tzedakis
- Computational Bio-Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Vangelis Sakkalis
- Computational Bio-Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
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