1
|
Nanochips of Tantalum Oxide Nanodots as artificial-microenvironments for monitoring Ovarian cancer progressiveness. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31998. [PMID: 27534915 PMCID: PMC4989222 DOI: 10.1038/srep31998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanotopography modulates cell characteristics and cell behavior. Nanotopological cues can be exploited to investigate the in-vivo modulation of cell characteristics by the cellular microenvironment. However, the studies explaining the modulation of tumor cell characteristics and identifying the transition step in cancer progressiveness are scarce. Here, we engineered nanochips comprising of Tantalum oxide nanodot arrays of 10, 50, 100 and 200 nm as artificial microenvironments to study the modulation of cancer cell behavior. Clinical samples of different types of Ovarian cancer at different stages were obtained, primary cultures were established and then seeded on different nanochips. Immunofluorescence (IF) was performed to compare the morphologies and cell characteristics. Indices corresponding to cell characteristics were defined. A statistical comparison of the cell characteristics in response to the nanochips was performed. The cells displayed differential growth parameters. Morphology, Viability, focal adhesions, microfilament bundles and cell area were modulated by the nanochips which can be used as a measure to study the cancer progressiveness. The ease of fabrication of nanochips ensures mass-production. The ability of the nanochips to act as artificial microenvironments and modulate cell behavior may lead to further prospects in the markerless monitoring of the progressiveness and ultimately, improving the prognosis of Ovarian cancer.
Collapse
|
2
|
Quatromoni JG, Singhal S, Bhojnagarwala P, Hancock WW, Albelda SM, Eruslanov E. An optimized disaggregation method for human lung tumors that preserves the phenotype and function of the immune cells. J Leukoc Biol 2014; 97:201-9. [PMID: 25359999 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.5ta0814-373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Careful preparation of human tissues is the cornerstone of obtaining accurate data in immunologic studies. Despite the essential importance of tissue processing in tumor immunology and clinical medicine, current methods of tissue disaggregation have not been rigorously tested for data fidelity. Thus, we critically evaluated the current techniques available in the literature that are used to prepare human lung tumors for immunologic studies. We discovered that these approaches are successful at digesting cellular attachments and ECMs; however, these methods frequently alter the immune cell composition and/or expression of surface molecules. We thus developed a novel approach to prepare human lung tumors for immunologic studies by combining gentle mechanical manipulation with an optimized cocktail of enzymes used at low doses. This enzymatic digestion cocktail optimized cell yield and cell viability, retrieved all major tumor-associated cell populations, and maintained the expression of cell-surface markers for lineage definition and in vivo effector functions. To our knowledge, we present the first rigorously tested disaggregation method designed for human lung tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon G Quatromoni
- Departments of *Surgery and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sunil Singhal
- Departments of *Surgery and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Pratik Bhojnagarwala
- Departments of *Surgery and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Wayne W Hancock
- Departments of *Surgery and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Steven M Albelda
- Departments of *Surgery and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Evgeniy Eruslanov
- Departments of *Surgery and Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Cunnea P, Stronach EA. Modeling platinum sensitive and resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer: development and applications of experimental systems. Front Oncol 2014; 4:81. [PMID: 24860781 PMCID: PMC4029026 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer remains the most common sub-type of ovarian cancer and, characterized by high degrees of genomic instability and heterogeneity, is typified by a transition from early response to acquired resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. Conventional models for the study of ovarian cancer have been largely limited to a set of relatively poorly characterized immortalized cell lines and recent studies have called into question the validity of some of these as reliable models. Here, we review new approaches and models systems that take into account advances in our understanding of ovarian cancer biology and advances in the technology available for their generation and study. We discuss primary cell models, 2D, 3D, and organotypic models, and “paired” sample approaches that capture the evolution of chemotherapy failure within single cases. We also overview new methods for non-invasive collection of representative tumor material from blood samples. Adoption of such methods and models will improve the quality and clinical relevance of ovarian cancer research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Cunnea
- Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Cancer and Surgery , Imperial College London, London , UK
| | - Euan A Stronach
- Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, Ovarian Cancer Action Research Centre, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Cancer and Surgery , Imperial College London, London , UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lam SSN, Mak ASC, Yam JWP, Cheung ANY, Ngan HYS, Wong AST. Targeting estrogen-related receptor alpha inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stem cell properties of ovarian cancer cells. Mol Ther 2014; 22:743-51. [PMID: 24419103 PMCID: PMC3982489 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/28/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition represents a key event in cancer progression and has emerged as a promising anticancer target. Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) is frequently elevated in advanced-stage ovarian cancer, but its potential role in tumor progression is not known. Here we show that ERRα functions in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and in subsequent stem cell traits responsible for the acquisition of high degree of aggressiveness and potential for metastasis that are characteristic of ovarian cancer. Importantly, targeted inhibition of ERRα also inhibited the expression of Snail, a repressor of E-cadherin and an inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Interestingly, induction of Snail resulted from not only changes in mRNA transcription rate but also mRNA stability. We thus identified the miR-200 family as a new player in the ERRα-mediated posttranscriptional regulation of Snail, and antagonism of miR-200a/b could revert the decreased expression of Snail and reversal of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell characteristics due to ERRα depletion. Finally, we showed that RNA interference-mediated inhibition of ERRα significantly reduced tumor burden, ascites formation, and metastatic peritoneal nodules in vivo in an orthotopic model of ovarian cancer. These results suggest ERRα activation as a mechanism of tumor aggressiveness and imply that targeting ERRα may be a promising approach in ovarian cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophia SN Lam
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Abby SC Mak
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Judy WP Yam
- Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Annie NY Cheung
- Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Hextan YS Ngan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Hong Kong, Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Alice ST Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jiao B, Taniguchi-Ishigaki N, Güngör C, Peters MA, Chen YW, Riethdorf S, Drung A, Ahronian LG, Shin J, Pagnis R, Pantel K, Tachibana T, Lewis BC, Johnsen SA, Bach I. Functional activity of RLIM/Rnf12 is regulated by phosphorylation-dependent nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Mol Biol Cell 2013; 24:3085-96. [PMID: 23904271 PMCID: PMC3784382 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e13-05-0239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In mice, the ubiquitin ligase RLIM/Rnf12 is a critical survival factor for mammary milk-producing alveolar cells, but little is known about how its activity is regulated. It is shown here that RLIM shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, and shuttling is important for its alveolar survival function. The X-linked gene Rnf12 encodes the ubiquitin ligase really interesting new gene (RING) finger LIM domain–interacting protein (RLIM)/RING finger protein 12 (Rnf12), which serves as a major sex-specific epigenetic regulator of female mouse nurturing tissues. Early during embryogenesis, RLIM/Rnf12 expressed from the maternal allele is crucial for the development of extraembryonic trophoblast cells. In contrast, in mammary glands of pregnant and lactating adult females RLIM/Rnf12 expressed from the paternal allele functions as a critical survival factor for milk-producing alveolar cells. Although RLIM/Rnf12 is detected mostly in the nucleus, little is known about how and in which cellular compartment(s) RLIM/Rnf12 mediates its biological functions. Here we demonstrate that RLIM/Rnf12 protein shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm and this is regulated by phosphorylation of serine S214 located within its nuclear localization sequence. We show that shuttling is important for RLIM to exert its biological functions, as alveolar cell survival activity is inhibited in cells expressing shuttling-deficient nuclear or cytoplasmic RLIM/Rnf12. Thus regulated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of RLIM/Rnf12 coordinates cellular compartments during mammary alveolar cell survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baowei Jiao
- Program in Gene Function and Expression, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605-2324 Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605-2324 Centre for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany Institute for Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jiao B, Ma H, Shokhirev MN, Drung A, Yang Q, Shin J, Lu S, Byron M, Kalantry S, Mercurio AM, Lawrence JB, Hoffmann A, Bach I. Paternal RLIM/Rnf12 is a survival factor for milk-producing alveolar cells. Cell 2012; 149:630-41. [PMID: 22541433 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.02.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2011] [Revised: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In female mouse embryos, somatic cells undergo a random form of X chromosome inactivation (XCI), whereas extraembryonic trophoblast cells in the placenta undergo imprinted XCI, silencing exclusively the paternal X chromosome. Initiation of imprinted XCI requires a functional maternal allele of the X-linked gene Rnf12, which encodes the ubiquitin ligase Rnf12/RLIM. We find that knockout (KO) of Rnf12 in female mammary glands inhibits alveolar differentiation and milk production upon pregnancy, with alveolar cells that lack RLIM undergoing apoptosis as they begin to differentiate. Genetic analyses demonstrate that these functions are mediated primarily by the paternal Rnf12 allele due to nonrandom maternal XCI in mammary epithelial cells. These results identify paternal Rnf12/RLIM as a critical survival factor for milk-producing alveolar cells and, together with population models, reveal implications of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baowei Jiao
- Program in Gene Function and Expression, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Salmanzadeh A, Kittur H, Sano MB, C Roberts P, Schmelz EM, Davalos RV. Dielectrophoretic differentiation of mouse ovarian surface epithelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts using contactless dielectrophoresis. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2012; 6:24104-2410413. [PMID: 22536308 PMCID: PMC3331864 DOI: 10.1063/1.3699973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies in women. The primary challenge is the detection of the cancer at an early stage, since this drastically increases the survival rate. In this study we investigated the dielectrophoretic responses of progressive stages of mouse ovarian surface epithelial (MOSE) cells, as well as mouse fibroblast and macrophage cell lines, utilizing contactless dielectrophoresis (cDEP). cDEP is a relatively new cell manipulation technique that has addressed some of the challenges of conventional dielectrophoretic methods. To evaluate our microfluidic device performance, we computationally studied the effects of altering various geometrical parameters, such as the size and arrangement of insulating structures, on dielectrophoretic and drag forces. We found that the trapping voltage of MOSE cells increases as the cells progress from a non-tumorigenic, benign cell to a tumorigenic, malignant phenotype. Additionally, all MOSE cells display unique behavior compared to fibroblasts and macrophages, representing normal and inflammatory cells found in the peritoneal fluid. Based on these findings, we predict that cDEP can be utilized for isolation of ovarian cancer cells from peritoneal fluid as an early cancer detection tool.
Collapse
|
8
|
Chandna P, Khandare JJ, Ber E, Rodriguez-Rodriguez L, Minko T. Multifunctional tumor-targeted polymer-peptide-drug delivery system for treatment of primary and metastatic cancers. Pharm Res 2010; 27:2296-306. [PMID: 20700631 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-010-0235-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2010] [Accepted: 07/28/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In order to improve drug delivery to drug-resistant ovarian tumors, we constructed a multifunctional polymer-peptide-drug conjugate (PPDC) system for effective treatment of primary and metastatic ovarian cancers. METHODS The PPDC consists of the poly(Ethylene Glycol) (PEG) polymeric carrier conjugated via citric acid spacers to anticancer drug (Camptothecin, CPT), tumor targeting moiety (LRHR, a synthetic analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) and a suppressor of cellular antiapoptotic defense (BH3 peptide). To test the conjugates in vitro and in vivo, cancer cells were isolated from tissue samples obtained from patients with ovarian primary tumor and metastatic malignant ascites. RESULTS It was found that cells isolated from malignant ascites were more aggressive in terms of tumor growth and more resistant to chemotherapy when compared with those isolated from primary tumors. PPDC containing two copies of drugs and peptides was most efficient in treatment of primary tumors and intraperitoneal metastases. Multiple treatments with this PPDC led to almost complete regression of primary tumor and prevented growth of malignant ascites. CONCLUSION The proposed multifunctional polymeric delivery system which consists of multiple copies of the drug and peptides demonstrated significantly higher antitumor activity in primary and metastatic cancers when compared with drug alone and PEG-CPT conjugate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Chandna
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8020, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bertozzi CC, Chang CY, Jairaj S, Shan X, Huang J, Weber BL, Chu CS, Carroll RG. Multiple initial culture conditions enhance the establishment of cell lines from primary ovarian cancer specimens. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2006; 42:58-62. [PMID: 16759149 DOI: 10.1290/0512084.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
To increase the efficiency of stable cell line establishment from primary ovarian cancer specimens, we simultaneously initiated cultures under multiple conditions, varying extracellular matrices and the inclusion of supplements (e.g., serum or serum albumin), while minimizing exposure to xenogeneic antigens (e.g., fetal calf serum). Primary cultures were initiated from 30 specimens; cell lines were established from 10 of these for a success rate of 33%. In some instances, multiple cell lines were established from the same specimen. Five lines were characterized extensively with respect to growth properties, antigen expression, and genomic alterations. Although these lines are all low-passage, marked heterogeneity was observed, even between lines derived from the same specimen. The culture approach outlined herein will facilitate generation of reagents useful for many aspects of ovarian cancer biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cara C Bertozzi
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6160, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|