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Guo JL, Lopez DM, Mascharak S, Foster DS, Khan A, Davitt MF, Nguyen AT, Burcham AR, Chinta MS, Guardino NJ, Griffin M, Miller E, Januszyk M, Raghavan SS, Longacre TA, Delitto DJ, Norton JA, Longaker MT. Hematoxylin and Eosin Architecture Uncovers Clinically Divergent Niches in Pancreatic Cancer. Tissue Eng Part A 2024. [PMID: 38874979 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2024.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the only cancers with an increasing incidence rate and is often associated with intra- and peri-tumoral scarring, referred to as desmoplasia. This scarring is highly heterogeneous in extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture and plays complex roles in both tumor biology and clinical outcomes that are not yet fully understood. Using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), a routine histological stain utilized in existing clinical workflows, we quantified ECM architecture in 85 patient samples to assess relationships between desmoplastic architecture and clinical outcomes such as survival time and disease recurrence. By utilizing unsupervised machine learning to summarize a latent space across 147 local (e.g., fiber length, solidity) and global (e.g., fiber branching, porosity) H&E-based features, we identified a continuum of histological architectures that were associated with differences in both survival and recurrence. Furthermore, we mapped H&E architectures to a CO-Detection by indEXing (CODEX) reference atlas, revealing localized cell- and protein-based niches associated with outcome-positive versus outcome-negative scarring in the tumor microenvironment. Overall, our study utilizes standard H&E staining to uncover clinically relevant associations between desmoplastic organization and PDAC outcomes, offering a translatable pipeline to support prognostic decision-making and a blueprint of spatial-biological factors for modeling by tissue engineering methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason L Guo
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - David M Lopez
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Shamik Mascharak
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Deshka S Foster
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Anum Khan
- Cell Sciences Imaging Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael F Davitt
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Alan T Nguyen
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Austin R Burcham
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Malini S Chinta
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nicholas J Guardino
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michelle Griffin
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Elisabeth Miller
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Michael Januszyk
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Shyam S Raghavan
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Teri A Longacre
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Daniel J Delitto
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Norton
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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2
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Han D, Yang M, Feng Z, Wu Y, Sojic N, Jiang D. Thickness-Resolved Electrochemiluminescence Microscopy of Extracellular Matrix at Tumor Tissues for Rapid Cancer Diagnosis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:32078-32086. [PMID: 38865735 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c05735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The traditional recognition of extracellular matrix (ECM) at tissue sections relies on the time-consuming immunofluorescence that could not meet the demand of rapid diagnosis. Herein, we introduce a thickness-resolved electrochemiluminescence (ECL) microscopy to image thin-layer ECM at tissue sections for fast histopathological analysis. The unique surface-confined ECL mechanism enables to unveil the diversity and complexity of multiple tissue structures with varying thicknesses. Notably, the short lifetimes and the limited diffusion of electrogenerated coreactant radicals combined with their chemical reactivity result in a 2-fold increase in ECL intensity on ECM structures compared to the remaining tissue, enabling ECM visualization without specific labeling. The further quantitation of the ECM localization within tissue sections furnishes crucial insights into tumor progression and, more importantly, differentiates carcinoma and paracancerous tissues from patients in less than 30 min. Moreover, the reported electrochemistry-based microscopy is a dynamic approach allowing to investigate the transport, tortuosity, and trafficking properties through the tissues. This thickness-resolved recognition strategy not only opens new avenues for imaging complex samples but also holds promise for expediting tissue pathologic diagnosis, offering a more automated protocol with enhanced quantitative data compared to current intraoperative pathology methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongni Han
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Mi Yang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School and Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zengyu Feng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Yulian Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Neso Sojic
- Institute des Sciences Moléculaires, UMR 5255, 16 avenue Pey-Berland, University of Bordeaux, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Dechen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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3
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Golo M, Newman PLH, Kempe D, Biro M. Mechanoimmunology in the solid tumor microenvironment. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1489-1502. [PMID: 38856041 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231427] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that adjoins the cancer cells within solid tumors and comprises distinct components such as extracellular matrix, stromal and immune cells, blood vessels, and an abundance of signaling molecules. In recent years, the mechanical properties of the TME have emerged as critical determinants of tumor progression and therapeutic response. Aberrant mechanical cues, including altered tissue architecture and stiffness, contribute to tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Moreover, burgeoning immunotherapies hold great promise for harnessing the immune system to target and eliminate solid malignancies; however, their success is hindered by the hostile mechanical landscape of the TME, which can impede immune cell infiltration, function, and persistence. Consequently, understanding TME mechanoimmunology - the interplay between mechanical forces and immune cell behavior - is essential for developing effective solid cancer therapies. Here, we review the role of TME mechanics in tumor immunology, focusing on recent therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the mechanical properties of the TME to potentiate T cell immunotherapies, and innovative assays tailored to evaluate their clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Golo
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Peter L H Newman
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Daryan Kempe
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Maté Biro
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science node, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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4
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Devarasou S, Kang M, Shin JH. Biophysical perspectives to understanding cancer-associated fibroblasts. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:021507. [PMID: 38855445 PMCID: PMC11161195 DOI: 10.1063/5.0199024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The understanding of cancer has evolved significantly, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) now recognized as a critical factor influencing the onset and progression of the disease. This broader perspective challenges the traditional view that cancer is primarily caused by mutations, instead emphasizing the dynamic interaction between different cell types and physicochemical factors within the TME. Among these factors, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) command attention for their profound influence on tumor behavior and patient prognoses. Despite their recognized importance, the biophysical and mechanical interactions of CAFs within the TME remain elusive. This review examines the distinctive physical characteristics of CAFs, their morphological attributes, and mechanical interactions within the TME. We discuss the impact of mechanotransduction on CAF function and highlight how these cells communicate mechanically with neighboring cancer cells, thereby shaping the path of tumor development and progression. By concentrating on the biomechanical regulation of CAFs, this review aims to deepen our understanding of their role in the TME and to illuminate new biomechanical-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayadineshraj Devarasou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Minwoo Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jennifer H. Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
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Pinheiro LCL, Pupim ACE, Pereira ÉR, Ahrens TM, Mendonça AC, Francelino AL, Araújo EJDA, Guembarovski AFML, Fuganti PE, Vanzela ALL, Colus IMDS, Favaron PO, Miqueloto CA, Guembarovski RL. Deposition of collagen III and alterations in basement membrane integrity as candidate prognostic markers in prostate cancer. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114077. [PMID: 38735620 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114077] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor undergoes changes in its organization during the metastasis process. The present study aims to quantify total collagen, collagen I (Col I) and collagen III (Col III), analyze the alignment of collagen fibers and assess the basement membrane integrity in samples from patients with metastatic and non-metastatic prostate cancer. Tissue samples from 60 patients were classified into groups based on prognostic parameters: better prognosis (n = 20), worse prognosis without metastasis (n = 23) and metastatic (n = 17). Picrosirius red with further analysis under polarizing microscope was used to quantify (with validation using immunohistochemistry) and analyze collagen alignment, and Periodic Acid Schiff staining was used to analyze the basement membrane integrity. The Col I/Col III ratio was found to be higher in the metastatic group than in the groups with better prognosis (p = 0.012) and worse prognosis without metastasis (p = 0.018). Basement membrane integrity constitution in malignant tumor tissue differed from that of adjacent non-tumor tissue (p < 0.001). Moreover, the worsening in the tumor tissue integrity was positively correlated with worse prognostic parameters. All in all, absence of Col III and basement membrane integrity might be indicators of poor prognosis in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Capelasso Lucas Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Andreia Carla Eugênio Pupim
- Laboratory of Enteric Neuroscience, Department of Histology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Érica Romão Pereira
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Tainah Mendes Ahrens
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Ana Carla Mendonça
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Amanda Letícia Francelino
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Ilce Mara de Syllos Colus
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Phelipe Oliveira Favaron
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Carlos Alberto Miqueloto
- Laboratory of Extracellular Matrix, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Roberta Losi Guembarovski
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Oncogenetics, Department of General Biology, Londrina State University, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
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Chen X, Chen L, Miao J, Huang X, Han X, Zheng L, Xu S, Chen J, Li L. Prognostic significance of collagen signatures in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma obtained from second-harmonic generation imaging. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:652. [PMID: 38811917 PMCID: PMC11134950 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12412-5] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) ranks among the deadliest types of cancer, and it will be meaningful to search for new biomarkers with prognostic value to help clinicians tailor therapeutic strategies. METHODS Here we tried to use an advanced optical imaging technique, multiphoton microscopy (MPM) combining second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) imaging, for the label-free detection of PDAC tissues from a cohort of 149 patients. An automated image processing method was used to extract collagen features from SHG images and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to assess the prognostic value of collagen signatures. RESULTS SHG images clearly show the different characteristics of collagen fibers in tumor microenvironment. We gained eight collagen morphological features, and a Feature-score was derived for each patient by the combination of these features using ridge regression. Statistical analyses reveal that Feature-score is an independent factor, and can predict the overall survival of PDAC patients as well as provide well risk stratification. CONCLUSIONS SHG imaging technique can potentially be a tool for the accurate diagnosis of PDAC, and this optical biomarker (Feature-score) may help clinicians make more approximate treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Linying Chen
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
| | - Jikui Miao
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Xingxin Huang
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Xiahui Han
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Liqin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Shuoyu Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jianxin Chen
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China
| | - Lianhuang Li
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, College of Photonic and Electronic Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350007, China.
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Adi W, Perez BER, Liu Y, Runkle S, Eliceiri KW, Yesilkoy F. Machine learning assisted mid-infrared spectrochemical fibrillar collagen imaging in clinical tissues. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.22.595393. [PMID: 38826188 PMCID: PMC11142197 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.22.595393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Significance Label-free multimodal imaging methods that can provide complementary structural and chemical information from the same sample are critical for comprehensive tissue analyses. These methods are specifically needed to study the complex tumor-microenvironment where fibrillar collagen's architectural changes are associated with cancer progression. To address this need, we present a multimodal computational imaging method where mid-infrared spectral imaging (MIRSI) is employed with second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to identify fibrillar collagen in biological tissues. Aim To demonstrate a multimodal approach where a morphology-specific contrast mechanism guides a mid-infrared spectral imaging method to detect fibrillar collagen based on its chemical signatures. Approach We trained a supervised machine learning (ML) model using SHG images as ground truth collagen labels to classify fibrillar collagen in biological tissues based on their mid-infrared hyperspectral images. Five human pancreatic tissue samples (sizes are in the order of millimeters) were imaged by both MIRSI and SHG microscopes. In total, 2.8 million MIRSI spectra were used to train a random forest (RF) model. The remaining 68 million spectra were used to validate the collagen images generated by the RF-MIRSI model in terms of collagen segmentation, orientation, and alignment. Results Compared to the SHG ground truth, the generated MIRSI collagen images achieved a high average boundary F-score (0.8 at 4 pixels threshold) in the collagen distribution, high correlation (Pearson's R 0.82) in the collagen orientation, and similarly high correlation (Pearson's R 0.66) in the collagen alignment. Conclusions We showed the potential of ML-aided label-free mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging for collagen fiber and tumor microenvironment analysis in tumor pathology samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wihan Adi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Bryan E. Rubio Perez
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Yuming Liu
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Sydney Runkle
- Department of Computer Science University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Filiz Yesilkoy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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Vendramini-Costa DB, Francescone R, Franco-Barraza J, Luong T, Graves M, de Aquino AM, Steele N, Gardiner JC, Dos Santos SAA, Ogier C, Malloy E, Borghaei L, Martinez E, Zhigarev DI, Tan Y, Lee H, Zhou Y, Cai KQ, Klein-Szanto AJ, Wang H, Andrake M, Dunbrack RL, Campbell K, Cukierman E. Netrin G1 Ligand is a new stromal immunomodulator that promotes pancreatic cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.15.594354. [PMID: 38798370 PMCID: PMC11118300 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.594354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Understanding pancreatic cancer biology is fundamental for identifying new targets and for developing more effective therapies. In particular, the contribution of the stromal microenvironment to pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis requires further exploration. Here, we report the stromal roles of the synaptic protein Netrin G1 Ligand (NGL-1) in pancreatic cancer, uncovering its pro-tumor functions in cancer-associated fibroblasts and in immune cells. We observed that the stromal expression of NGL-1 inversely correlated with patients' overall survival. Moreover, germline knockout (KO) mice for NGL-1 presented decreased tumor burden, with a microenvironment that is less supportive of tumor growth. Of note, tumors from NGL-1 KO mice produced less immunosuppressive cytokines and displayed an increased percentage of CD8 + T cells than those from control mice, while preserving the physical structure of the tumor microenvironment. These effects were shown to be mediated by NGL-1 in both immune cells and in the local stroma, in a TGF-β-dependent manner. While myeloid cells lacking NGL-1 decreased the production of immunosuppressive cytokines, NGL-1 KO T cells showed increased proliferation rates and overall polyfunctionality compared to control T cells. CAFs lacking NGL-1 were less immunosuppressive than controls, with overall decreased production of pro-tumor cytokines and compromised ability to inhibit CD8 + T cells activation. Mechanistically, these CAFs downregulated components of the TGF-β pathway, AP-1 and NFAT transcription factor families, resulting in a less tumor-supportive phenotype. Finally, targeting NGL-1 genetically or using a functionally antagonistic small peptide phenocopied the effects of chemotherapy, while modulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), rather than eliminating it. We propose NGL-1 as a new local stroma and immunomodulatory molecule, with pro-tumor roles in pancreatic cancer. Statement of Significance Here we uncovered the pro-tumor roles of the synaptic protein NGL-1 in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, defining a new target that simultaneously modulates tumor cell, fibroblast, and immune cell functions. This study reports a new pathway where NGL-1 controls TGF-β, AP-1 transcription factor members and NFAT1, modulating the immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. Our findings highlight NGL-1 as a new stromal immunomodulator in pancreatic cancer.
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Sneider A, Liu Y, Starich B, Du W, Nair PR, Marar C, Faqih N, Ciotti GE, Kim JH, Krishnan S, Ibrahim S, Igboko M, Locke A, Lewis DM, Hong H, Karl MN, Vij R, Russo GC, Gómez-de-Mariscal E, Habibi M, Muñoz-Barrutia A, Gu L, Eisinger-Mathason TK, Wirtz D. Small Extracellular Vesicles Promote Stiffness-mediated Metastasis. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1240-1252. [PMID: 38630893 PMCID: PMC11080964 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Tissue stiffness is a critical prognostic factor in breast cancer and is associated with metastatic progression. Here we show an alternative and complementary hypothesis of tumor progression whereby physiologic matrix stiffness affects the quantity and protein cargo of small extracellular vesicles (EV) produced by cancer cells, which in turn aid cancer cell dissemination. Primary patient breast tissue released by cancer cells on matrices that model human breast tumors (25 kPa; stiff EVs) feature increased adhesion molecule presentation (ITGα2β1, ITGα6β4, ITGα6β1, CD44) compared with EVs from softer normal tissue (0.5 kPa; soft EVs), which facilitates their binding to extracellular matrix proteins including collagen IV, and a 3-fold increase in homing ability to distant organs in mice. In a zebrafish xenograft model, stiff EVs aid cancer cell dissemination. Moreover, normal, resident lung fibroblasts treated with stiff and soft EVs change their gene expression profiles to adopt a cancer-associated fibroblast phenotype. These findings show that EV quantity, cargo, and function depend heavily on the mechanical properties of the extracellular microenvironment. SIGNIFICANCE Here we show that the quantity, cargo, and function of breast cancer-derived EVs vary with mechanical properties of the extracellular microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Sneider
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ying Liu
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Sarcoma Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Bartholomew Starich
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Wenxuan Du
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Praful R. Nair
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carolyn Marar
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Najwa Faqih
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gabrielle E. Ciotti
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Sarcoma Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joo Ho Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sejal Krishnan
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Salma Ibrahim
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Muna Igboko
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alexus Locke
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daniel M. Lewis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hanna Hong
- Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michelle N. Karl
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Raghav Vij
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gabriella C. Russo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Estibaliz Gómez-de-Mariscal
- Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mehran Habibi
- Johns Hopkins Breast Center, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Arrate Muñoz-Barrutia
- Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luo Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - T.S. Karin Eisinger-Mathason
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn Sarcoma Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Denis Wirtz
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences–Oncology Center and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Lei Y, Xu J, Xiao M, Wu D, Xu H, Yang J, Mao X, Pan H, Yu X, Shi S. Pirfenidone alleviates fibrosis by acting on tumour-stroma interplay in pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1505-1516. [PMID: 38454166 PMCID: PMC11058874 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02631-9] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of 12%. The abundant mesenchyme is partly responsible for the malignancy. The antifibrotic therapies have gained attention in recent research. However, the role of pirfenidone, an FDA-approved drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, remains unclear in PDAC. METHODS Data from RNA-seq of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models treated with pirfenidone were integrated using bioinformatics tools to identify the target of cell types and genes. Using confocal microscopy, qRT-PCR and western blotting, we validated the signalling pathway in tumour cells to regulate the cytokine secretion. Further cocultured system demonstrated the interplay to regulate stroma fibrosis. Finally, mouse models demonstrated the potential of pirfenidone in PDAC. RESULTS Pirfenidone can remodulate multiple biological pathways, and exerts an antifibrotic effect through inhibiting the secretion of PDGF-bb from tumour cells by downregulating the TGM2/NF-kB/PDGFB pathway. Thus, leading to a subsequent reduction in collagen X and fibronectin secreted by CAFs. Moreover, the mice orthotopic pancreatic tumour models demonstrated the antifibrotic effect and potential to sensitise gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS Pirfenidone may alter the pancreatic milieu and alleviate fibrosis through the regulation of tumour-stroma interactions via the TGM2/NF-kB/PDGFB signalling pathway, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits in PDAC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Lei
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingming Xiao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - He Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqi Mao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoqi Pan
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Lee DU, Han BS, Jung KH, Hong SS. Tumor Stroma as a Therapeutic Target for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2024; 32:281-290. [PMID: 38590092 PMCID: PMC11063484 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2024.029] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor prognosis owing to its desmoplastic stroma. Therefore, therapeutic strategies targeting this tumor stroma should be developed. In this study, we describe the heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their diverse roles in the progression, immune evasion, and resistance to treatment of PDAC. We subclassified the spatial distribution and functional activity of CAFs to highlight their effects on prognosis and drug delivery. Extracellular matrix components such as collagen and hyaluronan are described for their roles in tumor behavior and treatment outcomes, implying their potential as therapeutic targets. We also discussed the roles of extracellular matrix (ECM) including matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors in PDAC progression. Finally, we explored the role of the adaptive and innate immune systems in shaping the PDAC microenvironment and potential therapeutic strategies, with a focus on immune cell subsets, cytokines, and immunosuppressive mechanisms. These insights provide a comprehensive understanding of PDAC and pave the way for the development of prognostic markers and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Ui Lee
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom Seok Han
- Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, The Graduate School, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hee Jung
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Sun Hong
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
- Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, The Graduate School, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
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12
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Gant KL, Patankar MS, Campagnola PJ. A Perspective Review: Analyzing Collagen Alterations in Ovarian Cancer by High-Resolution Optical Microscopy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1560. [PMID: 38672642 PMCID: PMC11048585 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081560] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the predominant subtype of ovarian cancer (OC), occurring in more than 80% of patients diagnosed with this malignancy. Histological and genetic analysis have confirmed the secretory epithelial of the fallopian tube (FT) as a major site of origin of HGSOC. Although there have been significant strides in our understanding of this disease, early stage detection and diagnosis are still rare. Current clinical imaging modalities lack the ability to detect early stage pathogenesis in the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. However, there are several microscopic imaging techniques used to analyze the structural modifications in the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein collagen in ex vivo FT and ovarian tissues that potentially can be modified to fit the clinical setting. In this perspective, we evaluate and compare the myriad of optical tools available to visualize these alterations and the invaluable insights these data provide on HGSOC initiation. We also discuss the clinical implications of these findings and how these data may help novel tools for early diagnosis of HGSOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristal L. Gant
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Manish S. Patankar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Paul J. Campagnola
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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13
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Sneider A, Liu Y, Starich B, Du W, Marar C, Faqih N, Ciotti GE, Kim JH, Krishnan S, Ibrahim S, Igboko M, Locke A, Lewis DM, Hong H, Karl M, Vij R, Russo GC, Nair P, Gómez-de-Mariscal E, Habibi M, Muñoz-Barrutia A, Gu L, Eisinger-Mathason TSK, Wirtz D. Small extracellular vesicles promote stiffness-mediated metastasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.01.545937. [PMID: 37425743 PMCID: PMC10327142 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.01.545937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Tissue stiffness is a critical prognostic factor in breast cancer and is associated with metastatic progression. Here we show an alternative and complementary hypothesis of tumor progression whereby physiological matrix stiffness affects the quantity and protein cargo of small EVs produced by cancer cells, which in turn drive their metastasis. Primary patient breast tissue produces significantly more EVs from stiff tumor tissue than soft tumor adjacent tissue. EVs released by cancer cells on matrices that model human breast tumors (25 kPa; stiff EVs) feature increased adhesion molecule presentation (ITGα 2 β 1 , ITGα 6 β 4 , ITGα 6 β 1 , CD44) compared to EVs from softer normal tissue (0.5 kPa; soft EVs), which facilitates their binding to extracellular matrix (ECM) protein collagen IV, and a 3-fold increase in homing ability to distant organs in mice. In a zebrafish xenograft model, stiff EVs aid cancer cell dissemination through enhanced chemotaxis. Moreover, normal, resident lung fibroblasts treated with stiff and soft EVs change their gene expression profiles to adopt a cancer associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotype. These findings show that EV quantity, cargo, and function depend heavily on the mechanical properties of the extracellular microenvironment.
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14
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Joshi IM, Mansouri M, Ahmed A, De Silva D, Simon RA, Esmaili P, Desa DE, Elias TM, Brown EB, Abhyankar VV. Microengineering 3D Collagen Matrices with Tumor-Mimetic Gradients in Fiber Alignment. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2024; 34:2308071. [PMID: 38706986 PMCID: PMC11067715 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202308071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Collagen fibers in the 3D tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibit complex alignment landscapes that are critical in directing cell migration through a process called contact guidance. Previous in vitro work studying this phenomenon has focused on quantifying cell responses in uniformly aligned environments. However, the TME also features short-range gradients in fiber alignment that result from cell-induced traction forces. Although the influence of graded biophysical taxis cues is well established, cell responses to physiological alignment gradients remain largely unexplored. In this work, fiber alignment gradients in biopsy samples are characterized and recreated using a new microfluidic biofabrication technique to achieve tunable sub-millimeter to millimeter scale gradients. This study represents the first successful engineering of continuous alignment gradients in soft, natural biomaterials. Migration experiments on graded alignment show that HUVECs exhibit increased directionality, persistence, and speed compared to uniform and unaligned fiber architectures. Similarly, patterned MDA-MB-231 aggregates exhibit biased migration toward increasing fiber alignment, suggesting a role for alignment gradients as a taxis cue. This user-friendly approach, requiring no specialized equipment, is anticipated to offer new insights into the biophysical cues that cells interpret as they traverse the extracellular matrix, with broad applicability in healthy and diseased tissue environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indranil M. Joshi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Mehran Mansouri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Adeel Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Dinindu De Silva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Richard A. Simon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Poorya Esmaili
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Danielle E. Desa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Tresa M. Elias
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Edward B. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Vinay V. Abhyankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
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15
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Colgrave EM, Keast JR, Nowell CJ, Healey M, Rogers PAW, Holdsworth-Carson SJ, Girling JE. Distribution of smooth muscle actin and collagen in superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions varies from the surrounding microenvironment. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 48:103610. [PMID: 38241767 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103610] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Do different subtypes of superficial peritoneal endometriotic lesions exist, based on the presence and morphology of smooth muscle, collagen fibres and immune cell populations? DESIGN A retrospective cohort study of 24 patients, from across the menstrual cycle, with surgically and histologically confirmed endometriosis. Immunofluorescence was used to delineate the CD10 stromal area of lesions (n = 271 lesions from 67 endometriotic biopsies), and then smooth muscle actin (SMA) positive tissue and immune cell populations (CD45+ and CD68+) were quantified within and adjacent to these lesions. Second harmonic generation microscopy was used to evaluate the presence and morphology of type-1 collagen fibres within and surrounding lesions. RESULTS Overall, immune cell numbers and the area of SMA and collagen within endometriotic lesions tended to be low, but a spectrum of presentations significantly varied, particularly in the adjacent tissue microenvironment, based on lesion locations, the morphology of endometriotic gland profiles, or both. Lesions in which collagen fibres formed well aligned capsules around the CD10+ stromal border were identified compared with lesions in which collagen fibre distribution was random. Considerable inter- and intra-patient variability in the morphology of SMA and collagen was observed within and surrounding lesions. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate considerable diversity in the presence of immune cells and morphology of SMA and collagen within, but even more so, surrounding endometriotic lesions, even within individual patients. This heterogeneity, especially within individual patients, presents a challenge to incorporating these cell and tissue types into any new endometriosis classification systems or prognostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Morgan Colgrave
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Janet R Keast
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cameron J Nowell
- Imaging, FACS and Analysis Core, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Martin Healey
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter A W Rogers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah J Holdsworth-Carson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The Julia Argyrou Endometriosis Centre, Epworth HealthCare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jane E Girling
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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16
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Choi ME, Lee MY, Won CH, Chang SE, Lee MW, Lee WJ. Spatially Resolved Transcriptomes of CD30+-Transformed Mycosis Fungoides and Cutaneous Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:331-340.e2. [PMID: 37544586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.05.030] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Mycosis fungoides with large-cell transformation (MF-LCT) occurs in a minor proportion of aggressive lesions, which express CD30 similar to primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (pcALCL). We investigated the differences in spatially resolved transcriptome profiles of MF-LCT and pcALCL using CD30 morphology markers and 28 and 24 regions of interest (ROIs) in MF-LCT and pcALCL, respectively. Differentially expressed genes, pathway analysis, and immune-cell deconvolution by selective analysis of CD30-positive tumor cells and CD30-negative extratumoral areas were undertaken. In CD30-positive ROIs of MF-LCT, 190 differentially expressed genes were upregulated (29 were directly or indirectly associated with extracellular matrix remodeling), whereas 255 differentially expressed genes were downregulated, compared with those of pcALCL. Except for cornified envelope formation and keratinization, all six pathways enriched in CD30-positive ROIs of MF-LCT were associated with extracellular matrix remodeling. In CD30-positive ROIs in MF-LCT compared with those in pcALCL, immune-cell deconvolution revealed significantly increased fibroblasts and M2 macrophages (P = 0.012 and P = 0.023, respectively) but decreased M1 macrophages (P = 0.031). In CD30-negative ROIs in MF-LCT compared with those in pcALCL, memory B (P = 0.021), plasma (P = 0.023), and CD8 memory T (P = 0.001) cells significantly decreased, whereas regulatory T cells (P = 0.024) increased. Predomination of extracellular matrix remodeling pathways and immunosuppressive microenvironment in MF-LCT indicates pathophysiological differences between MF-LCT and pcALCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myoung Eun Choi
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Young Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Hyun Won
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Eun Chang
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Woo Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jin Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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17
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赵 甜, 吴 昊, 陈 世, 王 佳, 刘 贻, 李 亭. [Research Progress on the Influence of Tumor Extracellular Matrix Mechanic Properties on Nanodrug Delivery]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2024; 55:13-18. [PMID: 38322528 PMCID: PMC10839498 DOI: 10.12182/20240160205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Nanodrugs are widely utilized in the biomedical fields, exhibiting immense potential in cancer therapy in particular. However, tumors exist in an extremely complicated microenvironment where substances like collagen are continuously deposited and remodeled, leading to significant alterations in the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) during tumor development. Previous research has primarily focused on the specific physicochemical properties of nanodrugs, such as particle size, electric charge, shape, surface chemistry, etc., and their effects on cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and in vivo pharmacokinetics. Limited studies have been done to explore the impact of ECM mechanical properties on nanodrug delivery. In this review, we systematically summarized the relevant research findings on this topic from the perspective of the characteristics and testing methods of tumor ECM mechanics. Additionally, we made a thorough discussion of the potential mechanical and biological mechanisms involved in nanodrug delivery. We proposed several noteworthy research directions. Regarding the overall strategy, there is a need to emphasize targeted delivery that combines ECM mechanics and nanomechanics to achieve precise drug delivery. Regarding the spatial aspect, attention should be given to the nonlinear spatial mechanical heterogeneity within the interior of solid tumors and the construction of mechanic microenvironment-adaptive nanocarriers to improve the delivery efficiency. Regarding the temporal aspect, emphasis should be placed on the dynamic development and changes in the mechanical microenvironment during solid tumor growth and treatment processes. Based on the stromal mechanical characteristics of the tumor tissues of individual patients, personalized treatment strategies can be formulated, which will enhance treatment specificity and efficacy. In addition, issues such as mechanically targeted nanodrug delivery, degradation, and metabolism under dynamic ECM mechanical conditions warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- 甜 赵
- 电子科技大学生命科学与技术学院 (成都 610054)School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - 昊 吴
- 电子科技大学生命科学与技术学院 (成都 610054)School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - 世桓 陈
- 电子科技大学生命科学与技术学院 (成都 610054)School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - 佳雯 王
- 电子科技大学生命科学与技术学院 (成都 610054)School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - 贻尧 刘
- 电子科技大学生命科学与技术学院 (成都 610054)School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
| | - 亭亭 李
- 电子科技大学生命科学与技术学院 (成都 610054)School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
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18
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Carretta M, Thorseth ML, Schina A, Agardy DA, Johansen AZ, Baker KJ, Khan S, Rømer AMA, Fjæstad KY, Linder H, Kuczek DE, Donia M, Grøntved L, Madsen DH. Dissecting tumor microenvironment heterogeneity in syngeneic mouse models: insights on cancer-associated fibroblast phenotypes shaped by infiltrating T cells. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1320614. [PMID: 38259467 PMCID: PMC10800379 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1320614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Murine syngeneic tumor models have been used extensively for cancer research for several decades and have been instrumental in driving the discovery and development of cancer immunotherapies. These tumor models are very simplistic cancer models, but recent reports have, however, indicated that the different inoculated cancer cell lines can lead to the formation of unique tumor microenvironments (TMEs). To gain more knowledge from studies based on syngeneic tumor models, it is essential to obtain an in-depth understanding of the cellular and molecular composition of the TME in the different models. Additionally, other parameters that are important for cancer progression, such as collagen content and mechanical tissue stiffness across syngeneic tumor models have not previously been reported. Here, we compare the TME of tumors derived from six common syngeneic tumor models. Using flow cytometry and transcriptomic analyses, we show that strikingly unique TMEs are formed by the different cancer cell lines. The differences are reflected as changes in abundance and phenotype of myeloid, lymphoid, and stromal cells in the tumors. Gene expression analyses support the different cellular composition of the TMEs and indicate that distinct immunosuppressive mechanisms are employed depending on the tumor model. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) also acquire very different phenotypes across the tumor models. These differences include differential expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and immunosuppressive factors. The gene expression profiles suggest that CAFs can contribute to the formation of an immunosuppressive TME, and flow cytometry analyses show increased PD-L1 expression by CAFs in the immunogenic tumor models, MC38 and CT26. Comparison with CAF subsets identified in other studies shows that CAFs are skewed towards specific subsets depending on the model. In athymic mice lacking tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T cells, CAFs express lower levels of PD-L1 and lower levels of fibroblast activation markers. Our data underscores that CAFs can be involved in the formation of an immunosuppressive TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Carretta
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marie-Louise Thorseth
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Aimilia Schina
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Dennis Alexander Agardy
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Astrid Zedlitz Johansen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Kevin James Baker
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Shawez Khan
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Anne Mette Askehøj Rømer
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Klaire Yixin Fjæstad
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Hannes Linder
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Dorota Ewa Kuczek
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lars Grøntved
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Daniel Hargbøl Madsen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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19
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Obaid G, Eroy M, Zhao J, Bano S, Mino-Kenudson M, Hasan T. Immunofluorescence profiling of collagen subtypes is a predictor of treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2024; 250:112811. [PMID: 38000171 PMCID: PMC10841621 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2023.112811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Desmoplasia in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by elevated levels of tumor collagen. Desmoplasia restricts drug delivery in PDAC, contributes to treatment resistance, and is associated with poor survival outcomes. We have previously shown that photodynamic therapy (PDT)-based treatment remediates desmoplasia in orthotopic PDAC tumors by reducing second harmonic generation signals from collagen by >90% and by reducing collagen alignment by >103-fold [19]. Remediating desmoplasia correlated with improved survival outcomes in mice. To understand this phenomenon at a fundamental level, it is important to dissect the impact of therapy on collagen subtypes. In this study, we demonstrate that immunofluorescence profiling of collagen subtypes I, II, III and IV in PDAC tumors 72 h following multiple treatment regimens is predictive of long-term outcomes. Treatment regimens include nanoliposomal irinotecan chemotherapy (nal-IRI; akin to ONIVYDE™), a combination of nal-IRI chemotherapy with PDT encapsulated in a single photoactivable multi-inhibitor liposome (PMIL) and an EGFR-targeted PMIL construct (TPMIL). Results show that the relative tumor content of collagen I, II and III was inversely correlated with overall survival (P ≤ 0.0013, P ≤ 0.0001, P ≤ 0.0011, respectively), while, surprisingly, the relative tumor content of collagen IV was directly correlated with overall survival (P ≤ 0.0001). Similar relationships were observed between the relative tumor content of collagen subtypes and the residual tumor volume at day 88 following treatment. Considering that the relationship between collagen subtypes and treatment outcomes is observed across multiple treatment regimens, immunofluorescence profiling at 72 h following treatment appears to be predictive of tumor growth inhibition and survival in PDAC. Early immunofluorescence collagen subtype profiling may therefore aid in treatment personalization and may inform the dosimetry and scheduling of combination regimens for PDAC, such as chemotherapy and emerging PDT-based combinations, to maximize patient survival benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girgis Obaid
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Menitte Eroy
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Jie Zhao
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Shazia Bano
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mari Mino-Kenudson
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tayyaba Hasan
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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20
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Zadvornyi T, Lukianova N, Mushii O, Pavlova A, Voronina O, Chekhun V. Benign and malignant prostate neoplasms show different spatial organization of collagen. Croat Med J 2023; 64:413-420. [PMID: 38168522 PMCID: PMC10797232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM To compare the indicators of the spatial organization of collagen and its regulating factors between benign and malignant prostate neoplasms. METHODS The study involved tumor tissue samples from 40 patients with stage II-III prostate cancer (PCa) and 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The localization of collagen was determined with a Masson trichrome stain. To establish quantitative indicators of the spatial organization of collagen, morphometric studies were carried out with the CurveAlign and ImageJ programs. RESULTS PCa tissue had two times lower collagen density (P<0.0001) and 1.3 times lower levels of collagen alignment (P=0.018) compared with BPH tissue. In PCa tissue, collagen fibers were shorter (by 24.2%; P<0.001) and thicker (by 15.5%; P<0.001). PCa tissue samples showed significantly higher levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 (by 2.4 times; P=0.001), MMP-8 (by 2.3 times; P=0.007), and MMP-13 (by 1.9 times; P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS Collagen matrix spatial organization features, as well as its regulatory factors, could be potential biomarkers of malignant prostate neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taras Zadvornyi
- Taras Zadvornyi, R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vasylkivska str. 45, Kyiv-03022, Ukraine,
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21
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Park H, Li B, Liu Y, Nelson MS, Wilson HM, Sifakis E, Eliceiri KW. Collagen fiber centerline tracking in fibrotic tissue via deep neural networks with variational autoencoder-based synthetic training data generation. Med Image Anal 2023; 90:102961. [PMID: 37802011 PMCID: PMC10591913 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2023.102961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The role of fibrillar collagen in the tissue microenvironment is critical in disease contexts ranging from cancers to chronic inflammations, as evidenced by many studies. Quantifying fibrillar collagen organization has become a powerful approach for characterizing the topology of collagen fibers and studying the role of collagen fibers in disease progression. We present a deep learning-based pipeline to quantify collagen fibers' topological properties in microscopy-based collagen images from pathological tissue samples. Our method leverages deep neural networks to extract collagen fiber centerlines and deep generative models to create synthetic training data, addressing the current shortage of large-scale annotations. As a part of this effort, we have created and annotated a collagen fiber centerline dataset, with the hope of facilitating further research in this field. Quantitative measurements such as fiber orientation, alignment, density, and length can be derived based on the centerline extraction results. Our pipeline comprises three stages. Initially, a variational autoencoder is trained to generate synthetic centerlines possessing controllable topological properties. Subsequently, a conditional generative adversarial network synthesizes realistic collagen fiber images from the synthetic centerlines, yielding a synthetic training set of image-centerline pairs. Finally, we train a collagen fiber centerline extraction network using both the original and synthetic data. Evaluation using collagen fiber images from pancreas, liver, and breast cancer samples collected via second-harmonic generation microscopy demonstrates our pipeline's superiority over several popular fiber centerline extraction tools. Incorporating synthetic data into training further enhances the network's generalizability. Our code is available at https://github.com/uw-loci/collagen-fiber-metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojoon Park
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Yuming Liu
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Michael S Nelson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Helen M Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Eftychios Sifakis
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Kevin W Eliceiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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22
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Mascharak S, Guo JL, Foster DS, Khan A, Davitt MF, Nguyen AT, Burcham AR, Chinta MS, Guardino NJ, Griffin M, Lopez DM, Miller E, Januszyk M, Raghavan SS, Longacre TA, Delitto DJ, Norton JA, Longaker MT. Desmoplastic stromal signatures predict patient outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101248. [PMID: 37865092 PMCID: PMC10694604 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101248] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Hallmarks include desmoplasia with variable extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture and a complex microenvironment with spatially defined tumor, stromal, and immune populations. Nevertheless, the role of desmoplastic spatial organization in patient/tumor variability remains underexplored, which we elucidate using two technologies. First, we quantify ECM patterning in 437 patients, revealing architectures associated with disease-free and overall survival. Second, we spatially profile the cellular milieu of 78 specimens using codetection by indexing, identifying an axis of pro-inflammatory cell interactions predictive of poorer outcomes. We discover that clinical characteristics, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy status, tumor stage, and ECM architecture, correlate with differential stromal-immune organization, including fibroblast subtypes with distinct niches. Lastly, we define unified signatures that predict survival with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of 0.872-0.903, differentiating survivorship by 655 days. Overall, our findings establish matrix ultrastructural and cellular organizations of fibrosis linked to poorer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamik Mascharak
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jason L Guo
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Deshka S Foster
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anum Khan
- Cell Sciences Imaging Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael F Davitt
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alan T Nguyen
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Austin R Burcham
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Malini S Chinta
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nicholas J Guardino
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michelle Griffin
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David M Lopez
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elisabeth Miller
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Michael Januszyk
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shyam S Raghavan
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Teri A Longacre
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel J Delitto
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Norton
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Hagey Laboratory of Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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23
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Heaton AR, Burkard NJ, Sondel PM, Skala MC. Quantifying in vivo collagen reorganization during immunotherapy in murine melanoma with second harmonic generation imaging. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.09.566407. [PMID: 38014149 PMCID: PMC10680631 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.09.566407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Significance Increased collagen linearization and deposition during tumorigenesis can impede immune cell infiltration and lead to tumor metastasis. Although melanoma is well studied in immunotherapy research, studies that quantify collagen changes during melanoma progression and treatment are lacking. Aim Image in vivo collagen in preclinical melanoma models during immunotherapy and quantify the collagen phenotype in treated and control mice. Approach Second harmonic generation imaging of collagen was performed in mouse melanoma tumors in vivo over a treatment time-course. Animals were treated with a curative radiation and immunotherapy combination. Collagen morphology was quantified over time at an image and single fiber level using CurveAlign and CT-FIRE software. Results In immunotherapy-treated mice, collagen reorganized toward a healthy phenotype, including shorter, wider, curlier collagen fibers, with modestly higher collagen density. Temporally, collagen fiber straightness and length changed late in treatment (Day 9 and 12) while width and density changed early (Day 6) compared to control mice. Single fiber level collagen analysis was most sensitive to the changes between treatment groups compared to image level analysis. Conclusions Quantitative second harmonic generation imaging can provide insight into collagen dynamics in vivo during immunotherapy, with key implications in improving immunotherapy response in melanoma and other cancers.
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24
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Park J, Sorrells JE, Chaney EJ, Abdelrahman AM, Yonkus JA, Leiting JL, Nelson H, Harrington JJ, Aksamitiene E, Marjanovic M, Groves PD, Bushell C, Truty MJ, Boppart SA. In vivo label-free optical signatures of chemotherapy response in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patient-derived xenografts. Commun Biol 2023; 6:980. [PMID: 37749184 PMCID: PMC10520051 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05368-y] [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: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease often detected at later stages, necessitating swift and effective chemotherapy treatment. However, chemoresistance is common and its mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, label-free multi-modal nonlinear optical microscopy was applied to study microstructural and functional features of pancreatic tumors in vivo to monitor inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity and treatment response. Patient-derived xenografts with human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were implanted into mice and characterized over five weeks of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (FIRINOX or Gem/NabP) with known responsiveness/resistance. Resistant and responsive tumors exhibited a similar initial metabolic response, but by week 5 the resistant tumor deviated significantly from the responsive tumor, indicating that a representative response may take up to five weeks to appear. This biphasic metabolic response in a chemoresistant tumor reveals the possibility of intra-tumor spatiotemporal heterogeneity of drug responsiveness. These results, though limited by small sample size, suggest the possibility for further work characterizing chemoresistance mechanisms using nonlinear optical microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaena Park
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Janet E Sorrells
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Eric J Chaney
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Amro M Abdelrahman
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jennifer A Yonkus
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jennifer L Leiting
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Heidi Nelson
- Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care, Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Edita Aksamitiene
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Marina Marjanovic
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- NIH/NIBIB Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Peter D Groves
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Colleen Bushell
- National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Mark J Truty
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Stephen A Boppart
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- NIH/NIBIB Center for Label-free Imaging and Multiscale Biophotonics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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25
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Rafaeva M, Jensen ARD, Horton ER, Zornhagen KW, Strøbech JE, Fleischhauer L, Mayorca-Guiliani AE, Nielsen SR, Grønseth DS, Kuś F, Schoof EM, Arnes L, Koch M, Clausen-Schaumann H, Izzi V, Reuten R, Erler JT. Fibroblast-derived matrix models desmoplastic properties and forms a prognostic signature in cancer progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1154528. [PMID: 37539058 PMCID: PMC10395327 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1154528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The desmoplastic reaction observed in many cancers is a hallmark of disease progression and prognosis, particularly in breast and pancreatic cancer. Stromal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) is significantly altered in desmoplasia, and as such plays a critical role in driving cancer progression. Using fibroblast-derived matrices (FDMs), we show that cancer cells have increased growth on cancer associated FDMs, when compared to FDMs derived from non-malignant tissue (normal) fibroblasts. We assess the changes in ECM characteristics from normal to cancer-associated stroma at the primary tumor site. Compositional, structural, and mechanical analyses reveal significant differences, with an increase in abundance of core ECM proteins, coupled with an increase in stiffness and density in cancer-associated FDMs. From compositional changes of FDM, we derived a 36-ECM protein signature, which we show matches in large part with the changes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor and metastases progression. Additionally, this signature also matches at the transcriptomic level in multiple cancer types in patients, prognostic of their survival. Together, our results show relevance of FDMs for cancer modelling and identification of desmoplastic ECM components for further mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rafaeva
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adina R. D. Jensen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Edward R. Horton
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kamilla W. Zornhagen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan E. Strøbech
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lutz Fleischhauer
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine-CANTER, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience – CsNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian R. Nielsen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dina S. Grønseth
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Filip Kuś
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erwin M. Schoof
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luis Arnes
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manuel Koch
- Center for Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Dental Research and Oral Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hauke Clausen-Schaumann
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine-CANTER, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience – CsNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valerio Izzi
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raphael Reuten
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Janine T. Erler
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Joshi IM, Mansouri M, Ahmed A, Simon RA, Bambizi PE, Desa DE, Elias TM, Brown EB, Abhyankar VV. Microengineering 3D Collagen Matrices with Tumor-Mimetic Gradients in Fiber Alignment. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.09.548253. [PMID: 37502844 PMCID: PMC10369918 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.09.548253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In the tumor microenvironment (TME), collagen fibers facilitate tumor cell migration through the extracellular matrix. Previous studies have focused on studying the responses of cells on uniformly aligned or randomly aligned collagen fibers. However, the in vivo environment also features spatial gradients in alignment, which arise from the local reorganization of the matrix architecture due to cell-induced traction forces. Although there has been extensive research on how cells respond to graded biophysical cues, such as stiffness, porosity, and ligand density, the cellular responses to physiological fiber alignment gradients have been largely unexplored. This is due, in part, to a lack of robust experimental techniques to create controlled alignment gradients in natural materials. In this study, we image tumor biopsy samples and characterize the alignment gradients present in the TME. To replicate physiological gradients, we introduce a first-of-its-kind biofabrication technique that utilizes a microfluidic channel with constricting and expanding geometry to engineer 3D collagen hydrogels with tunable fiber alignment gradients that range from sub-millimeter to millimeter length scales. Our modular approach allows easy access to the microengineered gradient gels, and we demonstrate that HUVECs migrate in response to the fiber architecture. We provide preliminary evidence suggesting that MDA-MB-231 cell aggregates, patterned onto a specific location on the alignment gradient, exhibit preferential migration towards increasing alignment. This finding suggests that alignment gradients could serve as an additional taxis cue in the ECM. Importantly, our study represents the first successful engineering of continuous gradients of fiber alignment in soft, natural materials. We anticipate that our user-friendly platform, which needs no specialized equipment, will offer new experimental capabilities to study the impact of fiber-based contact guidance on directed cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indranil M. Joshi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Mehran Mansouri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Adeel Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | - Richard A. Simon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
| | | | - Danielle E. Desa
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Tresa M. Elias
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Edward B. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
| | - Vinay V. Abhyankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
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27
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Samuel T, Rapic S, O'Brien C, Edson M, Zhong Y, DaCosta RS. Quantitative intravital imaging for real-time monitoring of pancreatic tumor cell hypoxia and stroma in an orthotopic mouse model. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade8672. [PMID: 37285434 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade8672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease with few successful treatment options. Recent evidence demonstrates that tumor hypoxia promotes pancreatic tumor invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. However, little is known about the complex relationship between hypoxia and the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME). In this study, we developed a novel intravital fluorescence microscopy platform with an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer to study tumor cell hypoxia within the TME in vivo, at cellular resolution, over time. Using a fluorescent BxPC3-DsRed tumor cell line with a hypoxia-response element (HRE)/green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter, we showed that HRE/GFP is a reliable biomarker of pancreatic tumor hypoxia, responding dynamically and reversibly to changing oxygen concentrations within the TME. We also characterized the spatial relationships between tumor hypoxia, microvasculature, and tumor-associated collagen structures using in vivo second harmonic generation microscopy. This quantitative multimodal imaging platform enables the unprecedented study of hypoxia within the pancreatic TME in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Samuel
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sara Rapic
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Cristiana O'Brien
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael Edson
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ralph S DaCosta
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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28
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Dzobo K, Dandara C. The Extracellular Matrix: Its Composition, Function, Remodeling, and Role in Tumorigenesis. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:146. [PMID: 37092398 PMCID: PMC10123695 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a ubiquitous member of the body and is key to the maintenance of tissue and organ integrity. Initially thought to be a bystander in many cellular processes, the extracellular matrix has been shown to have diverse components that regulate and activate many cellular processes and ultimately influence cell phenotype. Importantly, the ECM's composition, architecture, and stiffness/elasticity influence cellular phenotypes. Under normal conditions and during development, the synthesized ECM constantly undergoes degradation and remodeling processes via the action of matrix proteases that maintain tissue homeostasis. In many pathological conditions including fibrosis and cancer, ECM synthesis, remodeling, and degradation is dysregulated, causing its integrity to be altered. Both physical and chemical cues from the ECM are sensed via receptors including integrins and play key roles in driving cellular proliferation and differentiation and in the progression of various diseases such as cancers. Advances in 'omics' technologies have seen an increase in studies focusing on bidirectional cell-matrix interactions, and here, we highlight the emerging knowledge on the role played by the ECM during normal development and in pathological conditions. This review summarizes current ECM-targeted therapies that can modify ECM tumors to overcome drug resistance and better cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- Medical Research Council, SA Wound Healing Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- The South African Medical Research Council-UCT Platform for Pharmacogenomics Research and Translation, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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29
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Comelles J, Fernández-Majada V, Acevedo V, Rebollo-Calderon B, Martínez E. Soft topographical patterns trigger a stiffness-dependent cellular response to contact guidance. Mater Today Bio 2023; 19:100593. [PMID: 36923364 PMCID: PMC10009736 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100593] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Topographical patterns are a powerful tool to study directional migration. Grooved substrates have been extensively used as in vitro models of aligned extracellular matrix fibers because they induce cell elongation, alignment, and migration through a phenomenon known as contact guidance. This process, which involves the orientation of focal adhesions, F-actin, and microtubule cytoskeleton along the direction of the grooves, has been primarily studied on hard materials of non-physiological stiffness. But how it unfolds when the stiffness of the grooves varies within the physiological range is less known. Here we show that substrate stiffness modulates the cellular response to topographical contact guidance. We find that for fibroblasts, while focal adhesions and actin respond to topography independently of the stiffness, microtubules show a stiffness-dependent response that regulates contact guidance. On the other hand, both clusters and single breast carcinoma epithelial cells display stiffness-dependent contact guidance, leading to more directional and efficient migration when increasing substrate stiffness. These results suggest that both matrix stiffening and alignment of extracellular matrix fibers cooperate during directional cell migration, and that the outcome differs between cell types depending on how they organize their cytoskeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Comelles
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Martí I Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vanesa Fernández-Majada
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona (UB), Feixa Llarga, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Verónica Acevedo
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Rebollo-Calderon
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Martínez
- Biomimetic Systems for Cell Engineering Laboratory, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Barcelona (UB), Martí I Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
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30
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Sendín-Martín M, Posner J, Harris U, Moronta M, Conejo-Mir Sánchez J, Mukherjee S, Rajadhyaksha M, Kose K, Jain M. Quantitative collagen analysis using second harmonic generation images for the detection of basal cell carcinoma with ex vivo multiphoton microscopy. Exp Dermatol 2023; 32:392-402. [PMID: 36409162 PMCID: PMC10478030 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14713] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, and its incidence is rising. Millions of benign biopsies are performed annually for BCC diagnosis, increasing morbidity, and healthcare costs. Non-invasive in vivo technologies such as multiphoton microscopy (MPM) can aid in diagnosing BCC, reducing the need for biopsies. Furthermore, the second harmonic generation (SHG) signal generated from MPM can classify and prognosticate cancers based on extracellular matrix changes, especially collagen type I. We explored the potential of MPM to differentiate collagen changes associated with different BCC subtypes compared to normal skin structures and benign lesions. Quantitative analysis such as frequency band energy analysis in Fourier domain, CurveAlign and CT-FIRE fibre analysis was performed on SHG images from 52 BCC and 12 benign lesions samples. Our results showed that collagen distribution is more aligned surrounding BCCs nests compared to the skin's normal structures (p < 0.001) and benign lesions (p < 0.001). Also, collagen was orientated more parallelly surrounding indolent BCC subtypes (superficial and nodular) versus those with more aggressive behaviour (infiltrative BCC) (p = 0.021). In conclusion, SHG signal from type I collagen can aid not only in the diagnosis of BCC but could be useful for prognosticating these tumors. Our initial results are limited to a small number of samples, requiring large-scale studies to validate them. These findings represent the groundwork for future in vivo MPM for diagnosis and prognosis of BCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Sendín-Martín
- Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Dermatology Department, Sevilla (Spain)
- Universidad de Sevilla, Department of Medicine, Sevilla (Spain)
| | - Jasmine Posner
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
| | - Ucalene Harris
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
| | - Matthew Moronta
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
| | - Julián Conejo-Mir Sánchez
- Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Dermatology Department, Sevilla (Spain)
- Universidad de Sevilla, Department of Medicine, Sevilla (Spain)
| | - Sushmita Mukherjee
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
| | - Milind Rajadhyaksha
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
| | - Kivanc Kose
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
| | - Manu Jain
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, New York (USA)
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31
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Wang Q, Zhao Y, Wang F, Tan G. Clustering and machine learning-based integration identify cancer associated fibroblasts genes’ signature in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Front Genet 2023; 14:1111816. [PMID: 37065499 PMCID: PMC10098459 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1111816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: A hallmark signature of the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is abundantly infiltration of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which facilitate HNSCC progression. However, some clinical trials showed targeted CAFs ended in failure, even accelerated cancer progression. Therefore, comprehensive exploration of CAFs should solve the shortcoming and facilitate the CAFs targeted therapies for HNSCC.Methods: In this study, we identified two CAFs gene expression patterns and performed the single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to quantify the expression and construct score system. We used multi-methods to reveal the potential mechanisms of CAFs carcinogenesis progression. Finally, we integrated 10 machine learning algorithms and 107 algorithm combinations to construct most accurate and stable risk model. The machine learning algorithms contained random survival forest (RSF), elastic network (Enet), Lasso, Ridge, stepwise Cox, CoxBoost, partial least squares regression for Cox (plsRcox), supervised principal components (SuperPC), generalised boosted regression modelling (GBM), and survival support vector machine (survival-SVM).Results: There are two clusters present with distinct CAFs genes pattern. Compared to the low CafS group, the high CafS group was associated with significant immunosuppression, poor prognosis, and increased prospect of HPV negative. Patients with high CafS also underwent the abundant enrichment of carcinogenic signaling pathways such as angiogenesis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and coagulation. The MDK and NAMPT ligand–receptor cellular crosstalk between the cancer associated fibroblasts and other cell clusters may mechanistically cause immune escape. Moreover, the random survival forest prognostic model that was developed from 107 machine learning algorithm combinations could most accurately classify HNSCC patients.Conclusion: We revealed that CAFs would cause the activation of some carcinogenesis pathways such as angiogenesis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and coagulation and revealed unique possibilities to target glycolysis pathways to enhance CAFs targeted therapy. We developed an unprecedentedly stable and powerful risk score for assessing the prognosis. Our study contributes to the understanding of the CAFs microenvironment complexity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and serves as a basis for future in-depth CAFs gene clinical exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwei Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yinan Zhao
- Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Guolin Tan
- Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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32
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Czaplinska D, Ialchina R, Andersen HB, Yao J, Stigliani A, Dannesboe J, Flinck M, Chen X, Mitrega J, Gnosa SP, Dmytriyeva O, Alves F, Napp J, Sandelin A, Pedersen SF. Crosstalk between tumor acidosis, p53 and extracellular matrix regulates pancreatic cancer aggressiveness. Int J Cancer 2023; 152:1210-1225. [PMID: 36408933 PMCID: PMC10108304 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely aggressive malignancy with minimal treatment options and a global rise in prevalence. PDAC is characterized by frequent driver mutations including KRAS and TP53 (p53), and a dense, acidic tumor microenvironment (TME). The relation between genotype and TME in PDAC development is unknown. Strikingly, when wild type (WT) Panc02 PDAC cells were adapted to growth in an acidic TME and returned to normal pH to mimic invasive cells escaping acidic regions, they displayed a strong increase of aggressive traits such as increased growth in 3-dimensional (3D) culture, adhesion-independent colony formation and invasive outgrowth. This pattern of acidosis-induced aggressiveness was observed in 3D spheroid culture as well as upon organotypic growth in matrigel, collagen-I and combination thereof, mimicking early and later stages of PDAC development. Acid-adaptation-induced gain of cancerous traits was further increased by p53 knockout (KO), but only in specific extracellular matrix (ECM) compositions. Akt- and Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling, as well as expression of the Na+ /H+ exchanger NHE1, were increased by acid adaptation. Whereas Akt inhibition decreased spheroid growth regardless of treatment and genotype, stimulation with TGFβI increased growth of WT control spheroids, and inhibition of TGFβ signaling tended to limit growth under acidic conditions only. Our results indicate that a complex crosstalk between tumor acidosis, ECM composition and genotype contributes to PDAC development. The findings may guide future strategies for acidosis-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Czaplinska
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Renata Ialchina
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henriette Berg Andersen
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jiayi Yao
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Stigliani
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johs Dannesboe
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Flinck
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xiaoming Chen
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakub Mitrega
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany.,Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Peter Gnosa
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oksana Dmytriyeva
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frauke Alves
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany.,Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Clinic of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Joanna Napp
- Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany.,Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Clinic of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Albin Sandelin
- Section for Computational and RNA Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Falsig Pedersen
- Section for Cell Biology and Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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33
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Nissen NI, Johansen AZ, Chen IM, Jensen C, Madsen EA, Hansen CP, Thorlacius-Ussing J, Karsdal M, Johansen JS, Diab HMH, Jørgensen LN, Willumsen N. High serum levels of the C-propetide of type V collagen (PRO-C5) are prognostic for short overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1158058. [PMID: 36968276 PMCID: PMC10036831 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1158058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a pronounced fibrotic tumor microenvironment, which impairs treatment response. Type I and V collagens are responsible for the densely packed fibrils in the tumor fibrosis environment. While the role of the major type I collagen in cancer is well described, less is known about the minor type V collagen. Quantifying collagen propeptides in serum has been shown to have prognostic and predictive value. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of measuring the propeptide of type V collagen (PRO-C5) in serum from a discovery cohort and a validation cohort of patients with PDAC as well as in non-pancreatic solid tumor types to explore the relevance of the PRO-C5 biomarker in cancer.Methods: Serum PRO-C5 was measured in three cohorts: a discovery cohort (19 healthy controls, 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 33 patients with PDAC (stage I-IV)), a validation cohort (800 patients with PDAC (stage I-IV)), and a non-pancreatic solid tumor type cohort of 33 healthy controls and 200 patients with 10 different non-pancreatic solid tumor types. The levels of serum PRO-C5 in patients with cancer were compared to levels in healthy controls. The association between PRO-C5 levels and overall survival (OS) was evaluated in patients with PDAC after adjusting for established prognostic factors.Results: PRO-C5 was significantly increased in serum from patients with PDAC compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). High PRO-C5 levels were significantly associated with short OS in both the discovery- and the validation cohort, especially in early stages of PDAC (validation cohort stage II, HR = 2.0, 95%CI1.2-3.4). The association was independent of other prognostic parameters including stage, performance status and CA19-9. Furthermore, serum levels of PRO-C5 were significantly increased in serum from patients with other non-pancreatic solid tumor types compared to healthy controls.Conclusion: High levels of serum PRO-C5 is prognostic for short OS in patients with PDAC and may provide clinical value in many other tumor types beyond PDAC. This underlines the importance of type V collagen in tumor fibrosis. PRO-C5 could have the potential to be used in several aspects within drug discovery, patient stratification and drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neel I. Nissen
- Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Neel I. Nissen,
| | - Astrid Z. Johansen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Inna M. Chen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
| | | | | | - Carsten P. Hansen
- Department of Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Julia S. Johansen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Hadi M. H. Diab
- Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars N. Jørgensen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sharick JT, Atieh AJ, Gooch KJ, Leight JL. Click chemistry functionalization of self-assembling peptide hydrogels. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:389-403. [PMID: 36210776 PMCID: PMC10092743 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37460] [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: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling peptide (SAP) hydrogels provide a fibrous microenvironment to cells while also giving users control of biochemical and mechanical cues. Previously, biochemical cues were introduced by physically mixing them with SAPs prior to hydrogel assembly, or by incorporating them into the SAP sequence during peptide synthesis, which limited flexibility and increased costs. To circumvent these limitations, we developed "Click SAPs," a novel formulation that can be easily functionalized via click chemistry thiol-ene reaction. Due to its high cytocompatibility, the thiol-ene click reaction is currently used to crosslink and functionalize other types of polymeric hydrogels. In this study, we developed a click chemistry compatible SAP platform by addition of a modified lysine (lysine-alloc) to the SAP sequence, enabling effective coupling of thiol-containing molecules to the SAP hydrogel network. We demonstrate the flexibility of this approach by incorporating a fluorescent dye, a cellular adhesion peptide, and a matrix metalloproteinase-sensitive biosensor using the thiol-ene reaction in 3D Click SAPs. Using atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that Click SAPs retain the ability to self-assemble into fibers, similar to previous systems. Additionally, a range of physiologically relevant stiffnesses can be achieved by adjusting SAP concentration. Encapsulated cells maintain high viability in Click SAPs and can interact with adhesion peptides and a matrix metalloproteinase biosensor, demonstrating that incorporated molecules retain their biological activity. The Click SAP platform supports easier functionalization with a wider array of bioactive molecules and enables new investigations with temporal and spatial control of the cellular microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe T Sharick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,The Center for Cancer Engineering, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Angelina J Atieh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,The Center for Cancer Engineering, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Keith J Gooch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jennifer L Leight
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,The Center for Cancer Engineering, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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35
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Kiemen AL, Damanakis AI, Braxton AM, He J, Laheru D, Fishman EK, Chames P, Pérez CA, Wu PH, Wirtz D, Wood LD, Hruban RH. Tissue clearing and 3D reconstruction of digitized, serially sectioned slides provide novel insights into pancreatic cancer. MED 2023; 4:75-91. [PMID: 36773599 PMCID: PMC9922376 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The clinical hallmarks of this disease include abdominal pain that radiates to the back, the presence of a hypoenhancing intrapancreatic lesion on imaging, and widespread liver metastases. Technologies such as tissue clearing and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of digitized serially sectioned hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides can be used to visualize large (up to 2- to 3-centimeter cube) tissues at cellular resolution. When applied to human pancreatic cancers, these 3D visualization techniques have provided novel insights into the basis of a number of the clinical characteristics of this disease. Here, we describe the clinical features of pancreatic cancer, review techniques for clearing and the 3D reconstruction of digitized microscope slides, and provide examples that illustrate how 3D visualization of human pancreatic cancer at the microscopic level has revealed features not apparent in 2D microscopy and, in so doing, has closed the gap between bench and bedside. Compared with animal models and 2D microscopy, studies of human tissues in 3D can reveal the difference between what can happen and what does happen in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Kiemen
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Alexander Ioannis Damanakis
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of General, Visceral, Cancer and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alicia M Braxton
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jin He
- Department of Surgery, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Daniel Laheru
- Department of Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Elliot K Fishman
- Department of Radiology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Patrick Chames
- Antibody Therapeutics and Immunotargeting Team, Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Cristina Almagro Pérez
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Pei-Hsun Wu
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Denis Wirtz
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Laura D Wood
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - Ralph H Hruban
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Oncology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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36
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Sarkar M, Nguyen T, Gundre E, Ogunlusi O, El-Sobky M, Giri B, Sarkar TR. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: The chief architect in the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1089068. [PMID: 36793444 PMCID: PMC9923123 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1089068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stromal heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in malignancy and therapeutic resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major players in tumor stroma. The heterogeneous sources of origin and subsequent impacts of crosstalk with breast cancer cells flaunt serious challenges before current therapies to cure triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other cancers. The positive and reciprocal feedback of CAFs to induce cancer cells dictates their mutual synergy in establishing malignancy. Their substantial role in creating a tumor-promoting niche has reduced the efficacy of several anti-cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Over the years, there has been an emphasis on understanding CAF-induced therapeutic resistance in order to enhance cancer therapy results. CAFs, in the majority of cases, employ crosstalk, stromal management, and other strategies to generate resilience in surrounding tumor cells. This emphasizes the significance of developing novel strategies that target particular tumor-promoting CAF subpopulations, which will improve treatment sensitivity and impede tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the origin and heterogeneity of CAFs, their role in tumor progression, and altering the tumor response to therapeutic agents in breast cancer. In addition, we also discuss the potential and possible approaches for CAF-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Tristan Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Esheksha Gundre
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Olajumoke Ogunlusi
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mohanad El-Sobky
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Biplab Giri
- Department of Physiology, University of Gour Banga, English Bazar, India,*Correspondence: Biplab Giri, ; Tapasree Roy Sarkar,
| | - Tapasree Roy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Biplab Giri, ; Tapasree Roy Sarkar,
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37
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Tanaka HY, Nakazawa T, Enomoto A, Masamune A, Kano MR. Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Fibrotic Barriers to Nanomedicine in the Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030724. [PMID: 36765684 PMCID: PMC9913712 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its dismal prognosis. The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect theory posits that nanomedicines (therapeutics in the size range of approximately 10-200 nm) selectively accumulate in tumors. Nanomedicine has thus been suggested to be the "magic bullet"-both effective and safe-to treat pancreatic cancer. However, the densely fibrotic tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer impedes nanomedicine delivery. The EPR effect is thus insufficient to achieve a significant therapeutic effect. Intratumoral fibrosis is chiefly driven by aberrantly activated fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix (ECM) components secreted. Fibroblast and ECM abnormalities offer various potential targets for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we detail the diverse strategies being tested to overcome the fibrotic barriers to nanomedicine in pancreatic cancer. Strategies that target the fibrotic tissue/process are discussed first, which are followed by strategies to optimize nanomedicine design. We provide an overview of how a deeper understanding, increasingly at single-cell resolution, of fibroblast biology is revealing the complex role of the fibrotic stroma in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and consider the therapeutic implications. Finally, we discuss critical gaps in our understanding and how we might better formulate strategies to successfully overcome the fibrotic barriers in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyoshi Y. Tanaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi 700-8530, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takuya Nakazawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi 700-8530, Okayama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Enomoto
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi 466-8550, Aichi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi 980-8574, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Mitsunobu R. Kano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi 700-8530, Okayama, Japan
- Correspondence:
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38
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Smits D, Khalil AA. Multimodal Techniques to Study Tumor Growth, Basement Membrane Breaching, and Invasion in 3D Matrices. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2608:281-303. [PMID: 36653714 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2887-4_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-derived organoids and three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) are taking center stage as in vitro models to study neoplastic cell behavior, since they recapitulate the heterogeneous cellular composition of tumors and their extracellular environment. In combination with imaging and molecular/biochemical techniques, 3D organoid models have contributed substantially to our knowledge about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the growth of tumors and invasion into the surrounding tissue. We here outline a set of protocols that describe culturing of cancer-derived organoids in 3D matrices and various strategies that allow modeling of tumor growth, tumor cell penetration into basement membranes, and invasion into Collagen I-rich ECM. Furthermore, we specify protocols for subsequent handling of organoids cultured in 3D ECM for confocal microscopy and analysis of gene expression at the protein and mRNA level. Although we here use breast cancer-derived organoids, these protocols can be directly applied or adapted for organoids derived from other cancer types or healthy tissues. Thus, in addition to investigating cell behavior of multiple cancer types, the combination of protocols described here may be used to study processes such as cell differentiation and migration during homeostasis and normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan Smits
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Cell Biology, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Antoine A Khalil
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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39
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Peyton SR, Platt MO, Cukierman E. Challenges and Opportunities Modeling the Dynamic Tumor Matrisome. BME FRONTIERS 2023; 4:0006. [PMID: 37849664 PMCID: PMC10521682 DOI: 10.34133/bmef.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We need novel strategies to target the complexity of cancer and, particularly, of metastatic disease. As an example of this complexity, certain tissues are particularly hospitable environments for metastases, whereas others do not contain fertile microenvironments to support cancer cell growth. Continuing evidence that the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues is one of a host of factors necessary to support cancer cell growth at both primary and secondary tissue sites is emerging. Research on cancer metastasis has largely been focused on the molecular adaptations of tumor cells in various cytokine and growth factor environments on 2-dimensional tissue culture polystyrene plates. Intravital imaging, conversely, has transformed our ability to watch, in real time, tumor cell invasion, intravasation, extravasation, and growth. Because the interstitial ECM that supports all cells in the tumor microenvironment changes over time scales outside the possible window of typical intravital imaging, bioengineers are continuously developing both simple and sophisticated in vitro controlled environments to study tumor (and other) cell interactions with this matrix. In this perspective, we focus on the cellular unit responsible for upholding the pathologic homeostasis of tumor-bearing organs, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and their self-generated ECM. The latter, together with tumoral and other cell secreted factors, constitute the "tumor matrisome". We share the challenges and opportunities for modeling this dynamic CAF/ECM unit, the tools and techniques available, and how the tumor matrisome is remodeled (e.g., via ECM proteases). We posit that increasing information on tumor matrisome dynamics may lead the field to alternative strategies for personalized medicine outside genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly R. Peyton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Manu O. Platt
- Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling & Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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40
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Caron JM, Han X, Lary CW, Sathyanarayana P, Remick SC, Ernstoff MS, Herlyn M, Brooks PC. Targeting the secreted RGDKGE collagen fragment reduces PD‑L1 by a proteasome‑dependent mechanism and inhibits tumor growth. Oncol Rep 2023; 49:44. [PMID: 36633146 PMCID: PMC9868893 DOI: 10.3892/or.2023.8481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural alterations of collagen impact signaling that helps control tumor progression and the responses to therapeutic intervention. Integrins represent a class of receptors that include members that mediate collagen signaling. However, a strategy of directly targeting integrins to control tumor growth has demonstrated limited activity in the clinical setting. New molecular understanding of integrins have revealed that these receptors can regulate both pro‑ and anti‑tumorigenic functions in a cell type‑dependent manner. Therefore, designing strategies that block pro‑tumorigenic signaling, without impeding anti‑tumorigenic functions, may lead to development of more effective therapies. In the present study, evidence was provided for a novel signaling cascade in which β3‑integrin‑mediated binding to a secreted RGDKGE‑containing collagen fragment stimulates an autocrine‑like signaling pathway that differentially governs the activity of both YAP and (protein kinase‑A) PKA, ultimately leading to alterations in the levels of immune checkpoint molecule PD‑L1 by a proteasome dependent mechanism. Selectively targeting this collagen fragment, reduced nuclear YAP levels, and enhanced PKA and proteasome activity, while also exhibiting significant antitumor activity in vivo. The present findings not only provided new mechanistic insight into a previously unknown autocrine‑like signaling pathway that may provide tumor cells with the ability to regulate PD‑L1, but our findings may also help in the development of more effective strategies to control pro‑tumorigenic β3‑integrin signaling without disrupting its tumor suppressive functions in other cellular compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Caron
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Xianghua Han
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Christine W. Lary
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Pradeep Sathyanarayana
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Scot C. Remick
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - Marc S. Ernstoff
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Developmental Therapeutics Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Peter C. Brooks
- MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA,Correspondence to: Dr Peter C. Brooks, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Center for Molecular Medicine, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA, E-mail:
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41
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Nelson MS, Liu Y, Wilson HM, Li B, Rosado-Mendez IM, Rogers JD, Block WF, Eliceiri KW. Multiscale Label-Free Imaging of Fibrillar Collagen in the Tumor Microenvironment. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2614:187-235. [PMID: 36587127 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2914-7_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
With recent advances in cancer therapeutics, there is a great need for improved imaging methods for characterizing cancer onset and progression in a quantitative and actionable way. Collagen, the most abundant extracellular matrix protein in the tumor microenvironment (and the body in general), plays a multifaceted role, both hindering and promoting cancer invasion and progression. Collagen deposition can defend the tumor with immunosuppressive effects, while aligned collagen fiber structures can enable tumor cell migration, aiding invasion and metastasis. Given the complex role of collagen fiber organization and topology, imaging has been a tool of choice to characterize these changes on multiple spatial scales, from the organ and tumor scale to cellular and subcellular level. Macroscale density already aids in the detection and diagnosis of solid cancers, but progress is being made to integrate finer microscale features into the process. Here we review imaging modalities ranging from optical methods of second harmonic generation (SHG), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to the medical imaging approaches of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These methods have enabled scientists and clinicians to better understand the impact collagen structure has on the tumor environment, at both the bulk scale (density) and microscale (fibrillar structure) levels. We focus on imaging methods with the potential to both examine the collagen structure in as natural a state as possible and still be clinically amenable, with an emphasis on label-free strategies, exploiting intrinsic optical properties of collagen fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Nelson
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yuming Liu
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Helen M Wilson
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bin Li
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ivan M Rosado-Mendez
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jeremy D Rogers
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA.,McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Walter F Block
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kevin W Eliceiri
- Center for Quantitative Cell Imaging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA. .,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. .,McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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42
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Extracellular matrix physical properties govern the diffusion of nanoparticles in tumor microenvironment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2209260120. [PMID: 36574668 PMCID: PMC9910605 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209260120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) are confronted with limited and disappointing delivery efficiency in tumors clinically. The tumor extracellular matrix (ECM), whose physical traits have recently been recognized as new hallmarks of cancer, forms a main steric obstacle for NP diffusion, yet the role of tumor ECM physical traits in NP diffusion remains largely unexplored. Here, we characterized the physical properties of clinical gastric tumor samples and observed limited distribution of NPs in decellularized tumor tissues. We also performed molecular dynamics simulations and in vitro hydrogel experiments through single-particle tracking to investigate the diffusion mechanism of NPs and understand the influence of tumor ECM physical properties on NP diffusion both individually and collectively. Furthermore, we developed an estimation matrix model with evaluation scores of NP diffusion efficiency through comprehensive analyses of the data. Thus, beyond finding that loose and soft ECM with aligned structure contribute to efficient diffusion, we now have a systemic model to predict NP diffusion efficiency based on ECM physical traits and provide critical guidance for personalized tumor diagnosis and treatment.
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43
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Li B, Nelson MS, Savari O, Loeffler AG, Eliceiri KW. Differentiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and chronic pancreatitis using graph neural networks on histopathology and collagen fiber features. J Pathol Inform 2022; 13:100158. [PMID: 36605110 PMCID: PMC9808020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpi.2022.100158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal human cancers. However, the symptoms and radiographic appearance of chronic pancreatitis (CP) mimics that of PDAC, and sometimes the 2 entities can also be difficult to differentiate microscopically. The need for accurate differentiation of PDAC and CP has become a major topic in pancreatic pathology. These 2 diseases can present similar histomorphological features, such as excessive deposition of fibrotic stroma in the tissue microenvironment and inflammatory cell infiltration. In this paper, we present a quantitative analysis pipeline empowered by graph neural networks (GNN) capable of automatic detection and differentiation of PDAC and CP in human histological specimens. Modeling histological images as graphs and deploying graph convolutions can enable the capture of histomorphological features at different scales, ranging from nuclear size to the organization of ducts. The analysis pipeline combines image features computed from co-registered hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images and Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy images, with the SHG images enabling the extraction of collagen fiber morphological features. Evaluating the analysis pipeline on a human tissue micro-array dataset consisting of 786 cores and a tissue region dataset consisting of 268 images, it attained 86.4% accuracy with an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.954 and 88.9% accuracy with an average AUC of 0.957, respectively. Moreover, incorporating topological features of collagen fibers computed from SHG images into the model further increases the classification accuracy on the tissue region dataset to 91.3% with an average AUC of 0.962, suggesting that collagen characteristics are diagnostic features in PDAC and CP detection and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706, WI, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison 53705, WI, USA
| | - Michael S. Nelson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706, WI, USA
| | - Omid Savari
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh 15213, PA, USA
| | - Agnes G. Loeffler
- Department of Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland 44109, OH, USA
| | - Kevin W. Eliceiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706, WI, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison 53705, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706, WI, USA
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44
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Foster DS, Januszyk M, Delitto D, Yost KE, Griffin M, Guo J, Guardino N, Delitto AE, Chinta M, Burcham AR, Nguyen AT, Bauer-Rowe KE, Titan AL, Salhotra A, Jones RE, da Silva O, Lindsay HG, Berry CE, Chen K, Henn D, Mascharak S, Talbott HE, Kim A, Nosrati F, Sivaraj D, Ransom RC, Matthews M, Khan A, Wagh D, Coller J, Gurtner GC, Wan DC, Wapnir IL, Chang HY, Norton JA, Longaker MT. Multiomic analysis reveals conservation of cancer-associated fibroblast phenotypes across species and tissue of origin. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:1392-1406.e7. [PMID: 36270275 PMCID: PMC9669239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are integral to the solid tumor microenvironment. CAFs were once thought to be a relatively uniform population of matrix-producing cells, but single-cell RNA sequencing has revealed diverse CAF phenotypes. Here, we further probed CAF heterogeneity with a comprehensive multiomics approach. Using paired, same-cell chromatin accessibility and transcriptome analysis, we provided an integrated analysis of CAF subpopulations over a complex spatial transcriptomic and proteomic landscape to identify three superclusters: steady state-like (SSL), mechanoresponsive (MR), and immunomodulatory (IM) CAFs. These superclusters are recapitulated across multiple tissue types and species. Selective disruption of underlying mechanical force or immune checkpoint inhibition therapy results in shifts in CAF subpopulation distributions and affected tumor growth. As such, the balance among CAF superclusters may have considerable translational implications. Collectively, this research expands our understanding of CAF biology, identifying regulatory pathways in CAF differentiation and elucidating therapeutic targets in a species- and tumor-agnostic manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deshka S Foster
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Januszyk
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Daniel Delitto
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Kathryn E Yost
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michelle Griffin
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jason Guo
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nicholas Guardino
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrea E Delitto
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Malini Chinta
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Austin R Burcham
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alan T Nguyen
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Khristian E Bauer-Rowe
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ashley L Titan
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Ankit Salhotra
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - R Ellen Jones
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Oscar da Silva
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hunter G Lindsay
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Charlotte E Berry
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kellen Chen
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dominic Henn
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shamik Mascharak
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Heather E Talbott
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexia Kim
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Fatemeh Nosrati
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dharshan Sivaraj
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - R Chase Ransom
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Matthews
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anum Khan
- Cell Sciences Imaging Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dhananjay Wagh
- Stanford Genomics Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - John Coller
- Stanford Genomics Facility, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Geoffrey C Gurtner
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Derrick C Wan
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Irene L Wapnir
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey A Norton
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA.
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Hagey Laboratory for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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45
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Lefler JE, MarElia-Bennett CB, Thies KA, Hildreth BE, Sharma SM, Pitarresi JR, Han L, Everett C, Koivisto C, Cuitino MC, Timmers CD, O'Quinn E, Parrish M, Romeo MJ, Linke AJ, Hobbs GA, Leone G, Guttridge DC, Zimmers TA, Lesinski GB, Ostrowski MC. STAT3 in tumor fibroblasts promotes an immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:e202201460. [PMID: 35803738 PMCID: PMC9270499 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with an incredibly dense stroma, which contributes to its recalcitrance to therapy. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most abundant cell types within the PDAC stroma and have context-dependent regulation of tumor progression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, understanding tumor-promoting pathways in CAFs is essential for developing better stromal targeting therapies. Here, we show that disruption of the STAT3 signaling axis via genetic ablation of Stat3 in stromal fibroblasts in a Kras G12D PDAC mouse model not only slows tumor progression and increases survival, but re-shapes the characteristic immune-suppressive TME by decreasing M2 macrophages (F480+CD206+) and increasing CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, we show that loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN in pancreatic CAFs leads to an increase in STAT3 phosphorylation. In addition, increased STAT3 phosphorylation in pancreatic CAFs promotes secretion of CXCL1. Inhibition of CXCL1 signaling inhibits M2 polarization in vitro. The results provide a potential mechanism by which CAFs promote an immune-suppressive TME and promote tumor progression in a spontaneous model of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Lefler
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Catherine B MarElia-Bennett
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Katie A Thies
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Blake E Hildreth
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sudarshana M Sharma
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lu Han
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Caroline Everett
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Christopher Koivisto
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Maria C Cuitino
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Cynthia D Timmers
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Elizabeth O'Quinn
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Melodie Parrish
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Martin J Romeo
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Amanda J Linke
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - G Aaron Hobbs
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Gustavo Leone
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Denis C Guttridge
- Department of Pediatrics and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Teresa A Zimmers
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael C Ostrowski
- Hollings Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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46
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Jones CE, Sharick JT, Sizemore ST, Cukierman E, Strohecker AM, Leight JL. A miniaturized screening platform to identify novel regulators of extracellular matrix alignment. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:1471-1486. [PMID: 36530465 PMCID: PMC9757767 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix alignment contributes to metastasis in a number of cancers and is a known prognostic stromal factor; however, the mechanisms controlling matrix organization remain unclear. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) play a critical role in this process, particularly via matrix production and modulation of key signaling pathways controlling cell adhesion and contractility. Stroma normalization, as opposed to elimination, is a highly sought strategy, and screening for drugs that effectively alter extracellular matrix (ECM) alignment is a practical way to identify novel CAF-normalizing targets that modulate ECM organization. To meet this need, we developed a novel high-throughput screening platform in which fibroblast-derived matrices were produced in 384-well plates, imaged with automated confocal microscopy, and analyzed using a customized MATLAB script. This platform is a technical advance because it miniaturizes the assay, eliminates costly and time-consuming experimental steps, and streamlines data acquisition and analysis to enable high-throughput screening applications. As a proof of concept, this platform was used to screen a kinase inhibitor library to identify modulators of matrix alignment. A number of novel potential regulators were identified, including several receptor tyrosine kinases (c-MET, tropomyosin receptor kinase 1 (NTRK1), HER2/ERBB2) and the serine/threonine kinases protein kinase A, C, and G (PKA, PKC, and PKG). The expression of these regulators was analyzed in publicly available patient datasets to examine the association between stromal gene expression and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E. Jones
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Joe T. Sharick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Program in Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Steven T. Sizemore
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Program in Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics, The Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anne Marie Strohecker
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Program in Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jennifer L. Leight
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Program in Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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47
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Kiemen AL, Braxton AM, Grahn MP, Han KS, Babu JM, Reichel R, Jiang AC, Kim B, Hsu J, Amoa F, Reddy S, Hong SM, Cornish TC, Thompson ED, Huang P, Wood LD, Hruban RH, Wirtz D, Wu PH. CODA: quantitative 3D reconstruction of large tissues at cellular resolution. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1490-1499. [PMID: 36280719 PMCID: PMC10500590 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01650-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A central challenge in biology is obtaining high-content, high-resolution information while analyzing tissue samples at volumes relevant to disease progression. We address this here with CODA, a method to reconstruct exceptionally large (up to multicentimeter cubed) tissues at subcellular resolution using serially sectioned hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections. Here we demonstrate CODA's ability to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) distinct microanatomical structures in pancreas, skin, lung and liver tissues. CODA allows creation of readily quantifiable tissue volumes amenable to biological research. As a testbed, we assess the microanatomy of the human pancreas during tumorigenesis within the branching pancreatic ductal system, labeling ten distinct structures to examine heterogeneity and structural transformation during neoplastic progression. We show that pancreatic precancerous lesions develop into distinct 3D morphological phenotypes and that pancreatic cancer tends to spread far from the bulk tumor along collagen fibers that are highly aligned to the 3D curves of ductal, lobular, vascular and neural structures. Thus, CODA establishes a means to transform broadly the structural study of human diseases through exploration of exhaustively labeled 3D microarchitecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Kiemen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alicia M Braxton
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mia P Grahn
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kyu Sang Han
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jaanvi Mahesh Babu
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca Reichel
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ann C Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bridgette Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jocelyn Hsu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Falone Amoa
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sashank Reddy
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seung-Mo Hong
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Toby C Cornish
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Thompson
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peng Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura D Wood
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ralph H Hruban
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Denis Wirtz
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Pathology, The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Pei-Hsun Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Johns Hopkins Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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48
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Byers C, Gill M, Kurtansky NR, Alessi-Fox C, Harman M, Cordova M, Gonzalez S, Guitera P, Rotemberg V, Marghoob A, Chen CSJ, Dy J, Kose K, Rajadhyaksha M, Sahu A. Tertiary lymphoid structures accompanied by fibrillary matrix morphology impact anti-tumor immunity in basal cell carcinomas. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:981074. [PMID: 36388913 PMCID: PMC9647637 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.981074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are specialized lymphoid formations that serve as local repertoire of T- and B-cells at sites of chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. While presence of TLS has been associated with improved response to immune checkpoint blockade therapies and overall outcomes in several cancers, its prognostic value in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) has not been investigated. Herein, we determined the prognostic impact of TLS by relating its prevalence and maturation with outcome measures of anti-tumor immunity, namely tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor killing. In 30 distinct BCCs, we show the presence of TLS was significantly enriched in tumors harboring a nodular component and more mature primary TLS was associated with TIL counts. Moreover, assessment of the fibrillary matrix surrounding tumors showed discrete morphologies significantly associated with higher TIL counts, critically accounting for heterogeneity in TIL count distribution within TLS maturation stages. Specifically, increased length of fibers and lacunarity of the matrix with concomitant reduction in density and alignment of fibers were present surrounding tumors displaying high TIL counts. Given the interest in inducing TLS formation as a therapeutic intervention as well as its documented prognostic value, elucidating potential impediments to the ability of TLS in driving anti-tumor immunity within the tumor microenvironment warrants further investigation. These results begin to address and highlight the need to integrate stromal features which may present a hindrance to TLS formation and/or effective function as a mediator of immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Byers
- The Institute for Experiential AI, Roux Institute, Northeastern University, Portland, ME, United States
| | - Melissa Gill
- Department of Clinical Pathology and Cancer Diagnostics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Maggie Harman
- Department of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Miguel Cordova
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Pascale Guitera
- Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Center, Royal Alfred Prince Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Ashfaq Marghoob
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Jennifer Dy
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
- The Institute for Experiential AI, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kivanc Kose
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Aditi Sahu
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
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49
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Hamilton J, Breggia A, Fitzgerald TL, Jones MA, Brooks PC, Tilbury K, Khalil A. Multiscale anisotropy analysis of second-harmonic generation collagen imaging of human pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:991850. [PMID: 36330487 PMCID: PMC9623060 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.991850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers with a minority (< 10%) of patients surviving five years past diagnosis. This could be improved with the development of new imaging modalities for early differentiation of benign and cancerous fibrosis. This study intends to explore the application of a two-photon microscopy technique known as second harmonic generation to PDAC using the 2D Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima (WTMM) Anisotropy method to quantify collagen organization in fibrotic pancreatic tissue. Forty slides from PDAC patients were obtained and eight images were captured per each tissue category on each slide. Brownian surface motion and white noise images were generated for calibration and testing of a new variable binning approach to the 2D WTMM Anisotropy method. The variable binning method had greater resistance to wavelet scaling effects and white noise images were found to have the lowest anisotropy factor. Cancer and fibrosis had greater anisotropy factors (Fa) at small wavelet scales than normal and normal adjacent tissue. At a larger scale of 21 μm this relationship changed with normal tissue having a higher Fa than all other tissue groups. White noise is the best representative image for isotropy and the 2D WTMM anisotropy method is sensitive to changes induced in collagen by PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Hamilton
- Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- CompuMAINE Laboratory University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
| | - Anne Breggia
- Center for Applied Science and Technology, Maine Health Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME, United States
| | | | | | - Peter C. Brooks
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- Center for Molecular Medicine, MaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, ME, United States
| | - Karissa Tilbury
- Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- *Correspondence: Andre Khalil, ; Karissa Tilbury,
| | - Andre Khalil
- Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- CompuMAINE Laboratory University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
- *Correspondence: Andre Khalil, ; Karissa Tilbury,
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50
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Vasudevan J, Jiang K, Fernandez J, Lim CT. Extracellular matrix mechanobiology in cancer cell migration. Acta Biomater 2022; 163:351-364. [PMID: 36243367 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is pivotal in modulating tumor progression. Besides chemically stimulating tumor cells, it also offers physical support that orchestrates the sequence of events in the metastatic cascade upon dynamically modulating cell mechanosensation. Understanding this translation between matrix biophysical cues and intracellular signaling has led to rapid growth in the interdisciplinary field of cancer mechanobiology in the last decade. Substantial efforts have been made to develop novel in vitro tumor mimicking platforms to visualize and quantify the mechanical forces within the tissue that dictate tumor cell invasion and metastatic growth. This review highlights recent findings on tumor matrix biophysical cues such as fibrillar arrangement, crosslinking density, confinement, rigidity, topography, and non-linear mechanics and their implications on tumor cell behavior. We also emphasize how perturbations in these cues alter cellular mechanisms of mechanotransduction, consequently enhancing malignancy. Finally, we elucidate engineering techniques to individually emulate the mechanical properties of tumors that could help serve as toolkits for developing and testing ECM-targeted therapeutics on novel bioengineered tumor platforms. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Disrupted ECM mechanics is a driving force for transitioning incipient cells to life-threatening malignant variants. Understanding these ECM changes can be crucial as they may aid in developing several efficacious drugs that not only focus on inducing cytotoxic effects but also target specific matrix mechanical cues that support and enhance tumor invasiveness. Designing and implementing an optimal tumor mimic can allow us to predictively map biophysical cue-modulated cell behaviors and facilitate the design of improved lab-grown tumor models with accurately controlled structural features. This review focuses on the abnormal changes within the ECM during tumorigenesis and its implications on tumor cell-matrix mechanoreciprocity. Additionally, it accentuates engineering approaches to produce ECM features of varying levels of complexity which is critical for improving the efficiency of current engineered tumor tissue models.
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