Comparison between NOD/SCID mice and BALB/c mice for patient-derived tumor xenografts model of non-small-cell lung cancer

Antibody-drug conjugates targeting DDR1 as a novel strategy for treatment of breast cancer

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a novel class of targeted cancer therapies and been successfully applied in the treatment of breast cancer (BC). Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a single transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase and has been identified as a possible target for cancer. In this study, we explored the potential of an anti-DDR1 ADC, named T4H11-DM4, for the treatment of DDR1-positive BC. We demonstrated that high protein expression and RNA expression of DDR1 in BC tissues. In vitro, T4H11-DM4 was potently cytotoxic to DDR1-expressing BC cells, with IC50 in the nanomolar range. In mice BC xenograft models, T4H11-DM4 dramatically eliminated BC tumours, without observable toxicity. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that DDR1 can serve as a promising therapeutic target for BC.

Utility of patient-derived xenografts to evaluate drug sensitivity and select optimal treatments for individual non-small-cell lung cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) is currently considered a preferred preclinical model to evaluate drug sensitivity, explore drug resistance mechanisms, and select individualized treatment regimens.

METHODS

Histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry and whole-exome sequencing confirmed similarity between our PDX tumors and primary tumors in terms of morphology and genetic characteristics. The drug reactivity of the PDX tumor was validated in vivo. The mechanisms of acquired resistance to Osimertinib PDX tumors were investigated by WES and WB.

RESULTS

We successfully established 13 NSCLC-PDXs derived from 62 patients, including eight adenocarcinomas, four squamous-cell carcinoma, and one large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. Histological subtype and clinical stage were significant factors affecting the successful PDXs establishment. The treatment responses to conventional chemotherapy in PDXs were entirely consistent with that of their corresponding patients. According to the genetic status of tumors, more appropriate targeted agents were selected in PDXs for their corresponding patients as alternative treatment options. In addition, a PDX model with acquired resistance to osimertinib was induced, and the overactivation of RAS mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway caused by the dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) M62I mutation was found to play a key role in the development of osimertinib resistance. Trametinib, a specific inhibitor of the MAPK-ERK pathway significantly slowed down the tumor growth in osimertinib-resistant PDX models, providing an alternative treatment in patients after osimertinib failure.

Effect of nanoparticle-mediated delivery of SFRP4 siRNA for treating Dupuytren disease

Dupuytren disease (DD) is a progressive fibrous proliferative disease. It invades the palmar aponeurosis and extends to the finger fascia, eventually leading to flexion contracture of the metacarpophalangeal or interphalangeal joint. At present, surgical resection and the local injection of collagenase are the main methods for the treatment of DD, but postoperative complications and high recurrence rates often occur. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the increased expression of SFRP4 protein was closely related to the incidence of DD. Persistent and effective inhibition of SFRP4 expression may be a promising treatment for DD. We prepared SFRP4 siRNA/nanoparticle complexes (si-SFRP4) and negative siRNA/nanoparticle complexes (NC) and applied them in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry analysis showed that si-SFRP4 could be successfully transfected into DD cells. MTT and EdU staining assays showed that the OD values and percentage of EdU-positive cells in the si-SFRP4 group were significantly lower than those in the NC group. Scratch tests showed that the wound healing rate of the si-SFRP4 group was lower than that of the NC group, and the difference was statistically significant. The expression of SFRP4 and α-SMA protein in the si-SFRP4 group significantly decreased in both DD cells and xenografts. Compared with the NC group, the xenograft quality of the si-SFRP4 group was significantly reduced. Masson's trichrome staining showed that the collagen and fibrous cells in the si-SFRP4 group were more uniform, slender, parallel and regular. The above experimental results suggest that the proliferation and metabolism of palmar aponeurosis cells and the quality of metacarpal fascia xenografts were both significantly decreased. We speculated that nanoparticle-mediated SFRP4 siRNA can be used as a potential new method for the treatment of DD.

Immunophenotype and antitumor activity of cytokine-induced killer cells from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are heterogeneous lymphocytes from human peripheral blood mononucleated cells (PBMCs) co-cultured with several cytokines. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional characteristics and anticancer ability of CIK cells from hepatocarcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODS

CIK cells were activated ex-vivo and expanded from PBMCs from HCC patients. The immunophenotype and the ex-vivo killing ability of CIK cells were evaluated. Human CIK cells were intravenously injected into NOD/SCID mice to evaluate the in vivo anticancer ability.

RESULTS

More than 70% of CIK cells were CD3+CD8+, and 15%-30% were CD3+CD56+. These cells expressed an increased number of activated natural killer (NK) receptors, such as DNAM1 and NKG2D, and expressed low-immune checkpoint molecules, including PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG-3. Among the chemokine receptors expressed by CIKs, CXCR3 and CD62L were elevated in CD8+ T cells, representing the trafficking ability to inflamed tumor sites. CIK cells possess the ex-vivo anticancer activity to different cell lines. To demonstrate in vivo antitumor ability, human CIK cells could significantly suppress the tumor of J7 bearing NOD/SCID mice. Furthermore, human immune cells could be detected in the peripheral blood and on the tumors after CIK injection.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that CIK cells from HCC patients possess cytotoxic properties, and express increased levels of effector NK receptors and chemokine molecules and lower levels of suppressive checkpoint receptors. CIK cells can suppress human HCC ex-vivo and in vivo. Future clinical trials of human CIK cell therapy for HCC are warranted.

Identification of nanoparticle-mediated siRNA-ASPN as a key gene target in the treatment of keloids

Background: Keloid, also known as connective tissue hyperplasia, is a benign proliferative disorder with a global distribution. The available therapeutic interventions are steroid injections, surgical removal of keloids, radiotherapy, compression therapy, the application of cryosurgery, and many other methods.

Objectives: Existing treatments or approaches for keloids may lead to similar or even larger lesions at the site of keloid excision, leading to a high recurrence rate. Therefore, this study aims at identifying a new gene-based therapy for the treatment of keloids.

Methods: An ASPN-siRNA/nanoparticle combination (si-ASPN) and a negative siRNA/nanoparticle complex (NC) was developed on the basis of bioinformatics studies and used in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results: The results showed a strong correlation between the development of keloids and high expression of ASPN protein. With the expression of ASPN protein greatly reduced in keloid fibroblasts and nude mice allografts after treatment with si-ASPN, the collagen and fibroblasts were also uniform, thinner, parallel and regular.

Conclusion: All the above experimental results suggest that keloid and ASPN are closely related and both fibroblast growth and metabolism of keloid are inhibited after silencing ASPN. Therefore, ASPN-siRNA delivered via nanoparticles can serve as a novel intervention therapy for the treatment of keloids.

Chemosensitizing effect and mechanism of imperatorin on the anti-tumor activity of doxorubicin in tumor cells and transplantation tumor model

Multidrug resistance of tumors has been a severe obstacle to the success of cancer chemotherapy. The study wants to investigate the reversal effects of imperatorin (IMP) on doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in K562/DOX leukemia cells, A2780/Taxol cells and in NOD/SCID mice, to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. K562/DOX and A2780/Taxol cells were treated with various concentrations of DOX and Taol with or without different concentrations of IMP, respectively. K562/DOX xenograft model was used to assess anti-tumor effect of IMP combined with DOX. MTT assay, Rhodamine 123 efflux assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis were determined in vivo and in vitro. Results showed that IMP significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of DOX and Taxol toward corresponding resistance cells. In vivo results illustrated both the tumor volume and tumor weight were significantly decreased after 2-week treatment with IMP combined with DOX compared to the DOX alone group. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses indicated that IMP downregulated the expression of P-gp in K562/DOX xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID mice. We also evaluated glycolysis and glutamine metabolism in K562/DOX cells by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production. The results revealed that IMP could significantly reduce the glucose consumption and lactate production of K562/DOX cells. Furthermore, IMP could also remarkably repress the glutamine consumption, α-KG and ATP production of K562/DOX cells. Thus, IMP may sensitize K562/DOX cells to DOX and enhance the anti-tumor effect of DOX in K562/DOX xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID mice. IMP may be an adjuvant therapy to mitigate the multidrug resistance in leukemia chemotherapy.

Cannabidiol and Other Phytocannabinoids as Cancer Therapeutics

Preclinical models provided ample evidence that cannabinoids are cytotoxic against cancer cells. Among the best studied phytocannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) is most promising for the treatment of cancer as it lacks the psychotomimetic properties of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In vitro studies and animal experiments point to a concentration- (dose-)dependent anticancer effect. The effectiveness of pure compounds versus extracts is the subject of an ongoing debate. Actual results demonstrate that CBD-rich hemp extracts must be distinguished from THC-rich cannabis preparations. Whereas pure CBD was superior to CBD-rich extracts in most in vitro experiments, the opposite was observed for pure THC and THC-rich extracts, although exceptions were noted. The cytotoxic effects of CBD, THC and extracts seem to depend not only on the nature of cannabinoids and the presence of other phytochemicals but also largely on the nature of cell lines and test conditions. Neither CBD nor THC are universally efficacious in reducing cancer cell viability. The combination of pure cannabinoids may have advantages over single agents, although the optimal ratio seems to depend on the nature of cancer cells; the existence of a 'one size fits all' ratio is very unlikely. As cannabinoids interfere with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a better understanding of the circadian rhythmicity of the ECS, particularly endocannabinoids and receptors, as well as of the rhythmicity of biological processes related to the growth of cancer cells, could enhance the efficacy of a therapy with cannabinoids by optimization of the timing of the administration, as has already been reported for some of the canonical chemotherapeutics. Theoretically, a CBD dose administered at noon could increase the peak of anandamide and therefore the effects triggered by this agent. Despite the abundance of preclinical articles published over the last 2 decades, well-designed controlled clinical trials on CBD in cancer are still missing. The number of observations in cancer patients, paired with the anticancer activity repeatedly reported in preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies warrants serious scientific exploration moving forward.

Sonopermeation Enhances Uptake and Therapeutic Effect of Free and Encapsulated Cabazitaxel

Delivery of drugs and nanomedicines to tumors is often heterogeneous and insufficient and, thus, of limited efficacy. Microbubbles in combination with ultrasound have been found to improve delivery to tumors, enhancing accumulation and penetration. We used a subcutaneous prostate cancer xenograft model in mice to investigate the effect of free and nanoparticle-encapsulated cabazitaxel in combination with ultrasound and microbubbles with a lipid shell or a shell of nanoparticles. Sonopermeation reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival (26%-100%), whether the free drug was co-injected with lipid-shelled microbubbles or the nanoformulation was co-injected with lipid-shelled or nanoparticle-shelled microbubbles. Coherently with the improved therapeutic response, we found enhanced uptake of nanoparticles directly after ultrasound treatment that lasted several weeks (2.3 × -15.8 × increase). Neither cavitation dose nor total accumulation of nanoparticles could explain the variation within treatment groups, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of the tumor biology and mechanisms involved in ultrasound-mediated treatment.