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Yi M, Li T, Niu M, Mei Q, Zhao B, Chu Q, Dai Z, Wu K. Exploiting innate immunity for cancer immunotherapy. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:187. [PMID: 38008741 PMCID: PMC10680233 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01885-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment paradigms of various types of cancers. However, most of these immunomodulatory strategies focus on harnessing adaptive immunity, mainly by inhibiting immunosuppressive signaling with immune checkpoint blockade, or enhancing immunostimulatory signaling with bispecific T cell engager and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell. Although these agents have already achieved great success, only a tiny percentage of patients could benefit from immunotherapies. Actually, immunotherapy efficacy is determined by multiple components in the tumor microenvironment beyond adaptive immunity. Cells from the innate arm of the immune system, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and unconventional T cells, also participate in cancer immune evasion and surveillance. Considering that the innate arm is the cornerstone of the antitumor immune response, utilizing innate immunity provides potential therapeutic options for cancer control. Up to now, strategies exploiting innate immunity, such as agonists of stimulator of interferon genes, CAR-macrophage or -natural killer cell therapies, metabolic regulators, and novel immune checkpoint blockade, have exhibited potent antitumor activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we summarize the latest insights into the potential roles of innate cells in antitumor immunity and discuss the advances in innate arm-targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yi
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianye Li
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengke Niu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Mei
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhijun Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
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EGFR Inhibition Strongly Modulates the Tumour Immune Microenvironment in EGFR-Driven Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163943. [PMID: 36010935 PMCID: PMC9406398 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Lung cancer that is driven by mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is currently treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Although patients initially respond well to TKI treatment, drug resistance against EGFR-targeted therapy emerges. Attempts to combine immunotherapy with EGFR-targeted treatment to prolong response rates or prevent the development of resistances have been limited due to insufficient knowledge about the effects of targeted therapy on the tumour microenvironment (TME) in EGFR-driven tumours and tumour-infiltrating immune cells. The aims of this study were to improve our understanding on the impact of EGFR inhibition on the immune response in EGFR-driven lung cancer and, furthermore, to gain insights into the impact of combining targeted therapy with immunotherapy on the TME. Abstract EGFR-driven non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are currently treated with TKIs targeting EGFR, such as erlotinib or osimertinib. Despite a promising initial response to TKI treatment, most patients gain resistance to oncogene-targeted therapy, and tumours progress. With the development of inhibitors against immune checkpoints, such as PD-1, that mediate an immunosuppressive microenvironment, immunotherapy approaches attempt to restore a proinflammatory immune response in tumours. However, this strategy has shown only limited benefits in EGFR-driven NSCLC. Approaches combining EGFR inhibition with immunotherapy to stimulate the immune response and overcome resistance to therapy have been limited due to insufficient understanding about the effect of EGFR-targeting treatment on the immune cells in the TME. Here, we investigate the impact of EGFR inhibition by erlotinib on the TME and its effect on the antitumour response of the immune cell infiltrate. For this purpose, we used a transgenic conditional mouse model to study the immunological profile in EGFR-driven NSCLC tumours. We found that EGFR inhibition mediated a higher infiltration of immune cells and increased local proliferation of T-cells in the tumours. Moreover, inhibiting EGFR signalling led to increased activation of immune cells in the TME. Most strikingly, combined simultaneous blockade of EGFR and anti-PD-1 (aPD-1) enhanced tumour treatment response in a transgenic mouse model of EGFR-driven NSCLC. Thus, our findings show that EGFR inhibition promotes an active and proinflammatory immune cell infiltrate in the TME while improving response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in EGFR-driven NSCLC.
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Russo C, Morello G, Mannino G, Russo A, Malaguarnera L. Immunoregulation of Ghrelin in neurocognitive sequelae associated with COVID-19: an in silico investigation. Gene 2022; 834:146647. [PMID: 35680023 PMCID: PMC9169425 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146647] [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: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Some patients suffering from the new Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) develop an exaggerated inflammatory response triggered by a “cytokine storm” resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with the concomitant activation of non-specific inflammatory reactivity in the circulatory system and other organs, leading to multiorgan failure, leaky vasculature, coagulopathies and stroke. Impairment of brain functions may also occur as dysregulations in immune function resulting from neuroendocrine interactions. In this study, we explored, by bioinformatics approaches, the interaction between the multiple inflammatory agents involved in SARS-CoV-2 and Ghrelin (Ghre) together with its receptor GHSR-1A, which are described as anti-inflammatory mediators, in order to investigate what could trigger the hyper-inflammatory response in some SARS-CoV-2 patients. In our analysis, we found several interactions of Ghre and GHSR-1A with SARS-CoV-2 interacting human genes. We observed a correlation between Ghre, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ACE2, toll-like receptors 9 (TLR9), and Acidic chitinase (CHIA), whereas its receptor GHSR-1A interacts with chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3), CCR3, CCR5, CCR7, coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 1 (F2RL1), vitamin D receptor (VDR), Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1) and DDP4 in receptor dipeptidyl peptidase-4. To our knowledge, our findings show, for the first time, that Ghre and GHSR-1A may exert an immunomodulatory function in the course of SARS-Cov-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Russo
- Pathology Section, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanna Morello
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute for Research and Biomedical Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council (CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Giuliana Mannino
- Physiology Section, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Physiology section, Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonella Russo
- Physiology Section, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Lucia Malaguarnera
- Pathology Section, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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Li H, Wu M, Zhao X. Role of chemokine systems in cancer and inflammatory diseases. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e147. [PMID: 35702353 PMCID: PMC9175564 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are a large family of small secreted proteins that have fundamental roles in organ development, normal physiology, and immune responses upon binding to their corresponding receptors. The primary functions of chemokines are to coordinate and recruit immune cells to and from tissues and to participate in regulating interactions between immune cells. In addition to the generally recognized antimicrobial immunity, the chemokine/chemokine receptor axis also exerts a tumorigenic function in many different cancer models and is involved in the formation of immunosuppressive and protective tumor microenvironment (TME), making them potential prognostic markers for various hematologic and solid tumors. In fact, apart from its vital role in tumors, almost all inflammatory diseases involve chemokines and their receptors in one way or another. Modulating the expression of chemokines and/or their corresponding receptors on tumor cells or immune cells provides the basis for the exploitation of new drugs for clinical evaluation in the treatment of related diseases. Here, we summarize recent advances of chemokine systems in protumor and antitumor immune responses and discuss the prevailing understanding of how the chemokine system operates in inflammatory diseases. In this review, we also emphatically highlight the complexity of the chemokine system and explore its potential to guide the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyi Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Disease of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of EducationWest China Second HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Min Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNorth DakotaUSA
| | - Xia Zhao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Disease of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of EducationWest China Second HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Vitale C, Marzagalli M, Scaglione S, Dondero A, Bottino C, Castriconi R. Tumor Microenvironment and Hydrogel-Based 3D Cancer Models for In Vitro Testing Immunotherapies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1013. [PMID: 35205760 PMCID: PMC8870468 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14041013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In a relevant percentage of patients, however, clinical benefits are lower than expected, pushing researchers to deeply analyze the immune responses against tumors and find more reliable and efficient tools to predict the individual response to therapy. Novel tissue engineering strategies can be adopted to realize in vitro fully humanized matrix-based models, as a compromise between standard two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures and animal tests, which are costly and hardly usable in personalized medicine. In this review, we describe the main mechanisms allowing cancer cells to escape the immune surveillance, which may play a significant role in the failure of immunotherapies. In particular, we discuss the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the establishment of a milieu that greatly favors cancer malignant progression and impact on the interactions with immune cells. Then, we present an overview of the recent in vitro engineered preclinical three-dimensional (3D) models that have been adopted to resemble the interplays between cancer and immune cells and for testing current therapies and immunotherapeutic approaches. Specifically, we focus on 3D hydrogel-based tools based on different types of polymers, discussing the suitability of each of them in reproducing the TME key features based on their intrinsic or tunable characteristics. Finally, we introduce the possibility to combine the 3D models with technological fluid dynamics platforms, reproducing the dynamic complex interactions between tumor cells and immune effectors migrated in situ via the systemic circulation, pointing out the challenges that still have to be overcome for setting more predictive preclinical assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Vitale
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.V.); (A.D.); (R.C.)
| | | | - Silvia Scaglione
- React4life SRL, 16121 Genova, Italy; (M.M.); (S.S.)
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Electronics, Information Engineering and Telecommunications (IEIIT), 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dondero
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.V.); (A.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Cristina Bottino
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.V.); (A.D.); (R.C.)
- IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Roberta Castriconi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.V.); (A.D.); (R.C.)
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Understanding and improving cellular immunotherapies against cancer: From cell-manufacturing to tumor-immune models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 179:114003. [PMID: 34653533 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is shaped by dynamic metabolic and immune interactions between precancerous and cancerous tumor cells and stromal cells like epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and hematopoietically-derived immune cells. The metabolic states of the TME, including the hypoxic and acidic niches, influence the immunosuppressive phenotypes of the stromal and immune cells, which confers resistance to both host-mediated tumor killing and therapeutics. Numerous in vitro TME platforms for studying immunotherapies, including cell therapies, are being developed. However, we do not yet understand which immune and stromal components are most critical and how much model complexity is needed to answer specific questions. In addition, scalable sourcing and quality-control of appropriate TME cells for reproducibly manufacturing these platforms remain challenging. In this regard, lessons from the manufacturing of immunomodulatory cell therapies could provide helpful guidance. Although immune cell therapies have shown unprecedented results in hematological cancers and hold promise in solid tumors, their manufacture poses significant scale, cost, and quality control challenges. This review first provides an overview of the in vivo TME, discussing the most influential cell populations in the tumor-immune landscape. Next, we summarize current approaches for cell therapies against cancers and the relevant manufacturing platforms. We then evaluate current immune-tumor models of the TME and immunotherapies, highlighting the complexity, architecture, function, and cell sources. Finally, we present the technical and fundamental knowledge gaps in both cell manufacturing systems and immune-TME models that must be addressed to elucidate the interactions between endogenous tumor immunity and exogenous engineered immunity.
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Brandum EP, Jørgensen AS, Rosenkilde MM, Hjortø GM. Dendritic Cells and CCR7 Expression: An Important Factor for Autoimmune Diseases, Chronic Inflammation, and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158340. [PMID: 34361107 PMCID: PMC8348795 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotactic cytokines-chemokines-control immune cell migration in the process of initiation and resolution of inflammatory conditions as part of the body's defense system. Many chemokines also participate in pathological processes leading up to and exacerbating the inflammatory state characterizing chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of dendritic cells (DCs) and the central chemokine receptor CCR7 in the initiation and sustainment of selected chronic inflammatory diseases: multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriasis. We revisit the binary role that CCR7 plays in combatting and progressing cancer, and we discuss how CCR7 and DCs can be harnessed for the treatment of cancer. To provide the necessary background, we review the differential roles of the natural ligands of CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 and how they direct the mobilization of activated DCs to lymphoid organs and control the formation of associated lymphoid tissues (ALTs). We provide an overview of DC subsets and, briefly, elaborate on the different T-cell effector types generated upon DC-T cell priming. In the conclusion, we promote CCR7 as a possible target of future drugs with an antagonistic effect to reduce inflammation in chronic inflammatory diseases and an agonistic effect for boosting the reactivation of the immune system against cancer in cell-based and/or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based anti-cancer therapy.
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Revisiting CCL-type chemokines in breast cancer and its milieu: prominent targetable chemokines, CCL8 and CCL21. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:229090. [PMID: 34160019 PMCID: PMC8252185 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20210033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The patterns of chemokine expression play a decisive role in both breast cancer prognosis and metastasis. In a recent article published in Bioscience Reports, ‘Bioinformatics identification of CCL8/21 as potential prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer microenvironment’, Chen et al. presented that expression of both CCL8 and CCL21 among CCL-type chemokines is prominent for prognosis of the breast cancer, metastasis and chemoresistance (Biosci Rep (2020) 40(11); DOI: 10.1042/BSR20202042). Identifying the sources of the CCL8 and CCL21 in the tumor microenvironment and developing targeting strategies for these chemokines to prevent tumor growth will improve both prognosis and therapeutic outcomes.
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Bioinformatics identification of CCL8/21 as potential prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer microenvironment. Biosci Rep 2021; 40:226899. [PMID: 33146700 PMCID: PMC7687043 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20202042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among females worldwide. The tumor microenvironment usually prevents effective lymphocyte activation and infiltration, and suppresses infiltrating effector cells, leading to a failure of the host to reject the tumor. CC chemokines play a significant role in inflammation and infection. METHODS In our study, we analyzed the expression and survival data of CC chemokines in patients with BC using several bioinformatics analyses tools. RESULTS The mRNA expression of CCL2/3/4/5/7/8/11/17/19/20/22 was remarkably increased while CCL14/21/23/28 was significantly down-regulated in BC tissues compared with normal tissues. Methylation could down-regulate expression of CCL2/5/15/17/19/20/22/23/24/25/26/27 in BC. Low expression of CCL3/4/23 was found to be associated with drug resistance in BC. Results from Kaplan-Meier plotter and BC Gene-Expression Miner v4.2 (bcGenExMiner) v4.2 demonstrated that BC patients with high CCL8 and low CCL19/21/22 expression were more likely to have a worse prognosis. CCL8 expression was significantly up-regulated in BC tissues compared with normal tissues. High CCL8 expression was significantly correlated with negative PR, negative ER, positive nodal status, triple-negative BC subtype, basal-like BC subtype, triple-negative and basal-like BC subtype and high grades. CCL21 was down-regulated in BC, while high levels of CCL21 was associated with negative PR, triple-negative subtype, basal-like subtype and low tumor grade. Functional analysis demonstrated that CCL8 and CCL21 were involved in carcinogenesis, tumor immune escape and chemoresistance in BC. CONCLUSION Integrative bioinformatics analysis demonstrated CCL8/21 as potential prognostic biomarkers in BC microenvironment.
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Le MCN, Xu K, Wang Z, Beverung S, Steward RL, Florczyk SJ. Evaluation of the effect of 3D porous Chitosan-alginate scaffold stiffness on breast cancer proliferation and migration. J Biomed Mater Res A 2021; 109:1990-2000. [PMID: 33811775 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BCa) is one of the most common cancers for women and metastatic BCa causes the majority of deaths. The extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffens during cancer progression and provides biophysical signals to modulate proliferation, morphology, and metastasis. Cells utilize mechanotransduction and integrins to sense and respond to ECM stiffness. Chitosan-alginate (CA) scaffolds have been used for 3D culture, but lack integrin binding ligands, resulting in round cell morphology and limited cell-material interaction. In this study, 2, 4, and 6 wt% CA scaffolds were produced to mimic the stages of BCa progression and evaluate the BCa response to CA scaffold stiffness. All three CA scaffold compositions highly porous with interconnected pores and scaffold stiffness increased with increasing polymer concentration. MDA-MB-231 (231) cells were cultured in CA scaffolds and 2D cultures for 7 d. All CA scaffold cultures had similar cell numbers at 7 d and the 231 cells formed clusters that increased in size during the culture. The 2 wt% CA had the largest clusters throughout the 7 d culture compared with the 4 and 6 wt% CA. The 231 cell migration was evaluated on 2D surfaces after 7 d culture. The 6 wt% CA cultured cells had the greatest migration speed, followed by 4 wt% CA, 2D cultures, and 2 wt% CA. These results suggest that 231 cells sensed the stiffness of CA scaffolds without the presence of focal adhesions. This indicates that a non-integrin-based mechanism may explain the observed mechanotransduction response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh-Chau N Le
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.,Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Kailei Xu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Zi Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Sean Beverung
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Robert L Steward
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.,Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Stephanie J Florczyk
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA.,Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
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Salem A, Alotaibi M, Mroueh R, Basheer HA, Afarinkia K. CCR7 as a therapeutic target in Cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1875:188499. [PMID: 33385485 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The CCR7 chemokine axis is comprised of chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) and chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) acting on chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7). This axis plays two important but apparently opposing roles in cancer. On the one hand, this axis is significantly engaged in the trafficking of a number of effecter cells involved in mounting an immune response to a growing tumour. This suggests therapeutic strategies which involve potentiation of this axis can be used to combat the spread of cancer. On the other hand, the CCR7 axis plays a significant role in controlling the migration of tumour cells towards the lymphatic system and metastasis and can thus contribute to the expansion of cancer. This implies that therapeutic strategies which involve decreasing signaling through the CCR7 axis would have a beneficial effect in preventing dissemination of cancer. This dichotomy has partly been the reason why this axis has not yet been exploited, as other chemokine axes have, as a therapeutic target in cancer. Recent report of a crystal structure for CCR7 provides opportunities to exploit this axis in developing new cancer therapies. However, it remains unclear which of these two strategies, potentiation or antagonism of the CCR7 axis, is more appropriate for cancer therapy. This review brings together the evidence supporting both roles of the CCR7 axis in cancer and examines the future potential of each of the two different therapeutic approaches involving the CCR7 axis in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwar Salem
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Mashael Alotaibi
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Rima Mroueh
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom
| | - Haneen A Basheer
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zarqa University, PO Box 132222, Zarqa 13132, Jordan
| | - Kamyar Afarinkia
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; Bradford BD7 1DP, United Kingdom.
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Poelaert BJ, Romanova S, Knoche SM, Olson MT, Sliker BH, Smits K, Dickey BL, Moffitt-Holida AEJ, Goetz BT, Khan N, Smith L, Band H, Mohs AM, Coulter DW, Bronich TK, Solheim JC. Nanoformulation of CCL21 greatly increases its effectiveness as an immunotherapy for neuroblastoma. J Control Release 2020; 327:266-283. [PMID: 32711026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most commonly diagnosed extracranial solid tumor in children. The patients with aggressive metastatic disease or refractory/relapsed neuroblastoma currently face a dismally low chance of survival. Thus, there is a great need for more effective therapies for this illness. In previous studies, we, as well as others, showed that the immune cell chemoattractant C-C motif chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) is effective as an intratumoral therapy able to slow the growth of cancers. In this current study, we developed and tested an injectable, slow-release, uniform, and optimally loaded alginate nanoformulation of CCL21 as a means to provide prolonged intratumoral treatment. The alginate-nanoformulated CCL21, when injected intratumorally into mice bearing neuroblastoma lesions, significantly prolonged survival and decreased the tumor growth rate compared to CCL21 alone, empty nanoparticles, or buffer. Notably, we also observed complete tumor clearance and subsequent full protection against tumor rechallenge in 33% of nanoformulated CCL21-treated mice. Greater intratumoral presence of nanoformulated CCL21, compared to free CCL21, at days 1 and 2 after treatment ended was confirmed through fluorescent labeling and tracking. Nanoformulated CCL21-treated tumors exhibited a general pattern of prolonged increases in anti-tumor cytokines and relatively lower levels of pro-tumor cytokines in comparison to tumors treated with CCL21 alone or buffer only. Thus, this novel nanoformulation of CCL21 is an effective treatment for neuroblastoma, and may have potential for the delivery of CCL21 to other types of solid tumors in the future and as a slow-release delivery modality for other immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany J Poelaert
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Svetlana Romanova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Shelby M Knoche
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Madeline T Olson
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Bailee H Sliker
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Kaitlin Smits
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Brittney L Dickey
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Alexandra E J Moffitt-Holida
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Benjamin T Goetz
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Nuzhat Khan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Lynette Smith
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Hamid Band
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Aaron M Mohs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Donald W Coulter
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Tatiana K Bronich
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America
| | - Joyce C Solheim
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, United States of America.
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13
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Molina ER, Chim LK, Barrios S, Ludwig JA, Mikos AG. Modeling the Tumor Microenvironment and Pathogenic Signaling in Bone Sarcoma. TISSUE ENGINEERING. PART B, REVIEWS 2020; 26:249-271. [PMID: 32057288 PMCID: PMC7310212 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2019.0302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Investigations of cancer biology and screening of potential therapeutics for efficacy and safety begin in the preclinical laboratory setting. A staple of most basic research in cancer involves the use of tissue culture plates, on which immortalized cell lines are grown in monolayers. However, this practice has been in use for over six decades and does not account for vital elements of the tumor microenvironment that are thought to aid in initiation, propagation, and ultimately, metastasis of cancer. Furthermore, information gleaned from these techniques does not always translate to animal models or, more crucially, clinical trials in cancer patients. Osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES) are the most common primary tumors of bone, but outcomes for patients with metastatic or recurrent disease have stagnated in recent decades. The unique elements of the bone tumor microenvironment have been shown to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of these tumors and thus should be incorporated in the preclinical models of these diseases. In recent years, the field of tissue engineering has leveraged techniques used in designing scaffolds for regenerative medicine to engineer preclinical tumor models that incorporate spatiotemporal control of physical and biological elements. We herein review the clinical aspects of OS and ES, critical elements present in the sarcoma microenvironment, and engineering approaches to model the bone tumor microenvironment. Impact statement The current paradigm of cancer biology investigation and therapeutic testing relies heavily on monolayer, monoculture methods developed over half a century ago. However, these methods often lack essential hallmarks of the cancer microenvironment that contribute to tumor pathogenesis. Tissue engineers incorporate scaffolds, mechanical forces, cells, and bioactive signals into biological environments to drive cell phenotype. Investigators of bone sarcomas, aggressive tumors that often rob patients of decades of life, have begun to use tissue engineering techniques to devise in vitro models for these diseases. Their efforts highlight how critical elements of the cancer microenvironment directly affect tumor signaling and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R. Molina
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Letitia K. Chim
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Sergio Barrios
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Joseph A. Ludwig
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas
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14
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Lo UG, Bao J, Cen J, Yeh HC, Luo J, Tan W, Hsieh JT. Interferon-induced IFIT5 promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition leading to renal cancer invasion. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL UROLOGY 2019; 7:31-45. [PMID: 30906803 PMCID: PMC6420704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Interferon is known as a pleiotropic factor in innate immunity, cancer immunity and therapy. Despite an objective short-term response of interferon (IFN) therapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, the potential adverse effect of IFN on RCC cells is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate that IFNs can enhance RCC invasion via a new mechanism of IFIT5-mediated tumor suppressor microRNA (miRNA) degradation resulted in the elevation of Slug and ZEB1 and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Clinically, a significant upregulation of IFNγ signaling pathway (such as IFNGR1, IFNGR2, STAT1 and STAT2) is observed in RCC patients with metastatic disease. Overall, this study provides a new mechanism of action of IFN-elicited canonical pathway in regulating suppressor miRNAs. Most importantly, it highlights the potential pro-metastatic effect of IFNs, which could undermine the clinical applicability of IFNs for treating RCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- U-Ging Lo
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jiming Bao
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510515, Republic of China
| | - Junjie Cen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou 510080, Republic of China
| | - Hsin-Chih Yeh
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University HospitalTaiwan, Republic of China
| | - Junhang Luo
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou 510080, Republic of China
| | - Wanlong Tan
- Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhou 510515, Republic of China
| | - Jer-Tsong Hsieh
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
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15
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Memic A, Colombani T, Eggermont LJ, Rezaeeyazdi M, Steingold J, Rogers ZJ, Navare KJ, Mohammed HS, Bencherif SA. Latest Advances in Cryogel Technology for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201800114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Memic
- Center of NanotechnologyKing Abdulaziz University Jeddah 21589 Saudi Arabia
- Center for Biomedical EngineeringDepartment of MedicineBrigham and Women's HospitalHarvard Medical School Cambridge MA 02139 USA
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Thibault Colombani
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Loek J. Eggermont
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
- Department of Tumor ImmunologyOncode Institute, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life SciencesRadboud University Medical Center Nijmegen 6500 The Netherlands
| | | | - Joseph Steingold
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
| | - Zach J. Rogers
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
| | | | | | - Sidi A. Bencherif
- Department of Chemical EngineeringNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
- Department of BioengineeringNortheastern University Boston MA 02115 USA
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied SciencesHarvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA
- Sorbonne UniversityUTC CNRS UMR 7338Biomechanics and Bioengineering (BMBI)University of Technology of Compiègne Compiègne 60159 France
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16
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Qiao H, Tang T. Engineering 3D approaches to model the dynamic microenvironments of cancer bone metastasis. Bone Res 2018; 6:3. [PMID: 29507817 PMCID: PMC5826951 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-018-0008-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer metastasis to bone is a three-dimensional (3D), multistep, dynamic process that requires the sequential involvement of three microenvironments, namely, the primary tumour microenvironment, the circulation microenvironment and the bone microenvironment. Engineered 3D approaches allow for a vivid recapitulation of in vivo cancerous microenvironments in vitro, in which the biological behaviours of cancer cells can be assessed under different metastatic conditions. Therefore, modelling bone metastasis microenvironments with 3D cultures is imperative for advancing cancer research and anti-cancer treatment strategies. In this review, multicellular tumour spheroids and bioreactors, tissue engineering constructs and scaffolds, microfluidic systems and 3D bioprinting technology are discussed to explore the progression of the 3D engineering approaches used to model the three microenvironments of bone metastasis. We aim to provide new insights into cancer biology and advance the translation of new therapies for bone metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Qiao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011 China
| | - Tingting Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implants, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011 China
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17
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Lacalle RA, Blanco R, Carmona-Rodríguez L, Martín-Leal A, Mira E, Mañes S. Chemokine Receptor Signaling and the Hallmarks of Cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 331:181-244. [PMID: 28325212 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The chemokines are a family of chemotactic cytokines that mediate their activity by acting on seven-transmembrane-spanning G protein-coupled receptors. Both the ability of the chemokines and their receptors to form homo- and heterodimers and the promiscuity of the chemokine-chemokine receptor interaction endow this protein family with enormous signaling plasticity and complexity that are not fully understood at present. Chemokines were initially identified as essential regulators of homeostatic and inflammatory trafficking of innate and adaptive leucocytes from lymphoid organs to tissues. Chemokines also mediate the host response to cancer. Nevertheless, chemokine function in this response is not limited to regulating leucocyte infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. It is now known that chemokines and their receptors influence most-if not all-hallmark processes of cancer; they act on both neoplastic and untransformed cells in the tumor microenvironment, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells (blood and lymphatic), bone marrow-derived stem cells, and, obviously, infiltrating leucocytes. This review begins with an overview of chemokine and chemokine receptor structure, to better define how chemokines affect the proliferation, survival, stemness, and metastatic potential of neoplastic cells. We also examine the main mechanisms by which chemokines regulate tumor angiogenesis and immune cell infiltration, emphasizing the pro- and antitumorigenic activity of this protein superfamily in these interrelated processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Lacalle
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - R Blanco
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - A Martín-Leal
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Mira
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - S Mañes
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
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18
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Shologu N, Szegezdi E, Lowery A, Kerin M, Pandit A, Zeugolis DI. Recreating complex pathophysiologies in vitro with extracellular matrix surrogates for anticancer therapeutics screening. Drug Discov Today 2016; 21:1521-1531. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Nyga A, Neves J, Stamati K, Loizidou M, Emberton M, Cheema U. The next level of 3D tumour models: immunocompetence. Drug Discov Today 2016; 21:1421-1428. [PMID: 27113911 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of the tumour microenvironment encompasses interactions between cancer and stromal cells. Moving from 2D cell culture methods into 3D models enables more-accurate investigation of those interactions. Current 3D cancer models focus on cancer spheroid interaction with stromal cells, such as fibroblasts. However, over recent years, the cancer immune environment has been shown to have a major role in tumour progression. This review summarises the state-of-art on immunocompetent 3D cancer models that, in addition to cancer cells, also incorporate immune cells, including monocytes, cancer-associated macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Nyga
- Research Department of Nanotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK.
| | - Joana Neves
- Research Department of Urology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK
| | - Katerina Stamati
- Research Department of Nanotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK
| | - Marilena Loizidou
- Research Department of Nanotechnology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK
| | - Mark Emberton
- Research Department of Urology, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK
| | - Umber Cheema
- Research Department of Materials and Tissues, Institute of Orthopaedics, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, UCL, London, UK.
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20
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Asghar W, El Assal R, Shafiee H, Pitteri S, Paulmurugan R, Demirci U. Engineering cancer microenvironments for in vitro 3-D tumor models. MATERIALS TODAY (KIDLINGTON, ENGLAND) 2015; 18:539-553. [PMID: 28458612 PMCID: PMC5407188 DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2015.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The natural microenvironment of tumors is composed of extracellular matrix (ECM), blood vasculature, and supporting stromal cells. The physical characteristics of ECM as well as the cellular components play a vital role in controlling cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and differentiation. To mimic the tumor microenvironment outside the human body for drug testing, two-dimensional (2-D) and murine tumor models are routinely used. Although these conventional approaches are employed in preclinical studies, they still present challenges. For example, murine tumor models are expensive and difficult to adopt for routine drug screening. On the other hand, 2-D in vitro models are simple to perform, but they do not recapitulate natural tumor microenvironment, because they do not capture important three-dimensional (3-D) cell-cell, cell-matrix signaling pathways, and multi-cellular heterogeneous components of the tumor microenvironment such as stromal and immune cells. The three-dimensional (3-D) in vitro tumor models aim to closely mimic cancer microenvironments and have emerged as an alternative to routinely used methods for drug screening. Herein, we review recent advances in 3-D tumor model generation and highlight directions for future applications in drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Asghar
- Demirci Bio-Acoustic-MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Department of Computer Engineering & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Rami El Assal
- Demirci Bio-Acoustic-MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Hadi Shafiee
- Demirci Bio-Acoustic-MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratories, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Infectious Diseases, Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sharon Pitteri
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ramasamy Paulmurugan
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Utkan Demirci
- Demirci Bio-Acoustic-MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Demirci Bio-Acoustic-MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratories, Division of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Infectious Diseases, Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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21
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Daneshmandi S, Dibazar SP, Fateh S. Effects of 3-dimensional culture conditions (collagen-chitosan nano-scaffolds) on maturation of dendritic cells and their capacity to interact with T-lymphocytes. J Immunotoxicol 2015; 13:235-42. [PMID: 25990599 DOI: 10.3109/1547691x.2015.1045636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the body, there is a natural three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment in which immune cells, including dendritic cells (DC), play their functions. This study evaluated the impact of using collagen-chitosan 3D nano-scaffolds in comparisons to routine 2D culture plates on DC phenotype and functions. Bone marrow-derived DC were cultured on scaffolds and plates and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or chitosan-based nanoparticles (NP) for 24 h. Thereafter, DC viability, expression of maturation markers and levels of cytokines secretion were evaluated. In another set of studies, the DC were co-cultured with allogenic T-lymphocytes in both the 2D and 3D systems and effects on DC-induction of T-lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine release were analyzed. The results indicated that CD40, CD86 and MHC II marker expression and interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion by DC were enhanced in 3D cultures in comparison to by cells maintained in the 2D states. The data also showed that DNA/chitosan NP activated DC more than LPS in the 3D system. T-Lymphocyte proliferation was induced to a greater extent by DNA/NP-treated DC when both cell types were maintained on the scaffolds. Interestingly, while DC induction of T-lymphocyte interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-4 release was enhanced in the 3D system (relative to controls), there was a suppression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β production; effects on IL-10 secretion were variable. The results here suggested that collagen-chitosan scaffolds could provide a pro-inflammatory and activator environment to perform studies to analyze effects of exogenous agents on the induction of DC maturation, NP uptake and/or cytokines release, as well as for the ability of these cells to potentially interact with other immune system cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Daneshmandi
- a Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences , Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran , Iran
| | | | - Shirin Fateh
- a Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences , Tarbiat Modares University , Tehran , Iran
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22
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Proliferation and enrichment of CD133(+) glioblastoma cancer stem cells on 3D chitosan-alginate scaffolds. Biomaterials 2014; 35:9137-43. [PMID: 25109438 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 07/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence implicates cancer stem cells (CSCs) as primary determinants of the clinical behavior of human cancers, representing an ideal target for next-generation anti-cancer therapies. However CSCs are difficult to propagate in vitro, severely limiting the study of CSC biology and drug development. Here we report that growing cells from glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines on three dimensional (3D) porous chitosan-alginate (CA) scaffolds dramatically promotes the proliferation and enrichment of cells possessing the hallmarks of CSCs. CA scaffold-grown cells were found more tumorigenic in nude mouse xenografts than cells grown from monolayers. Growing in CA scaffolds rapidly promoted expression of genes involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that has been implicated in the genesis of CSCs. Our results indicate that CA scaffolds have utility as a simple and inexpensive means to cultivate CSCs in vitro in support of studies to understand CSC biology and develop more effective anti-cancer therapies.
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Tsao CT, Kievit FM, Wang K, Erickson AE, Ellenbogen RG, Zhang M. Chitosan-based thermoreversible hydrogel as an in vitro tumor microenvironment for testing breast cancer therapies. Mol Pharm 2014; 11:2134-42. [PMID: 24779767 PMCID: PMC4096230 DOI: 10.1021/mp5002119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Breast cancer is a major health problem
for women worldwide. Although in vitro culture of
established breast cancer cell lines
is the most widely used model for preclinical assessment, it poorly
represents the behavior of breast cancers in vivo. Acceleration of the development of effective therapeutic strategies
requires a cost-efficient in vitro model that can
more accurately resemble the in vivo tumor microenvironment.
Here, we report the use of a thermoreversible poly(ethylene glycol)-g-chitosan hydrogel (PCgel) as an in vitro breast cancer model. We hypothesized that PCgel could provide a
tumor microenvironment that promotes cultured cancer cells to a more
malignant phenotype with drug and immune resistance. Traditional tissue
culture plates and Matrigel were applied as controls in our studies. In vitro cellular proliferation and morphology, the secretion
of angiogenesis-related growth factors and cytokines, and drug and
immune resistance were assessed. Our results show that PCgel cultures
promoted tumor aggregate formation, increased secretion of various
angiogenesis- and metastasis-related growth factors and cytokines,
and increased tumor cell resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and
immunotherapeutic T cells. This PCgel platform may offer a valuable
strategy to bridge the gap between standard in vitro and costly animal studies for a wide variety of experimental designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Ting Tsao
- Departments of †Materials Science and Engineering and ‡Neurological Surgery, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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