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Wang W, Shen J, Meng Y, Ye M, Lin S, Zhao Q, Wang L, Cheung KM, Wu S, Zheng Y, Liu X, Chu PK, Yeung KW, Zhang ZY. Magnesium cationic cue enriched interfacial tissue microenvironment nurtures the osseointegration of gamma-irradiated allograft bone. Bioact Mater 2021; 10:32-47. [PMID: 34901527 PMCID: PMC8637003 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Regardless of the advancement of synthetic bone substitutes, allograft-derived bone substitutes still dominate in the orthopaedic circle in the treatments of bone diseases. Nevertheless, the stringent devitalization process jeopardizes their osseointegration with host bone and therefore prone to long-term failure. Hence, improving osseointegration and transplantation efficiency remains important. The alteration of bone tissue microenvironment (TME) to facilitate osseointegration has been generally recognized. However, the concept of exerting metal ionic cue in bone TME without compromising the mechanical properties of bone allograft is challenging. To address this concern, an interfacial tissue microenvironment with magnesium cationc cue was tailored onto the gamma-irradiated allograft bone using a customized magnesium-plasma surface treatment. The formation of the Mg cationic cue enriched interfacial tissue microenvironment on allograft bone was verified by the scanning ion-selective electrode technique. The cellular activities of human TERT-immortalized mesenchymal stem cells on the Mg-enriched grafts were notably upregulated. In the animal test, superior osseointegration between Mg-enriched graft and host bone was found, whereas poor integration was observed in the gamma-irradiated controls at 28 days post-operation. Furthermore, the bony in-growth appeared on magnesium-enriched allograft bone was significant higher. The mechanism possibly correlates to the up-regulation of integrin receptors in mesenchymal stem cells under modified bone TME that directly orchestrate the initial cell attachment and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Lastly, our findings demonstrate the significance of magnesium cation modified bone allograft that can potentially translate to various orthopaedic procedures requiring bone augmentation. A modified interfacial Mg TME was tailored onto the GI allograft bone matrix without compromising the mechanical properties. The SIET were applied to recognize the Mg2+-cue enriched interfacial TME on the surface of the Mg-treated bone allograft. The rodent model that is analogous to the clinical use of allograft bone were applied to charaterize the osseointegration. The boundary of the Mg-enriched allograft bone was already unable to be identified and become homogeneous at D28 post-op. The Mg2+-cue enriched interfacial TME is able to convince the upregulation of several integrin receptors of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Wang
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Innovative Technology in Orthopaedic Trauma, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518053, PR China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Innovative Technology in Orthopaedic Trauma, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518053, PR China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Spine Surgery, Department of Spine Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, PR China
| | - Yuan Meng
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Miaoman Ye
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Shaozhang Lin
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Le Wang
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
| | - Kenneth M.C. Cheung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Innovative Technology in Orthopaedic Trauma, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518053, PR China
| | - Shuilin Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials, School of Materials & Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, PR China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300352, PR China
| | - Yufeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex System, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Collage of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Xuanyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
| | - Paul K. Chu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
| | - Kelvin W.K. Yeung
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Innovative Technology in Orthopaedic Trauma, The University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518053, PR China
- Corresponding author. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, PR China.
| | - Zhi-Yong Zhang
- Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, PR China
- Corresponding author. Translational Research Centre of Regenerative Medicine and 3D Printing of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University Guangzhou, 510150, PR China.
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Chiu M, Taurino G, Dander E, Bardelli D, Fallati A, Andreoli R, Bianchi MG, Carubbi C, Pozzi G, Galuppo L, Mirandola P, Rizzari C, Tardito S, Biondi A, D’Amico G, Bussolati O. ALL blasts drive primary mesenchymal stromal cells to increase asparagine availability during asparaginase treatment. Blood Adv 2021; 5:5164-5178. [PMID: 34614505 PMCID: PMC9153005 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020004041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms underlying the resistance of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts to l-asparaginase are still incompletely known. Here we demonstrate that human primary bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) successfully adapt to l-asparaginase and markedly protect leukemic blasts from the enzyme-dependent cytotoxicity through an amino acid trade-off. ALL blasts synthesize and secrete glutamine, thus increasing extracellular glutamine availability for stromal cells. In turn, MSCs use glutamine, either synthesized through glutamine synthetase (GS) or imported, to produce asparagine, which is then extruded to sustain asparagine-auxotroph leukemic cells. GS inhibition prevents mesenchymal cells adaptation to l-asparaginase, lowers glutamine secretion by ALL blasts, and markedly hinders the protection exerted by MSCs on leukemic cells. The pro-survival amino acid exchange is hindered by the inhibition or silencing of the asparagine efflux transporter SNAT5, which is induced in mesenchymal cells by ALL blasts. Consistently, primary MSCs from ALL patients express higher levels of SNAT5 (P < .05), secrete more asparagine (P < .05), and protect leukemic blasts (P < .05) better than MSCs isolated from healthy donors. In conclusion, ALL blasts arrange a pro-leukemic amino acid trade-off with bone marrow mesenchymal cells, which depends on GS and SNAT5 and promotes leukemic cell survival during l-asparaginase treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Chiu
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Taurino
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Erica Dander
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Pediatric Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Donatella Bardelli
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Pediatric Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fallati
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Pediatric Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Roberta Andreoli
- Laboratory of Industrial Toxicology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano G. Bianchi
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Cecilia Carubbi
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giulia Pozzi
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Galuppo
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Prisco Mirandola
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carmelo Rizzari
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, University of Milano-Bicocca, MBBM Foundation, ASST Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Saverio Tardito
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom; and
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Biondi
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Unit, University of Milano-Bicocca, MBBM Foundation, ASST Monza, Monza, Italy
| | - Giovanna D’Amico
- Centro Ricerca Tettamanti, Pediatric Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy
| | - Ovidio Bussolati
- Laboratory of General Pathology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Yu JL, Chan S, Fung MKL, Chan GCF. Mesenchymal stem cells accelerated growth and metastasis of neuroblastoma and preferentially homed towards both primary and metastatic loci in orthotopic neuroblastoma model. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:393. [PMID: 33838662 PMCID: PMC8035760 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08090-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Majority of neuroblastoma patients develop metastatic disease at diagnosis and their prognosis is poor with current therapeutic approach. Major challenges are how to tackle the mechanisms responsible for tumorigenesis and metastasis. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) may be actively involved in the constitution of cancer microenvironment. Methods An orthotopic neuroblastoma murine model was utilized to mimic the clinical scenario. Human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-LP was transfected with luciferase gene, which were inoculated with/without hMSCs into the adrenal area of SCID-beige mice. The growth and metastasis of neuroblastoma was observed by using Xenogen IVIS 100 in vivo imaging and evaluating gross tumors ex vivo. The homing of hMSCs towards tumor was analyzed by tracing fluorescence signal tagged on hMSCs using CRI Maestro™ imaging system. Results hMSCs mixed with neuroblastoma cells significantly accelerated tumor growth and apparently enhanced metastasis of neuroblastoma in vivo. hMSCs could be recruited by primary tumor and also become part of the tumor microenvironment in the metastatic lesion. The metastatic potential was consistently reduced in lung and tumor when hMSCs were pre-treated with stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) blocker, AMD3100, suggesting that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis was one of the prime movers in the metastatic process. Conclusions hMSCs accelerated and facilitated tumor formation, growth and metastasis. Furthermore, the homing propensity of hMSCs towards both primary tumor and metastatic loci can also provide new therapeutic insights in utilizing bio-engineered hMSCs as vehicles for targeted anti-cancer therapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08090-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao-Le Yu
- Hematology Oncology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China.,Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Shing Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Marcus Kwong-Lam Fung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China. .,Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China.
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4
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Radadiya A, Zhu W, Coricello A, Alcaro S, Richards NGJ. Improving the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Biochemistry 2020; 59:3193-3200. [PMID: 32786406 PMCID: PMC7497903 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
l-Asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) was first used as a component of combination drug therapies to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, almost 50 years ago. Administering this enzyme to reduce asparagine levels in the blood is a cornerstone of modern clinical protocols for ALL; indeed, this remains the only successful example of a therapy targeted against a specific metabolic weakness in any form of cancer. Three problems, however, constrain the clinical use of l-asparaginase. First, a type II bacterial variant of l-asparaginase is administered to patients, the majority of whom are children, which produces an immune response thereby limiting the time over which the enzyme can be tolerated. Second, l-asparaginase is subject to proteolytic degradation in the blood. Third, toxic side effects are observed, which may be correlated with the l-glutaminase activity of the enzyme. This Perspective will outline how asparagine depletion negatively impacts the growth of leukemic blasts, discuss the structure and mechanism of l-asparaginase, and briefly describe the clinical use of chemically modified forms of clinically useful l-asparaginases, such as Asparlas, which was recently given FDA approval for use in children (babies to young adults) as part of multidrug treatments for ALL. Finally, we review ongoing efforts to engineer l-asparaginase variants with improved therapeutic properties and briefly detail emerging, alternate strategies for the treatment of forms of ALL that are resistant to asparagine depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Radadiya
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, U.K
| | - Wen Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Adriana Coricello
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, U.K.,Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.,Net4Science, Università "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Nigel G J Richards
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, U.K.,Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, 13079 Progress Boulevard, Alachua, Florida 32615, United States
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5
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Amino acid metabolism in hematologic malignancies and the era of targeted therapy. Blood 2019; 134:1014-1023. [PMID: 31416801 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019001034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells rewire metabolic pathways to adapt to their increased nutritional demands for energy, reducing equivalents, and cellular biosynthesis. Alternations in amino acid metabolism are 1 modality for satisfying those demands. Amino acids are not only components of proteins but also intermediate metabolites fueling multiple biosynthetic pathways. Amino acid-depletion therapies target amino acid uptake and catabolism using heterologous enzymes or recombinant or engineered human enzymes. Notably, such therapies have minimal effect on normal cells due to their lower demand for amino acids compared with tumor cells and their ability to synthesize the targeted amino acids under conditions of nutrient stress. Here, we review novel aspects of amino acid metabolism in hematologic malignancies and deprivation strategies, focusing on 4 key amino acids: arginine, asparagine, glutamine, and cysteine. We also present the roles of amino acid metabolism in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and in drug resistance. This summary also offers an argument for the reclassification of amino acid-depleting enzymes as targeted therapeutic agents.
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Gaudichon J, Jakobczyk H, Debaize L, Cousin E, Galibert MD, Troadec MB, Gandemer V. Mechanisms of extramedullary relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Reconciling biological concepts and clinical issues. Blood Rev 2019; 36:40-56. [PMID: 31010660 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Long-term survival rates in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are currently above 85% due to huge improvements in treatment. However, 15-20% of children still experience relapses. Relapses can either occur in the bone marrow or at extramedullary sites, such as gonads or the central nervous system (CNS), formerly referred to as ALL-blast sanctuaries. The reason why ALL cells migrate to and stay in these sites is still unclear. In this review, we have attempted to assemble the evidence concerning the microenvironmental factors that could explain why ALL cells reside in such sites. We present criteria that make extramedullary leukemia niches and solid tumor metastatic niches comparable. Indeed, considering extramedullary leukemias as metastases could be a useful approach for proposing more effective treatments. In this context, we conclude with several examples of potential niche-based therapies which could be successfully added to current treatments of ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Gaudichon
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France; Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, University Hospital, Caen, France.
| | - Hélène Jakobczyk
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Lydie Debaize
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Elie Cousin
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France; Pediatric Hematology Department, University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Marie-Dominique Galibert
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France.
| | - Marie-Bérengère Troadec
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Virginie Gandemer
- CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes), Univ Rennes, UMR 6290, Rennes F-35000, France; Pediatric Hematology Department, University Hospital, Rennes, France.
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Fung MKL, Chan GCF. Drug-induced amino acid deprivation as strategy for cancer therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2017; 10:144. [PMID: 28750681 PMCID: PMC5530962 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-017-0509-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is caused by uncontrollable growth of neoplastic cells, leading to invasion of adjacent and distant tissues resulting in death. Cancer cells have specific nutrient(s) auxotrophy and have a much higher nutrient demand compared to normal tissues. Therefore, different metabolic inhibitors or nutrient-depleting enzymes have been tested for their anti-cancer activities. We review recent available laboratory and clinical data on using various specific amino acid metabolic pathways inhibitors in treating cancers. Our focus is on glutamine, asparagine, and arginine starvation. These three amino acids are chosen due to their better scientific evidence compared to other related approaches in cancer treatment. Amino acid-specific depleting enzymes have been adopted in different standard chemotherapy protocols. Glutamine starvation by glutaminase inhibitior, transporter inhibitor, or glutamine depletion has shown to have significant anti-cancer effect in pre-clinical studies. Currently, glutaminase inhibitor is under clinical trial for testing anti-cancer efficacy. Clinical data suggests that asparagine depletion is effective in treating hematologic malignancies even as a single agent. On the other hand, arginine depletion has lower toxicity profile and can effectively reduce the level of pro-cancer biochemicals in patients as shown by ours and others’ data. This supports the clinical use of arginine depletion as anti-cancer therapy but its exact efficacy in various cancers requires further investigation. However, clinical application of these enzymes is usually hindered by common problems including allergy to these foreign proteins, off-target cytotoxicity, short half-life and rapidly emerging chemoresistance. There have been efforts to overcome these problems by modifying the drugs in different ways to circumvent these hindrance such as (1) isolate human native enzymes to reduce allergy, (2) isolate enzyme isoforms with higher specificities and efficiencies, (3) pegylate the enzymes to reduce allergy and prolong the half-lives, and (4) design drug combinations protocols to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy by drug synergy and minimizing resistance. These improvements can potentially lead to the development of more effective anti-cancer treatment with less adverse effects and higher therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Kwong Lam Fung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Godfrey Chi-Fung Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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Zhang Y, Hu K, Hu Y, Liu L, Wang B, Huang H. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells affect the cell cycle arrest effect of genotoxic agents on acute lymphocytic leukemia cells via p21 down-regulation. Ann Hematol 2014; 93:1499-508. [PMID: 24705889 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-014-2069-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The effect of bone marrow microenvironment on the cell cycle of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we found that in normal condition, bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) had no significant effect on the cell cycle and apoptosis of ALL; in the condition when the cell cycle of ALL was blocked by genotoxic agents, BM-MSCs could increase the S-phase cell ratio and decrease the G2/M phase ratio of ALL. Besides, BM-MSCs could protect ALL cells from drug-induced apoptosis. Then, we proved that BM-MSCs affect the cell cycle arrest effect of genotoxic agents on ALL cells via p21 down-regulation. Moreover, our results indicated that activation of Wnt/β-catenin and Erk pathways might be involved in the BM-MSC-induced down-regulation of p21 in ALL cells. Targeting microenvironment-related signaling pathway may therefore be a potential novel approach for ALL therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Zhang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
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Abstract
Propolis, a waxy substance produced by the honeybee, has been adopted as a form of folk medicine since ancient times. It has a wide spectrum of alleged applications including potential anti-infection and anticancer effects. Many of the therapeutic effects can be attributed to its immunomodulatory functions. The composition of propolis can vary according to the geographic locations from where the bees obtained the ingredients. Two main immunopotent chemicals have been identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C. Propolis, CAPE, and artepillin C have been shown to exert summative immunosuppressive function on T lymphocyte subsets but paradoxically activate macrophage function. On the other hand, they also have potential antitumor properties by different postulated mechanisms such as suppressing cancer cells proliferation via its anti-inflammatory effects; decreasing the cancer stem cell populations; blocking specific oncogene signaling pathways; exerting antiangiogenic effects; and modulating the tumor microenvironment. The good bioavailability by the oral route and good historical safety profile makes propolis an ideal adjuvant agent for future immunomodulatory or anticancer regimens. However, standardized quality controls and good design clinical trials are essential before either propolis or its active ingredients can be adopted routinely in our future therapeutic armamentarium.
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Ehsanipour EA, Sheng X, Behan JW, Wang X, Butturini A, Avramis VI, Mittelman SD. Adipocytes cause leukemia cell resistance to L-asparaginase via release of glutamine. Cancer Res 2013; 73:2998-3006. [PMID: 23585457 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-4402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a significant risk factor for cancer. A link between obesity and a childhood cancer has been identified: obese children diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) had a 50% greater risk of relapse than their lean counterparts. l-asparaginase (ASNase) is a first-line therapy for ALL that breaks down asparagine and glutamine, exploiting the fact that ALL cells are more dependent on these amino acids than other cells. In the present study, we investigated whether adipocytes, which produce significant quantities of glutamine, may counteract the effects of ASNase. In children being treated for high-risk ALL, obesity was not associated with altered plasma levels of asparagine or glutamine. However, glutamine synthetase was markedly increased in bone marrow adipocytes after induction chemotherapy. Obesity substantially impaired ASNase efficacy in mice transplanted with syngeneic ALL cells and, like in humans, without affecting plasma asparagine or glutamine levels. In coculture, adipocytes inhibited leukemic cell cytotoxicity induced by ASNase, and this protection was dependent on glutamine secretion. These findings suggest that adipocytes work in conjunction with other cells of the leukemia microenvironment to protect leukemia cells during ASNase treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan A Ehsanipour
- Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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11
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Kwong-Lam F, Chi-Fung CG. Vincristine could partly suppress stromal support to T-ALL blasts during pegylated arginase I treatment. Exp Hematol Oncol 2013; 2:11. [PMID: 23574711 PMCID: PMC3655039 DOI: 10.1186/2162-3619-2-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Relapsed T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) has been an incurable disease. Recent reports showed that an L-arginine depleting enzyme, pegylated arginase (BCT-100) may be effective against T-ALL cells. On the other hand, studies including ours had shown the symbiosis of ALL blasts and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) in bone marrow microenvironment during L-asparaginase treatment. As L-asparaginase and BCT-100 both act by depleting lymphoid cells of specific amino acid, we hypothesized that hMSCs may also protect T-ALL blasts from BCT-100 treatment in co-culture and such protection may be abrogated by pre-treating hMSCs with vincristine (VCR). Methods XTT assay was used to test sensitivities of T-ALL cell lines and hMSCs to BCT-100. Apoptosis of T-ALL cell lines with or without BCT-100 treatment were tested by annexin V / propidium iodide (AV/PI) assay using flow cytometer. Western blotting was performed to analyze the expression of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), an enzyme involved in L-arginine metabolism which may account for BCT-100 resistance. Results hMSCs were resistant to BCT-100 while CCRF-CEM, Jurkat and MOLT-4 were very sensitive to it. hMSCs could protect all the three cell lines from BCT-100 treatment in transwell co-culture. All the 3 T-ALL cell lines were also found to be rescued by an L-arginine precursor citrulline, while the breakdown product of BCT-100, ornithine only had limited salvaging effect on CCRF-CEM but not Jurkat and MOLT-4. Both hMSCs and 3 T-ALL cell lines express citrulline synthesis enzyme, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) at basal level while only hMSCs could express OTC at relatively higher level under BCT-100 treatment. Treating hMSCs with vincristine before co-culturing with T-ALL could resume the cytotoxicity of BCT-100 to CCRF-CEM and MOLT-4 cells. Conclusions Our results suggest a possible strategy to overcome resistance to BCT-100 from cancer microenvironments by suppressing hMSCs either in marrow or in the perivascular niche using vincristine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fung Kwong-Lam
- Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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Steiner M, Hochreiter D, Kasper DC, Kornmüller R, Pichler H, Haas OA, Pötschger U, Hutter C, Dworzak MN, Mann G, Attarbaschi A. Asparagine and aspartic acid concentrations in bone marrow versus peripheral blood during Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster-based induction therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2012; 53:1682-7. [PMID: 22356135 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2012.668681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
A recent study suggested that mesenchymal cells in bone marrow (BM) may counteract l-asparaginase (L-Asp)-containing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy by secreting asparagine. Herein, we compared asparagine and aspartic acid concentrations in the BM and peripheral blood (PB), in order to determine whether this in vitro observation could be translated into in vivo differences of amino acid levels between both compartments. Asparagine and aspartic acid concentrations in BM (days 15 and 33) and PB (days 12, 15 and 33) were measured during L-Asp-containing Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM)-based 5-week multi-agent remission induction therapy in 11 children diagnosed with ALL at the St. Anna Children's Hospital in Vienna, Austria. The level of asparagine depletion did not differ significantly between both compartments at any time point measured, but aspartic acid concentrations were significantly higher in BM than PB at days 15 and 33 (p < 0.05). In the context of the reported mesenchymal asparagine production in BM, an increased asparagine production may indeed take place in BM. However, it may be overcome by continuous action of L-Asp, which is mirrored by increased aspartic acid levels but unchanged low asparagine levels in BM, suggesting a higher BM turnover of asparagine generated by L-Asp during induction therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Steiner
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, St. Anna Children's Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Bhojwani D, Pei D, Sandlund JT, Jeha S, Ribeiro RC, Rubnitz JE, Raimondi SC, Shurtleff S, Onciu M, Cheng C, Coustan-Smith E, Bowman WP, Howard SC, Metzger ML, Inaba H, Leung W, Evans WE, Campana D, Relling MV, Pui CH. ETV6-RUNX1-positive childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: improved outcome with contemporary therapy. Leukemia 2012; 26:265-70. [PMID: 21869842 PMCID: PMC3345278 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2011.227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Revised: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 07/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
ETV6-RUNX1 fusion is the most common genetic aberration in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To evaluate whether outcomes for this drug-sensitive leukemia are improved by contemporary risk-directed therapy, we studied clinical features, response and adverse events of 168 children with newly diagnosed ETV6-RUNX1-positive ALL on St Jude Total Therapy studies XIIIA (N=36), XIIIB (N=38) and XV (N=94). Results were compared with 494 ETV6-RUNX1-negative B-precursor ALL patients. ETV6-RUNX1 was associated with age 1-9 years, pre-treatment classification as low risk and lower levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) on day 19 of therapy (P<0.001). Event-free survival (EFS) or overall survival (OS) did not differ between patients with or without ETV6-RUNX1 in Total XIIIA or XIIIB. By contrast, in Total XV, patients with ETV6-RUNX1 had significantly better EFS (P=0.04; 5-year estimate, 96.8±2.4% versus 88.3±2.5%) and OS (P=0.04; 98.9±1.4% versus 93.7±1.8%) than those without ETV6-RUNX1. Within the ETV6-RUNX1 group, the only significant prognostic factor associated with higher OS was the treatment protocol Total XV (versus XIIIA or XIIIB) (P=0.01). Thus, the MRD-guided treatment schema including intensive asparaginase and high-dose methotrexate in the Total XV study produced significantly better outcomes than previous regimens and demonstrated that nearly all children with ETV6-RUNX1 ALL can be cured.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Bhojwani
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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