1
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Mazzocca A, Fais S. New hypotheses for cancer generation and progression. Med Hypotheses 2021; 152:110614. [PMID: 34087614 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2021.110614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Since Nixon famously declared war on cancer in 1971, trillions of dollars have been spent on cancer research but the life expectancy for most forms of cancer is still poor. There are many reasons for the partial success of cancer translational research. One of these can be the predominance of certain paradigms that potentially narrowed the vision in interpreting cancer. The main paradigm to explain carcinogenesis is based on DNA mutations, which is well interpreted by the somatic mutation theory (SMT). However, a different theory claims that cancer is instead a tissue disease as proposed by the Tissue Organization Field Theory (TOFT). Here, we propose new hypotheses to explain the origin and pathogenesis of cancer. In this perspective, the systemic-evolutionary theory of cancer (SETOC) is discussed as well as how the microenvironment affects the adaptation of transformed cells and the reversion to a unicellular-like or embryo-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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2
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Guo Q, Li X, Cui MN, Sun JL, Ji HY, Ni BB, Yan MX. CD13: A Key Player in Multidrug Resistance in Cancer Chemotherapy. Oncol Res 2020; 28:533-540. [PMID: 32532363 PMCID: PMC7751223 DOI: 10.3727/096504020x15919605976853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most serious diseases that are harmful to human health. Systemic chemotherapy is an optimal therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer, but great difficulty has been encountered in its administration in the form of multidrug resistance (MDR). As an enzyme on the outer cell surface, CD13 is documented to be involved in the MDR development of tumor cells. In this review, we will focus on the role of CD13 in MDR generation based on the current evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qie Guo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
| | - Meng-Na Cui
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
| | - Jia-Lin Sun
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
| | - Hong-Yan Ji
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
| | - Bei-Bei Ni
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
| | - Mei-Xing Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Qingdao Women and Childrens HospitalQingdao, ShandongP.R. China
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3
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Logozzi M, Mizzoni D, Capasso C, Del Prete S, Di Raimo R, Falchi M, Angelini DF, Sciarra A, Maggi M, Supuran CT, Fais S. Plasmatic exosomes from prostate cancer patients show increased carbonic anhydrase IX expression and activity and low pH. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2020; 35:280-288. [PMID: 31790614 PMCID: PMC6896418 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2019.1697249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidity, hypoxia and increased release of exosomes are severe phenotypes of tumours. The regulation of pH in tumours involves the interaction of several proteins, including the carbonic anhydrases which catalyze the formation of bicarbonate and protons from carbon dioxide and water. Among CA isoforms, CA IX is over-expressed in a large number of solid tumours, conferring to cancer cells a survival advantage in hypoxic and acidic microenvironment, but there isn't evidence that CA IX expression could have a real clinical impact. Therefore, in this study for the first time the expression and activity of CA IX have been investigated in the plasmatic exosomes obtained from patients with prostate carcinoma (PCa). For this purpose, the study was performed through different methodological approaches, such as NTA, western blot analysis, enzyme activity assay, Nanoscale flow cytometry, ELISA, confocal microscopy. The results showed that PCa exosomes significantly overexpressed CA IX levels and related activity as compared to healthy donors. Furthermore, CA IX expression and activity were correlated to the exosome intraluminal pH, demonstrating for the first time that PCa exosomes are acidic. Our data suggest the possible use of the exosomal CA IX expression and activity as a biomarker of cancer progression in PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariantonia Logozzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Mizzoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Clemente Capasso
- National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Naples, Italy
| | - Sonia Del Prete
- National Research Council, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Naples, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Raimo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Falchi
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Sciarra
- Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Maggi
- Department of Urology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudiu T. Supuran
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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4
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Yu X, Cao S, Zhou Y, Yu Z, Xu Y. Co-expression based cancer staging and application. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10624. [PMID: 32606385 PMCID: PMC7327081 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67476-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel method is developed for predicting the stage of a cancer tissue based on the consistency level between the co-expression patterns in the given sample and samples in a specific stage. The basis for the prediction method is that cancer samples of the same stage share common functionalities as reflected by the co-expression patterns, which are distinct from samples in the other stages. Test results reveal that our prediction results are as good or potentially better than manually annotated stages by cancer pathologists. This new co-expression-based capability enables us to study how functionalities of cancer samples change as they evolve from early to the advanced stage. New and exciting results are discovered through such functional analyses, which offer new insights about what functions tend to be lost at what stage compared to the control tissues and similarly what new functions emerge as a cancer advances. To the best of our knowledge, this new capability represents the first computational method for accurately staging a cancer sample. The R source code used in this study is available at GitHub (https://github.com/yxchspring/CECS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangchun Yu
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, USA
- School of Information Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, China
| | - Sha Cao
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Yi Zhou
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, USA
| | - Zhezhou Yu
- College of Computer Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Ying Xu
- Cancer Systems Biology Center, The China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- Computational Systems Biology Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
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5
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Logozzi M, Spugnini E, Mizzoni D, Di Raimo R, Fais S. Extracellular acidity and increased exosome release as key phenotypes of malignant tumors. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2020; 38:93-101. [PMID: 30715644 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-019-09783-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The tumor milieu is characteristically acidic as a consequence of the fermentative metabolism of glucose that results in massive accumulation of lactic acid within the cytoplasm. Tumor cells get rid of excessive protons through exchangers that are responsible for the extracellular acidification that selects cellular clones that are more apt at surviving in this challenging and culling environment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are vesicles with diameters ranging from nm to μm that are released from the cells to deliver nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids to adjacent or distant cells. EVs are involved in a plethora of biological events that promote tumor progression including unrestricted proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, local invasion, preparation of the metastatic niche, metastasis, downregulation or hijacking of the immune system, and drug resistance. There is evidence that the release of specific exosomes is increased many folds in cancer patients, as shown by many techniques aimed at evaluating "liquid biopsies". The quality of the exosomal contents has been shown to vary at the different moments of tumor life such as local invasion or metastasis. In vitro studies have recently pointed out that cancer acidity is a major determinant in inducing increased exosome release by human cancer cells, by showing that exosomal release was increased as the pH moved from 7.4 pH to the typical pH of cancer that is 6.5. In this review, we emphasize the recent evidence that tumor acidity and exosomes levels are strictly related and strongly contribute to the malignant tumor phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariantonia Logozzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Spugnini
- SAFU Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 51, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Mizzoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Di Raimo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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6
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Foletti A, Fais S. Unexpected Discoveries Should Be Reconsidered in Science-A Look to the Past? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20163973. [PMID: 31443232 PMCID: PMC6720802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20163973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
From the past, we know how much “serendipity” has played a pivotal role in scientific discoveries. The definition of serendipity implies the finding of one thing while looking for something else. The most known example of this is the discovery of penicillin. Fleming was studying “Staphylococcus influenzae” when one of his culture plates became contaminated and developed a mold that created a bacteria-free circle. Then he found within the mold, a substance that proved to be very active against the vast majority of bacteria infecting human beings. Serendipity had a key role in the discovery of a wide panel of psychotropic drugs as well, including aniline purple, lysergic acid diethylamide, meprobamate, chlorpromazine, and imipramine. Actually, many recent studies support a step back in current strategies that could lead to new discoveries in science. This change should seriously consider the idea that to further focus research project milestones that are already too focused could be a mistake. How can you observe something that others did not realize before you? Probably, one pivotal requirement is that you pay a high level of attention on what is occurring all around you. But this is not entirely enough, since, specifically talking about scientific discoveries, you should have your mind sufficiently unbiased from mainstream infrastructures, which normally make you extremely focused on a particular endpoint without paying attention to potential “unexpected discoveries”. Research in medicine should probably come back to the age of innocence and avoid the age of mainstream reports that do not contribute to real advances in the curing of human diseases. Max Planck said “Science progresses not because scientists change their minds, but rather because scientists attached to erroneous views die, and are replaced”, and Otto Warburg used the same words when he realized the lack of acceptance of his ideas. This editorial proposes a series of examples showing, in a practical way, how unfocused research may contribute to very important discoveries in science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Foletti
- Clinical Biophysics International Research Group, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council-CNR, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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7
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Alfarouk KO, Bashir AHH, Aljarbou AN, Ramadan AM, Muddathir AK, AlHoufie STS, Hifny A, Elhassan GO, Ibrahim ME, Alqahtani SS, AlSharari SD, Supuran CT, Rauch C, Cardone RA, Reshkin SJ, Fais S, Harguindey S. The Possible Role of Helicobacter pylori in Gastric Cancer and Its Management. Front Oncol 2019; 9:75. [PMID: 30854333 PMCID: PMC6395443 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a facultative anaerobic bacterium. HP is a normal flora having immuno-modulating properties. This bacterium is an example of a microorganism inducing gastric cancer. Its carcinogenicity depends on bacteria-host related factors. The proper understanding of the biology of HP inducing gastric cancer offers the potential strategy in the managing of HP rather than eradicating it. In this article, we try to summarize the biology of HP-induced gastric cancer and discuss the current pharmacological approach to treat and prevent its carcinogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid O Alfarouk
- Alfarouk Biomedical Research LLC, Tampa, FL, United States.,Hala Alfarouk Cancer Center, Khartoum, Sudan.,Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences, Medina, Saudi Arabia.,American Biosciences, Inc., New York City, NY, United States
| | - Adil H H Bashir
- Hala Alfarouk Cancer Center, Khartoum, Sudan.,Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ahmed N Aljarbou
- College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.,Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdel Khalig Muddathir
- Hala Alfarouk Cancer Center, Khartoum, Sudan.,Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Sari T S AlHoufie
- Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences, Medina, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Gamal O Elhassan
- Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Saad S Alqahtani
- Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir D AlSharari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | | | - Cyril Rauch
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Stephan J Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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8
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Spugnini EP, Logozzi M, Di Raimo R, Mizzoni D, Fais S. A Role of Tumor-Released Exosomes in Paracrine Dissemination and Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3968. [PMID: 30544664 PMCID: PMC6321583 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic diffusion is thought to be a multi-step phenomenon involving the release of cells from the primary tumor and their diffusion through the body. Currently, several hypotheses have been put forward in order to explain the origin of cancer metastasis, including epithelial⁻mesenchymal transition, mutagenesis of stem cells, and a facilitating role of macrophages, involving, for example, transformation or fusion hybridization with neoplastic cells. In this paradigm, tumor-secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, play a pivotal role in cell communications, delivering a plethora of biomolecules including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. For their natural role in shuttling molecules, EVs have been newly considered a part of the metastatic cascade. They have a prominent role in preparing the so-called "tumor niches" in target organs. However, recent evidence has pointed out an even more interesting role of tumor EVs, consisting in their ability to induce malignant transformation in resident mesenchymal stem cells. All in all, in this review, we discuss the multiple involvements of EVs in the metastatic cascade, and how we can exploit and manipulate EVs in order to reduce the metastatic spread of malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariantonia Logozzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Rossella Di Raimo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Davide Mizzoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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9
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Logozzi M, Mizzoni D, Angelini DF, Di Raimo R, Falchi M, Battistini L, Fais S. Microenvironmental pH and Exosome Levels Interplay in Human Cancer Cell Lines of Different Histotypes. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E370. [PMID: 30301144 PMCID: PMC6210604 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10100370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are extracellular nanovesicles primarily involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases including cancer. This study was set out from recent evidence that extracellular acidity may increase the exosome release by cancer cells. However, this preliminary evidence did not provide solid information on whether the pH-dependent exosome over-release represents a common feature of all cancers. To the purpose of demonstrating that cancer acidity is a major determinant in inducing an increased exosome release by human cancer cells, we evaluated human tumor cell lines deriving from either colon, breast, prostate cancers, melanoma, or osteosarcoma. All cell lines were cultured in either the current 7.4 pH or the typical pH of cancer that is 6.5. The levels of released extracellular vesicles were measured by protein counts, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and nanoscale flow cytometry. The results showed that pH 6.5 induced a remarkable increase in exosome release, and buffering the medium significantly reduced the exosome release in all cancers. With these results, we provide, for the first time, evidence that tumor acidity and exosome levels represent common cancer phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariantonia Logozzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Davide Mizzoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Rossella Di Raimo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Mario Falchi
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luca Battistini
- Neuroimmunology Unit, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy.
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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10
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Mazzocca A, Ferraro G, Misciagna G, Fais S. Moving the systemic evolutionary approach to cancer forward: Therapeutic implications. Med Hypotheses 2018; 121:80-87. [PMID: 30396500 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2018.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We have previously presented a new Systemic Evolutionary Theory of Cancer (SETOC) based on the failure of proper endosymbiosis in eukaryotic cells. Here, we propose that the progressive uncoupling of two endosymbiotic subsystems (information and energy) inside the cell, as a consequence of long-term injuries, gives rise to alterations (i) in tissue interactions and (ii) in cell organization. In the first case, we argue that the impairment of both the coherent state and the synergy between intercellular communications underpins the onset of tissue dysplasia, that usually evolves towards cancer development. In the second case, we suggest that the rupture of endosymbiosis drives a sort of cell regression towards a protist-like entity represented by the concept of "de-emergence" postulated in our systemic evolutionary approach to carcinogenesis. This conceptual association of the cancer cell with a protist-like organism could support the development of novel cancer therapeutic approaches. To this end, we propose a paradigm shift in cancer pharmacology since: i) our knowledge of cancer pathophysiology as a complex system is insufficient, despite a vast knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying cancer; ii) current cancer pharmacology deals only with microvariables (e.g. gene or protein targets), which do not account for the integrated pathophysiology of cancer, rather than with macrovariables (e.g. pH, membrane potential, electromagnetic fields, cell communications and so on) and mesovariables (between micro and macro), such as the interaction between various cellular components including cellular organelles. This paradigm shift should allow cancer pharmacology to move forward from molecular treatments (focusing on single targets) to modular treatments that consider cancer-related processes (i.e. inflammation, coagulation, etc.) or even to a sort of ecosystemic treatment addressing the whole functioning of the "cancer ecosystem". Examples of ecosystems treatment may be natural plant derivatives that act synergistically or pulsed electromagnetic fields which can act on particular biological processes in cancer cells. In addition, we need different working theoretical models on which to base new anticancer pharmacological approaches. Finally, we examine what value our systemic evolutionary approach could add to cancer treatments, in particular in liver cancer as a paradigm for developing potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Ferraro
- Interuniversity Department of Physics, Polytechnic of Bari, Via Orabona, 4, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Misciagna
- Scientific and Ethical Committee, University Hospital Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (OMM), National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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11
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Martins BX, Arruda RF, Costa GA, Jerdy H, de Souza SB, Santos JM, de Freitas WR, Kanashiro MM, de Carvalho ECQ, Sant'Anna NF, Antunes F, Martinez-Zaguilan R, Souad S, Okorokova-Façanha AL, Façanha AR. Myrtenal-induced V-ATPase inhibition - A toxicity mechanism behind tumor cell death and suppressed migration and invasion in melanoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2018; 1863:1-12. [PMID: 30279148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastatic tumor cells have acidic extracellular pH and differential electrochemical H+ gradients generated across their cell membranes by V-type H+-ATPases. This study shows that inhibition of the V-ATPases by the plant-derived monoterpene Myrtenal results in tumor cell death and decreased metastatic dissemination in mice. METHODS The Myrtenal anticancer toxicity was evaluated in vitro using murine (B16F0 and B16F10) and human (SkMel-5) melanoma cell lines, and in in vivo mouse metastatic dissemination model. Proton flux and extracellular acidification were directly evaluated at the surface of living cells using a non-invasive selective ion electrode approach. RESULTS The inhibition of V-ATPases by 100 μM Myrtenal disrupted the electrochemical H+ gradient across the cell membranes, strongly induced cell death (4-5 fold), and decreased tumor cells migration and invasion in vitro. Myrtenal (15 mg/kg) also significantly reduced metastasis induced by B16F10 in vivo, further reinforcing that V-ATPase is a molecular target to halt the progression of cancers. CONCLUSIONS These data revealed the therapeutic potential of Myrtenal as inhibitor of melanoma progression proposing a mechanism of action by which once inhibited by this monoterpene the proton pumps fail to activate cancer-related differential electrochemical gradients and H+ fluxes across the tumor cell membranes, disrupting pH signatures inherent in tumor progression, resulting in reprogrammed cell death and metastasis inhibition. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The work represents a new mechanistic strategy for contention of melanoma, the most aggressive and deadly form of cutaneous neoplasm, and highlights Myrtenal, other related monoterpenes and derivatives as promising proton pump inhibitors with high chemotherapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunna Xavier Martins
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raul Ferraz Arruda
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gildeíde Aparecida Costa
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hassan Jerdy
- Hospital Veterinário/Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sávio Bastos de Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Julianna Maria Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - William Rodrigues de Freitas
- Laboratório de Biologia de Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Milton Masahiko Kanashiro
- Laboratório de Biologia de Reconhecer, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eulógio Carlos Queiroz de Carvalho
- Hospital Veterinário/Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nadir Francisca Sant'Anna
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Antunes
- Hospital Veterinário/Laboratório de Morfologia e Patologia Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Unidade de Experimentação Animal (UEA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raul Martinez-Zaguilan
- Texas Tech University, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Sennoune Souad
- Texas Tech University, Department of Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Anna Lvovna Okorokova-Façanha
- Unidade de Experimentação Animal (UEA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Microrganismos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Arnoldo Rocha Façanha
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Unidade de Experimentação Animal (UEA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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12
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Zhao H, Achreja A, Iessi E, Logozzi M, Mizzoni D, Di Raimo R, Nagrath D, Fais S. The key role of extracellular vesicles in the metastatic process. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2017; 1869:64-77. [PMID: 29175553 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, have a key role in the paracrine communication between organs and compartments. EVs shuttle virtually all types of biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, metabolites and even pharmacological compounds. Their ability to transfer their biomolecular cargo into target cells enables EVs to play a key role in intercellular communication that can regulate cellular functions such as proliferation, apoptosis and migration. This has led to the emergence of EVs as a key player in tumor growth and metastasis through the formation of "tumor niches" in target organs. Recent data have also been shown that EVs may transform the microenvironment of primary tumors thus favoring the selection of cancer cells with a metastatic behavior. The release of EVs from resident non-malignant cells may contribute to the metastatic processes as well. However, cancer EVs may induce malignant transformation in resident mesenchymal stem cells, suggesting that the metastatic process is not exclusively due to circulating tumor cells. In this review, we outline and discuss evidence-based roles of EVs in actively regulating multiple steps of the metastatic process and how we can leverage EVs to impair metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyun Zhao
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Abhinav Achreja
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Elisabetta Iessi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mariantonia Logozzi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Davide Mizzoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rossella Di Raimo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Deepak Nagrath
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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13
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Iessi E, Logozzi M, Lugini L, Azzarito T, Federici C, Spugnini EP, Mizzoni D, Di Raimo R, Angelini DF, Battistini L, Cecchetti S, Fais S. Acridine Orange/exosomes increase the delivery and the effectiveness of Acridine Orange in human melanoma cells: A new prototype for theranostics of tumors. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2017; 32:648-657. [PMID: 28262028 PMCID: PMC6010124 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2017.1292263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Specifically targeted drug delivery systems with low immunogenicity and toxicity are deemed to increase efficacy of cancer chemotherapy. Acridine Orange (AO) is an acidophilic dye with a strong tumoricidal action following excitation with a light source at 466 nm. However, to date the clinical use of AO is limited by the potential side effects elicited by systemic administration. The endogenous nanocarrier exosomes have been recently introduced as a natural delivery system for therapeutic molecules. In this article, we show the outcome of the administration to human melanoma cells of AO charged Exosomes (Exo-AO), in both monolayer and spheroid models. The results showed an extended drug delivery time of Exo-AO to melanoma cells as compared to the free AO, improving the cytotoxicity of AO. This study shows that Exo-AO have a great potential for a real exploitation as a new theranostic approach against tumors based on AO delivered through the exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Iessi
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | - Mariantonia Logozzi
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | - Luana Lugini
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | - Tommaso Azzarito
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | - Cristina Federici
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | | | - Davide Mizzoni
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | - Rossella Di Raimo
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | | | - Luca Battistini
- c Neuroimmunology Unit , IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation , Rome , Italy
| | - Serena Cecchetti
- d Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- a Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Drug Research and Medicines Evaluation , National Institute of Health , Rome , Italy
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14
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Cancer acidity: An ultimate frontier of tumor immune escape and a novel target of immunomodulation. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 43:74-89. [PMID: 28267587 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 360] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The link between cancer metabolism and immunosuppression, inflammation and immune escape has generated major interest in investigating the effects of low pH on tumor immunity. Indeed, microenvironmental acidity may differentially impact on diverse components of tumor immune surveillance, eventually contributing to immune escape and cancer progression. Although the molecular pathways underlying acidity-related immune dysfunctions are just emerging, initial evidence indicates that antitumor effectors such as T and NK cells tend to lose their function and undergo a state of mostly reversible anergy followed by apoptosis, when exposed to low pH environment. At opposite, immunosuppressive components such as myeloid cells and regulatory T cells are engaged by tumor acidity to sustain tumor growth while blocking antitumor immune responses. Local acidity could also profoundly influence bioactivity and distribution of antibodies, thus potentially interfering with the clinical efficacy of therapeutic antibodies including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Hence tumor acidity is a central regulator of cancer immunity that orchestrates both local and systemic immunosuppression and that may offer a broad panel of therapeutic targets. This review outlines the fundamental pathways of acidity-driven immune dysfunctions and sheds light on the potential strategies that could be envisaged to potentiate immune-mediated tumor control in cancer patients.
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15
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Nelson C, Lee J, Ko K, Sikora AG, Bonnen MD, Enkhbaatar P, Ghebre YT. Therapeutic Efficacy of Esomeprazole in Cotton Smoke-Induced Lung Injury Model. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:16. [PMID: 28184197 PMCID: PMC5266706 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are well-known antacid drugs developed to treat gastric disorders. Emerging studies demonstrate that PPIs possess biological activities that extend beyond inhibition of H+/K+ ATPase (proton pumps) expressed in parietal cells of the stomach. Some of the extra-gastric activities of PPIs include modulation of epithelial, endothelial, and immune cell functions. Recently, we reported that PPIs suppress the expression of several proinflammatory and profibrotic molecules, as well as enhance antioxidant mechanisms in order to favorably regulate lung inflammation and fibrosis in an animal model of bleomycin-induced lung injury. In addition, several retrospective clinical studies report that the use of PPIs is associated with beneficial outcomes in chronic lung diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Based on these preclinical and clinical observations, we hypothesized that PPIs ameliorate smoke-induced lung injury. Accordingly, we evaluated the pharmacological efficacy of the PPI esomeprazole in a mouse model of cotton smoke-induced lung injury. The animals were exposed to cotton smoke for 3-weeks in the presence or absence of esomeprazole treatment. We found that therapeutic administration of esomeprazole significantly inhibited the progression of fibrosis throughout the lungs of the animals in this group compared to controls. In addition, esomeprazole also reduced circulating markers of inflammation and fibrosis. Overall, our work extends the emerging anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic potential of PPIs and their role in modulation of chronic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Nelson
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Jameisha Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kang Ko
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew G Sikora
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark D Bonnen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA
| | - Perenlei Enkhbaatar
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Yohannes T Ghebre
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX, USA
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16
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Spugnini E, Fais S. Proton pump inhibition and cancer therapeutics: A specific tumor targeting or it is a phenomenon secondary to a systemic buffering? Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 43:111-118. [PMID: 28088584 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
One of the unsolved mysteries in oncology includes the strategies that cancer cells adopt to cope with an adverse microenvironment. However, we knew, from the Warburg's discovery that through their metabolism based on sugar fermentation, cancer cells acidify their microenvironment and this progressive acidification induces a selective pressure, leading to the development of very malignant cells entirely armed to survive in the hostile microenvironment generated by their own metabolism. In the last decades a primordial role for proton exchangers has been supported as a key tumor advantage in facing off the acidic milieu. Proton exchangers do not allow intracellular acidification through a continuous elimination of H+ either outside the cells or within the internal vacuoles. This article wants to comment a translational process through that led to the preclinical demonstration that a class of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) exploited worldwide for peptic ulcer treatment and gastroprotection are indeed powerful chemosensitizers as well. In this process we achieved the clinical proof of concept that PPI may well be included in new anti-cancer strategies with a solid background and rationale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Spugnini
- SAFU, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via Chianesi 53, 00134 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Dept. of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Istituto Superiore di Sanità (National Institute of Health), Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome Italy.
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17
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Azzarito T, Lugini L, Spugnini EP, Canese R, Gugliotta A, Fidanza S, Fais S. Effect of Modified Alkaline Supplementation on Syngenic Melanoma Growth in CB57/BL Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159763. [PMID: 27447181 PMCID: PMC4957829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor extracellular acidity is a hallmark of malignant cancers. Thus, in this study we evaluated the effects of the oral administration of a commercially available water alkalizer (Basenpulver®) (BP) on tumor growth in a syngenic melanoma mouse model. The alkalizer was administered daily by oral gavage starting one week after tumor implantation in CB57/BL mice. Tumors were calipered and their acidity measured by in vivo MRI guided 31P MRS. Furthermore, urine pH was monitored for potential metabolic alkalosis. BP administration significantly reduced melanoma growth in mice; the optimal dose in terms of tolerability and efficacy was 8 g/l (p< 0.05). The in vivo results were supported by in vitro experiments, wherein BP-treated human and murine melanoma cell cultures exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of tumor cell growth. This investigation provides the first proof of concept that systemic buffering can improve tumor control by itself and that this approach may represent a new strategy in prevention and/or treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Azzarito
- Department of Drug Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Lugini
- Department of Drug Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rossella Canese
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Gugliotta
- Department of Drug Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Fidanza
- Department of Drug Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Fais
- Department of Drug Research and Medicine Evaluation, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
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