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Xia X, Zhang JW, Zhao B, Zhang M, Chen ZR, Zhang BF, Ji YL, Wang X, Xiong WM, Li JW, Lv QL. Progress of engineered bacteria for tumour therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:111935. [PMID: 38599096 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Finding novel therapeutic modalities, improving drug delivery efficiency and targeting, and reducing the immune escape of tumor cells are currently hot topics in the field of tumor therapy. Bacterial therapeutics have proven highly effective in preventing tumor spread and recurrence, used alone or in combination with traditional therapies. In recent years, a growing number of researchers have significantly improved the targeting and penetration of bacteria by using genetic engineering technology, which has received widespread attention in the field of tumor therapy. In this paper, we provide an overview and assessment of the advancements made in the field of tumor therapy using genetically engineered bacteria. We cover three major aspects: the development of engineered bacteria, their integration with other therapeutic techniques, and the current state of clinical trials. Lastly, we discuss the limitations and challenges that are currently being faced in the utilization of engineered bacteria for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Xia
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China; College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, PR China
| | - Jing-Wen Zhang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China; College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, PR China
| | - Bing Zhao
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China; College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, PR China
| | - Min Zhang
- Nanchang Inspection and Testing Center, Nanchang Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Risk Assessment of Health Food and its Contact Materials, Nanchang 330012, PR China
| | - Zhang-Ren Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330000, PR China
| | - Bing-Feng Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, PR China
| | - Yu-Long Ji
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China
| | - Xia Wang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China
| | - Wen-Min Xiong
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China
| | - Jia-Wei Li
- Department of Cardiovascular, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi, PR China.
| | - Qiao-Li Lv
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, NHC Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330029, PR China; College of Chemistry and Bio-engineering, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, PR China.
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2
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Recktenwald M, Hutt E, Davis L, MacAulay J, Daringer NM, Galie PA, Staehle MM, Vega SL. Engineering transcriptional regulation for cell-based therapies. SLAS Technol 2024; 29:100121. [PMID: 38340892 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2024.100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
A major aim in the field of synthetic biology is developing tools capable of responding to user-defined inputs by activating therapeutically relevant cellular functions. Gene transcription and regulation in response to external stimuli are some of the most powerful and versatile of these cellular functions being explored. Motivated by the success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, transmembrane receptor-based platforms have been embraced for their ability to sense extracellular ligands and to subsequently activate intracellular signal transduction. The integration of transmembrane receptors with transcriptional activation platforms has not yet achieved its full potential. Transient expression of plasmid DNA is often used to explore gene regulation platforms in vitro. However, applications capable of targeting therapeutically relevant endogenous or stably integrated genes are more clinically relevant. Gene regulation may allow for engineered cells to traffic into tissues of interest and secrete functional proteins into the extracellular space or to differentiate into functional cells. Transmembrane receptors that regulate transcription have the potential to revolutionize cell therapies in a myriad of applications, including cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. In this review, we will examine current engineering approaches to control transcription in mammalian cells with an emphasis on systems that can be selectively activated in response to extracellular signals. We will also speculate on the potential therapeutic applications of these technologies and examine promising approaches to expand their capabilities and tighten the control of gene regulation in cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Recktenwald
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Evan Hutt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Leah Davis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - James MacAulay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Nichole M Daringer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Peter A Galie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Mary M Staehle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Sebastián L Vega
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA.
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Zhang J, Guo F, Zhu J, He Z, Hao L, Weng L, Wang L, Chao J. Ultrasensitive Electrochemiluminescence Immunosensor for Bladder Marker Human Complement Factor H-Related Protein Detection. Anal Chem 2023. [PMID: 37478154 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
The development of noninvasive and sensitive detection methods for the early diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer is critical but challenging. Herein, an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor that uses Ru(bpy)32+-metal-organic framework (Ru-MOF) nanospheres and a DNA tetrahedral (TDN) probe was established for bladder cancer marker complement factor H-related protein (CFHR1) detection. The synthesized Ru(bpy)32+-metal-organic frameworks (Ru-MOFs) served as a linked substrate for immobilization of AuNPs and antibody (Ab2) to prepare the ECL signal probe (Ru-MOF@AuNPs-Ab2), exhibiting a stable and strengthened ECL emission. At the same time, the inherent advantages of TDN probes on the electrode as the capture probe (TDN-Ab1) improve the accessibility of targets to probes. In the presence of CFHR1, the signal probe Ru-MOF@AuNPs-Ab2 was modified on the electrode through immune binding, thereby obtaining an outstanding ECL signal. As expected, the developed ECL immunosensor exhibited splendid performance for CFHR1 detection in the range of 0.1 fg/mL to 10 pg/mL with a quite low detection limit of 0.069 fg/mL. By using the proposed strategy to detect CFHR1 from urine, it showed acceptable accuracy, which can effectively distinguish between bladder cancer patients and healthy samples. This work contributes to a novel, noninvasive, and accurate method for early clinical diagnosis of bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fenglian Guo
- School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jingfeng Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zhimei He
- School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lin Hao
- Department of Urology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lixing Weng
- School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lianhui Wang
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jie Chao
- School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
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Burlibasa L, Nicu AT, Chifiriuc MC, Medar C, Petrescu A, Jinga V, Stoica I. H3 histone methylation landscape in male urogenital cancers: from molecular mechanisms to epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1181764. [PMID: 37228649 PMCID: PMC10203431 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1181764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decades, male urogenital cancers (including prostate, renal, bladder and testicular cancers) have become one of the most frequently encountered malignancies affecting all ages. While their great variety has promoted the development of various diagnosis, treatment and monitoring strategies, some aspects such as the common involvement of epigenetic mechanisms are still not elucidated. Epigenetic processes have come into the spotlight in the past years as important players in the initiation and progression of tumors, leading to a plethora of studies highlighting their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and even as therapeutic targets. Thus, fostering research on the various epigenetic mechanisms and their roles in cancer remains a priority for the scientific community. This review focuses on one of the main epigenetic mechanisms, namely, the methylation of the histone H3 at various sites and its involvement in male urogenital cancers. This histone modification presents a great interest due to its modulatory effect on gene expression, leading either to activation (e.g., H3K4me3, H3K36me3) or repression (e.g., H3K27me3, H3K9me3). In the last few years, growing evidence has demonstrated the aberrant expression of enzymes that methylate/demethylate histone H3 in cancer and inflammatory diseases, that might contribute to the initiation and progression of such disorders. We highlight how these particular epigenetic modifications are emerging as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or targets for the treatment of urogenital cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
- Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cosmin Medar
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania
- Clinical Hospital “Prof. dr Theodor Burghele”, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Amelia Petrescu
- Clinical Hospital “Prof. dr Theodor Burghele”, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Viorel Jinga
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Romania
- Clinical Hospital “Prof. dr Theodor Burghele”, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ileana Stoica
- Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
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Meng X, Wu TG, Lou QY, Niu KY, Jiang L, Xiao QZ, Xu T, Zhang L. Optimization of CRISPR-Cas system for clinical cancer therapy. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10474. [PMID: 36925702 PMCID: PMC10013785 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a genetic disease caused by alterations in genome and epigenome and is one of the leading causes for death worldwide. The exploration of disease development and therapeutic strategies at the genetic level have become the key to the treatment of cancer and other genetic diseases. The functional analysis of genes and mutations has been slow and laborious. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative approaches to improve the current status of cancer research. Gene editing technologies provide technical support for efficient gene disruption and modification in vivo and in vitro, in particular the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems. Currently, the applications of CRISPR-Cas systems in cancer rely on different Cas effector proteins and the design of guide RNAs. Furthermore, effective vector delivery must be met for the CRISPR-Cas systems to enter human clinical trials. In this review article, we describe the mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas systems and highlight the applications of class II Cas effector proteins. We also propose a synthetic biology approach to modify the CRISPR-Cas systems, and summarize various delivery approaches facilitating the clinical application of the CRISPR-Cas systems. By modifying the CRISPR-Cas system and optimizing its in vivo delivery, promising and effective treatments for cancers using the CRISPR-Cas system are emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Meng
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Gang Wu
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yue Lou
- Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Kai-Yuan Niu
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI), Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Heart Centre (G23) London UK.,Department of Otolaryngology The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Hefei China
| | - Lei Jiang
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Qing-Zhong Xiao
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI), Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Heart Centre (G23) London UK
| | - Tao Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products Anhui Medical University Hefei China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province Hefei China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China.,Department of Periodontology Anhui Stomatology Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei China
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Boti MA, Athanasopoulou K, Adamopoulos PG, Sideris DC, Scorilas A. Recent Advances in Genome-Engineering Strategies. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:129. [PMID: 36672870 PMCID: PMC9859587 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In October 2020, the chemistry Nobel Prize was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for the discovery of a new promising genome-editing tool: the genetic scissors of CRISPR-Cas9. The identification of CRISPR arrays and the subsequent identification of cas genes, which together represent an adaptive immunological system that exists not only in bacteria but also in archaea, led to the development of diverse strategies used for precise DNA editing, providing new insights in basic research and in clinical practice. Due to their advantageous features, the CRISPR-Cas systems are already employed in several biological and medical research fields as the most suitable technique for genome engineering. In this review, we aim to describe the CRISPR-Cas systems that have been identified among prokaryotic organisms and engineered for genome manipulation studies. Furthermore, a comprehensive comparison between the innovative CRISPR-Cas methodology and the previously utilized ZFN and TALEN editing nucleases is also discussed. Ultimately, we highlight the contribution of CRISPR-Cas methodology in modern biomedicine and the current plethora of available applications for gene KO, repression and/or overexpression, as well as their potential implementation in therapeutical strategies that aim to improve patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Panagiotis G. Adamopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece
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He M, Zhou X, Li Z, Yin X, Han W, Zhou J, Sun X, Liu X, Yao D, Liang H. Programmable Transcriptional Modulation with a Structured RNA-Mediated CRISPR-dCas9 Complex. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:12690-12697. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c02271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miao He
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xue Yin
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Wenjie Han
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Junxiang Zhou
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiaoyun Sun
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Dongbao Yao
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Haojun Liang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
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Kanafi MM, Tavallaei M. Overview of advances in CRISPR/deadCas9 technology and its applications in human diseases. Gene 2022; 830:146518. [PMID: 35447246 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prokaryotes possess an adaptive immune system using various CRISPR associated (Cas) genes to make an archive of records from invading phages and eliminate them upon re-exposure when specialized Cas proteins cut foreign DNA into small pieces. On the basis of the different types of Cas proteins, CRISPR systems seen in some prokaryotic genomes, are different to each other. It has been proved that CRISPR has a great potential for genome engineering. Studies have also demonstrated that in comparison to the preceding genome engineering tools CRISPR/Cas systems can be harnessed as a flexible tool with easy multiplexing and scaling ability. Recent studies suggest that CRISPR/Cas systems can also be used for non-genome engineering roles. Isolation and identification of new Cas proteins or modification of existing ones are effectively increasing the number of CRISPR applications and helps its development. D10A and H840A mutations at RuvC and HNH endonuclease domains of wild type Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) respectively creates a nuclease, dead Cas9 (dCas9) molecule, that does not cut target DNA but still retains its capability for binding to target DNA based on the gRNA targeting sequence. In this article we review the potentials of this enzyme, dCas9, toward development of the applications of CRISPR/dCas9 technology in fields such as; visualization of genomic loci, disease diagnosis and transcriptional repression and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahmood Tavallaei
- Human Genetic Research Centre, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Optogenetic technologies in translational cancer research. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108005. [PMID: 35690273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Gene and cell therapies are widely recognized as future cancer therapeutics but poor controllability limits their clinical applications. Optogenetics, the use of light-controlled proteins to precisely spatiotemporally regulate the activity of genes and cells, opens up new possibilities for cancer treatment. Light of specific wavelength can activate the immune response, oncolytic activity and modulate cell signaling in tumor cells non-invasively, in dosed manner, with tissue confined action and without side effects of conventional therapies. Here, we review optogenetic approaches in cancer research, their clinical potential and challenges of incorporating optogenetics in cancer therapy. We critically discuss beneficial combinations of optogenetic technologies with therapeutic nanobodies, T-cell activation and CAR-T cell approaches, genome editors and oncolytic viruses. We consider viral vectors and nanoparticles for delivering optogenetic payloads and activating light to tumors. Finally, we highlight herein the prospects for integrating optogenetics into immunotherapy as a novel, fast, reversible and safe approach to cancer treatment.
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Kretzmann JA, Irving KL, Smith NM, Evans CW. Modulating gene expression in breast cancer via DNA secondary structure and the CRISPR toolbox. NAR Cancer 2022; 3:zcab048. [PMID: 34988459 PMCID: PMC8693572 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women, and while the survival prognosis of patients with early-stage, non-metastatic disease is ∼75%, recurrence poses a significant risk and advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer is incurable. A distinctive feature of advanced breast cancer is an unstable genome and altered gene expression patterns that result in disease heterogeneity. Transcription factors represent a unique therapeutic opportunity in breast cancer, since they are known regulators of gene expression, including gene expression involved in differentiation and cell death, which are themselves often mutated or dysregulated in cancer. While transcription factors have traditionally been viewed as 'undruggable', progress has been made in the development of small-molecule therapeutics to target relevant protein-protein, protein-DNA and enzymatic active sites, with varying levels of success. However, non-traditional approaches such as epigenetic editing, transcriptional control via CRISPR/dCas9 systems, and gene regulation through non-canonical nucleic acid secondary structures represent new directions yet to be fully explored. Here, we discuss these new approaches and current limitations in light of new therapeutic opportunities for breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Kretzmann
- Laboratory for Biomolecular Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Am Coulombwall 4a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Kelly L Irving
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Nicole M Smith
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Cameron W Evans
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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