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Wang J, Yang B, Wang Y, Liu S, Ma C, Piao J, Ma S, Yu D, Wu W. CBX2 enhances the progression and TMZ chemoresistance of glioma via EZH2-mediated epigenetic silencing of PTEN expression. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1430891. [PMID: 39114365 PMCID: PMC11303140 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1430891] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromobox (CBX) 2, a member of the CBX protein family and a crucial component of the polycomb repressive complex (PRC), exerts significant influence on the epigenetic regulation of tumorigenesis, including glioma. However, the precise role of CBX2 in glioma has remained elusive. In our study, we observed a substantial upregulation of CBX2 expression in glioma, which displayed a strong correlation with pathological grade, chemoresistance, and unfavorable prognosis. Through a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments, we established that heightened CBX2 expression facilitated glioma cell proliferation and bolstered resistance to chemotherapy. Conversely, CBX2 knockdown led to a significant inhibition of glioma cell growth and a reduction in chemoresistance. Notably, our investigation uncovered the underlying mechanism by which CBX2 operates, primarily by inhibiting PTEN transcription and activating the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Conversely, silencing CBX2 curtailed cell proliferation and attenuated chemoresistance by impeding the activation of the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Delving deeper into the molecular intricacies, we discovered that CBX2 can recruit EZH2 and modulate the trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) levels on the PTEN promoter, effectively suppressing PTEN transcription. Our research unveils a comprehensive understanding of how CBX2 impacts the tumorigenesis, progression, chemoresistance, and prognosis of glioma. Furthermore, it presents CBX2 as a promising therapeutic target for drug development and clinical management of glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- Department of Neurovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingzhao Wang
- Department of Neurology, Qianwei Hospital of Jilin Province, Changchun, China
| | - Shuhan Liu
- Department of Neurovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Changkai Ma
- Department of Neurovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianmin Piao
- Department of Neurovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shiqiang Ma
- Department of Neurovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dehai Yu
- Core Facility, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Bou-Gharios J, Noël G, Burckel H. Preclinical and clinical advances to overcome hypoxia in glioblastoma multiforme. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:503. [PMID: 39003252 PMCID: PMC11246422 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06904-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common adult primary brain tumor. The standard clinical treatment of GBM includes a maximal surgical resection followed by concomitant radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy sessions with Temozolomide (TMZ) in addition to adjuvant TMZ cycles. Despite the severity of this protocol, GBM is highly resistant and recurs in almost all cases while the protocol remains unchanged since 2005. Limited-diffusion or chronic hypoxia has been identified as one of the major key players driving this aggressive phenotype. The presence of hypoxia within the tumor bulk contributes to the activation of hypoxia signaling pathway mediated by the hypoxia-inducing factors (HIFs), which in turn activate biological mechanisms to ensure the adaptation and survival of GBM under limited oxygen and nutrient supply. Activated downstream pathways are involved in maintaining stem cell-like phenotype, inducing mesenchymal shift, invasion, and migration, altering the cellular and oxygen metabolism, and increasing angiogenesis, autophagy, and immunosuppression. Therefore, in this review will discuss the recent preclinical and clinical approaches that aim at targeting tumor hypoxia to enhance the response of GBM to conventional therapies along with their results and limitations upon clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolie Bou-Gharios
- Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), Radiobiology Laboratory, 3 rue de la porte de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative Multimodal Imaging In Healthcare (IMIS), UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, 4 rue Kirschleger, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Georges Noël
- Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), Radiobiology Laboratory, 3 rue de la porte de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative Multimodal Imaging In Healthcare (IMIS), UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, 4 rue Kirschleger, 67000, Strasbourg, France
- Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), UNICANCER, Department of Radiation Oncology, 17 rue Albert Calmette, 67200, Strasbourg, France
| | - Hélène Burckel
- Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS), Radiobiology Laboratory, 3 rue de la porte de l'Hôpital, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
- Laboratory of Engineering, Informatics and Imaging (ICube), Integrative Multimodal Imaging In Healthcare (IMIS), UMR 7357, University of Strasbourg, 4 rue Kirschleger, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
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Mohammad AH, Jatana S, Ruiz-Barerra MA, Khalaf R, Al-Saadi T, Diaz RJ. Metformin use is associated with longer survival in glioblastoma patients with MGMT gene silencing. J Neurooncol 2023; 165:209-218. [PMID: 37889443 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04485-2] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE New treatments are needed to improve the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma Metformin is known for anti-tumorigenic effects in cancers, including breast and pancreas cancers. In this study, we assessed the association between metformin use and overall survival in glioblastoma patients. METHODS We retrospectively studied 241 patients who underwent surgery at diagnosis of glioblastoma between 2014 and 2018. Metformin was used for pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus or in the prevention or management of glucocorticoid induced hyperglycemia. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank p test were used for univariate analysis. Cox-proportional hazards model was used to generate adjusted hazard ratios for multivariate analysis. RESULTS Metformin use was associated with longer survival in patients with tumors that had a methylated O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase gene (MGMT) promoter (484 days 95% CI: 56-911 vs. 394 days 95% CI: 249-538, Log-Rank test: 6.5, p = 0.01). Cox regression analysis shows that metformin associates with lower risk of death at 2 years in patients with glioblastoma containing a methylated MGMT promoter (aHR = 0.497, 95% CI 0.26-0.93, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a survival benefit with metformin use in patients with glioblastomas having methylation of the MGMT promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Miguel Angel Ruiz-Barerra
- Neuro-Oncology Research Group, National Institute of Cancer, Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Cancer, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Roy Khalaf
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Tariq Al-Saadi
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute - McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Roberto J Diaz
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute - McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Neurosurgical Oncology, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Hospital - McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
- Neurosurgical Oncology, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
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Lo Dico A, Martelli C, Corsi F, Porro D, Ottobrini L, Bertoli G. CMA mediates resistance in breast cancer models. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:133. [PMID: 37407979 PMCID: PMC10324152 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02969-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer-related death; chemoresistance is still a clinical challenge mainly because of the different molecular features of this kind of tumour. Doxorubicin (Doxo) is widely used despite its adverse effects and the common onset of resistance. Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy (CMA) has been identified as an important mechanism through which chemotherapeutics can exert their cytotoxic effects and, in this context, LAMP-2A, the key player of CMA, can be a useful biomarker. METHODS A cohort of patients and breast cancer cells have been screened for Doxo effect and CMA activation by analysing the LAMP-2A level. Molecular silencing has been used to clarify CMA role in BC responsiveness to treatments. Low Doxo doses were combined with other drugs (TMZ or PX-478, a HIF-1α inhibitor) to evaluate their cytotoxic ability and their role in modulating CMA. RESULTS In this paper, we showed that CMA is an important mechanism mediating the responsiveness of breast cancer cell to different treatments (Doxo and TMZ, as suggested by triple negative cells that are TMZ-resistant and fails to activate CMA). The LAMP-2A expression level was specific for different cell lines and patient-derived tumour subtypes, and was also useful in discriminating patients for their survival rates. Moreover, molecular silencing or pharmacological blockage of HIF-1α activity reverted BC resistance to TMZ. The combination of low-dose Doxo with TMZ or PX-478 showed that the drug associations have synergistic behaviours. CONCLUSION Here, we demonstrated that CMA activity exerts a fundamental role in the responsiveness to different treatments, and LAMP-2A can be proposed as a reliable prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. In this context, HIF-1α, a potential target of CMA, can also be assessed as a valuable therapeutic target in BC in view of identifying new, more efficient and less toxic therapeutic drug combinations. Moreover, the possibility to combine Doxo with other drugs acting on different but coherent molecular targets could help overcome resistance and open the way to a decrease in the dose of the single drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Lo Dico
- Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Segrate, Milan, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - C Martelli
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - F Corsi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Surgery Department, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - D Porro
- Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Segrate, Milan, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - L Ottobrini
- Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Segrate, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Segrate, Milan, Italy.
| | - G Bertoli
- Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Segrate, Milan, Italy.
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy.
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Yoon WS, Chang JH, Kim JH, Kim YJ, Jung TY, Yoo H, Kim SH, Ko YC, Nam DH, Kim TM, Kim SH, Park SH, Lee YS, Yim HW, Hong YK, Yang SH. Efficacy and safety of metformin plus low-dose temozolomide in patients with recurrent or refractory glioblastoma: a randomized, prospective, multicenter, double-blind, controlled, phase 2 trial (KNOG-1501 study). Discov Oncol 2023; 14:90. [PMID: 37278858 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00678-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Glioblastoma (GBM) has a poor prognosis after standard treatment. Recently, metformin has been shown to have an antitumor effect on glioma cells. We performed the first randomized prospective phase II clinical trial to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of metformin in patients with recurrent or refractory GBM treated with low-dose temozolomide. METHODS Included patients were randomly assigned to a control group [placebo plus low-dose temozolomide (50 mg/m2, daily)] or an experimental group [metformin (1000 mg, 1500 mg, and 2000 mg per day during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd week until disease progression, respectively) plus low-dose temozolomide]. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease control rate, overall response rate, health-related quality of life, and safety. RESULTS Among the 92 patients screened, 81 were randomly assigned to the control group (43 patients) or the experimental group (38 patients). Although the control group showed a longer median PFS, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (2.66 versus 2.3 months, p = 0.679). The median OS was 17.22 months (95% CI 12.19-21.68 months) in the experimental group and 7.69 months (95% CI 5.16-22.67 months) in the control group, showing no significant difference by the log-rank test (HR: 0.78; 95% CI 0.39-1.58; p = 0.473). The overall response rate and disease control rate were 9.3% and 46.5% in the control group and 5.3% and 47.4% in the experimental group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Although the metformin plus temozolomide regimen was well tolerated, it did not confer a clinical benefit in patients with recurrent or refractory GBM. Trial registration NCT03243851, registered August 4, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Soo Yoon
- Department of Neurosurgery, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Hee Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong Hoon Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yu Jung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Tae-Young Jung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea
| | - Heon Yoo
- Department of Neuro-Oncology Clinic, Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
| | - Se-Hyuk Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ajou University Hospital, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Young-Cho Ko
- Department of Neurosurgery, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Do-Hyun Nam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae Min Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Se Hoon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Hae Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Youn Soo Lee
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyeon Woo Yim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong-Kil Hong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, The Hallym University Medical Center, 22, Gwanpyeong-ro 170 beon-gil, Dong-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeongggi-do, 14068, Korea.
| | - Seung Ho Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 93 Jungbudaero, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Seoul, 16247, Korea.
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Amin M, Navidifar T, Saeb S, Barzegari E, Jamalan M. Tumor-targeted induction of intrinsic apoptosis in colon cancer cells by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:5345-5354. [PMID: 37155013 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08445-x] [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: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is one of the widespread and lethal types of malignancies. Recently, antineoplastic attributes of probiotics have attracted lots of attention. Here, we investigated anti-proliferative potential of the non-pathogenic strains Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14,917 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469 on human colorectal adenocarcinoma-originated Caco-2 cells. METHODS AND RESULTS Caco-2 and HUVEC control cells were treated with ethyl acetate extracts of the two Lactobacillus strains to assess cell viability by MTT assay. Annexin/PI staining flow cytometry, and caspase-3, -8 and - 9 activity assays were performed to determine the type of cell death induced in extract-treated cells. Expression levels of apoptosis-related genes were evaluated by RT-PCR. Extracts from both L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus specifically targeted the Caco-2 cells and not HUVEC controls, and significantly affected the viability of the colon cancer cell line in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This effect was shown to occur through activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, as indicated by the increased caspase-3 and - 9 activities. While there are limited and conflicting data about the mechanisms underlying the specific antineoplastic attributes of Lactobacillus strains, we clarified the overall induced mechanism. The Lactobacillus extracts specifically down-regulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 and bcl-xl, and simultaneously up-regulated the pro-apoptotic bak, bad, and bax genes in treated Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSIONS Ethyl acetate extracts of L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus strains could be considered as targeted anti-cancer treatments specifically inducing the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in colorectal tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Amin
- Department of Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Tahereh Navidifar
- Department of Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sholeh Saeb
- Department of Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Barzegari
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mostafa Jamalan
- Department of Biochemistry, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.
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He Z, Cheng M, Hu J, Liu L, Liu P, Chen L, Cao D, Tang J. miR-1297 sensitizes glioma cells to temozolomide (TMZ) treatment through targeting adrenomedullin (ADM). J Transl Med 2022; 20:443. [PMID: 36183123 PMCID: PMC9526964 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gliomas account for about 80% of all malignant brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance represents a major treatment hurdle. Adrenomedullin (ADM) has been reported to induce glioblastoma cell growth. METHODS Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis analysis was performed using the Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. The mitochondrial membrane potential was determined by JC-1 staining. A nude mouse tumor assay was used to detect tumor formation. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were performed in tissue sections. Activation of Akt and Erk and expression of apoptosis-related proteins were determined by immunoblotting. RESULTS ADM expression has been found upregulated in TMZ -resistant glioma samples based on bioinformatics and experimental analyses. Knocking down ADM in glioma cells enhanced the suppressive effects of TMZ on glioma cell viability, promotive effects on cell apoptosis, and inhibitory effects on mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, ADM knockdown also enhanced TMZ effects on Bax/Bcl-2, Akt phosphorylation, and Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Bioinformatics and experimental investigation indicated that miR-1297 directly targeted ADM and inhibited ADM expression. miR-1297 overexpression exerted similar effects to ADM knockdown on TMZ-treated glioma cells. More importantly, under TMZ treatment, inhibition of miR-1297 attenuated TMZ treatment on glioma cells; ADM knockdown partially attenuated the effects of miR-1297 inhibition on TMZ-treated glioma cells. CONCLUSIONS miR-1297 sensitizes glioma cells to TMZ treatment through targeting ADM. The Bax/Bcl-2, Akt, and Erk1/2 signaling pathways, as well as mitochondrial functions might be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongze He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Meixiong Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Junting Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Lingtong Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Longyi Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
| | - Deqian Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
| | - Jian Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No.32 West Second Section First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
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Hypoxia Promotes Glioma Stem Cell Proliferation by Enhancing the 14-3-3β Expression via the PI3K Pathway. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:5799776. [PMID: 35607406 PMCID: PMC9124136 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5799776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma is a serious fatal type of cancer with the shorter median survival period and poor quality of living. The overall 5-year survival rate remains low due to high recurrence rates. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) play the important roles in the development of gliomas. Examination of the numerous biomarkers or cancer-associated genes involved in the development or prevention of glioma may therefore serve the discovery of novel strategies to treat patients with glioma. Hypoxia induced by using CoCl2 application and 14-3-3β protein knockdown by specific small interfering RNA transfection were performed in GSCs both in vitro and in vivo to observe their role in glioma progression and metastasis occurrence by using western blot analysis and MTT assay. The results demonstrated that CoCl2 application enhanced the 14-3-3β protein expression and mRNA levels via the PI3K pathway in GSCs. Furthermore, hypoxia promoted GSC cell proliferation and activated the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, which was inhibited following 14-3-3β knockdown. In addition, tumor growth in mice was enhanced by CoCl2 application but reversed following 14-3-3β knockdown, which also enhanced GSC cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that hypoxia promoted glioma growth both in vitro and in vivo by increasing the 14-3-3β expression via the PI3K signaling pathway. 14-3-3β and HIF-1α may therefore be considered as the potential therapeutic target to treat patients with glioma.
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Effects of Metformin as Add-On Therapy against Glioblastoma: An Old Medicine for Novel Oncology Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061412. [PMID: 35326565 PMCID: PMC8946812 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor, with a median survival of around 14 months. The aggressiveness of glioblastoma is due to intense cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasiveness, genetic instability, resistance to therapies and high frequency of relapses. These features render glioblastoma almost incurable, considered an extreme therapeutic challenge. In the last few decades, it has been observed a reduced cancer incidence in diabetic patients treated with metformin, an oral hypoglycemic drug. The reported ability of metformin to arrest cancer cell growth in in vitro and in vivo experimental tumor models, have suggested the possibility to reconsider metformin as an anti-cancer add-on therapy, but further investigations about molecular mechanisms and optimal therapeutic regimens are needed. Here, we tested the efficacy of metformin against primary glioblastoma endothelial cells, responsible for tumor angiogenesis, invasiveness and resistance to therapy, reporting promising results and advancing a novel target of metformin, the “sphingolipid rheostat”. Abstract Background: Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain malignancy in adults, with a poor prognosis of about 14 months. Recent evidence ascribed to metformin (MET), an antihyperglycemic drug, the potential to reduce cancer incidence and progression, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects need to be better investigated. Methods: Here, we tested the efficacy of MET on n = 10 primary glioblastoma endothelial cells (GECs), by viability and proliferation tests, as MTT and Live/Dead assays, apoptosis tests, as annexin V assay and caspase 3/7 activity, functional tests as tube-like structure formation and migration assay and by mRNA and protein expression performed by quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot, respectively. Results: Data resulting revealed a time- and μ-dependent ability of MET to decrease cell viability and proliferation, increasing pro-apoptotic mechanisms mediated by caspases 3/7. Also, MET impacted GEC functionality with a significant decrease of angiogenesis and invasiveness potential. Mechanistically, MET was able to interfere with sphingolipid metabolism, weakening the oncopromoter signaling promoted by sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and shifting the balance toward the production of the pro-apoptotic ceramide. Conclusions: These observations ascribed to MET the potential to serve as add-on therapy against glioblastoma, suggesting a repurposing of an old, totally safe and tolerable drug for novel oncology therapeutics.
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Markwell SM, Ross JL, Olson CL, Brat DJ. Necrotic reshaping of the glioma microenvironment drives disease progression. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:291-310. [PMID: 35039931 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02401-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor and has a dismal prognosis. The development of central necrosis represents a tipping point in the evolution of these tumors that foreshadows aggressive expansion, swiftly leading to mortality. The onset of necrosis, severe hypoxia and associated radial glioma expansion correlates with dramatic tumor microenvironment (TME) alterations that accelerate tumor growth. In the past, most have concluded that hypoxia and necrosis must arise due to "cancer outgrowing its blood supply" when rapid tumor growth outpaces metabolic supply, leading to diffusion-limited hypoxia. However, growing evidence suggests that microscopic intravascular thrombosis driven by the neoplastic overexpression of pro-coagulants attenuates glioma blood supply (perfusion-limited hypoxia), leading to TME restructuring that includes breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, immunosuppressive immune cell accumulation, microvascular hyperproliferation, glioma stem cell enrichment and tumor cell migration outward. Cumulatively, these adaptations result in rapid tumor expansion, resistance to therapeutic interventions and clinical progression. To inform future translational investigations, the complex interplay among environmental cues and myriad cell types that contribute to this aggressive phenotype requires better understanding. This review focuses on contributions from intratumoral thrombosis, the effects of hypoxia and necrosis, the adaptive and innate immune responses, and the current state of targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Markwell
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave. Ward 3-140, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - James L Ross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cheryl L Olson
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave. Ward 3-140, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel J Brat
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave. Ward 3-140, Chicago, IL, USA.
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11
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Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery: Challenges and Perspectives of Metformin as Anti-Angiogenic Add-On Therapy in Glioblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010112. [PMID: 35008275 PMCID: PMC8749852 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, with the highest incidence and the worst prognosis. Life expectancy from diagnosis remains dismal, at around 15 months, despite surgical resection and treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Given the aggressiveness of the tumor and the inefficiency of the treatments adopted to date, the scientific research investigates innovative therapeutic approaches. Importantly, angiogenesis represents one of the main features of glioblastoma, becoming in the last few years a major candidate for target therapy. Metformin, a well-established therapy for type 2 diabetes, offered excellent results in preventing and fighting tumor progression, particularly against angiogenic mechanisms. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss experimental evidence of metformin anti-cancer efficacy, with the aim of proposing this totally safe and tolerable drug as add-on therapy against glioblastoma. Abstract Glioblastoma is the most common primitive tumor in adult central nervous system (CNS), classified as grade IV according to WHO 2016 classification. Glioblastoma shows a poor prognosis with an average survival of approximately 15 months, representing an extreme therapeutic challenge. One of its distinctive and aggressive features is aberrant angiogenesis, which drives tumor neovascularization, representing a promising candidate for molecular target therapy. Although several pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have shown promising results, anti-angiogenic drugs have not led to a significant improvement in overall survival (OS), suggesting the necessity of identifying novel therapeutic strategies. Metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug of the Biguanides family, used as first line treatment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo antitumoral efficacy in many different tumors, including glioblastoma. From this evidence, a process of repurposing of the drug has begun, leading to the demonstration of inhibition of various oncopromoter mechanisms and, consequently, to the identification of the molecular pathways involved. Here, we review and discuss metformin’s potential antitumoral effects on glioblastoma, inspecting if it could properly act as an anti-angiogenic compound to be considered as a safely add-on therapy in the treatment and management of glioblastoma patients.
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12
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Natural Compounds in Glioblastoma Therapy: Preclinical Insights, Mechanistic Pathways, and Outlook. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102317. [PMID: 34065960 PMCID: PMC8150927 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma (GBM) is a tumor of the brain or spinal cord with poor clinical prognosis. Current interventions, such as chemotherapy and surgical tumor resection, are constrained by tumor invasion and cancer drug resistance. Dietary natural substances are therefore evaluated for their potential as agents in GBM treatment. Various substances found in fruits, vegetables, and other natural products restrict tumor growth and induce GBM cell death. These preclinical effects are promising but remain constrained by natural substances’ varying pharmacological properties. While many of the reviewed substances are available as over-the-counter supplements, their anti-GBM efficacy should be corroborated by clinical trials moving forward. Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive, often fatal astrocyte-derived tumor of the central nervous system. Conventional medical and surgical interventions have greatly improved survival rates; however, tumor heterogeneity, invasiveness, and chemotherapeutic resistance continue to pose clinical challenges. As such, dietary natural substances—an integral component of the lifestyle medicine approach to chronic diseases—are examined as potential chemotherapeutic agents. These heterogenous substances exert anti-GBM effects by upregulating apoptosis and autophagy, inducing cell cycle arrest, interfering with tumor metabolism, and inhibiting proliferation, neuroinflammation, chemoresistance, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Although these beneficial effects are promising, natural substances’ efficacy in GBM is constrained by their bioavailability and blood–brain barrier permeability; various chemical formulations are proposed to improve their pharmacological properties. Many of the reviewed substances are available as over-the-counter dietary supplements, underscoring their viability as lifestyle interventions. However, clinical trials remain necessary to substantiate the in vitro and in vivo properties of natural substances.
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13
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Valtorta S, Lo Dico A, Raccagni I, Martelli C, Pieri V, Rainone P, Todde S, Zinnhardt B, De Bernardi E, Coliva A, Politi LS, Viel T, Jacobs AH, Galli R, Ottobrini L, Vaira V, Moresco RM. Imaging Metformin Efficacy as Add-On Therapy in Cells and Mouse Models of Human EGFR Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:664149. [PMID: 34012924 PMCID: PMC8126706 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.664149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive tumor of the brain. Despite the efforts, response to current therapies is poor and 2-years survival rate ranging from 6-12%. Here, we evaluated the preclinical efficacy of Metformin (MET) as add-on therapy to Temozolomide (TMZ) and the ability of [18F]FLT (activity of thymidine kinase 1 related to cell proliferation) and [18F]VC701 (translocator protein, TSPO) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracers to predict tumor response to therapy. Indeed, TSPO is expressed on the outer mitochondrial membrane of activated microglia/macrophages, tumor cells, astrocytes and endothelial cells. TMZ-sensitive (Gli36ΔEGFR-1 and L0627) or -resistant (Gli36ΔEGFR-2) GBM cell lines representative of classical molecular subtype were tested in vitro and in vivo in orthotopic mouse models. Our results indicate that in vitro, MET increased the efficacy of TMZ on TMZ-sensitive and on TMZ-resistant cells by deregulating the balance between pro-survival (bcl2) and pro-apoptotic (bax/bad) Bcl-family members and promoting early apoptosis in both Gli36ΔEGFR-1 and Gli36ΔEGFR-2 cells. In vivo, MET add-on significantly extended the median survival of tumor-bearing mice compared to TMZ-treated ones and reduced the rate of recurrence in the TMZ-sensitive models. PET studies with the cell proliferation radiopharmaceutical [18F]FLT performed at early time during treatment were able to distinguish responder from non-responder to TMZ but not to predict the duration of the effect. On the contrary, [18F]VC701 uptake was reduced only in mice treated with MET plus TMZ and levels of uptake negatively correlated with animals’ survival. Overall, our data showed that MET addition improved TMZ efficacy in GBM preclinical models representative of classical molecular subtype increasing survival time and reducing tumor relapsing rate. Finally, results from PET imaging suggest that the reduction of cell proliferation represents a common mechanism of TMZ and combined treatment, whereas only the last was able to reduce TSPO. This reduction was associated with the duration of treatment response. TSPO-ligand may be used as a complementary molecular imaging marker to predict tumor microenvironment related treatment effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Valtorta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy.,Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Lo Dico
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Raccagni
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy.,Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,SYSBIO Centre of Systems Biology ISBE.ITALY, University of Milano - Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Martelli
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Pieri
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Rainone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Todde
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy
| | - Bastian Zinnhardt
- European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI), University of Münster, Münster, Germany.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Elisabetta De Bernardi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Angela Coliva
- Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Letterio S Politi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Rozzano, Italy.,Department of Neuroradiology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Thomas Viel
- PARCC, INSERM, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Andreas H Jacobs
- European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rossella Galli
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luisa Ottobrini
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Vaira
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano - Bicocca, Monza, Italy.,Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), Segrate, Italy.,Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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14
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Xiao Y, Cui G, Ren X, Hao J, Zhang Y, Yang X, Wang Z, Zhu X, Wang H, Hao C, Duan H. A Novel Four-Gene Signature Associated With Immune Checkpoint for Predicting Prognosis in Lower-Grade Glioma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:605737. [PMID: 33381460 PMCID: PMC7769121 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.605737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The overall survival of patients with lower grade glioma (LGG) varies greatly, but the current histopathological classification has limitations in predicting patients’ prognosis. Therefore, this study aims to find potential therapeutic target genes and establish a gene signature for predicting the prognosis of LGG. CD44 is a marker of tumor stem cells and has prognostic value in various tumors, but its role in LGG is unclear. By analyzing three glioma datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, CD44 was upregulated in LGG. We screened 10 CD44-related genes via protein–protein interaction (PPI) network; function enrichment analysis demonstrated that these genes were associated with biological processes and signaling pathways of the tumor; survival analysis showed that four genes (CD44, HYAL2, SPP1, MMP2) were associated with the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS)of LGG; a novel four-gene signature was constructed. The prediction model showed good predictive value over 2-, 5-, 8-, and 10-year survival probability in both the development and validation sets. The risk score effectively divided patients into high- and low- risk groups with a distinct outcome. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the risk score and status of IDH were independent prognostic predictors of LGG. Among three LGG subgroups based on the presence of molecular parameters, IDH-mutant gliomas have a favorable OS, especially if combined with 1p/19q codeletion, which further confirmed the distinct biological pattern between three LGG subgroups, and the gene signature is able to divide LGG patients with the same IDH status into high- and low- risk groups. The high-risk group possessed a higher expression of immune checkpoints and was related to the activation of immunosuppressive pathways. Finally, this study provided a convenient tool for predicting patient survival. In summary, the four prognostic genes may be therapeutic targets and prognostic predictors for LGG; this four-gene signature has good prognostic prediction ability and can effectively distinguish high- and low-risk patients. High-risk patients are associated with higher immune checkpoint expression and activation of the immunosuppressive pathway, providing help for screening immunotherapy-sensitive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchao Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Gang Cui
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Xingguang Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of TISCO, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jiaqi Hao
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Chunyan Hao
- Department of Geriatrics, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hubin Duan
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Lvliang People's Hospital, Lvliang, China
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15
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Valtorta S, Salvatore D, Rainone P, Belloli S, Bertoli G, Moresco RM. Molecular and Cellular Complexity of Glioma. Focus on Tumour Microenvironment and the Use of Molecular and Imaging Biomarkers to Overcome Treatment Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5631. [PMID: 32781585 PMCID: PMC7460665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This review highlights the importance and the complexity of tumour biology and microenvironment in the progression and therapy resistance of glioma. Specific gene mutations, the possible functions of several non-coding microRNAs and the intra-tumour and inter-tumour heterogeneity of cell types contribute to limit the efficacy of the actual therapeutic options. In this scenario, identification of molecular biomarkers of response and the use of multimodal in vivo imaging and in particular the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) based molecular approach, can help identifying glioma features and the modifications occurring during therapy at a regional level. Indeed, a better understanding of tumor heterogeneity and the development of diagnostic procedures can favor the identification of a cluster of patients for personalized medicine in order to improve the survival and their quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Valtorta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (S.V.); (D.S.); (P.R.)
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Daniela Salvatore
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (S.V.); (D.S.); (P.R.)
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Paolo Rainone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (S.V.); (D.S.); (P.R.)
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Sara Belloli
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, 20090 Segrate, Italy
| | - Gloria Bertoli
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, 20090 Segrate, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery and Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (S.V.); (D.S.); (P.R.)
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, 20090 Segrate, Italy
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16
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Chen GG, Woo PYM, Ng SCP, Wong GKC, Chan DTM, van Hasselt CA, Tong MCF, Poon WS. Impact of metformin on immunological markers: Implication in its anti-tumor mechanism. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 213:107585. [PMID: 32473961 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug, has been known to have antitumor properties for around 15 years. Although there are a number of reports attributing the antitumor function of metformin to its impact on energy homeostasis and oxygen re-distribution in tumor microenvironment, detailed mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the past several years, there is an increasing number of publications indicating that metformin can affect various immunological components including lymphocytes, macrophages, cytokines and several key immunological molecules in both human and animal studies. These interesting results appear to be in line with emerging data that suggest associations between immune responses and energy homeostasis/oxygen re-distribution, which may explain effective impacts of metformin on immunotherapies against autoimmune diseases as well as cancers. This review article is to analyse and discuss recent development in the above areas with aim to justify metformin as a new adjuvant for immunotherapy against human cancers. We hope that our summary will help to optimize the application of metformin for various types of human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- George G Chen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Peter Y M Woo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Stephanie C P Ng
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - George K C Wong
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Danny T M Chan
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Charles A van Hasselt
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Michael C F Tong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai Sang Poon
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China.
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17
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Yin X, Liao Y, Xiong W, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Yang Y. Hypoxia-induced lncRNA ANRIL promotes cisplatin resistance in retinoblastoma cells through regulating ABCG2 expression. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2020; 47:1049-1057. [PMID: 32173903 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cisplatin (DDP) resistance limits its efficacy for retinoblastoma (Rb). Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has been shown to contribute to chemotherapy resistance in tumours under hypoxic conditions. This study was designed to explore the role and mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) in regulating DDP resistance in Rb cells under hypoxia and to validate whether HIF-1α was involved in this process. The interaction between HIF-1α and the promoter of ANRIL was analyzed using ChIP assay. Cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as protein levels of drug resistance-related proteins (ABCG2 and MDR1) were examined to evaluate DDP resistance in Rb cells. The interactions between miR-328 and ANRIL as well as miR-328 and ABCG2 were analyzed using dual-luciferase reporter assays. Upon hypoxia, HIF-1α directly bound to the ANRIL promoter region to transcriptionally activate ANRIL. The hypoxia-induced ANRIL promoted Rb cell resistance to DDP, as evidenced by facilitation of cell proliferation, inhibition of cell apoptosis and upregulation of ABCG2 and MDR1. Mechanistically, ANRIL promoted Rb cell resistance to DDP by acting as a sponge of miR-328 to upregulate expression of ABCG2, which was confirmed as a direct target of miR-328. Collectively, hypoxia-induced ANRIL promotes DDP resistance in Rb cells by sponging miR-328 to upregulate ABCG2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Yin
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yujun Liao
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Weiwei Xiong
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuezhi Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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18
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Mazurek M, Litak J, Kamieniak P, Kulesza B, Jonak K, Baj J, Grochowski C. Metformin as Potential Therapy for High-Grade Glioma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E210. [PMID: 31952173 PMCID: PMC7016983 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin (MET), 1,1-dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride, is a biguanide drug used as the first-line medication in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The recent years have brought many observations showing metformin in its new role. The drug, commonly used in the therapy of diabetes, may also find application in the therapy of a vast variety of tumors. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in colon, breast, prostate, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, melanoma, lung and endometrial carcinoma, as well as in gliomas. This is especially important in light of the poor options offered to patients in the case of high-grade gliomas, which include glioblastoma (GBM). A thorough understanding of the mechanism of action of metformin can make it possible to discover new drugs that could be used in neoplasm therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Mazurek
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (J.L.); (P.K.); (B.K.)
| | - Jakub Litak
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (J.L.); (P.K.); (B.K.)
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Kamieniak
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (J.L.); (P.K.); (B.K.)
| | - Bartłomiej Kulesza
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland; (M.M.); (J.L.); (P.K.); (B.K.)
| | - Katarzyna Jonak
- Department of Foregin Languages, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Jacek Baj
- Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Cezary Grochowski
- Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 4, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
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19
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Lo Dico A, Salvatore D, Martelli C, Ronchi D, Diceglie C, Lucignani G, Ottobrini L. Intracellular Redox-Balance Involvement in Temozolomide Resistance-Related Molecular Mechanisms in Glioblastoma. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111315. [PMID: 31653091 PMCID: PMC6912456 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common astrocytic-derived brain tumor in adults, characterized by a poor prognosis mainly due to the resistance to the available therapy. The study of mitochondria-derived oxidative stress, and of the biological events that orbit around it, might help in the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms at the base of GBM responsiveness to Temozolomide (TMZ). Sensitive and resistant GBM cells were used to test the role of mitochondrial ROS release in TMZ-resistance. Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy (CMA) activation in relation to reactive oxygen species (ROS) release has been measured by monitoring the expression of specific genes. Treatments with H2O2 were used to test their potential in reverting resistance. Fluctuations of cytoplasmic ROS levels were accountable for CMA induction and cytotoxic effects observed in TMZ sensitive cells after treatment. On the other hand, in resistant cells, TMZ failed in producing an increase in cytoplasmic ROS levels and CMA activation, preventing GBM cell toxicity. By increasing oxidative stress, CMA activation was recovered, as also cell cytotoxicity, especially in combination with TMZ treatment. Herein, for the first time, it is shown the relation between mitochondrial ROS release, CMA activation and TMZ-responsiveness in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Lo Dico
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | - Daniela Salvatore
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate (MI), Italy.
- Doctorate School of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - Cristina Martelli
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | - Dario Ronchi
- Neurology Unit, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Centre, IRCCS Foundation Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Diceglie
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate (MI), Italy.
| | | | - Luisa Ottobrini
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20090 Segrate (MI), Italy.
- Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, 20090 Segrate (MI), Italy.
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