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Sharma V, Arora A, Bansal S, Semwal A, Sharma M, Aggarwal A. Role of bio-flavonols and their derivatives in improving mitochondrial dysfunctions associated with pancreatic tumorigenesis. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3920. [PMID: 38269510 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Mitochondria, a cellular metabolic center, efficiently fulfill cellular energy needs and regulate crucial metabolic processes, including cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and generation of reactive oxygen species. Alteration in the mitochondrial functions leads to metabolic imbalances and altered extracellular matrix dynamics in the host, utilized by solid tumors like pancreatic cancer (PC) to get energy benefits for fast-growing cancer cells. PC is highly heterogeneous and remains unidentified for a longer time because of its complex pathophysiology, retroperitoneal position, and lack of efficient diagnostic approaches, which is the foremost reason for accounting for the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. PC cells often respond poorly to current therapeutics because of dense stromal barriers in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, which limit the drug delivery and distribution of antitumor immune cell populations. As an alternative approach, various natural compounds like flavonoids are reported to possess potent antioxidant and anticancerous properties and are less toxic than current chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, we aim to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the pharmacological properties of flavonols in PC in this review from the perspective of mitigating mitochondrial dysfunctions associated with cancer cells. Our literature survey indicates that flavonols efficiently regulate cellular metabolism by scavenging reactive oxygen species, mitigating inflammation, and arresting the cell cycle to promote apoptosis in tumor cells via intrinsic mitochondrial pathways. In particular, flavonols proficiently inhibit the cancer-associated proliferation and inflammatory pathways such as EGFR/MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and nuclear factor κB in PC. Overall, this review provides in-depth evidence about the therapeutic potential of flavonols for future anticancer strategies against PC; still, more multidisciplinary human interventional studies are required to dissect their pharmacological effect accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinit Sharma
- Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Ankita Arora
- Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Sakshi Bansal
- Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Ankita Semwal
- Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Mayank Sharma
- Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Anjali Aggarwal
- Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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2
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Bryl R, Piwocka O, Kawka E, Mozdziak P, Kempisty B, Knopik-Skrocka A. Cancer Stem Cells-The Insight into Non-Coding RNAs. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223699. [PMID: 36429127 PMCID: PMC9688207 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Since their initial identification three decades ago, there has been extensive research regarding cancer stem cells (CSCs). It is important to consider the biology of cancer stem cells with a particular focus on their phenotypic and metabolic plasticity, the most important signaling pathways, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) regulating these cellular entities. Furthermore, the current status of therapeutic approaches against CSCs is an important consideration regarding employing the technology to improve human health. Cancer stem cells have claimed to be one of the most important group of cells for the development of several common cancers as they dictate features, such as resistance to radio- and chemotherapy, metastasis, and secondary tumor formation. Therapies which could target these cells may develop into an effective strategy for tumor eradication and a hope for patients for whom this disease remains uncurable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rut Bryl
- Section of Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research, Natural Sciences Club, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Oliwia Piwocka
- Section of Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research, Natural Sciences Club, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
- Department of Electroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Emilia Kawka
- Section of Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research, Natural Sciences Club, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paul Mozdziak
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Bartosz Kempisty
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Division of Anatomy, Medical University of Wrocław, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, Poland
- Correspondence: or
| | - Agnieszka Knopik-Skrocka
- Section of Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research, Natural Sciences Club, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
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3
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Raja Arul GL, Toruner MD, Gatenby RA, Carr RM. Ecoevolutionary biology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Pancreatology 2022; 22:730-740. [PMID: 35821188 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common histological subtype of pancreatic cancer, is an aggressive disease predicted to be the 2nd cause of cancer mortality in the US by 2040. While first-line therapy has improved, 5-year overall survival has only increased from 5 to ∼10%, and surgical resection is only available for ∼20% of patients as most present with advanced disease, which is invariably lethal. PDAC has well-established highly recurrent mutations in four driver genes including KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4. Unfortunately, these genetic drivers are not currently therapeutically actionable. Despite extensive sequencing efforts, few additional significantly recurrent and druggable drivers have been identified. In the absence of targetable mutations, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for most patients. Further, the role of the above driver mutations on PDAC initiation and early development is well-established. However, these mutations alone cannot account for PDAC heterogeneity nor discern early from advanced disease. Taken together, management of PDAC is an example highlighting the shortcomings of the current precision medicine paradigm. PDAC, like other malignancies, represents an ecoevolutionary process. Better understanding the disease through this lens can facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies to better control and cure PDAC. This review aims to integrate the current understanding of PDAC pathobiology into an ecoevolutionary framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Merih D Toruner
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Robert A Gatenby
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ryan M Carr
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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4
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Truong LH, Pauklin S. Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment and Cellular Composition: Current Understandings and Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5028. [PMID: 34638513 PMCID: PMC8507722 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13195028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal human solid tumors, despite great efforts in improving therapeutics over the past few decades. In PDAC, the distinct characteristic of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is the main barrier for developing effective treatments. PDAC TME is characterized by a dense stroma, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and immune cells populations that crosstalk to the subpopulations of neoplastic cells that include cancer stem cells (CSCs). The heterogeneity in TME is also exhibited in the diversity and dynamics of acellular components, including the Extracellular matrix (ECM), cytokines, growth factors, and secreted ligands to signaling pathways. These contribute to drug resistance, metastasis, and relapse in PDAC. However, clinical trials targeting TME components have often reported unexpected results and still have not benefited patients. The failures in those trials and various efforts to understand the PDAC biology demonstrate the highly heterogeneous and multi-faceted TME compositions and the complexity of their interplay within TME. Hence, further functional and mechanistic insight is needed. In this review, we will present a current understanding of PDAC biology with a focus on the heterogeneity in TME and crosstalk among its components. We also discuss clinical challenges and the arising therapeutic opportunities in PDAC research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Old Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK;
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5
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Pook H, Pauklin S. Mechanisms of Cancer Cell Death: Therapeutic Implications for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4834. [PMID: 34638318 PMCID: PMC8508208 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a type of cancer that is strongly associated with poor prognosis and short median survival times. In stark contrast to the progress seen in other cancer types in recent decades, discoveries of new treatments in PDAC have been few and far between and there has been little improvement in overall survival (OS). The difficulty in treating this disease is multifactorial, contributed to by late presentation, difficult access to primary tumour sites, an 'immunologically cold' phenotype, and a strong tendency of recurrence likely driven by cancer stem cell (CSC) populations. Furthermore, apparently contrasting roles of tumour components (such as fibrotic stroma) and intracellular pathways (such as autophagy and TGFβ) have made it difficult to distinguish beneficial from detrimental drug targets. Despite this, progress has been made in the field, including the determination of mFOLFIRINOX as the standard-of-care adjuvant therapy and the discovery of KRASG12C mutant inhibitors. Moreover, new research, as outlined in this review, has highlighted promising new approaches including the targeting of the tumour microenvironment, enhancement of immunotherapies, epigenetic modulation, and destruction of CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Old Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK;
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6
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Gu Y, Ji Y, Jiang H, Qiu G. Clinical Effect of Driver Mutations of KRAS, CDKN2A/P16, TP53, and SMAD4 in Pancreatic Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2021; 24:777-788. [PMID: 33347393 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2020.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of driver mutations in the KRAS, CDKN2A/P16, TP53, and SMAD4 genes in pancreatic cancer to aid in the design of therapeutic strategies. Search Strategy: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Springer, and Cochrane library to identify eligible studies published between January 1990 and June 2018 that reported an association between driver mutations in these genes and survival data. Inclusion Criteria: Articles which passed the primary screen were further scrutinized for the presence of all the following items: (1) cohort studies or case-control studies, evaluating the relationship between driver mutations and cancer; (2) cancer diagnoses clearly proved; and (3) hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were characterized by sufficient information. Data Extraction and Analysis: Selection of included articles, data extraction, and methodological quality assessments were, respectively, conducted by two authors. Results: The meta-analysis was composed of 17 studies on the P53, 8 on SMAD4, 7 on CDKN2A/P16, and 2 on KRAS, containing 3373 samples. Our pooled results demonstrated that the patients with overexpression of the P53 (HR = 1.249, 95% CI = 1.003-1.554, p = 0.047), SMAD4 (HR = 1.397, 95% CI = 1.015-1.922, p = 0.040), CDKN2A/P16 (HR = 0.916, 95% CI = 0.583-1.439, p = 0.704), and KRAS (HR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.27-2.22, p < 0.001) mutations all had poorer overall survival. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis supports the use of driver mutations in the P53, SMAD4, and KRAS genes as prognostic markers for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Gu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou City, China
| | - Yayun Ji
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Xianyang Central Hospital, Xianyang City, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Medical Imaging Department, Zhaoqing Medical College, Zhaoqing City, China
| | - Ganbin Qiu
- Medical Imaging Department, Zhaoqing Medical College, Zhaoqing City, China
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Klemke L, Fehlau CF, Winkler N, Toboll F, Singh SK, Moll UM, Schulz-Heddergott R. The Gain-of-Function p53 R248W Mutant Promotes Migration by STAT3 Deregulation in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:642603. [PMID: 34178628 PMCID: PMC8226097 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.642603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Missense p53 mutations (mutp53) occur in approx. 70% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). Typically, mutp53 proteins are aberrantly stabilized by Hsp90/Hsp70/Hsp40 chaperone complexes. Notably, stabilization is a precondition for specific mutp53 alleles to acquire powerful neomorphic oncogenic gain-of-functions (GOFs) that promote tumor progression in solid cancers mainly by increasing invasion and metastasis. In colorectal cancer (CRC), we recently established that the common hotspot mutants mutp53R248Q and mutp53R248W exert GOF activities by constitutively binding to and hyperactivating STAT3. This results in increased proliferation and invasion in an autochthonous CRC mouse model and correlates with poor survival in patients. Comparing a panel of p53 missense mutations in a series of homozygous human PDAC cell lines, we show here that, similar to CRC, the mutp53R248W protein again undergoes a strong Hsp90-mediated stabilization and selectively promotes migration. Highly stabilized mutp53 is degradable by the Hsp90 inhibitors Onalespib and Ganetespib, and correlates with growth suppression, possibly suggesting therapeutic vulnerabilities to target GOF mutp53 proteins in PDAC. In response to mutp53 depletion, only mutp53R248W harboring PDAC cells show STAT3 de-phosphorylation and reduced migration, again suggesting an allele-specific GOF in this cancer entity, similar to CRC. Moreover, mutp53R248W also exhibits the strongest constitutive complex formation with phosphorylated STAT3. The selective mutp53R248W GOF signals through enhancing the STAT3 axis, which was confirmed since targeting STAT3 by knockdown or pharmacological inhibition phenocopied mutp53 depletion and reduced cell viability and migration preferentially in mutp53R248W-containing PDAC cells. Our results confirm that mutp53 GOF activities are allele specific and can span across tumor entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Klemke
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Clara F Fehlau
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nadine Winkler
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felicia Toboll
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shiv K Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ute M Moll
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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8
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Zahan T, Das PK, Akter SF, Habib R, Rahman MH, Karim MR, Islam F. Therapy Resistance in Cancers: Phenotypic, Metabolic, Epigenetic and Tumour Microenvironmental Perspectives. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 20:2190-2206. [PMID: 32748758 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620999200730161829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemoresistance is a vital problem in cancer therapy where cancer cells develop mechanisms to encounter the effect of chemotherapeutics, resulting in cancer recurrence. In addition, chemotherapy- resistant leads to the formation of a more aggressive form of cancer cells, which, in turn, contributes to the poor survival of patients with cancer. OBJECTIVE In this review, we aimed to provide an overview of how the therapy resistance property evolves in cancer cells, contributing factors and their role in cancer chemoresistance, and exemplified the problems of some available therapies. METHODS The published literature on various electronic databases including, Pubmed, Scopus, Google scholar containing keywords cancer therapy resistance, phenotypic, metabolic and epigenetic factors, were vigorously searched, retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS Cancer cells have developed a range of cellular processes, including uncontrolled activation of Epithelial- Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic alterations. These cellular processes play significant roles in the generation of therapy resistance. Furthermore, the microenvironment where cancer cells evolve effectively contributes to the process of chemoresistance. In tumour microenvironment immune cells, Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), endothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to the maintenance of therapy-resistant phenotype via the secretion of factors that promote resistance to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION To conclude, as these factors hinder successful cancer therapies, therapeutic resistance property of cancer cells is a subject of intense research, which in turn could open a new horizon to aim for developing efficient therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasnim Zahan
- Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Plabon K Das
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Syeda F Akter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Rowshanul Habib
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md Habibur Rahman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Md Rezaul Karim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh
| | - Farhadul Islam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh,Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
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9
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Plasticity of Cancer Stem Cell: Origin and Role in Disease Progression and Therapy Resistance. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 16:397-412. [PMID: 31965409 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-019-09942-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In embryonic development and throughout life, there are some cells can exhibit phenotypic plasticity. Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of cells to differentiate into multiple lineages. In normal development, plasticity is highly regulated whereas cancer cells re-activate this dynamic ability for their own progression. The re-activation of these mechanisms enables cancer cells to acquire a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype- a subpopulation of cells with increased ability to survive in a hostile environment and resist therapeutic insults. There are several contributors fuel CSC plasticity in different stages of disease progression such as a complex network of tumour stroma, epidermal microenvironment and different sub-compartments within tumour. These factors play a key role in the transformation of tumour cells from a stable condition to a progressive state. In addition, flexibility in the metabolic state of CSCs helps in disease progression. Moreover, epigenetic changes such as chromatin, DNA methylation could stimulate the phenotypic change of CSCs. Development of resistance to therapy due to highly plastic behaviour of CSCs is a major cause of treatment failure in cancers. However, recent studies explored that plasticity can also expose the weaknesses in CSCs, thereby could be utilized for future therapeutic development. Therefore, in this review, we discuss how cancer cells acquire the plasticity, especially the role of the normal developmental process, tumour microenvironment, and epigenetic changes in the development of plasticity. We further highlight the therapeutic resistance property of CSCs attributed by plasticity. Also, outline some potential therapeutic options against plasticity of CSCs. Graphical Abstract .
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Forciniti S, Dalla Pozza E, Greco MR, Amaral Carvalho TM, Rolando B, Ambrosini G, Carmona-Carmona CA, Pacchiana R, Di Molfetta D, Donadelli M, Arpicco S, Palmieri M, Reshkin SJ, Dando I, Cardone RA. Extracellular Matrix Composition Modulates the Responsiveness of Differentiated and Stem Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Lipophilic Derivate of Gemcitabine. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010029. [PMID: 33375106 PMCID: PMC7792955 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal disease. Gemcitabine (GEM) is used as the gold standard drug in PDAC treatment. However, due to its poor efficacy, it remains urgent to identify novel strategies to overcome resistance issues. In this context, an intense stroma reaction and the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been shown to influence PDAC aggressiveness, metastatic potential, and chemoresistance. METHODS We used three-dimensional (3D) organotypic cultures grown on an extracellular matrix composed of Matrigel or collagen I to test the effect of the new potential therapeutic prodrug 4-(N)-stearoyl-GEM, called C18GEM. We analyzed C18GEM cytotoxic activity, intracellular uptake, apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy induction in both Panc1 cell line (P) and their derived CSCs. RESULTS PDAC CSCs show higher sensitivity to C18GEM treatment when cultured in both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D conditions, especially on collagen I, in comparison to GEM. The intracellular uptake mechanisms of C18GEM are mainly due to membrane nucleoside transporters' expression and fatty acid translocase CD36 in Panc1 P cells and to clathrin-mediated endocytosis and CD36 in Panc1 CSCs. Furthermore, C18GEM induces an increase in cell death compared to GEM in both cell lines grown on 2D and 3D cultures. Finally, C18GEM stimulated protective autophagy in Panc1 P and CSCs cultured on 3D conditions. CONCLUSION We propose C18GEM together with autophagy inhibitors as a valid alternative therapeutic approach in PDAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Forciniti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Department of Gastroenterology-Laboratory of Molecular Gastroenterology, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Dalla Pozza
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Tiago Miguel Amaral Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Barbara Rolando
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy; (B.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Giulia Ambrosini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Cristian Andres Carmona-Carmona
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Raffaella Pacchiana
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Massimo Donadelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Silvia Arpicco
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10124 Torino, Italy; (B.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Marta Palmieri
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
| | - Stephan Joel Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Ilaria Dando
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Biochemistry Section, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (S.F.); (E.D.P.); (G.A.); (C.A.C.-C.); (R.P.); (M.D.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
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11
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Stoica AF, Chang CH, Pauklin S. Molecular Therapeutics of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Targeted Pathways and the Role of Cancer Stem Cells. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:977-993. [PMID: 33092892 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers in humans due to late detection and highly metastatic characteristics. PDAC cells vary in their tumorigenic capabilities with the presence of a subset of PDAC cells known as pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are more resistant to currently used therapeutics. Here, we describe the role of CSCs and tumour stroma in developing therapeutic strategies for PDAC and suggest that developmental plasticity could be considered a hallmark of cancers. We provide an overview of the molecular targets in PDAC treatments, including targeted therapies of cellular processes such as proliferation, evasion of growth suppressors, activating metastasis, and metabolic effects. Since PDAC is an inflammation-driven cancer, we also revisit therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation and immunotherapy. Lastly, we suggest that targeting epigenetic mechanisms opens therapeutic routes for heterogeneous cancer cell populations, including CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei-Florian Stoica
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Old Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Chao-Hui Chang
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Old Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Siim Pauklin
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Old Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK.
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12
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AYDEMİR ÇOBAN E, TECİMEL D, KAŞIKCI E, BAYRAK ÖF, ŞAHİN F. E-cadherin might be a stage-dependent modulator in aggressiveness in pancreatic cancer cells. Turk J Biol 2020; 44:230-237. [PMID: 33110361 PMCID: PMC7585161 DOI: 10.3906/biy-1912-60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) pathology is known for its uncontrollable progress due to highly invasive characteristics and refractory behavior against existing chemotherapies. The aberrant expression of CDH1 (expresses the protein E-cadherin) is associated with increased overall survival in various cancers, however, E-cadherin expression in PDAC progression has remained elusive. We investigated the impact of exogenously elevated E-cadherin levels on the tumorigenicity of transduced low grade and metastatic PDAC cell lines, Panc-1 and AsPC-1, respectively. Constitutive expression of E-cadherin promoted a more hybrid E/M state in AsPC-1 cells, while it was associated with the acquisition of a more epithelial-like state in Panc1 cells. Our study suggests that E-cadherin may play differential roles in determining the metastatic characteristics of primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra AYDEMİR ÇOBAN
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Yeditepe University, İstanbulTurkey
| | - Didem TECİMEL
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Yeditepe University, İstanbulTurkey
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Yeditepe University Hospital, İstanbulTurkey
| | - Ezgi KAŞIKCI
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Yeditepe University, İstanbulTurkey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NYUSA
| | - Ömer Faruk BAYRAK
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Yeditepe University, İstanbulTurkey
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Yeditepe University Hospital, İstanbulTurkey
| | - Fikrettin ŞAHİN
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Engineering Faculty, Yeditepe University, İstanbulTurkey
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13
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Tawfik D, Zaccagnino A, Bernt A, Szczepanowski M, Klapper W, Schwab A, Kalthoff H, Trauzold A. The A818-6 system as an in-vitro model for studying the role of the transportome in pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:264. [PMID: 32228510 PMCID: PMC7106758 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-06773-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The human pancreatic cancer cell line A818–6 can be grown in vitro either as a highly malignant, undifferentiated monolayer (ML) or as three-dimensional (3D) single layer hollow spheres (HS) simulating a benign, highly differentiated, duct-like pancreatic epithelial structure. This characteristic allowing A818–6 cells to switch from one phenotype to another makes these cells a unique system to characterize the cellular and molecular modifications during differentiation on one hand and malignant transformation on the other hand. Ion channels and transport proteins (transportome) have been implicated in malignant transformation. Therefore, the current study aimed to analyse the transportome gene expression profile in the A818–6 cells growing as a monolayer or as hollow spheres. Methods & Results The study identified the differentially expressed transportome genes in both cellular states of A818–6 using Agilent and Nanostring arrays and some targets were validated via immunoblotting. Additionally, these results were compared to a tissue Affymetrix microarray analysis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients’ tissues. The overall transcriptional profile of the ML and HS cells confirmed the formerly described mesenchymal features of ML and epithelial nature of HS which was further verified via high expression of E-cadherin and low expression of vimentin found in HS in comparison to ML. Among the predicted features between HS and ML was the involvement of miRNA-9 in this switch. Importantly, the bioinformatics analysis also revealed substantial number (n = 126) of altered transportome genes. Interestingly, three genes upregulated in PDAC tissue samples (GJB2, GJB5 and SLC38A6) were found to be also upregulated in ML and 3 down-regulated transportome genes (KCNQ1, TRPV6 and SLC4A) were also reduced in ML. Conclusion This reversible HS/ML in vitro system might help in understanding the pathophysiological impact of the transportome in the dedifferentiation process in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Furthermore, the HS/ML model represents a novel system for studying the role of the transportome during the switch from a more benign, differentiated (HS) to a highly malignant, undifferentiated (ML) phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Tawfik
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Angela Zaccagnino
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander Bernt
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Monika Szczepanowski
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Wolfram Klapper
- Institute of Pathology, Hematopathology Section and Lymph Node Registry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, UKSH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Albrecht Schwab
- Institute of Physiology II, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany
| | - Holger Kalthoff
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Anna Trauzold
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
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14
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The IL-17A/IL-17RA Axis Is Not Related to Overall Survival and Cancer Stem Cell Modulation in Pancreatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062215. [PMID: 32210079 PMCID: PMC7139783 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: IL-17A accelerates pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) progression. In this study, we examined whether IL-17A/IL-17RA promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) aggressiveness in terms of survival and cancer stem cell modulation. (2) Methods: In vitro, the wound-healing assay, the sphere formation assay, and flow cytometry were applied to assess cancer stem cell features. In vivo, pancreatic tumors were induced in C57BL/6 mice using electroporation with oncogenic plasmids (P53-/- R172H; KrasG12V). Anti-IL-17 antibodies were administered as immunotherapy. We analyzed IL-17A/IL-17RA related survival using publicly available transcriptomic data (n = 903). (3) Results: IL-17A/IL-17RA expression was not related to survival in PDAC patients. IL-17A neither induces stem cell markers nor increases sphere formation and cell motility in vitro. Blocking the IL-17A/IL-17RA axis in a murine pancreatic cancer model did not improve the survival of mice, but reduced the tumor burden slightly. (4) Conclusions: IL-17A does not promote stem cell expansion in PDAC cell lines. Blocking IL-17A/IL-17RA signaling does not interfere with pancreatic cancer development and progression and may not be considered as a promising monotherapy for PDAC.
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15
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Parameswaran N, Bartel CA, Hernandez-Sanchez W, Miskimen KL, Smigiel JM, Khalil AM, Jackson MW. A FAM83A Positive Feed-back Loop Drives Survival and Tumorigenicity of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13396. [PMID: 31527715 PMCID: PMC6746704 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49475-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) are deadly on account of the delay in diagnosis and dearth of effective treatment options for advanced disease. The insurmountable hurdle of targeting oncogene KRAS, the most prevalent genetic mutation in PDAC, has delayed the availability of targeted therapy for PDAC patients. An alternate approach is to target other tumour-exclusive effector proteins important in RAS signalling. The Family with Sequence Similarity 83 (FAM83) proteins are oncogenic, tumour-exclusive and function similarly to RAS, by driving the activation of PI3K and MAPK signalling. In this study we show that FAM83A expression is significantly elevated in human and murine pancreatic cancers and is essential for the growth and tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer cells. Elevated FAM83A expression maintains essential MEK/ERK survival signalling, preventing cell death in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, we identified a positive feed-forward loop mediated by the MEK/ERK-activated AP-1 transcription factors, JUNB and FOSB, which is responsible for the elevated expression of oncogenic FAM83A. Our data indicates that targeting the MEK/ERK-FAM83A feed-forward loop opens up additional avenues for clinical therapy that bypass targeting of oncogenic KRAS in aggressive pancreatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetha Parameswaran
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Courtney A Bartel
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Wilnelly Hernandez-Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Kristy L Miskimen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Jacob M Smigiel
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Ahmad M Khalil
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Mark W Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. .,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Wolstein Research Building, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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16
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Tumor penetrating nanomedicine targeting both an oncomiR and an oncogene in pancreatic cancer. Oncotarget 2019; 10:5349-5358. [PMID: 31523393 PMCID: PMC6731108 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing new targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer is one of the major current challenges in cancer research. KRAS mutations and miRNA dysregulation (e.g. miR-21-5p oncomiR) play key roles in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), leading to rapid progression of the disease. As the KRAS mutation is a main driver of PDAC, anti-KRAS strategies remain a major therapeutic approach for PDAC treatment. Previously, utilization of either siKRAS or small chemically modified single-stranded RNA molecules that specifically disable miR-21 (anti-miR-21) were effective in slowing PDAC tumor growth in various tumor models when packaged in an innovative delivery system (TPN) required for efficient drug delivery to the PDAC tumor site. Here we have tested the utility of targeting the KRAS pathway through multiple mechanisms and via dual targeting of a PDAC oncomiR and oncogene. Initially we found that miR-217, which has been shown to directly regulate KRAS expression, is downregulated in our PDAC samples, thus we tested the benefits of anti-miR-21, miR-217 mimic or siKRAS loaded into the tumor-penetrating nanoparticles (TPN) that we had previously shown to potently target the largely impenetrable PDAC tumors, and found an enhanced anti-tumoral response upon dual treatments in KRAS-mutated PDAC models.
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17
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Kamble SC, Sen A, Dhake RD, Joshi AN, Midha D, Bapat SA. Clinical Stratification of High-Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinoma Using a Panel of Six Biomarkers. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E330. [PMID: 30857227 PMCID: PMC6463261 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8030330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular stratification of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) for targeted therapy is a pertinent approach in improving prognosis of this highly heterogeneous disease. Enabling the same necessitates identification of class-specific biomarkers and their robust detection in the clinic. We have earlier resolved three discrete molecular HGSC classes associated with distinct functional behavior based on their gene expression patterns, biological networks, and pathways. An important difference revealed was that Class 1 is likely to exhibit cooperative cell migration (CCM), Class 2 undergoes epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), while Class 3 is possibly capable of both modes of migration. In the present study, we define clinical stratification of HGSC tumors through the establishment of standard operating procedures for immunohistochemistry and histochemistry based detection of a panel of biomarkers including TCF21, E-cadherin, PARP1, Slug, AnnexinA2, and hyaluronan. Further development and application of scoring guidelines based on expression of this panel in cell line-derived xenografts, commercial tissue microarrays, and patient tumors led to definitive stratification of samples. Biomarker expression was observed to vary significantly between primary and metastatic tumors suggesting class switching during disease progression. Another interesting feature in the study was of enhanced CCM-marker expression in tumors following disease progression and chemotherapy. These stratification principles and the new information thus generated is the first step towards class-specific personalized therapies in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swapnil C Kamble
- National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
- Department of Technology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Arijit Sen
- Department of Pathology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 411040, India.
| | - Rahul D Dhake
- Department of Histopathology, Inlaks and Budrani Hospital, Morbai Naraindas Cancer Institute, Koregaon Park, Pune 411001, India.
| | - Aparna N Joshi
- Department of Pathology, KEM Hospital, Pune 411011, India.
| | - Divya Midha
- Department of Oncopathology, Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata 700 156, India.
| | - Sharmila A Bapat
- National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
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18
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Mu Z, Dong D, Wei N, Sun M, Wang W, Shao Y, Gao J, Yin P, Zhao C. Silencing of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 Inhibits Cell Growth and Metastasis in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Oncol Res 2019; 27:653-661. [PMID: 30832752 PMCID: PMC7848283 DOI: 10.3727/096504018x15420748671075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The lncRNA AFAP1-AS1, oriented from an antisense direction to the protein-coding gene AFAP1 in the opposite strand, was upregulated in a variety of tumors and associated with poor prognosis, including lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and so on. However, the biological role of AFAP1-AS1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is still unknown. We observed that AFAP1-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues and that patients with high-level expression of AFAP1-AS1 had a shorter overall survival. Knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 markedly suppressed the progression of proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT in ccRCC cells. Downregulation of AFAP1-AS1 resulted in an increase in E-cadherin and a decrease in vimentin. Noticeably, we found that PTEN has a negative correlation with the lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 expression. Further studies verified that PTEN deficiency effectively attenuated the ability of AFAP1-AS1 in promoting ccRCC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT. Moreover, the similar biological response of silencing AFAP1-AS1 was observed in our ccRCC mice model. Knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 evidently suppressed tumor growth. Taken together, our results provide the evidences that silencing of AFAP1-AS1 inhibits cell proliferation, EMT, and metastasis through PTEN-dependent signaling, and our findings elucidate a novel potential therapeutic target or biomarker for the treatment of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyi Mu
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Dan Dong
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Ning Wei
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mingli Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Yue Shao
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Ping Yin
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Chenghai Zhao
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Shenyang, P.R. China
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19
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Du J, He Y, Wu W, Li P, Chen Y, Hu Z, Han Y. Targeting EphA2 with miR-124 mediates Erlotinib resistance in K-RAS mutated pancreatic cancer. J Pharm Pharmacol 2019; 71:196-205. [PMID: 30604411 DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Chemotheraputic drug resistance is a critical factor associated with the poor survival in advanced/metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC) patients. METHODS Human pancreatic cell lines Capan-1 and BXPC-3 were cultured with different concentrations of erlotinib (0, 10, 50, and 100 μm) for 48 h. The relative cell viability and apoptosis was detected using MTT assays and flow cytometry apoptosis analysis, respectively. Transfection of pcDNA-EphA2, si-EphA2 and miR-124 mimic/inhibitor was used to modulate the intracellular level of EphA2 and miR-124. The interaction between miR-124 and the 3'UTR of EphA2 was explored using dual luciferase reporter assay. KEY FINDINGS Compared with BXPC-3 cells, Capan-1 cells showed resistance to differential concentration treatment of erlotinib. The expression of EphA-2 was significantly increased and the expression of miR-124 was significantly decreased in Capan-1 cells. Overexpressing EphA2 induced resistance of BXPC-3 cells to erlotinib treatment. And EphA2 was identified as a novel target gene for miR-124. MiR-124 overexpression was able to sensitize the response of Capan-1 cells to erlotinib through inhibiting EphA2. Furthermore, both miR-124 overexpression and EphA2 inhibition sensitized Capan-1 cells to erlotinib in xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that EphA2 rescued by miR-124 downregulation conferred the erlotinib resistance of PC cell Capan-1 with K-RAS mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Du
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuanqiao He
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Weiquan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Youwei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhiming Hu
- People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yong Han
- People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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20
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Olson JL, Bold RJ. Currently available first-line drug therapies for treating pancreatic cancer. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2018; 19:1927-1940. [PMID: 30325679 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2018.1509954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the 9th most common cancer in the United States and the 4th most common cause of cancer-related death given its poor prognosis. AREAS COVERED The authors have performed a literature search for pertinent published clinical trials, ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials, and current treatment guidelines using PubMed, Clinicaltrials.gov, and NCCN, ASCO, ESMO, and JPS websites. The review itself discusses landmark studies and ongoing research into the chemotherapy regimens recommended by each oncologic society. The authors also examine drugs that were promising but failed in Phase 3 trials and those currently being investigated. Finally, the authors provide their expert opinion on the subject and provide their future perspectives. EXPERT OPINION While advances in chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer have been limited in comparison to other cancers, there have been improvements in survival. Combination therapy and a goal of R0 resection are key elements to extend life. Novel agents directed at the unique properties of pancreatic cancer are promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Olson
- a Division of Surgical Oncology , UC Davis Cancer Center , Sacramento , CA , USA
| | - Richard J Bold
- a Division of Surgical Oncology , UC Davis Cancer Center , Sacramento , CA , USA
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21
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Pancreatic cancer stem cells: A state or an entity? Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 53:223-231. [PMID: 30130664 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common type of pancreatic cancer, has a median overall survival of 6-12 months and a 5-year survival of less than 7%. While PDAC currently represents the 4th most frequent cause of death due to cancer worldwide, it is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. These alarming statistics are primarily due to both the inherent chemoresistant and metastatic nature of this tumor, and the existence of a subpopulation of highly plastic "stem"-like cells within the tumor, known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Since their discovery in PDAC in 2007, we have come to realize that pancreatic CSCs have unique metabolic, autophagic, invasive, and chemoresistance properties that allow them to continuously self-renew and escape chemo-therapeutic elimination. More importantly, the concept of the CSC as a fixed entity within the tumor has also evolved, and current data suggest that CSCs are states rather than defined entities. Consequently, current treatments for the majority of PDAC patients are not effective, and do not significantly impact overall patient survival, as they do not adequately target the plastic CSC sub-population nor the transient/hybrid cells that can replenish the CSC pool. Thus, it is necessary that we improve our understanding of the characteristics and signals that maintain and drive the pancreatic CSC population in order to develop new therapies to target these cells. Herein, we will provide the latest updates and knowledge on the inherent characteristics of pancreatic CSCs and the CSC niche, specifically the cross-talk that exists between CSCs and niche resident cells. Lastly, we will address the question of whether a CSC is a state or an entity and discuss how the answer to this question can impact treatment approaches.
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22
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Siregar P, Julen N, Hufnagl P, Mutter GL. Computational morphogenesis – Embryogenesis, cancer research and digital pathology. Biosystems 2018; 169-170:40-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2018.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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