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Digifico E, Erreni M, Mannarino L, Marchini S, Ummarino A, Anfray C, Bertola L, Recordati C, Pistillo D, Roncalli M, Bossi P, Zucali PA, D’Incalci M, Belgiovine C, Allavena P. Important functional role of the protein osteopontin in the progression of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1116430. [PMID: 37398648 PMCID: PMC10312076 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1116430] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer of the mesothelial lining associated with exposure to airborne non-degradable asbestos fibers. Its poor response to currently available treatments prompted us to explore the biological mechanisms involved in its progression. MPM is characterized by chronic non-resolving inflammation; in this study we investigated which inflammatory mediators are mostly expressed in biological tumor samples from MPM patients, with a focus on inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and matrix components. Methods Expression and quantification of Osteopontin (OPN) was detected in tumor and plasma samples of MPM patients by mRNA, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The functional role of OPN was investigated in mouse MPM cell lines in vivo using an orthotopic syngeneic mouse model. Results In patients with MPM, the protein OPN was significantly more expressed in tumors than in normal pleural tissues and predominantly produced by mesothelioma cells; plasma levels were elevated in patients and associated with poor prognosis. However, modulation of OPN levels was not significantly different in a series of 18 MPM patients receiving immunotherapy with durvalumab alone or with pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy, some of whom achieved a partial clinical response. Two established murine mesothelioma cell lines: AB1 and AB22 of sarcomatoid and epithelioid histology, respectively, spontaneously produced high levels of OPN. Silencing of the OPN gene (Spp1) dramatically inhibited tumor growth in vivo in an orthotopic model, indicating that OPN has an important promoting role in the proliferation of MPM cells. Treatment of mice with anti-CD44 mAb, blocking a major OPN receptor, significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion These results demonstrate that OPN is an endogenous growth factor for mesothelial cells and inhibition of its signaling may be helpful to restrain tumor progression in vivo. These findings have translational potential to improve the therapeutic response of human MPM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Erreni
- Unit of Advanced Optical Microscopy, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Mannarino
- Lab. Cancer Pharmacology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
- Department Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
| | - Sergio Marchini
- Lab. Cancer Pharmacology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Aldo Ummarino
- Department Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
| | - Clément Anfray
- Department Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Bertola
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Lab., Fondazione Unimi, and Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Camilla Recordati
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Lab., Fondazione Unimi, and Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milano, Lodi, Italy
| | - Daniela Pistillo
- Biobank, Humanitas IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Roncalli
- Department Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Bossi
- Department Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Andrea Zucali
- Department Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
- Department Oncology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
| | - Maurizio D’Incalci
- Lab. Cancer Pharmacology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano, Italy
- Department Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Paola Allavena
- Department Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milano, Italy
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Xu JJ, Lucero MY, Herndon NL, Lee MC, Chan J. Comparison of a Minimally Invasive Transthoracic Approach and a Surgical Method for Intrapleural Injection of Tumor Cells in Mice. Comp Med 2023; 73:120-126. [PMID: 36922006 PMCID: PMC10162381 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-22-000044] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Intrapleural injections can be used in mice to deliver therapeutic and diagnostic agents and to model human disease processes (for example, pleural fluid accumulation, malignant pleural disease, and lung cancers). In the context of establishing cancer models, minimally invasive methods of intrapleural injection are desirable because inflammation at the injection site can have a major impact on tumor growth and progression. Common approaches for intrapleural injection include surgical exposure of the thoracic wall or the diaphragm prior to injection; however, these invasive procedures require tissue dissection that triggers an undesirable inflammatory response and increases the risk of pneumothorax. While nonsurgical procedures can minimize this concern, 'blind' injections may lead to off target inoculation. In this study, we hypothesized that a minimally invasive transthoracic approach (MI-TT) would produce a tumor distribution and burden similar to that of a surgical transabdominal approach (SX-TA). Prior to performing the procedures on live mice, surgeons were trained using cadavers and terminal procedures. Then a total of 14 nude mice (female, 4 to 6 wk old) were injected with 50 μL (5 million) A549-Luc2 human cancer cells either using the MI-TT (n = 8) or SX-TA (n = 6) approach under carprofen analgesia and isoflurane anesthesia. Our results indicate that with training, a minimally invasive transthoracic approach for intrapleural injection provides more consistent tumor placement and a greater tumor burden than does the surgical method. However, additional studies are necessary to confirm anatomic placement and characterize tumor profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Jessica Xu
- Division of Animal Resources
- Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, and
| | - Melissa Y Lucero
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Nicole L Herndon
- Division of Animal Resources
- Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, and
| | - Michael C Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
| | - Jefferson Chan
- Department of Chemistry, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
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Shamseddin M, Obacz J, Garnett MJ, Rintoul RC, Francies HE, Marciniak SJ. Use of preclinical models for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Thorax 2021; 76:1154-1162. [PMID: 33692175 PMCID: PMC8526879 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-216602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer most commonly caused by prior exposure to asbestos. Median survival is 12-18 months, since surgery is ineffective and chemotherapy offers minimal benefit. Preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate the genomic and histopathological features of cancer are critical for the development of new treatments. The most commonly used models of MPM are two-dimensional cell lines established from primary tumours or pleural fluid. While these have provided some important insights into MPM biology, these cell models have significant limitations. In order to address some of these limitations, spheroids and microfluidic chips have more recently been used to investigate the role of the three-dimensional environment in MPM. Efforts have also been made to develop animal models of MPM, including asbestos-induced murine tumour models, MPM-prone genetically modified mice and patient-derived xenografts. Here, we discuss the available in vitro and in vivo models of MPM and highlight their strengths and limitations. We discuss how newer technologies, such as the tumour-derived organoids, might allow us to address the limitations of existing models and aid in the identification of effective treatments for this challenging-to-treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Shamseddin
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Joanna Obacz
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Mathew J Garnett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Robert Campbell Rintoul
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | | | - Stefan John Marciniak
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
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