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Patrucco D, Cutrin JC, Longo DL, Botto E, Cong L, Aime S, Delli Castelli D. In Situ Insonation of Alkaline Buffer Containing Liposomes Leads to a Net Improvement of the Therapeutic Outcome in a Triple Negative Breast Cancer Murine Model. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301480. [PMID: 37709294 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301480] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is characterized by an acidic micro-environment. Acidic extracellular pH gives cancer cells an evolutionary advantage, hence, neutralization of the extracellular pH has been considered as a potential therapeutic strategy. To address the issue of systemic pH alteration, an approach based on the targeted delivery of the buffering solution to the tumor region is investigated. The method relies on the use of low frequency ultrasound and sono-sensitive liposomes loaded with buffers at alkaline pH (LipHUS). After the i.v. injection of LipHUS, the application of ultrasound (US) at the sites of the pathology induces a local increase of pH that results highly effective in i) inhibiting primary tumor growth, ii) reducing tumor recurrence after surgery, and iii) suppressing metastases' formation. The experiments are carried out on a triple negative breast cancer mouse model. The results obtained demonstrate that localized and triggered release of bicarbonate or PBS buffer from sonosensitive liposomes represents an efficient therapeutic tool for treating triple-negative breast cancer. This approach holds promise for potential clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyssy Patrucco
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Juan Carlos Cutrin
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Dario Livio Longo
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, Naples, 80145, Italy
| | - Elena Botto
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini (IBB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Tommaso De Amicis, 95, Naples, 80145, Italy
| | - Li Cong
- Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Silvio Aime
- IRCCS SDN, SYNLAB, Via Gianturco 113, Naples, 80143, Italy
| | - Daniela Delli Castelli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Science, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, Turin, 10126, Italy
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Zhang L, Feng Q, Wang J, Tan Z, Li Q, Ge M. Molecular basis and targeted therapy in thyroid cancer: Progress and opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188928. [PMID: 37257629 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignant tumor. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy are the standard TC treatment modalities. However, recurrence or tumor metastasis remains the main challenge in the management of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and radioiodine (RAI) radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). Several multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MKIs), or immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with MKIs, have emerged as novel therapies for controlling the progression of DTC, medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and ATC. Here, we discuss and summarize the molecular basis of TC, review molecularly targeted therapeutic drugs in clinical research, and explore potentially novel molecular therapeutic targets. We focused on the evaluation of current and recently emerging tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved for systemic therapy for TC, including lenvatinib, sorafenib and cabozantinib in DTC, vandetanib, cabozantinib, and RET-specific inhibitor (selpercatinib and pralsetinib) in MTC, combination dabrafenib with trametinib in ATC. In addition, we also discuss promising treatments that are in clinical trials and may be incorporated into clinical practice in the future, briefly describe the resistance mechanisms of targeted therapies, emphasizing that personalized medicine is critical to the design of second-line therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhuo Zhang
- Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Qingqing Feng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
| | - Jiafeng Wang
- Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Zhuo Tan
- Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China.
| | - Qinglin Li
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China.
| | - Minghua Ge
- Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China.
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Hao J, Liu T, Xiu Y, Yuan H, Xu D. High DNA methylation age deceleration defines an aggressive phenotype with immunoexclusion environments in endometrial carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1208223. [PMID: 37388735 PMCID: PMC10303802 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1208223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Like telomere shortening, global DNA hypomethylation occurs progressively with cellular divisions or in vivo aging and functions as a mitotic clock to restrain malignant transformation/progression. Several DNA-methylation (DNAm) age clocks have been established to precisely predict chronological age using normal tissues, but show DNAm age drift in tumors, which suggests disruption of this mitotic clock during carcinogenesis. Little is known about DNAm age alterations and biological/clinical implications in endometrial cancer (EC). Here we address these issues by analyzing TCGA and GSE67116 cohorts of ECs. Horvath clock analysis of these tumors unexpectedly revealed that almost 90% of them exhibited DNAm age deceleration (DNAmad) compared to patient chronological age. Combined with an additional clock named Phenoage, we identified a subset of tumors (82/429) with high DNAmad (hDNAmad+) as assessed by both clocks. Clinically, hDNAmad+ tumors were associated with advanced diseases and shorter patient survival, compared to hDNAmad- ones. Genetically, hDNAmad+ tumors were characterized by higher copy number alterations (CNAs) whereas lower tumor mutation burden. Functionally, hDNAmad+ tumors were enriched with cell cycle and DNA mismatch repair pathways. Increased PIK3CA alterations and downregulation of SCGB2A1, the inhibitor of PI3K kinase, in hDNAmad+ tumors, might promote tumor growth/proliferation and stemness. In addition, the inactivation of aging drivers/tumor suppressors (TP53, RB1, and CDKN2A) while enhanced telomere maintenance occurred more frequently in hDNAmad+ tumors, which supports sustained tumor growth. Prominently, hDNAmad+ tumors were featured with immunoexclusion microenvironments, accompanied by significantly higher levels of VTCN1 expression while lower PD-L1 and CTLA4 expression, which indicates their poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based immunotherapy. We further showed significantly higher levels of DNMT3A and 3B expression in hDNAmad+ than in hDNAmad- tumors. Thus, the tumor suppressive function of aging-like DNA hypomethylation is severely impaired in hDNAmad+ tumors, likely due to enhanced expression of DNMT3A/3B and dysregulated aging regulators. Our findings not only enrich biological knowledge of EC pathogenesis but also help improve EC risk stratification and precision ICI immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Biomarker and Artificial Intelligence Application, Jinan, China
| | - Tiantian Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yuchen Xiu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Huiyang Yuan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
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Landa I. Advances in Thyroid Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14122908. [PMID: 35740572 PMCID: PMC9221251 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14122908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
"Thyroid cancer" encompasses a heterogeneous group of tumors that range from the predominant papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) subtype, which shows excellent survival rates, to the poorly differentiated (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) forms, accounting for most of the disease-related morbidity and mortality [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Landa
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Ryznar RJ, Phibbs L, Onat E, Van Winkle LJ. Epigenetic Regulation of Development, Cellular Differentiation, and Disease Progression/Protection in Adults. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121907. [PMID: 35741035 PMCID: PMC9221476 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Ryznar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO 80134, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Lacie Phibbs
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO 80134, USA; (L.P.); (E.O.)
| | - Erin Onat
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO 80134, USA; (L.P.); (E.O.)
| | - Lon J. Van Winkle
- Department of Medical Humanities, Rocky Vista University, 8401 S. Chambers Road, Parker, CO 80112, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
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Downregulation and Hypermethylation of GABPB1 Is Associated with Aggressive Thyroid Cancer Features. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061385. [PMID: 35326537 PMCID: PMC8946831 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Promoter mutations of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene have been suggested as an oncogenic event in various cancers, including thyroid cancer (TC). GABPB1 is reported to activate TERT gene expression and has been proposed as a cancer therapeutic target. The aim of this study is to explore the fate of TC cells after disruption of GABPB1 and its role in TC. We found that besides the reported oncogenic role of GABPB1 in activating TERT, it also has tumor-suppressive functions in TC. Therefore, targeting GABPB1 for cancer therapy should be cautious since it may counteract its tumor-suppressive functions. Abstract Promoter mutations of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene occur frequently in thyroid carcinoma (TC), including papillary (PTC) and anaplastic subtypes (ATC). Given that the ETS family transcription factors GABPA and GABPB1 activate the mutant TERT promoter and induce TERT expression for telomerase activation, GABPB1 has been proposed as a cancer therapeutic target to inhibit telomerase. Here, we sought to determine the role of GABPB1 in TC pathogenesis. In TC-derived cells carrying the mutated TERT promoter, GABPB1 knockdown led to diminished TERT expression but significantly increased invasive potentials in vitro and metastatic potential in a xenograft zebrafish model and altered expression of markers for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. GABPB1 expression was downregulated in aggressive TCs. Low GABPB1 expression correlated with its promoter hypermethylation, which in turn was also associated with shorter disease-free survival. Consistently, DNA methylation inhibitors enhanced GABPB1 expression, as observed upon reduced promoter methylation. Our results suggest that GABPB1 is required for TERT expression and telomerase activation, but itself serves as a tumor suppressor to inhibit TC progression. Furthermore, aberrant DNA methylation leads to GABPB1 silencing, thereby promoting TC aggressiveness. Thus, caution is needed if targeting GABPB1 for cancer therapy is considered.
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