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ter Linden E, Abels ER, van Solinge TS, Neefjes J, Broekman MLD. Overcoming Barriers in Glioblastoma-Advances in Drug Delivery Strategies. Cells 2024; 13:998. [PMID: 38920629 PMCID: PMC11201826 DOI: 10.3390/cells13120998] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The world of cancer treatment is evolving rapidly and has improved the prospects of many cancer patients. Yet, there are still many cancers where treatment prospects have not (or hardly) improved. Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor, and even though it is sensitive to many chemotherapeutics when tested under laboratory conditions, its clinical prospects are still very poor. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is considered at least partly responsible for the high failure rate of many promising treatment strategies. We describe the workings of the BBB during healthy conditions and within the glioblastoma environment. How the BBB acts as a barrier for therapeutic options is described as well as various approaches developed and tested for passing or opening the BBB, with the ultimate aim to allow access to brain tumors and improve patient perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther ter Linden
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (E.t.L.); (E.R.A.)
| | - Erik R. Abels
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (E.t.L.); (E.R.A.)
| | - Thomas S. van Solinge
- Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Jacques Neefjes
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (E.t.L.); (E.R.A.)
| | - Marike L. D. Broekman
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (E.t.L.); (E.R.A.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Haaglanden Medical Center, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
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Handl V, Waldherr L, Arbring Sjöström T, Abrahamsson T, Seitanidou M, Erschen S, Gorischek A, Bernacka-Wojcik I, Saarela H, Tomin T, Honeder SE, Distl J, Huber W, Asslaber M, Birner-Grünberger R, Schäfer U, Berggren M, Schindl R, Patz S, Simon DT, Ghaffari-Tabrizi-Wizsy N. Continuous iontronic chemotherapy reduces brain tumor growth in embryonic avian in vivo models. J Control Release 2024; 369:668-683. [PMID: 38548064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Local and long-lasting administration of potent chemotherapeutics is a promising therapeutic intervention to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy of hard-to-treat tumors such as the most lethal brain tumors, glioblastomas (GBM). However, despite high toxicity for GBM cells, potent chemotherapeutics such as gemcitabine (Gem) cannot be widely implemented as they do not efficiently cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). As an alternative method for continuous administration of Gem, we here operate freestanding iontronic pumps - "GemIPs" - equipped with a custom-synthesized ion exchange membrane (IEM) to treat a GBM tumor in an avian embryonic in vivo system. We compare GemIP treatment effects with a topical metronomic treatment and observe that a remarkable growth inhibition was only achieved with steady dosing via GemIPs. Daily topical drug administration (at the maximum dosage that was not lethal for the embryonic host organism) did not decrease tumor sizes, while both treatment regimes caused S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. We hypothesize that the pharmacodynamic effects generate different intratumoral drug concentration profiles for each technique, which causes this difference in outcome. We created a digital model of the experiment, which proposes a fast decay in the local drug concentration for the topical daily treatment, but a long-lasting high local concentration of Gem close to the tumor area with GemIPs. Continuous chemotherapy with iontronic devices opens new possibilities in cancer treatment: the long-lasting and highly local dosing of clinically available, potent chemotherapeutics to greatly enhance treatment efficiency without systemic side-effects. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Iontronic pumps (GemIPs) provide continuous and localized administration of the chemotherapeutic gemcitabine (Gem) for treating glioblastoma in vivo. By generating high and constant drug concentrations near the vascularized growing tumor, GemIPs offer an efficient and less harmful alternative to systemic administration. Continuous GemIP dosing resulted in remarkable growth inhibition, superior to daily topical Gem application at higher doses. Our digital modelling shows the advantages of iontronic chemotherapy in overcoming limitations of burst release and transient concentration profiles, and providing precise control over dosing profiles and local distribution. This technology holds promise for future implants, could revolutionize treatment strategies, and offers a new platform for studying the influence of timing and dosing dependencies of already-established drugs in the fight against hard-to-treat tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Handl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center - Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Linda Waldherr
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center - Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria, Auenbruggerplatz 30, 8036 Graz, Austria
| | - Theresia Arbring Sjöström
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Tobias Abrahamsson
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Seitanidou
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Sabine Erschen
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center - Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Astrid Gorischek
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center - Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Iwona Bernacka-Wojcik
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Helena Saarela
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Tamara Tomin
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Technische Universität Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sophie Elisabeth Honeder
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Technische Universität Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria; Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Joachim Distl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center - Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Waltraud Huber
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Division of Immunology, Research Unit CAM Lab, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Asslaber
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Grünberger
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Technische Universität Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria; Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ute Schäfer
- Research Unit for Experimental Neurotraumatology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Magnus Berggren
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Rainer Schindl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center - Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria, Auenbruggerplatz 30, 8036 Graz, Austria.
| | - Silke Patz
- Research Unit for Experimental Neurotraumatology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Daniel T Simon
- Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, 60174 Norrköping, Sweden.
| | - Nassim Ghaffari-Tabrizi-Wizsy
- Otto Loewi Research Center, Division of Immunology, Research Unit CAM Lab, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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Shaha S, Rodrigues D, Mitragotri S. Locoregional drug delivery for cancer therapy: Preclinical progress and clinical translation. J Control Release 2024; 367:737-767. [PMID: 38325716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Systemic drug delivery is the current clinically preferred route for cancer therapy. However, challenges associated with tumor localization and off-tumor toxic effects limit the clinical effectiveness of this route. Locoregional drug delivery is an emerging viable alternative to systemic therapies. With the improvement in real-time imaging technologies and tools for direct access to tumor lesions, the clinical applicability of locoregional drug delivery is becoming more prominent. Theoretically, locoregional treatments can bypass challenges faced by systemic drug delivery. Preclinically, locoregional delivery of drugs has demonstrated enhanced therapeutic efficacy with limited off-target effects while still yielding an abscopal effect. Clinically, an array of locoregional strategies is under investigation for the delivery of drugs ranging in target and size. Locoregional tumor treatment strategies can be classified into two main categories: 1) direct drug infusion via injection or implanted port and 2) extended drug elution via injected or implanted depot. The number of studies investigating locoregional drug delivery strategies for cancer treatment is rising exponentially, in both preclinical and clinical settings, with some approaches approved for clinical use. Here, we highlight key preclinical advances and the clinical relevance of such locoregional delivery strategies in the treatment of cancer. Furthermore, we critically analyze 949 clinical trials involving locoregional drug delivery and discuss emerging trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyog Shaha
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, MA 02134, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Danika Rodrigues
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, MA 02134, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samir Mitragotri
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Allston, MA 02134, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Zhao Y, Jia S, Zhang K, Zhang L. Serum cytokine levels and other associated factors as possible immunotherapeutic targets and prognostic indicators for lung cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1064616. [PMID: 36874133 PMCID: PMC9977806 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1064616] [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: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancer types and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all cancer incidences. Lung cancer therapy and prognosis largely depend on the disease's degree at the diagnosis time. Cytokines are soluble polypeptides that contribute to cell-to-cell communication, acting paracrine or autocrine on neighboring or distant cells. Cytokines are essential for developing neoplastic growth, but they are also known to operate as biological inducers following cancer therapy. Early indications are that inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-8 play a predictive role in lung cancer. Nevertheless, the biological significance of cytokine levels in lung cancer has not yet been investigated. This review aimed to assess the existing literature on serum cytokine levels and additional factors as potential immunotherapeutic targets and lung cancer prognostic indicators. Changes in serum cytokine levels have been identified as immunological biomarkers for lung cancer and predict the effectiveness of targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghao Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shengnan Jia
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Central Lab, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lian Zhang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Targeting the Axl and mTOR Pathway Synergizes Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy to Butylidenephthalide in a Recurrent GBM. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:3236058. [PMID: 35646111 PMCID: PMC9132698 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3236058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background. The role of inherent tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment in therapeutic resistance has been determined to be of importance for the better management of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Some studies have suggested that combined drugs with divergent mechanisms may be promising in treating recurrent GBM. Methods. Intracranial sustained (Z)-n-butylidenephthalide [(Z)-BP] delivery through Cerebraca Wafers (CWs) to eliminate unresectable brain tumors was combined with the administration of temozolomide (TMZ), pembrolizumab, and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells for treating a patient with recurrent glioblastoma. Neurological adverse events and wound healing delay were monitored for estimating tolerance and efficacy. Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology criteria were applied to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS); further, the molecular characteristics of GBM tissues were analyzed, and the underlying mechanism was investigated using primary culture. Results. Intracerebral (Z)-BP in residual tumors could not only inhibit cancer stem cells but also increase interferon gamma levels in serum, which then led to the regression of GBM and an immune-responsive microenvironment. Targeting receptor tyrosine kinases, including Axl and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) through (Z)-BP were determined to synergize CIK cells in the presence of pembrolizumab and TMZ in recurrent GBM. Therefore, this well-tolerated regimen could simultaneously block multiple cancer pathways, which allowed extended PFS and improved quality of life for 22 months. Conclusion. Given the several unique functions of (Z)-BP, greater sensitivity of chemotherapy and the synergism of pembrolizumab and CIK cells could have affected the excellent prognosis seen in this patient with recurrent GBM.
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