1
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Brown BA, Myers PJ, Adair SJ, Pitarresi JR, Sah-Teli SK, Campbell LA, Hart WS, Barbeau MC, Leong K, Seyler N, Kane W, Lee KE, Stelow E, Jones M, Simon MC, Koivunen P, Bauer TW, Stanger BZ, Lazzara MJ. A Histone Methylation-MAPK Signaling Axis Drives Durable Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Hypoxic Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1764-1780. [PMID: 38471099 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) plays a key role in tumor progression and response to therapy. The dense PDAC stroma causes hypovascularity, which leads to hypoxia. Here, we showed that hypoxia drives long-lasting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC primarily through a positive-feedback histone methylation-MAPK signaling axis. Transformed cells preferentially underwent EMT in hypoxic tumor regions in multiple model systems. Hypoxia drove a cell autonomous EMT in PDAC cells, which, unlike EMT in response to growth factors, could last for weeks. Furthermore, hypoxia reduced histone demethylase KDM2A activity, suppressed PP2 family phosphatase expression, and activated MAPKs to post-translationally stabilize histone methyltransferase NSD2, leading to an H3K36me2-dependent EMT in which hypoxia-inducible factors played only a supporting role. Hypoxia-driven EMT could be antagonized in vivo by combinations of MAPK inhibitors. Collectively, these results suggest that hypoxia promotes durable EMT in PDAC by inducing a histone methylation-MAPK axis that can be effectively targeted with multidrug therapies, providing a potential strategy for overcoming chemoresistance. SIGNIFICANCE Integrated regulation of histone methylation and MAPK signaling by the low-oxygen environment of pancreatic cancer drives long-lasting EMT that promotes chemoresistance and shortens patient survival and that can be pharmacologically inhibited. See related commentary by Wirth and Schneider, p. 1739.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke A Brown
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Paul J Myers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Sara J Adair
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shiv K Sah-Teli
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Logan A Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William S Hart
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | | | - Kelsey Leong
- Engineering Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Nicholas Seyler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - William Kane
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Kyoung Eun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Edward Stelow
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Marieke Jones
- Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Peppi Koivunen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Biocenter Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Todd W Bauer
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew J Lazzara
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
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2
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Sanchez-de-Diego C, Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Hermes B, Juang TD, Juang DS, Riendeau J, Guzman EC, Reed-McBain CA, Abizanda-Campo S, Patel J, Hess NJ, Skala MC, Beebe DJ, Ayuso JM. Griddient: a microfluidic array to generate reconfigurable gradients on-demand for spatial biology applications. Commun Biol 2023; 6:925. [PMID: 37689746 PMCID: PMC10492845 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05282-3] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological tissues are highly organized structures where spatial-temporal gradients (e.g., nutrients, hypoxia, cytokines) modulate multiple physiological and pathological processes including inflammation, tissue regeneration, embryogenesis, and cancer progression. Current in vitro technologies struggle to capture the complexity of these transient microenvironmental gradients, do not provide dynamic control over the gradient profile, are complex and poorly suited for high throughput applications. Therefore, we have designed Griddent, a user-friendly platform with the capability of generating controllable and reversible gradients in a 3D microenvironment. Our platform consists of an array of 32 microfluidic chambers connected to a 384 well-array through a diffusion port at the bottom of each reservoir well. The diffusion ports are optimized to ensure gradient stability and facilitate manual micropipette loading. This platform is compatible with molecular and functional spatial biology as well as optical and fluorescence microscopy. In this work, we have used this platform to study cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sanchez-de-Diego
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Brock Hermes
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Terry D Juang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Duane S Juang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jeremiah Riendeau
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N, Orchard street, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Catherine A Reed-McBain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sara Abizanda-Campo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Janmesh Patel
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nicholas J Hess
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Melissa C Skala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N, Orchard street, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jose M Ayuso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
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3
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Zhang H, Cao K, Xiang J, Zhang M, Zhu M, Xi Q. Hypoxia induces immunosuppression, metastasis and drug resistance in pancreatic cancers. Cancer Lett 2023; 571:216345. [PMID: 37558084 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive system and is known as the "king of cancers". It is extremely difficult to diagnose at an early stage, the disease progresses rapidly, and the effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor, so the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients is very poor. Numerous studies have suggested that hypoxia is closely related to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. Inadequate blood supply and desmoplasia in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer can result in its extreme hypoxia. This hypoxic microenvironment can further contribute to angiogenesis and desmoplasia. Hypoxia is mediated by the complex hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathway and plays an important role in the formation of a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment and the metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Further work on the hypoxic microenvironment will help clarify the specific mechanisms of the role of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer and provide a basis for the realization of hypoxia-targeted therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Kailei Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jingrong Xiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengxin Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qinhua Xi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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4
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Huang R, Hammelef E, Sabitsky M, Ream C, Khalilieh S, Zohar N, Lavu H, Bowne WB, Yeo CJ, Nevler A. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated with Worse Oncologic Outcomes in Early-Stage Resected Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancers. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1684. [PMID: 37371779 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the 3rd leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. Hypoxic and hypercapnic tumor microenvironments have been suggested to promote tumor aggressiveness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and oncologic survival outcomes in patients with early-stage PDAC and periampullary cancers. In this case-control study, patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy during 2014-2021 were assessed. Demographic, perioperative, histologic, and oncologic data were collected. A total of 503 PDAC and periampullary adenocarcinoma patients were identified, 257 males and 246 females, with a mean age of 68.1 (±9.8) years and a mean pre-operative BMI of 26.6 (±4.7) kg/m2. Fifty-two percent of patients (N = 262) reported a history of smoking. A total of 42 patients (8.3%) had COPD. The average resected tumor size was 2.9 ± 1.4 cm and 65% of the specimens (N = 329) were positive for lymph-node involvement. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that COPD was associated with worse overall and disease-specific survival (p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed COPD to be an independent prognostic factor (HR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3, p = 0.039) along with margin status, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion (p < 0.05 each). A 1:3 nearest neighbor propensity score matching was also employed and revealed COPD to be an independent risk factor for overall and disease-specific survival (OR 1.8 and OR 1.6, respectively; p < 0.05 each). These findings may support the rationale posed by in vitro laboratory studies, suggesting an important impact of hypoxic and hypercapnic tumor respiratory microenvironments in promoting therapy resistance in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Huang
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Emma Hammelef
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Matthew Sabitsky
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Carolyn Ream
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Saed Khalilieh
- Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Nitzan Zohar
- Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Harish Lavu
- Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Wilbur B Bowne
- Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Charles J Yeo
- Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Avinoam Nevler
- Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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5
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Palma AM, Vudatha V, Peixoto ML, Madan E. Tumor heterogeneity: An oncogenic driver of PDAC progression and therapy resistance under stress conditions. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 159:203-249. [PMID: 37268397 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a clinically challenging disease usually diagnosed at advanced or metastasized stage. By this year end, there are an expected increase in 62,210 new cases and 49,830 deaths in the United States, with 90% corresponding to PDAC subtype alone. Despite advances in cancer therapy, one of the major challenges combating PDAC remains tumor heterogeneity between PDAC patients and within the primary and metastatic lesions of the same patient. This review describes the PDAC subtypes based on the genomic, transcriptional, epigenetic, and metabolic signatures observed among patients and within individual tumors. Recent studies in tumor biology suggest PDAC heterogeneity as a major driver of disease progression under conditions of stress including hypoxia and nutrient deprivation, leading to metabolic reprogramming. We therefore advance our understanding in identifying the underlying mechanisms that interfere with the crosstalk between the extracellular matrix components and tumor cells that define the mechanics of tumor growth and metastasis. The bilateral interaction between the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment and PDAC cells serves as another important contributor that characterizes the tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing phenotypes providing an opportunity for an effective treatment regime. Furthermore, we highlight the dynamic reciprocating interplay between the stromal and immune cells that impact immune surveillance or immune evasion response and contribute towards a complex process of tumorigenesis. In summary, the review encapsulates the existing knowledge of the currently applied treatments for PDAC with emphasis on tumor heterogeneity, manifesting at multiple levels, impacting disease progression and therapy resistance under stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vignesh Vudatha
- Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | | | - Esha Madan
- Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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6
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Park SJ, Yoo HC, Ahn E, Luo E, Kim Y, Sung Y, Yu YC, Kim K, Min DS, Lee HS, Hwang GS, Ahn T, Choi J, Bang S, Han JM. Enhanced Glutaminolysis Drives Hypoxia-Induced Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2023; 83:735-752. [PMID: 36594876 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits severe hypoxia, which is associated with chemoresistance and worse patient outcome. It has been reported that hypoxia induces metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. However, it is not well known whether metabolic reprogramming contributes to hypoxia. Here, we established that increased glutamine catabolism is a fundamental mechanism inducing hypoxia, and thus chemoresistance, in PDAC cells. An extracellular matrix component-based in vitro three-dimensional cell printing model with patient-derived PDAC cells that recapitulate the hypoxic status in PDAC tumors showed that chemoresistant PDAC cells exhibit markedly enhanced glutamine catabolism compared with chemoresponsive PDAC cells. The augmented glutamine metabolic flux increased the oxygen consumption rate via mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), promoting hypoxia and hypoxia-induced chemoresistance. Targeting glutaminolysis relieved hypoxia and improved chemotherapy efficacy in vitro and in vivo. This work suggests that targeting the glutaminolysis-OXPHOS-hypoxia axis is a novel therapeutic target for treating patients with chemoresistant PDAC. SIGNIFICANCE Increased glutaminolysis induces hypoxia via oxidative phosphorylation-mediated oxygen consumption and drives chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer, revealing a potential therapeutic strategy of combining glutaminolysis inhibition and chemotherapy to overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Joon Park
- Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated OMICS for Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hee Chan Yoo
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Eunyong Ahn
- Integrated Metabolomics Research Group, Western Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Enzhi Luo
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Yeabeen Kim
- Department of Life Science, Handong Global University, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Yulseung Sung
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Ya Chun Yu
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Kibum Kim
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Do Sik Min
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hee Seung Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Geum-Sook Hwang
- Integrated Metabolomics Research Group, Western Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, South Korea
| | - TaeJin Ahn
- Department of Life Science, Handong Global University, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Junjeong Choi
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Seungmin Bang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung Min Han
- Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated OMICS for Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
- Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, South Korea
- POSTECH Biotech Center, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
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7
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Gardner HL, Fenger JM, Roberts RD, London CA. Characterizing the metabolic role of STAT3 in canine osteosarcoma. Vet Comp Oncol 2022; 20:817-824. [PMID: 35608271 PMCID: PMC9669091 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12841] [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: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) dysregulation has been characterized in canine OS, with previous data suggesting that constitutive STAT3 activation contributes to survival and proliferation in OS cell lines in vitro. Recently, the contribution of STAT3 to tumour metabolism has been described across several tumour histologies, and understanding the metabolic implications of STAT3 loss may elucidate novel therapeutic approaches with synergistic activity. The objective of this work was to characterize metabolic benchmarks associated with STAT3 loss in canine OS. STAT3 expression and activation was evaluated using western blotting in canine OS cell lines OSCA8 and Abrams. STAT3 was deleted from these OS cell lines using CRISPR-Cas9, and the effects on proliferation, invasion and metabolism (respirometry, intracellular lactate) were determined. Loss of STAT3 was associated with decreased basal and compensatory glycolysis in canine OS cell lines, without modulation of cellular proliferation. Loss of STAT3 also resulted in diminished invasive capacity in vitro. Interestingly, the absence of STAT3 did not impact sensitivity to doxorubicin in vitro. Our data demonstrate that loss of STAT3 modulates features of aerobic glycolysis in canine OS impacting capacities for cellular invasions, suggesting a role for this transcription factor in metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L. Gardner
- Cummings School of Veterinary MedicineTufts UniversityNorth GraftonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Joelle M. Fenger
- College of Veterinary MedicineThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA,Present address:
Ethos Veterinary Health and Ethos Discovery (501c3)WoburnMassachusettsUSA
| | - Ryan D. Roberts
- Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Cheryl A. London
- Cummings School of Veterinary MedicineTufts UniversityNorth GraftonMassachusettsUSA
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8
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Guillot J, Dominici C, Lucchesi A, Nguyen HTT, Puget A, Hocine M, Rangel-Sosa MM, Simic M, Nigri J, Guillaumond F, Bigonnet M, Dusetti N, Perrot J, Lopez J, Etzerodt A, Lawrence T, Pudlo P, Hubert F, Scoazec JY, van de Pavert SA, Tomasini R, Chauvet S, Mann F. Sympathetic axonal sprouting induces changes in macrophage populations and protects against pancreatic cancer. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1985. [PMID: 35418199 PMCID: PMC9007988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29659-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal nerve processes in the tumor microenvironment were highlighted recently. However, the origin of intra-tumoral nerves remains poorly known, in part because of technical difficulties in tracing nerve fibers via conventional histological preparations. Here, we employ three-dimensional (3D) imaging of cleared tissues for a comprehensive analysis of sympathetic innervation in a murine model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Our results support two independent, but coexisting, mechanisms: passive engulfment of pre-existing sympathetic nerves within tumors plus an active, localized sprouting of axon terminals into non-neoplastic lesions and tumor periphery. Ablation of the innervating sympathetic nerves increases tumor growth and spread. This effect is explained by the observation that sympathectomy increases intratumoral CD163+ macrophage numbers, which contribute to the worse outcome. Altogether, our findings provide insights into the mechanisms by which the sympathetic nervous system exerts cancer-protective properties in a mouse model of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Huyen Thi Trang Nguyen
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IBDM, Marseille, France
- University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), VAST, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | | | | | - Milesa Simic
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Jérémy Nigri
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Fabienne Guillaumond
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Martin Bigonnet
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Nelson Dusetti
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Jimmy Perrot
- Department of Anatomopathology, Lyon Sud University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jonathan Lopez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon Sud University Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Faculty of Medicine Lyon-Est, Lyon 1 University, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Lyon, France
| | - Anders Etzerodt
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
- Department of Biomedecine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Toby Lawrence
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, CIML, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Pudlo
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, I2M, Marseille, France
| | - Florence Hubert
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, I2M, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Yves Scoazec
- Department of Pathology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Richard Tomasini
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | | | - Fanny Mann
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IBDM, Marseille, France.
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9
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Kahn BM, Lucas A, Alur RG, Wengyn MD, Schwartz GW, Li J, Sun K, Maurer HC, Olive KP, Faryabi RB, Stanger BZ. The vascular landscape of human cancer. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:136655. [PMID: 33258803 DOI: 10.1172/jci136655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors depend on a blood supply to deliver oxygen and nutrients, making tumor vasculature an attractive anticancer target. However, only a fraction of patients with cancer benefit from angiogenesis inhibitors. Whether antiangiogenic therapy would be more effective if targeted to individuals with specific tumor characteristics is unknown. To better characterize the tumor vascular environment both within and between cancer types, we developed a standardized metric - the endothelial index (EI) - to estimate vascular density in over 10,000 human tumors, corresponding to 31 solid tumor types, from transcriptome data. We then used this index to compare hyper- and hypovascular tumors, enabling the classification of human tumors into 6 vascular microenvironment signatures (VMSs) based on the expression of a panel of 24 vascular "hub" genes. The EI and VMS correlated with known tumor vascular features and were independently associated with prognosis in certain cancer types. Retrospective testing of clinical trial data identified VMS2 classification as a powerful biomarker for response to bevacizumab. Thus, we believe our studies provide an unbiased picture of human tumor vasculature that may enable more precise deployment of antiangiogenesis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Kahn
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
| | - Alfredo Lucas
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
| | - Rohan G Alur
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
| | - Maximillian D Wengyn
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
| | - Gregory W Schwartz
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, and.,Department of Cancer Biology Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
| | - Kathryn Sun
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
| | - H Carlo Maurer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Liver Diseases and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kenneth P Olive
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Liver Diseases and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert B Faryabi
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.,Penn Epigenetics Institute, and.,Department of Cancer Biology Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.,Abramson Cancer Center
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10
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Pancreatic cancer cachexia: three dimensions of a complex syndrome. Br J Cancer 2021; 124:1623-1636. [PMID: 33742145 PMCID: PMC8110983 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01301-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome that is characterised by a loss of skeletal muscle mass, is commonly associated with adipose tissue wasting and malaise, and responds poorly to therapeutic interventions. Although cachexia can affect patients who are severely ill with various malignant or non-malignant conditions, it is particularly common among patients with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer often leads to the development of cachexia through a combination of distinct factors, which, together, explain its high prevalence and clinical importance in this disease: systemic factors, including metabolic changes and pathogenic signals related to the tumour biology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma; factors resulting from the disruption of the digestive and endocrine functions of the pancreas; and factors related to the close anatomical and functional connection of the pancreas with the gut. In this review, we conceptualise the various insights into the mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer cachexia according to these three dimensions to expose its particular complexity and the challenges that face clinicians in trying to devise therapeutic interventions.
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11
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Stellate Cells Aid Growth-Permissive Metabolic Reprogramming and Promote Gemcitabine Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040601. [PMID: 33546284 PMCID: PMC7913350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The great majority, more than 90%, of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) die within less than five years after detection of the disease, despite recent treatment advances. The poor prognosis is related to late diagnosis, aggressive disease progression, and tumor resistance to conventional chemotherapy. PDAC tumor tissue is characterized by dense fibrosis and poor nutrient availability. A large portion of the tumor is made up of stromal fibroblasts, the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which are known to contribute to tumor progression in several ways. PSCs have been shown to act as an alternate energy source, induce drug resistance, and inhibit drug availability in tumor cells, however, the underlying exact molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In this literature review, we discuss recent available knowledge about the contributions of PSCs to the overall progression of PDAC via changes in tumor metabolism and how this is linked to therapy resistance. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), also known as pancreatic cancer (PC), is characterized by an overall poor prognosis and a five-year survival that is less than 10%. Characteristic features of the tumor are the presence of a prominent desmoplastic stromal response, an altered metabolism, and profound resistance to cancer drugs including gemcitabine, the backbone of PDAC chemotherapy. The pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) constitute the major cellular component of PDAC stroma. PSCs are essential for extracellular matrix assembly and form a supportive niche for tumor growth. Various cytokines and growth factors induce activation of PSCs through autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, which in turn promote overall tumor growth and metastasis and induce chemoresistance. To maintain growth and survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic environment of PDAC, tumor cells fulfill their high energy demands via several unconventional ways, a process generally referred to as metabolic reprogramming. Accumulating evidence indicates that activated PSCs not only contribute to the therapy-resistant phenotype of PDAC but also act as a nutrient supplier for the tumor cells. However, the precise molecular links between metabolic reprogramming and an acquired therapy resistance in PDAC remain elusive. This review highlights recent findings indicating the importance of PSCs in aiding growth-permissive metabolic reprogramming and gemcitabine chemoresistance in PDAC.
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12
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Serum Metabolomic Analysis of Feline Mammary Carcinomas based on LC-MS and MRM Techniques. J Vet Res 2020; 64:581-588. [PMID: 33367148 PMCID: PMC7734693 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2020-0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction To date, there have been no panoramic studies of the serum metabolome in feline mammary carcinoma. As the first such study, metabolomics techniques were used to analyse the serum of cats with these tumours. Three important metabolic pathways of screened differential metabolites closely related to feline mammary carcinomas were analysed to lay a theoretical basis for further study of the pathogenesis of these carcinomas. Material and Methods Blood in a 5-8 mL volume was sampled from twelve cats of the same breed and similar age (close to nine years on average). Six were feline mammary carcinoma patients and six were healthy. L glutamate, L alanine, succinate, adenine, hypoxanthine, and inosine were screened as were alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, the tricarboxylid acid (TCA) cycle, and purine metabolism. Data were acquired with LC-MS non-target metabolomics, multiple reaction monitoring target metabolomics, and multivariate statistical and bioinformatic analysis. Results Expression of five of the metabolites was upregulated and only inosine expression was downregulated. Up- and downregulation of metabolites related to glycometabolism, potentiation of the TCA cycle, greater content of lipid mobilisation metabolites, and abnormality of amino acid metabolism were closely related to the occurrence of the carcinomas. Conclusion These findings provide a new direction for further study of the mechanisms associated with cat mammary neoplasms.
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13
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Lim CH, Cho YS, Choi JY, Lee KH, Lee JK, Min JH, Hyun SH. Imaging phenotype using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-based radiomics and genetic alterations of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2020; 47:2113-2122. [PMID: 32002592 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-04698-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to determine if major gene mutations including in KRAS, SMAD4, TP53, and CDKN2A were related to imaging phenotype using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)-based radiomics in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS Data on 48 PDAC patients with pretreatment FDG PET/CT who underwent genomic analysis of their tumor tissue were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 35 unique quantitative radiomic features were extracted from PET images, including imaging phenotypes such as pixel intensity, shape, and textural features. Targeted exome sequencing using a customized cancer panel was used for genomic analysis. To assess the predictive performance of genetic alteration using PET-based radiomics, areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used. RESULTS Mutation frequencies were KRAS 87.5%, TP53 70.8%, SMAD4 25.0%, and CDKN2A 18.8%. KRAS gene mutations were significantly associated with low-intensity textural features, including long-run emphasis (AUC = 0.806), zone emphasis (AUC = 0.794), and large-zone emphasis (AUC = 0.829). SMAD4 gene mutations showed significant relationships with standardized uptake value skewness (AUC = 0.727), long-run emphasis (AUC = 0.692), and high-intensity textural features such as run emphasis (AUC = 0.775), short-run emphasis (AUC = 0.736), zone emphasis (AUC = 0.750), and short-zone emphasis (AUC = 0.725). No significant associations were seen between the imaging phenotypes and genetic alterations in TP53 and CDKN2A. CONCLUSION Genetic alterations of KRAS and SMAD4 had significant associations with FDG PET-based radiomic features in PDAC. PET-based radiomics may help clinicians predict genetic alteration status in a noninvasive way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chae Hong Lim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Young Seok Cho
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Joon Young Choi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Han Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea
| | - Jong Kyun Lee
- Department of Gastroenterology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Hye Min
- Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Hyup Hyun
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.
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Das B, Senapati S. Functional and mechanistic studies reveal MAGEA3 as a pro-survival factor in pancreatic cancer cells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:294. [PMID: 31287009 PMCID: PMC6615156 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1272-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background In the era of personalized therapy, functional annotation of less frequent genetic aberrations will be instrumental in adapting effective therapeutic in clinic. Overexpression of Melanoma associated antigen A3 (MAGEA3) is reported in certain pancreatic cancer (PCA) patients. The major objective of the current study was to investigate the functional role of MAGEA3 in pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) growth and survival. Methods Using overexpression (tet-on regulated system and constitutive expression system) and knockdown (by siRNA and shRNA) approach, we dissected the mechanistic role of MAGEA3 in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis. We generated MAGEA3 expressing stable PCA cell lines and mouse primary pancreatic epithelial cells. MAGEA3 was also depleted in certain MAGEA3 positive PCCs by siRNA or shRNA. The stable cells were subjected to in vitro assays like proliferation and survival assays under growth factor deprivation or in the presence of cytotoxic drugs. The MAGEA3 overexpressing or depleted stable PCCs were evaluated in vivo using xenograft model to check the role of MAGEA3 in tumor progression. We also dissected the mechanism behind the MAGEA3 role in tumor progression using western blot analysis and CCL2 neutralization. Results MAGEA3 overexpression in PCA cells did not alter the cell proliferation but protected the cells during growth factor deprivation and also in the presence of cytotoxic drugs. However, depletion of MAGEA3 in MAGEA3 positive cells resulted in reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis upon growth factor deprivation and also in response to cytotoxic drugs. The in vivo xenograft study revealed that overexpression of MAGEA3 promoted tumor growth however depleting the same hindered the tumor progression. Mechanistically, our in vitro and in vivo study revealed that MAGEA3 has tumor-promoting role by reducing macro-autophagy and overexpressing pro-survival molecules like CCL2 and survivin. Conclusion Our data proves tumor-promoting role of MAGEA3 and provides the rationale to target MAGEA3 and/or its functional mediators like CCL2 for PCA, which may have a better impact in PCA therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1272-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswajit Das
- Tumor Microenvironment and Animal Models Lab, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Shantibhusan Senapati
- Tumor Microenvironment and Animal Models Lab, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751023, India.
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15
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Characterization of Novel Murine and Human PDAC Cell Models: Identifying the Role of Intestine Specific Homeobox Gene ISX in Hypoxia and Disease Progression. Transl Oncol 2019; 12:1056-1071. [PMID: 31174057 PMCID: PMC6556561 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapy failure and metastasis-associated mortality are stumbling blocks in the management of PDAC in patients. Failure of therapy is associated to intense hypoxic conditions of tumors. To develop effective therapies, a complete understanding of hypoxia-associated changes in genetic landscape of tumors during disease progression is needed. Because artificially immortalized cell lines do not rightly represent the disease progression, studying genetics of tumors in spontaneous models is warranted. In the current study, we generated a spectrum of spontaneous human (UM-PDC1; UM-PDC2) and murine (HI-PanL, HI-PancI, HI-PanM) models representing localized, invasive, and metastatic PDAC from a patient and transgenic mice (K-rasG12D/Pdxcre/Ink4a/p16-/). These spontaneous models grow vigorously under hypoxia and exhibit activated K-ras signaling, progressive loss of PTEN, and tumorigenicity in vivo. Whereas UM-PDC1 form localized tumors, the UM-PDC2 metastasize to lungs in mice. In an order of progression, these models exhibit genomic instability marked by gross chromosomal rearrangements, centrosome-number variations, Aurora-kinase/H2AX colocalization, loss of primary cilia, and α-tubulin acetylation. The RNA sequencing of hypoxic models followed by qRT-PCR validation and gene-set enrichment identified Intestine-Specific Homeobox factor (ISX)–driven molecular pathway as an indicator PDAC aggressivness. TCGA-PAAD clinical data analysis showed high ISX expression correlation to poor survival of PDAC patients, particularly women. The functional studies showed ISX as a regulator of i) invasiveness and migratory potential and ii) VEGF, MMP2, and NFκB activation in PDAC cells. We suggest that ISX is a potential druggable target and newly developed spontaneous cell models are valuable tools for studying mechanism and testing therapies for PDAC.
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Abstract
Metabolic reprograming is an established hallmark of cancer cells. Pancreatic cancer cells, by virtue of the underlying oncogenic drivers, demonstrate metabolic reprograming to sustain growth, invasiveness, and therapy resistance. The increased demands of the growing tumor cells alter the metabolic and signaling pathways to meet the growing nutrient requirements. Investigating the metabolic vulnerabilities of tumor cells can help in developing effective therapeutics to target pancreatic cancer. In this chapter, we explain in detail the methods to evaluate the metabolic changes occurring in the tumor. This includes the glucose/glutamine uptake assays and the measurement of reactive oxygen species, extracellular acidification rate, and oxygen consumption rate in the tumor cells. All these physiological assays help in understanding the metabolic nature of the tumor.
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17
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Tesei A, Cortesi M, Pignatta S, Arienti C, Dondio GM, Bigogno C, Malacrida A, Miloso M, Meregalli C, Chiorazzi A, Carozzi V, Cavaletti G, Rui M, Marra A, Rossi D, Collina S. Anti-tumor Efficacy Assessment of the Sigma Receptor Pan Modulator RC-106. A Promising Therapeutic Tool for Pancreatic Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:490. [PMID: 31156430 PMCID: PMC6530361 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal tumor worldwide, with no prognosis improvement over the past 20-years. The silent progressive nature of this neoplasia hampers the early diagnosis, and the surgical resection of the tumor, thus chemotherapy remains the only available therapeutic option. Sigma receptors (SRs) are a class of receptors proposed as new cancer therapeutic targets due to their over-expression in tumor cells and their involvement in cancer biology. The main localization of these receptors strongly suggests their potential role in ER unfolded protein response (ER-UPR), a condition frequently occurring in several pathological settings, including cancer. Our group has recently identified RC-106, a novel pan-SR modulator with good in vitro antiproliferative activities toward a panel of different cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro properties and pharmacological profile of RC-106 in PC cell lines with the aim to identify a potential lead candidate for the treatment of this tumor. Methods: Pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1, Capan-1, and Capan-2 have been used in all experiments. S1R and TMEM97/S2R expression in PC cell lines was quantified by Real-Time qRT-PCR and Western Blot experiments. MTS assay was used to assess the antiproliferative effect of RC-106. The apoptotic properties of RC-106 was evaluated by TUNEL and caspase activation assays. GRP78/BiP, ATF4, and CHOP was quantified to evaluate ER-UPR. Proteasome activity was investigated by a specific fluorescent-based assay. Scratch wound healing assay was used to asses RC-106 effect on cell migration. In addition, we delineated the in vivo pharmacokinetic profile and pancreas distribution of RC-106 in male CD-1 mice. Results: Panc-1, Capan-1, and Capan-2 express both SRs. RC-106 exerts an antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effect in all examined cell lines. Cells exposure to RC-106 induces the increase of the expression of ER-UPR related proteins, and the inhibition of proteasome activity. Moreover, RC-106 is able to decrease PC cell lines motility. The in vivo results show that RC-106 is more concentrated in pancreas than plasma. Conclusion: Overall, our data evidenced that the pan-SR modulator RC-106 is an optimal candidate for in vivo studies in animal models of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tesei
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | - Michela Cortesi
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | - Sara Pignatta
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | - Chiara Arienti
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessio Malacrida
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Miloso
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Cristina Meregalli
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Alessia Chiorazzi
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Valentina Carozzi
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Guido Cavaletti
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Marta Rui
- Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Marra
- Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simona Collina
- Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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18
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Thakur PC, Miller-Ocuin JL, Nguyen K, Matsuda R, Singhi AD, Zeh HJ, Bahary N. Inhibition of endoplasmic-reticulum-stress-mediated autophagy enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics on pancreatic cancer. J Transl Med 2018; 16:190. [PMID: 29986726 PMCID: PMC6038181 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1562-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and its consequent unfolded protein response (UPR) are believed to be associated with progression, survival and chemoresistance of a variety of tumor cells through multiple cellular processes, including autophagy. Therefore, the ER stress-autophagy pathway presents a potential molecular target for therapeutic intervention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ER stress and autophagy modulators in the context of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods We first targeted IRE1α, an important regulator of the UPR, through STF-083010 treatment in PDAC cell lines in vitro. Chloroquine was then used to target autophagy and an optimal combination treatment was developed using chloroquine, sunitinib and gemcitabine. Apoptosis was analyzed using TUNEL assay, autophagy was estimated using lysotracker staining and electron microscopy, and UPR was analyzed using anti-GRP78 immunostaining and XBP1 splicing. Transplantation of PDAC derived KPCP1 and Panc02 cells in mouse pancreas were performed to study treatment efficacy in vivo. Results Suppression of the IRE1α by STF-083010 alone resulted in increased lysosomes and reduced viability of PDAC cells. Chloroquine treatment alone inhibited downstream autophagy but was insufficient in reducing PDAC cell growth. However, combining STF-083010 and chloroquine had additive anti-tumor efficacy when used with gemcitabine. Sunitinib alone caused abnormal maturation of the autolysosomes with increased intracellular multivesicular bodies and increased apoptosis evident in PDAC cells. Sunitinib showed a synergistic effect with chloroquine in reducing in vitro PDAC cell viability and significantly increased the efficacy of gemcitabine in human and murine PDAC cell lines. The anti-proliferative effect of gemcitabine was significantly increased when used in combination with sunitinib and/or chloroquine in both in vitro and in vivo PDAC models. The addition of sunitinib and/or chloroquine to gemcitabine, resulted in a significantly increased survival of the animals without noticeably increased toxicity. Sunitinib, gemcitabine and chloroquine treated mice showed a significant reduction of GRP78 expression, reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in pancreas, compatible with a tumor response. Conclusions Sunitinib combined with chloroquine reduces tumor growth through suppression of autophagy and increased apoptosis. Co-administration of modulators of ER stress-mediated autophagy with chemotherapy presents a novel therapeutic approach in PDAC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-018-1562-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash C Thakur
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Khanh Nguyen
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rina Matsuda
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Herbert J Zeh
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nathan Bahary
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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19
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Liang C, Shi S, Meng Q, Liang D, Ji S, Zhang B, Qin Y, Xu J, Ni Q, Yu X. Complex roles of the stroma in the intrinsic resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer: where we are and where we are going. Exp Mol Med 2017; 49:e406. [PMID: 29611542 PMCID: PMC5750480 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2017.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most devastating human malignancies. The poor clinical outcome in PDAC is partly attributed to a growth-permissive tumor microenvironment. In the PDAC microenvironment, the stroma is characterized by the development of extensive fibrosis, with stromal components outnumbering pancreatic cancer cells. Each of the components within the stroma has a distinct role in conferring chemoresistance to PDAC, and intrinsic chemoresistance has further worsened this pessimistic prognosis. The nucleoside analog gemcitabine (GEM) is usually the recommended first-line chemotherapeutic agent for PDAC patients and is given alone or in combination with other agents. The mechanisms of intrinsic resistance to GEM are an active area of ongoing research. This review highlights the important role the complex structure of stroma in PDAC plays in the intrinsic resistance to GEM and discusses whether antistroma therapy improves the efficacy of GEM. The addition of antistroma therapy combined with GEM is expected to be a novel therapeutic strategy with significant survival benefits for PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingcai Meng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dingkong Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunrong Ji
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Quanxing Ni
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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20
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Shelper TB, Lovitt CJ, Avery VM. Assessing Drug Efficacy in a Miniaturized Pancreatic Cancer In Vitro 3D Cell Culture Model. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2017; 14:367-80. [PMID: 27552143 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2016.737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer continues to have one of the poorest prognoses among all cancers. The drug discovery efforts for this disease have largely failed, with no significant improvement in survival outcomes for advanced pancreatic cancer patients over the past 20 years. Traditional in vitro cell culture techniques have been used extensively in both basic and early drug discovery; however, these systems offer poor models to assess emerging therapeutics. More predictive cell-based models, which better capture the cellular heterogeneity and complexities of solid pancreatic tumors, are urgently needed not only to improve drug discovery success but also to provide insight into the tumor biology. Pancreatic tumors are characterized by a unique micro-environment that is surrounded by a dense stroma. A complex network of interactions between extracellular matrix (ECM) components and the effects of cell-to-cell contacts may enhance survival pathways within in vivo tumors. This biological and physical complexity is lost in traditional cell monolayer models. To explore the predictive potential of a more complex cellular system, a three-dimensional (3D) micro-tumor assay was evaluated. Efficacy of six current chemotherapeutics was determined against a panel of primary and metastatic pancreatic tumor cell lines in a miniaturized ECM-based 3D cell culture system. Suitability for potential use in high-throughput screening applications was assessed, including ascertaining the effects that miniaturization and automation had on assay robustness. Cellular health was determined by utilizing an indirect population-based metabolic activity assay and a direct imaging-based cell viability assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd B Shelper
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan, Australia
| | - Carrie J Lovitt
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan, Australia
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21
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Liu C, Fu X, Zhong Z, Zhang J, Mou H, Wu Q, Sheng T, Huang B, Zou Y. CHD1L Expression Increases Tumor Progression and Acts as a Predictive Biomarker for Poor Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer. Dig Dis Sci 2017. [PMID: 28646284 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-017-4641-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The chromodomain helicase/ATPase DNA binding protein 1-like gene (CHD1L) plays a key role in controlling various cellular phenomena, including immune-mediated inflammation, transformation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and proliferation. METHODS This study investigated the function and clinical significance of CHD1L protein expression in pancreatic cancer (PC). We analyzed CHD1L expression in surgical specimens from 112 PC patients. The correlation between the clinical characteristics and prognosis was also determined. Futhermore, cell proliferation were measured using EDU, and a molecular mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin pathway regulation by CHD1L was explored. RESULT CHD1L protein expression was significantly higher in PC patients with regard to the tumor grade, stage, size, differentiation and lymph node status. Increased CHD1L protein expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival. Multivariate analyses revealed that high CHD1L expression was an independent predictive marker for the recurrence and poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, silencing of CHD1L expression by RNAi effectively abolished the proliferative abilities of CHD1L in vivo and in vitro. We found that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway contributed to the effect of CHD1L-mediated pancreatic cancer proliferation. CONCLUSION Taken together, our data provide a novel evidence for the biological and clinical significance of CHD1L as a potential biomarker, and we demonstrate that CHD1L-Wnt/β-catenin might be a novel pathway involved in pancreatic cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Liu
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Xiaowei Fu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Haiyan Mou
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Tianle Sheng
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Yeqing Zou
- Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 1 Min De Road, Nanchang, 330006, China.
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22
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Grasso C, Jansen G, Giovannetti E. Drug resistance in pancreatic cancer: Impact of altered energy metabolism. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2017; 114:139-152. [PMID: 28477742 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2017.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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23
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Roy M, Finley SD. Computational Model Predicts the Effects of Targeting Cellular Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer. Front Physiol 2017; 8:217. [PMID: 28446878 PMCID: PMC5388762 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of energy metabolism is a hallmark of cancer that enables the cancer cells to meet the increased energetic requirements due to uncontrolled proliferation. One prominent example is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an aggressive form of cancer with an overall 5-year survival rate of 5%. The reprogramming mechanism in pancreatic cancer involves deregulated uptake of glucose and glutamine and other opportunistic modes of satisfying energetic demands in a hypoxic and nutrient-poor environment. In the current study, we apply systems biology approaches to enable a better understanding of the dynamics of the distinct metabolic alterations in KRAS-mediated pancreatic cancer, with the goal of impeding early cell proliferation by identifying the optimal metabolic enzymes to target. We have constructed a kinetic model of metabolism represented as a set of ordinary differential equations that describe time evolution of the metabolite concentrations in glycolysis, glutaminolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway. The model is comprised of 46 metabolites and 53 reactions. The mathematical model is fit to published enzyme knockdown experimental data. We then applied the model to perform in silico enzyme modulations and evaluate the effects on cell proliferation. Our work identifies potential combinations of enzyme knockdown, metabolite inhibition, and extracellular conditions that impede cell proliferation. Excitingly, the model predicts novel targets that can be tested experimentally. Therefore, the model is a tool to predict the effects of inhibiting specific metabolic reactions within pancreatic cancer cells, which is difficult to measure experimentally, as well as test further hypotheses toward targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahua Roy
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stacey D Finley
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA.,Chemical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
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24
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Liang C, Qin Y, Zhang B, Ji S, Shi S, Xu W, Liu J, Xiang J, Liang D, Hu Q, Ni Q, Xu J, Yu X. Metabolic plasticity in heterogeneous pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2016; 1866:177-188. [PMID: 27600832 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal malignant neoplasms. The recognized hallmarks of PDA are regarded to be downstream events of metabolic reprogramming. Because PDA is a heterogeneous disease that is influenced by genetic polymorphisms and changes in the microenvironment, metabolic plasticity is a novel feature of PDA. As intrinsic factors for metabolic plasticity, K-ras activation and mutations in other tumor suppressor genes induce abnormal mitochondrial metabolism and enhance glycolysis, with alterations in glutamine and lipid metabolism. As extrinsic factors, the acidic and oxygen/nutrient-deprived microenvironment also induces cancer cells to reprogram their metabolic pathway and hijack stromal cells (mainly cancer-associated fibroblasts and immunocytes) to communicate, thereby adapting to metabolic stress. Therefore, a better understanding of the metabolic features of PDA will contribute to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yi Qin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shunrong Ji
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenyan Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jinfeng Xiang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dingkong Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiangsheng Hu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Quanxing Ni
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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25
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Maeda K, Ding Q, Yoshimitsu M, Kuwahata T, Miyazaki Y, Tsukasa K, Hayashi T, Shinchi H, Natsugoe S, Takao S. CD133 Modulate HIF-1α Expression under Hypoxia in EMT Phenotype Pancreatic Cancer Stem-Like Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17071025. [PMID: 27367674 PMCID: PMC4964401 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17071025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although CD133 is a known representative cancer stem cell marker, its function in tumor aggressiveness under hypoxia is not fully known. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that CD133 regulates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression with tumor migration. The CD133+ pancreatic cancer cell line, Capan1M9, was compared with the CD133− cell line, shCD133M9, under hypoxia. HIF-1α expression levels were compared by Western blot, HIF-1α nucleus translocation assay and real-time (RT)-PCR. The hypoxia responsive element (HRE) was observed by luciferase assay. The migration ability was analyzed by migration and wound healing assays. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) related genes were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. HIF-1α was highly expressed in Capan1M9 compared to shCD133M9 under hypoxia because of the high activation of HRE. Furthermore, the migration ability of Capan1M9 was higher than that of shCD133M9 under hypoxia, suggesting higher expression of EMT related genes in Capan1M9 compared to shCD133M9. Conclusion: HIF-1α expression under hypoxia in CD133+ pancreatic cancer cells correlated with tumor cell migration through EMT gene expression. Understanding the function of CD133 in cancer aggressiveness provides a novel therapeutic approach to eradicate pancreatic cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Maeda
- Division of Cancer and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Qiang Ding
- Division of Cancer and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
- Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Tronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Makoto Yoshimitsu
- Department of Hematology and Immunology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Taisaku Kuwahata
- Division of Cancer and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Yumi Miyazaki
- Division of Cancer and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Koichirou Tsukasa
- Division of Cancer and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Tomomi Hayashi
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Shinchi
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Shoji Natsugoe
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
| | - Sonshin Takao
- Center for Innovative Therapy Research and Application, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
- Tanegashima Medical Center, 7463 Nishi-no-omote, Nishi-no-omote 891-3198, Japan.
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26
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Metformin in pancreatic cancer treatment: from clinical trials through basic research to biomarker quantification. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2016; 142:2159-71. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-016-2178-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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27
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Liu JZ, Zhou LY. Elevated amino acids in gastric juice as potential biomarkers for gastric cancer. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2016; 24:1984-1992. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v24.i13.1984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis plays a vital role in the improvement of the curative rate of gastric cancer. However, the poor specificity and sensitivity of traditional gastric cancer biomarkers, such as carcino-embryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 199, make it difficult to screen early gastric cancer. Gastric juice amino acid profile may be an alternative tumor marker, since abnormal elevation of amino acids in gastric juice has been reported in precancerous patients. Normal concentration of amino acids is extremely low in gastric juice, and special techniques are required to detect amino acids in gastric juice. The change of amino acids in gastric juice is more significant than in blood and tumor tissue. The amino acid profile in gastric juice may work as efficient biomarkers for gastric cancer with the development of amino acid detection technique.
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28
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Joshi S, Kumar S, Ponnusamy MP, Batra SK. Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress promotes MUC4 degradation via autophagy to enhance pancreatic cancer cells survival. Oncogene 2016; 35:5882-5892. [PMID: 27109098 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Revised: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) and associated pre-neoplastic lesions have been reported to be hypoxic, primarily due to hypovascular nature of PC. Though the presence of hypoxia under cancerous condition has been associated with the overexpression of oncogenic proteins (MUC1), multiple emerging reports have also indicated the growth inhibitory effects of hypoxia. In spite of being recognized as the top-most differentially expressed and established oncogenic protein in PC, MUC4 regulation in terms of micro-environmental stress has not been determined. Herein, for the first time, we are reporting that MUC4 protein stability is drastically affected in PC, under hypoxic condition in a hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)-independent manner. Mechanistically, we have demonstrated that hypoxia-mediated induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) promotes autophagy by inhibiting pAkt/mTORC1 pathway, one of the central regulators of autophagy. Immunohistofluorescence analyses revealed significant negative correlation (P-value=0.017) between 8-hydroxy guanosine (8-OHG) and MUC4 in primary pancreatic tumors (n=25). Moreover, we found pronounced colocalization between MUC4 and LAMP1/LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3) in PC tissues and also observed their negative relationship in their expression pattern, suggesting that areas with high autophagy rate had less MUC4 expression. We also found that hypoxia and ROS have negative impact on overall cell growth and viability, which was partially, though significantly (P<0.05), rescued in the presence of MUC4. Altogether, hypoxia-mediated oxidative stress induces autophagy in PC, leading to the MUC4 degradation to enhance survival, possibly by offering required metabolites to stressed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - S Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - M P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - S K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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29
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Cao L, Xiao X, Lei J, Duan W, Ma Q, Li W. Curcumin inhibits hypoxia-induced epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer cells via suppression of the hedgehog signaling pathway. Oncol Rep 2016; 35:3728-34. [PMID: 27035865 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic microenvironment, a common feature of pancreatic cancer, is associated with tumor proliferation, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) changes. In recent years, many natural agents, including curcumin, have been proven to possess the ability to inhibit the progression of pancreatic cancer. However, whether curcumin is able to suppress hypoxia-induced pancreatic cancer progression and the underlying mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether curcumin affects hypoxia-induced EMT and the activation of Hh signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer. The human pancreatic cancer cell line Panc-1, was treated with hypoxic condition and curcumin. Cell proliferation was assessed by the MTT assay. Wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were used to detect the migratory and invasive activity of cancer cells. The EMT-related factors, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin were detected by QT-PCR, western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. The Hh signaling-related factors, SHH, SMO and GLI1 were detected by western blot analysis. The results of present study showed that curcumin could not only inhibit the hypoxia-induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion in pancreatic cancer, but also mediate the expression of EMT-related factors. In addition, curcumin remarkably inhibited hypoxia-mediated activation of Hh signaling pathway. Taken together, these data indicate that curcumin plays an important role in suppressing hypoxia-induced pancreatic cancer metastasis by inhibiting the Hh signaling pathway. Curcumin might be a potential candidate for chemoprevention of this severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Jianjun Lei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Wanxing Duan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Qingyong Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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30
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Friesen DE, Baracos VE, Tuszynski JA. Modeling the energetic cost of cancer as a result of altered energy metabolism: implications for cachexia. Theor Biol Med Model 2015; 12:17. [PMID: 26370269 PMCID: PMC4570294 DOI: 10.1186/s12976-015-0015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cachexia affects most patients with incurable cancer. We hypothesize that in metastatic cancer the mass of the tumor as well as its level of anaerobic energy metabolism play a critical role in describing its energetic cost, which results in elevated resting energy expenditure and glucose utilization, leading to cachexia. Prior models of cancer cachexia may have underestimated the specific energetic cost of cancer as they have not taken the range of tumor mass and anaerobic energy metabolism fully into account. Methods We therefore modelled the energetic cost of cancer as a function of the percentage of energy the cancer produces anaerobically, based on resting energy expenditure, glucose turnover, glucose recycling, and oxygen consumption in cancer patients found in previous studies. Results Data from two clinical studies where tumor burden was estimated and resting energy expenditure or oxygen consumption were measured lead to a broad range of estimates of tumor cost from 190 to 470 kcal/kg tumor/day. These values will vary based of the percentage of energy the cancer produces anaerobically (from 0 to 100 %), which in and of itself can alter the cost over a 2 to 3-fold range. In addition to the tumor cost/kg and the degree of anaerobic metabolism, the impact on a given individual patient will depend on tumor burden, which can exceed 1 kg in advanced metastatic disease. Considering these dimensions of tumor cost we are able to produce a 2-dimensional map of potential values, with an overall range of 100–1400 kcal/day. Conclusions Quantifying the energetic cost of cancer may benefit an understanding of the tumor’s causation of cachexia. Our estimates of the range of tumor cost include values that are higher than prior estimates and suggest that in metastatic disease the tumor cost could be expected to eclipse attempts to stabilize energy balance through nutrition support or by drug therapies. Tumor mass and the percentage of anaerobic metabolism in the tumor contribute to the cost of the tumor on the body and potentially lead directly to negative energy balance and increased muscle wasting. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12976-015-0015-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas E Friesen
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada.
| | - Vickie E Baracos
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada.
| | - Jack A Tuszynski
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada. .,Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada.
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31
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Chien W, Ding LW, Sun QY, Torres-Fernandez LA, Tan SZ, Xiao J, Lim SL, Garg M, Lee KL, Kitajima S, Takao S, Leong WZ, Sun H, Tokatly I, Poellinger L, Gery S, Koeffler PH. Selective inhibition of unfolded protein response induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Oncotarget 2015; 5:4881-94. [PMID: 24952679 PMCID: PMC4148107 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum stress from unfolded proteins is associated with the proliferation of pancreatic tumor cells, making the many regulatory molecules of this pathway appealing targets for therapy. The objective of our study was to assess potential therapeutic efficacy of inhibitors of unfolded protein response (UPR) in pancreatic cancers focusing on IRE1α inhibitors. IRE1α-mediated XBP-1 mRNA splicing encodes a transcription factor that enhances transcription of chaperone proteins in order to reverse UPR. Proliferation assays using a panel of 14 pancreatic cancer cell lines showed a dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition by IRE1α-specific inhibitors (STF-083010, 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, 3-Ethoxy-5,6-dibromosalicylaldehyde, toyocamycin). Growth inhibition was also noted using a clonogenic growth assay in soft agar, as well as a xenograft in vivo model of pancreatic cancer. Cell cycle analysis showed that these IRE1α inhibitors caused growth arrest at either the G1 or G2/M phases (SU8686, MiaPaCa2) and induced apoptosis (Panc0327, Panc0403). Western blot analysis showed cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP, and prominent induction of the apoptotic molecule BIM. In addition, synergistic effects were found between either STF-083010, 2-Hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, 3-Ethoxy-5,6-dibromosalicylaldehyde, or toyocamycin and either gemcitabine or bortezomib. Our data suggest that use of an IRE1α inhibitor is a novel therapeutic approach for treatment of pancreatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Chien
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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32
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Søreide K, Sund M. Epidemiological-molecular evidence of metabolic reprogramming on proliferation, autophagy and cell signaling in pancreas cancer. Cancer Lett 2014; 356:281-8. [PMID: 24704294 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest human cancers with little progress made in survival over the past decades, and 5-year survival usually below 5%. Despite this dismal scenario, progresses have been made in understanding of the underlying tumor biology through among other definition of precursor lesions, delineation of molecular pathways, and advances in genome-wide technology. Further, exploring the relationship between epidemiological risk factors involving metabolic features to that of an altered cancer metabolism may provide the foundation for new therapies. Here we explore how nutrients and caloric intake may influence the KRAS-driven ductal carcinogenesis through mediators of metabolic stress, including autophagy in presence of TP53, advanced glycation end products (AGE) and the receptors (RAGE) and ligands (HMGB1), as well as glutamine pathways, among others. Effective understanding the cancer metabolism mechanisms in pancreatic cancer may propose new ways of prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjetil Søreide
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Malin Sund
- Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Surgery, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Guillaumond F, Iovanna JL, Vasseur S. Pancreatic tumor cell metabolism: focus on glycolysis and its connected metabolic pathways. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 545:69-73. [PMID: 24393743 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2013.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Because of lack of effective treatment, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of death by cancer in Western countries, with a very weak improvement of survival rate over the last 40years. Defeat of numerous conventional therapies to cure this cancer makes urgent to develop new tools usable by clinicians for a better management of the disease. Aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer relies on its own hallmarks: a low vascular network as well as a prominent stromal compartment (desmoplasia), which creates a severe hypoxic environment impeding correct oxygen and nutrients diffusion to the tumoral cells. To survive and proliferate in those conditions, pancreatic cancer cells set up specific metabolic pathways to meet their tremendous energetic and biomass demands. However, as PDAC is a heterogenous tumor, a complex reprogramming of metabolic processes is engaged by cancer cells according to their level of oxygenation and nutrients supply. In this review, we focus on the glycolytic activity of PDAC and the glucose-connected metabolic pathways which contribute to the progression and dissemination of this disease. We also discuss possible therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways in order to cure this disease which still until now is resistant to numerous conventional treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Guillaumond
- INSERM U1068, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, France; Institut Paoli-Calmettes, France; CNRS, UMR7258, F-13009 Marseille, France; Université Aix-Marseille, F-13284 Marseille, France
| | - Juan Lucio Iovanna
- INSERM U1068, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, France; Institut Paoli-Calmettes, France; CNRS, UMR7258, F-13009 Marseille, France; Université Aix-Marseille, F-13284 Marseille, France
| | - Sophie Vasseur
- INSERM U1068, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, France; Institut Paoli-Calmettes, France; CNRS, UMR7258, F-13009 Marseille, France; Université Aix-Marseille, F-13284 Marseille, France.
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Neuzillet C, Hammel P, Tijeras-Raballand A, Couvelard A, Raymond E. Targeting the Ras-ERK pathway in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2013; 32:147-62. [PMID: 23085856 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-012-9396-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PAC) stands as the poorest prognostic tumor of the digestive tract with limited therapeutic options. PAC carcinogenesis is associated with the loss of function of tumor suppressor genes such as INK4A, TP53, BRCA2, and DPC4, and only a few activated oncogenes among which K-RAS mutations are the most prevalent. The K-RAS mutation occurs early in PAC carcinogenesis, driving downstream activation of MEK and ERK1/2 which promote survival, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. In PAC models, inhibition of members of the Ras-ERK pathway blocks cellular proliferation and metastasis development. As oncogenic Ras does not appear to be a suitable drug target, inhibitors targeting downstream kinases including Raf and MEK have been developed and are currently under evaluation in clinical trials. In this review, we describe the role of the Ras-ERK pathway in pancreatic carcinogenesis and as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of PAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Neuzillet
- INSERM U728 and Department of Medical Oncology, Beaujon University Hospital (AP-HP Paris 7 Diderot), Clichy, France
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Synergistic interaction of novel lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors with gemcitabine against pancreatic cancer cells in hypoxia. Br J Cancer 2013; 110:172-82. [PMID: 24178759 PMCID: PMC3887288 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2013] [Revised: 08/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hypoxia is a driving force in pancreatic-ductal-adenocarcinoma (PDAC) growth, metastasis and chemoresistance. The muscle-isoform of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-A) constitutes a major checkpoint for the switch to anaerobic glycolysis, ensuring supply of energy and anabolites in hypoxic-environments. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the pharmacological interaction of novel LDH-A inhibitors in combination with gemcitabine in PDAC cells. Methods: Lactate dehydrogenase A levels were studied by quantitative RT–PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence and activity assays in 14 PDAC cells, including primary-cell-cultures and spheroids, in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Cell proliferation, migration and key determinants of drug activity were evaluated by sulforhodamine-B-assay, wound-healing assay, PCR and LC-MS/MS. Results: Lactate dehydrogenase A was significantly increased under hypoxic conditions (1% O2), where the novel LDH-A inhibitors proved to be particularly effective (e.g., with IC50 values of 0.9 vs 16.3 μM for NHI-1 in LPC006 in hypoxia vs normoxia, respectively). These compounds induced apoptosis, affected invasiveness and spheroid-growth, reducing expression of metalloproteinases and cancer-stem-like-cells markers (CD133+). Their synergistic interaction with gemcitabine, with combination index values <0.4 in hypoxia, might also be attributed to modulation of gemcitabine metabolism, overcoming the reduced synthesis of phosphorylated metabolites. Conclusion: Lactate dehydrogenase A is a viable target in PDAC, and novel LDH-A inhibitors display synergistic cytotoxic activity with gemcitabine, offering an innovative tool in hypoxic tumours.
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Novotný R, Ehrmann J, Tozzi di Angelo I, Procházka V, Klos D, Loveček M, Kysučan J, Havlík R. Mitochondrial Changes in Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas. Ultrastruct Pathol 2013; 37:227-31. [DOI: 10.3109/01913123.2013.788306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Barău A, Ruiz-Sauri A, Valencia G, Gómez-Mateo MDC, Sabater L, Ferrandez A, Llombart-Bosch A. High microvessel density in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is associated with high grade. Virchows Arch 2013; 462:541-6. [PMID: 23579431 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-013-1409-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this work are to study angiogenesis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using computerized morphometric and image analysis and to compare the microvascular density in intratumoral and peritumoral areas and normal pancreatic tissue. Microvascular density was analyzed in 60 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and 30 samples of normal pancreatic tissue using an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique with an anti-CD31 antibody. Microvascular density (MVD) was analyzed through digital microimaging and computerized analysis. The blood vessel density in the tumor was significantly higher than in peritumoral areas and in normal pancreatic tissue. Well differentiated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas contained higher MVD than poorly differentiated carcinomas. In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, MVD is higher than in peritumoral tissue or normal pancreatic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Barău
- Department of Internal Medicine, Emergency County Hospital Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Petru Rareş 2, Craiova, 200349, Romania.
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Iovanna JL, Marks DL, Fernandez-Zapico ME, Urrutia R. Mechanistic insights into self-reinforcing processes driving abnormal histogenesis during the development of pancreatic cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2013; 182:1078-86. [PMID: 23375449 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Revised: 12/16/2012] [Accepted: 12/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, one of the most feared lethal and painful diseases, is increasing in incidence. The poor prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma-affected patients primarily is owing to our inability to develop effective therapies. Mechanistic studies of genetic, epigenetic, and cell-to-cell signaling events are providing clues to molecular pathways that can be targeted in an attempt to cure this disease. The current review article seeks to draw inferences from available mechanistic knowledge to build a theoretical framework that can facilitate these approaches. This conceptual model considers pancreatic cancer as a tissue disease rather than an isolated epithelial cell problem, which develops and progresses in large part as a result of three positive feedback loops: i) genetic and epigenetic changes in epithelial cells modulate their interaction with mesenchymal cells to generate a dynamically changing process of abnormal histogenesis, which drives more changes; ii) the faulty tissue architecture of neoplastic lesions results in unsynchronized secretion of signaling molecules by cells, which generates an environment that is poor in oxygen and nutrients; and iii) the increased metabolic needs of rapidly dividing cells serve as an evolutionary pressure for them to adapt to this adverse microenvironment, leading to the emergence of resistant clones. We discuss how these concepts can guide mechanistic studies, as well as aid in the design of novel experimental therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan L Iovanna
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Inserm U1068, CNRS, UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
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Torres MP, Rachagani S, Purohit V, Pandey P, Joshi S, Moore ED, Johansson SL, Singh PK, Ganti AK, Batra SK. Graviola: a novel promising natural-derived drug that inhibits tumorigenicity and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through altering cell metabolism. Cancer Lett 2012; 323:29-40. [PMID: 22475682 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2012] [Revised: 02/25/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic tumors are resistant to conventional chemotherapies. The present study was aimed at evaluating the potential of a novel plant-derived product as a therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer (PC). The effects of an extract from the tropical tree Annona Muricata, commonly known as Graviola, was evaluated for cytotoxicity, cell metabolism, cancer-associated protein/gene expression, tumorigenicity, and metastatic properties of PC cells. Our experiments revealed that Graviola induced necrosis of PC cells by inhibiting cellular metabolism. The expression of molecules related to hypoxia and glycolysis in PC cells (i.e. HIF-1α, NF-κB, GLUT1, GLUT4, HKII, and LDHA) were downregulated in the presence of the extract. In vitro functional assays further confirmed the inhibition of tumorigenic properties of PC cells. Overall, the compounds that are naturally present in a Graviola extract inhibited multiple signaling pathways that regulate metabolism, cell cycle, survival, and metastatic properties in PC cells. Collectively, alterations in these parameters led to a decrease in tumorigenicity and metastasis of orthotopically implanted pancreatic tumors, indicating promising characteristics of the natural product against this lethal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- María P Torres
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | | | - Vinee Purohit
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Poomy Pandey
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Suhasini Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Erik D Moore
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Sonny L Johansson
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Apar K Ganti
- Department of Internal Medicine VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System and University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA; Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA.
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Fuente IMDL, Cortes JM, Perez-Pinilla MB, Ruiz-Rodriguez V, Veguillas J. The metabolic core and catalytic switches are fundamental elements in the self-regulation of the systemic metabolic structure of cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27224. [PMID: 22125607 PMCID: PMC3220688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experimental observations and numerical studies with dissipative metabolic networks have shown that cellular enzymatic activity self-organizes spontaneously leading to the emergence of a metabolic core formed by a set of enzymatic reactions which are always active under all environmental conditions, while the rest of catalytic processes are only intermittently active. The reactions of the metabolic core are essential for biomass formation and to assure optimal metabolic performance. The on-off catalytic reactions and the metabolic core are essential elements of a Systemic Metabolic Structure which seems to be a key feature common to all cellular organisms. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In order to investigate the functional importance of the metabolic core we have studied different catalytic patterns of a dissipative metabolic network under different external conditions. The emerging biochemical data have been analysed using information-based dynamic tools, such as Pearson's correlation and Transfer Entropy (which measures effective functionality). Our results show that a functional structure of effective connectivity emerges which is dynamical and characterized by significant variations of bio-molecular information flows. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We have quantified essential aspects of the metabolic core functionality. The always active enzymatic reactions form a hub--with a high degree of effective connectivity--exhibiting a wide range of functional information values being able to act either as a source or as a sink of bio-molecular causal interactions. Likewise, we have found that the metabolic core is an essential part of an emergent functional structure characterized by catalytic modules and metabolic switches which allow critical transitions in enzymatic activity. Both, the metabolic core and the catalytic switches in which also intermittently-active enzymes are involved seem to be fundamental elements in the self-regulation of the Systemic Metabolic Structure.
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