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Carvalho TMA, Audero MM, Greco MR, Ardone M, Maggi T, Mallamaci R, Rolando B, Arpicco S, Ruffinatti FA, Pla AF, Prevarskaya N, Koltai T, Reshkin SJ, Cardone RA. Tumor Microenvironment Modulates Invadopodia Activity of Non-Selected and Acid-Selected Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Its Sensitivity to Gemcitabine and C18-Gemcitabine. Cells 2024; 13:730. [PMID: 38727266 PMCID: PMC11083398 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease with high mortality due to early metastatic dissemination and high chemoresistance. All these factors are favored by its extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich microenvironment, which is also highly hypoxic and acidic. Gemcitabine (GEM) is still the first-line therapy in PDAC. However, it is quickly deaminated to its inactive metabolite. Several GEM prodrugs have emerged to improve its cytotoxicity. Here, we analyzed how the acidic/hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) affects the response of PDAC cell death and invadopodia-mediated ECM proteolysis to both GEM and its C18 prodrug. METHODS For this, two PDAC cell lines, PANC-1 and Mia PaCa-2 were adapted to pHe 6.6 or not for 1 month, grown as 3D organotypic cultures and exposed to either GEM or C18 in the presence and absence of acidosis and the hypoxia inducer, deferoxamine. RESULTS We found that C18 has higher cytotoxic and anti-invadopodia activity than GEM in all culture conditions and especially in acid and hypoxic environments. CONCLUSIONS We propose C18 as a more effective approach to conventional GEM in developing new therapeutic strategies overcoming PDAC chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago M. A. Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Madelaine Magalì Audero
- U1003 PHYCEL Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Inserm, University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (M.M.A.); (A.F.P.); (N.P.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Marilena Ardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Teresa Maggi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Rosanna Mallamaci
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Barbara Rolando
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (B.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Silvia Arpicco
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy; (B.R.); (S.A.)
| | - Federico Alessandro Ruffinatti
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Angiogenesis, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10123 Turin, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Fiorio Pla
- U1003 PHYCEL Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Inserm, University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (M.M.A.); (A.F.P.); (N.P.)
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Angiogenesis, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, 10123 Turin, Italy;
| | - Natalia Prevarskaya
- U1003 PHYCEL Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire, Inserm, University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France; (M.M.A.); (A.F.P.); (N.P.)
| | - Tomas Koltai
- Hospital del Centro Gallego de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 2199, Argentina;
| | - Stephan J. Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (M.R.G.); (M.A.); (T.M.); (R.M.); (S.J.R.)
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Budka J, Debowski D, Mai S, Narajczyk M, Hac S, Rolka K, Vrettos EI, Tzakos AG, Inkielewicz-Stepniak I. Design, Synthesis, and Antitumor Evaluation of an Opioid Growth Factor Bioconjugate Targeting Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:283. [PMID: 38399336 PMCID: PMC10892429 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a formidable challenge with high lethality and limited effective drug treatments. Its heightened metastatic potential further complicates the prognosis. Owing to the significant toxicity of current chemotherapeutics, compounds like [Met5]-enkephalin, known as opioid growth factor (OGF), have emerged in oncology clinical trials. OGF, an endogenous peptide interacting with the OGF receptor (OGFr), plays a crucial role in inhibiting cell proliferation across various cancer types. This in vitro study explores the potential anticancer efficacy of a newly synthesized OGF bioconjugate in synergy with the classic chemotherapeutic agent, gemcitabine (OGF-Gem). The study delves into assessing the impact of the OGF-Gem conjugate on cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle regulation, the induction of cellular senescence, and apoptosis. Furthermore, the antimetastatic potential of the OGF-Gem conjugate was demonstrated through evaluations using blood platelets and AsPC-1 cells with a light aggregometer. In summary, this article demonstrates the cytotoxic impact of the innovative OGF-Gem conjugate on pancreatic cancer cells in both 2D and 3D models. We highlight the potential of both the OGF-Gem conjugate and OGF alone in effectively inhibiting the ex vivo pancreatic tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA) process, a phenomenon not observed with Gem alone. Furthermore, the confirmed hemocompatibility of OGF-Gem with platelets reinforces its promising potential. We anticipate that this conjugation strategy will open avenues for the development of potent anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Budka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pathophysiology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Dawid Debowski
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Shaoshan Mai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Pathophysiology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Narajczyk
- Bioimaging Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Stanislaw Hac
- Department of General Endocrine and Transplant Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Rolka
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Andreas G. Tzakos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
- University Research Center of Ioannina, Institute of Materials Science and Computing, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
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3
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Pereira-Silva M, Miranda-Pastoriza D, Diaz-Gomez L, Sotelo E, Paiva-Santos AC, Veiga F, Concheiro A, Alvarez-Lorenzo C. Gemcitabine-Vitamin E Prodrug-Loaded Micelles for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:95. [PMID: 38258105 PMCID: PMC10819901 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive cancer subtype presenting unmet clinical challenges. Conventional chemotherapy, which includes antimetabolite gemcitabine (GEM), is seriously undermined by a short half-life, its lack of targeting ability, and systemic toxicity. GEM incorporation in self-assembled nanosystems is still underexplored due to GEM's hydrophilicity which hinders efficient encapsulation. We hypothesized that vitamin E succinate-GEM prodrug (VES-GEM conjugate) combines hydrophobicity and multifunctionalities that can facilitate the development of Pluronic® F68 and Pluronic® F127 micelle-based nanocarriers, improving the therapeutic potential of GEM. Pluronic® F68/VES-GEM and Pluronic® F127/VES-GEM micelles covering a wide range of molar ratios were prepared by solvent evaporation applying different purification methods, and characterized regarding size, charge, polydispersity index, morphology, and encapsulation. Moreover, the effect of sonication and ultrasonication and the influence of a co-surfactant were explored together with drug release, stability, blood compatibility, efficacy against tumour cells, and cell uptake. The VES-GEM conjugate-loaded micelles showed acceptable size and high encapsulation efficiency (>95%) following an excipient reduction rationale. Pluronic® F127/VES-GEM micelles evidenced a superior VES-GEM release profile (cumulative release > 50%, pH = 7.4), stability, cell growth inhibition (<50% cell viability for 100 µM VES-GEM), blood compatibility, and extensive cell internalization, and therefore represent a promising approach to leveraging the efficacy and safety of GEM for PC-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Pereira-Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.P.-S.); (A.C.P.-S.); (F.V.)
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D Farma (GI-1645), Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Materiales (iMATUS) and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Darío Miranda-Pastoriza
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Farmacy, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.M.-P.); (E.S.)
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Luis Diaz-Gomez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D Farma (GI-1645), Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Materiales (iMATUS) and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Eddy Sotelo
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Farmacy, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; (D.M.-P.); (E.S.)
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana Cláudia Paiva-Santos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.P.-S.); (A.C.P.-S.); (F.V.)
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francisco Veiga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.P.-S.); (A.C.P.-S.); (F.V.)
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Angel Concheiro
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D Farma (GI-1645), Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Materiales (iMATUS) and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, I+D Farma (GI-1645), Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto de Materiales (iMATUS) and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
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Song T, Kong B, Liu R, Luo Y, Wang Y, Zhao Y. Bioengineering Approaches for the Pancreatic Tumor Organoids Research and Application. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2300984. [PMID: 37694339 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300984] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal form of digestive malignancy that poses significant health risks to individuals worldwide. Chemotherapy-based comprehensive treatment is the primary therapeutic approach for midlife and late-life patients. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of the tumor and individual genetic backgrounds result in substantial variations in drug sensitivity among patients, rendering a single treatment regimen unsuitable for all patients. Conventional pancreatic cancer tumor organoid models are capable of emulating the biological traits of pancreatic cancer and are utilized in drug development and screening. However, these tumor organoids can still not mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME) in vivo, and the poor controllability in the preparation process hinders translation from essential drug screening to clinical pharmacological therapy. In recent years, many engineering methods with remarkable results have been used to develop pancreatic cancer organoid models, including bio-hydrogel, co-culture, microfluidic, and gene editing. Here, this work summarizes and analyzes the recent developments in engineering pancreatic tumor organoid models. In addition, the future direction of improving engineered pancreatic cancer organoids is discussed for their application prospects in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyu Song
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Bin Kong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yongan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
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Tavares-Valente D, Cannone S, Greco MR, Carvalho TMA, Baltazar F, Queirós O, Agrimi G, Reshkin SJ, Cardone RA. Extracellular Matrix Collagen I Differentially Regulates the Metabolic Plasticity of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Parenchymal Cell and Cancer Stem Cell. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3868. [PMID: 37568684 PMCID: PMC10417137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a 5-year survival rate of less than 10 percent largely due to the intense fibrotic desmoplastic reaction, characterized by high levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) collagen I that constitutes a niche for a subset of cancer cells, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). Cancer cells undergo a complex metabolic adaptation characterized by changes in metabolic pathways and biosynthetic processes. The use of the 3D organotypic model in this study allowed us to manipulate the ECM constituents and mimic the progression of PDAC from an early tumor to an ever more advanced tumor stage. To understand the role of desmoplasia on the metabolism of PDAC parenchymal (CPC) and CSC populations, we studied their basic metabolic parameters in organotypic cultures of increasing collagen content to mimic in vivo conditions. We further measured the ability of the bioenergetic modulators (BMs), 2-deoxyglucose, dichloroacetate and phenformin, to modify their metabolic dependence and the therapeutic activity of paclitaxel albumin nanoparticles (NAB-PTX). While all the BMs decreased cell viability and increased cell death in all ECM types, a distinct, collagen I-dependent profile was observed in CSCs. As ECM collagen I content increased (e.g., more aggressive conditions), the CSCs switched from glucose to mostly glutamine metabolism. All three BMs synergistically potentiated the cytotoxicity of NAB-PTX in both cell lines, which, in CSCs, was collagen I-dependent and the strongest when treated with phenformin + NAB-PTX. Metabolic disruption in PDAC can be useful both as monotherapy or combined with conventional drugs to more efficiently block tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Tavares-Valente
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Portugal
- UNIPRO—Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
| | - Stefania Cannone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Tiago Miguel Amaral Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Fátima Baltazar
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Portugal
| | - Odília Queirós
- UNIPRO—Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal;
| | - Gennaro Agrimi
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Stephan J. Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy; (S.C.); (M.R.G.); (T.M.A.C.); (G.A.); (R.A.C.)
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Di Molfetta D, Cannone S, Greco MR, Caroppo R, Piccapane F, Carvalho TMA, Altamura C, Saltarella I, Tavares Valente D, Desaphy JF, Reshkin SJ, Cardone RA. ECM Composition Differentially Regulates Intracellular and Extracellular pH in Normal and Cancer Pancreatic Duct Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10632. [PMID: 37445810 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation is a challenge for the exocrine pancreas, where the luminal secretion of bicarbonate-rich fluid is accompanied by interstitial flows of acid. This acid-base transport requires a plethora of ion transporters, including bicarbonate transporters and the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1), which are dysregulated in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PDAC progression is favored by a Collagen-I rich extracellular matrix (ECM) which exacerbates the physiological interstitial acidosis. In organotypic cultures of normal human pancreatic cells (HPDE), parenchymal cancer cells (CPCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) growing on matrices reproducing ECM changes during progression, we studied resting pHi, the pHi response to fluxes of NaHCO3 and acidosis and the role of NHE1 in pHi regulation. Our findings show that: (i) on the physiological ECM, HPDE cells have the most alkaline pHi, followed by CSCs and CPCs, while a Collagen I-rich ECM reverses the acid-base balance in cancer cells compared to normal cells; (ii) both resting pHi and pHi recovery from an acid load are reduced by extracellular NaHCO3, especially in HPDE cells on a normal ECM; (iii) cancer cell NHE1 activity is less affected by NaHCO3. We conclude that ECM composition and the fluctuations of pHe cooperate to predispose pHi homeostasis towards the presence of NaHCO3 gradients similar to that expected in the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Stefania Cannone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Caroppo
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesca Piccapane
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | | | - Concetta Altamura
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Ilaria Saltarella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Diana Tavares Valente
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Jean Francois Desaphy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Stephan J Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
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Xi Y, Chen H, Xi Y, Hai W, Qu Q, Zhang M, Li B. Visualization research on ENT1/NIS dual-function gene therapy to reverse drug resistance mediated by MUC1 in GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer. Nucl Med Biol 2023; 120-121:108350. [PMID: 37229950 DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2023.108350] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To use bifunctional target genes to increase the intracellular transport of gemcitabine (GEM) to reverse chemotherapy resistance and to simultaneously use reporter gene imaging to localize therapeutic genes. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by [18F]FLT PET/CT to visualize the effect of gene therapy. METHODS A viral gene vector containing the pancreatic cancer-targeting promoter MUC1 for specific transcription of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) and NIS (nuclide transport channel) was employed. [125I]NaI uptake tests and [131I]NaI SPECT imaging were performed to verify the function of NIS and the target function of MUC1. The correlation between [18F]FLT uptake and GEM resistance were assessed, and the influence ENT1 and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) expression on [18F]FLT micro-PET/CT was measured, which provides a theoretical basis for the use of [18F]FLT micro-PET/CT to evaluate the efficacy of gene therapy. RESULTS First, functions of gene therapy were confirmed: ENT1 reversed the drug resistance of GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer cells by increasing GEM intracellular transport; MUC1 drove NIS target gene expression in pancreatic cancer; and therapeutic genes could be localized using [131I]NaI SPECT reporter gene imaging. Second, the [18F]FLT uptake ratio was affected by drug resistance and GEM treatment. The mechanism underlying this effect was related to ENT1 and TK1. Increased expression of ENT1 inhibited the expression of TK1 after GEM chemotherapy to reduce the uptake of [18F]FLT. Finally, micro-PET/CT indicated that the SUVmax of [18F]FLT could predict survival time. SUVmax exhibited an increasing trend in resistant pancreatic cancer but a trend of inhibition after upregulation of ENT1, which was more significant after GEM treatment. CONCLUSIONS Bifunctional targeted genes can localize therapeutic genes through reporter gene imaging, reverse the drug resistance of GEM-resistant pancreatic cancer and be visually evaluated through [18F]FLT micro-PET/CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Xi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Xi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wangxi Hai
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Qu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China.
| | - Biao Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical School Affiliated Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China.
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Glucocorticoid-induced microRNA-378 signaling mediates the progression of pancreatic cancer by enhancing autophagy. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:1052. [PMID: 36535942 PMCID: PMC9763328 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05503-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in tumor therapy to reduce tumor growth, inflammation, edema, and other side effects. Controversially, GCs may also cause the progression of highly aggressive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Because microRNA (miR) and autophagy signaling support the invasive growth of PDAC, we asked whether these mechanisms may be targeted by GCs. Six established human PDAC cell lines, tissue from patients who received GC medication (n = 35) prior to surgery, or not (n = 35), and tumor xenografts were examined by RT‒qPCR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, gene array and Kaplan‒Meier analysis with bioinformatics, and MTT, western blot, colony, spheroid, migration, and invasion assays. We found that various GCs, including dexamethasone (DEX), induced typical features of macroautophagy with the appearance of autolysosomes, enhanced LC3-II, decreased SQSTM1/p62 expression and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and gemcitabine resistance. The GC receptor (GR) antagonist mifepristone (RU486) counteracted DEX-induced autophagy features, suggesting that the GC-GR complex is involved in the induction of autophagy. The autophagy-related miR-378i and miR-378a-3p were selected as the top upregulated candidates, and their high expression in PDAC patient tissue correlated with low survival. siRNA-mediated downregulation of miR-378 inhibited DEX-induced autophagy, and tumor progression. Bioinformatics confirmed the contribution of miR-378 to the regulation of signaling networks involved in GC-induced autophagy and tumor progression. The construction of a molecular docking model revealed stable binding of miR-378 to the DEX-GR complex, suggesting direct regulation. These substantial, novel, in-depth data reveal that GCs favor autophagy-mediated cancer progression by inducing miR-378 and GR binding and implicate GR and miR-378 as new therapeutic targets.
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Cancer Associated Fibroblast (CAF) Regulation of PDAC Parenchymal (CPC) and CSC Phenotypes Is Modulated by ECM Composition. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153737. [PMID: 35954400 PMCID: PMC9367491 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest of all cancers, having one of the lowest five-year survival rates. One of its hallmarks is a dense desmoplastic stroma consisting in the abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, especially Collagen I. This highly fibrotic stroma embeds the bulk cancer (parenchymal) cells (CPCs), cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the main producers of the stromal reaction, the Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs). Little is known about the role of the acellular ECM in the interplay of the CAFs with the different tumor cell types in determining their phenotypic plasticity and eventual cell fate. Methods: Here, we analyzed the role of ECM collagen I in modulating the effect of CAF-derived signals by incubating PDAC CPCs and CSCs grown on ECM mimicking early (low collagen I levels) and late (high collagen I levels) stage PDAC stroma with conditioned medium from primary cultured CAFs derived from patients with PDAC in a previously described three-dimensional (3D) organotypic model of PDAC. Results: We found that CAFs (1) reduced CPC growth while favoring CSC growth independently of the ECM; (2) increased the invasive capacity of only CPCs on the ECM mimicking the early tumor; and (3) favored vasculogenic mimicry (VM) especially of the CSCs on the ECM mimicking an early tumor. Conclusions: We conclude that the CAFs and acellular stromal components interact to modulate the tumor behaviors of the PDAC CPC and CSC cell types and drive metastatic progression by stimulating the phenotypic characteristics of each tumor cell type that contribute to metastasis
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3-Bromo-Isoxazoline Derivatives Inhibit GAPDH Enzyme in PDAC Cells Triggering Autophagy and Apoptotic Cell Death. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133153. [PMID: 35804925 PMCID: PMC9264795 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing interest in the study of aerobic glycolysis as a key pathway for cancer-cell energetic metabolism, favouring tumour progression and invasion, has led to consider GAPDH as an effective drug target to specifically hit cancer cells. In this study, we have investigated a panel of 3-bromo-isoxazoline derivatives based on previously identified inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum GAPDH (PfGAPDH). The compounds are active, to a different extent, as inhibitors of human-recombinant GAPDH. They showed an antiproliferative effect on pancreatic ductal-adenocarcinoma cells (PDAC) and pancreatic-cancer stem cells (CSCs), and among them two promising compounds were selected to be tested in vivo. Interestingly, these compounds were not effective in fibroblasts. The AXP-3019 derivative was able to block PDAC-cell growth in mice xenograft without apparent toxicity. The overall results support the assumption that selective inhibition of the glycolytic pathway, by targeting GAPDH, is an effective therapy for pancreatic cancer and that 3-bromo-isoxazoline derivatives represent a new class of anti-cancer compounds targeting glycolysis.
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Koltai T, Reshkin SJ, Carvalho TMA, Di Molfetta D, Greco MR, Alfarouk KO, Cardone RA. Resistance to Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Physiopathologic and Pharmacologic Review. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2486. [PMID: 35626089 PMCID: PMC9139729 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a very aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis and inadequate response to treatment. Many factors contribute to this therapeutic failure: lack of symptoms until the tumor reaches an advanced stage, leading to late diagnosis; early lymphatic and hematic spread; advanced age of patients; important development of a pro-tumoral and hyperfibrotic stroma; high genetic and metabolic heterogeneity; poor vascular supply; a highly acidic matrix; extreme hypoxia; and early development of resistance to the available therapeutic options. In most cases, the disease is silent for a long time, andwhen it does become symptomatic, it is too late for ablative surgery; this is one of the major reasons explaining the short survival associated with the disease. Even when surgery is possible, relapsesare frequent, andthe causes of this devastating picture are the low efficacy ofand early resistance to all known chemotherapeutic treatments. Thus, it is imperative to analyze the roots of this resistance in order to improve the benefits of therapy. PDAC chemoresistance is the final product of different, but to some extent, interconnected factors. Surgery, being the most adequate treatment for pancreatic cancer and the only one that in a few selected cases can achieve longer survival, is only possible in less than 20% of patients. Thus, the treatment burden relies on chemotherapy in mostcases. While the FOLFIRINOX scheme has a slightly longer overall survival, it also produces many more adverse eventsso that gemcitabine is still considered the first choice for treatment, especially in combination with other compounds/agents. This review discusses the multiple causes of gemcitabine resistance in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephan Joel Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Tiago M. A. Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Khalid Omer Alfarouk
- Zamzam Research Center, Zamzam University College, Khartoum 11123, Sudan;
- Alfarouk Biomedical Research LLC, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, USA
| | - Rosa Angela Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (T.M.A.C.); (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (R.A.C.)
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Combination of LIGHT (TNFSF14)-Armed Myxoma Virus Pre-Loaded into ADSCs and Gemcitabine in the Treatment of Experimental Orthotopic Murine Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14082022. [PMID: 35454928 PMCID: PMC9027757 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14082022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a weakly immunogenic fatal neoplasm. Oncolytic viruses have dual anti-cancer properties including tumor-lysing and immune response-boosting effects and offer attractive alternative for PDAC management. Adipose-derived stem cells (AD-SCs) of mesenchymal origin were infected ex vivo with recombinant oncolytic myxoma virus (MYXV), which encodes murine LIGHT, also called tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14). ADSC-shielded virus were administered into murine pancreatic cancer lesions that had been induced orthotopically in immunocompetent mice. Ensuing oncolysis and the activation of anti-tumor immune responses provided significant survival benefit. Although adjunct therapy with gemcitabine improved the cytolytic killing of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, it induced no additional survival advantage in this model in vivo. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly neoplasm. Oncolytic viruses have tumorolytic and immune response-boosting effects and present great potential for PDAC management. We used LIGHT-armed myxoma virus (vMyx-LIGHT) loaded ex vivo into human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) to evaluate murine PDAC treatment in conjunction with gemcitabine (GEM). The cytotoxicity of this treatment was confirmed in vitro using human and murine pancreatic cancer cell cultures, which were more sensitive to the combined approach and largely destroyed. Unlike cancer cells, ADSCs sustain significant viability after infection. The in vivo administration of vMyx-LIGHT-loaded ADSCs and gemcitabine was evaluated using immunocompetent mice with induced orthotopic PDAC lesions. The expression of virus-encoded LIGHT increased the influx of T cells to the tumor site. Shielded virus followed by gemcitabine improved tumor regression and survival. The addition of gemcitabine slightly compromised the adaptive immune response boost obtained with the shielded virus alone, conferring no survival benefit. ADSCs pre-loaded with vMyx-LIGHT allowed the effective transport of the oncolytic construct to PDAC lesions and yielded significant immune response; additional GEM administration failed to improve survival. In view of our results, the delivery of targeted/shielded virus in combination with TGF-β ablation and/or checkpoint inhibitors is a promising option to improve the therapeutic effects of vMyx-LIGHT/ADSCs against PDAC in vivo.
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Carvalho TMA, Di Molfetta D, Greco MR, Koltai T, Alfarouk KO, Reshkin SJ, Cardone RA. Tumor Microenvironment Features and Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Insights into Targeting Physicochemical Barriers and Metabolism as Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6135. [PMID: 34885243 PMCID: PMC8657427 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the median overall survival of PDAC patients rarely exceeds 1 year and has an overall 5-year survival rate of about 9%. These numbers are anticipated to worsen in the future due to the lack of understanding of the factors involved in its strong chemoresistance. Chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for most PDAC patients; however, the available therapeutic strategies are insufficient. The factors involved in chemoresistance include the development of a desmoplastic stroma which reprograms cellular metabolism, and both contribute to an impaired response to therapy. PDAC stroma is composed of immune cells, endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts embedded in a prominent, dense extracellular matrix associated with areas of hypoxia and acidic extracellular pH. While multiple gene mutations are involved in PDAC initiation, this desmoplastic stroma plays an important role in driving progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying PDAC resistance are a prerequisite for designing novel approaches to increase patient survival. In this review, we provide an overview of the stromal features and how they contribute to the chemoresistance in PDAC treatment. By highlighting new paradigms in the role of the stromal compartment in PDAC therapy, we hope to stimulate new concepts aimed at improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago M. A. Carvalho
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Daria Di Molfetta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Maria Raffaella Greco
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | | | - Khalid O. Alfarouk
- Al-Ghad International College for Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Madinah Al-Munwarah 42316, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Stephan J. Reshkin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
| | - Rosa A. Cardone
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy; (D.D.M.); (M.R.G.); (S.J.R.); (R.A.C.)
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Cost-Effective Real-Time Metabolic Profiling of Cancer Cell Lines for Plate-Based Assays. CHEMOSENSORS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors9060139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental phenotype of cancer cells is their metabolic profile, which is routinely described in terms of glycolytic and respiratory rates. Various devices and protocols have been designed to quantify glycolysis and respiration from the rates of acid production and oxygen utilization, respectively, but many of these approaches have limitations, including concerns about their cost-ineffectiveness, inadequate normalization procedures, or short probing time-frames. As a result, many methods for measuring metabolism are incompatible with cell culture conditions, particularly in the context of high-throughput applications. Here, we present a simple plate-based approach for real-time measurements of acid production and oxygen depletion under typical culture conditions that enable metabolic monitoring for extended periods of time. Using this approach, it is possible to calculate metabolic fluxes and, uniquely, describe the system at steady-state. By controlling the conditions with respect to pH buffering, O2 diffusion, medium volume, and cell numbers, our workflow can accurately describe the metabolic phenotype of cells in terms of molar fluxes. This direct measure of glycolysis and respiration is conducive for between-runs and even between-laboratory comparisons. To illustrate the utility of this approach, we characterize the phenotype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines and measure their response to a switch of metabolic substrate and the presence of metabolic inhibitors. In summary, the method can deliver a robust appraisal of metabolism in cell lines, with applications in drug screening and in quantitative studies of metabolic regulation.
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