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Pacifico F, Magni F, Leonardi A, Crescenzi E. Therapy-Induced Senescence: Novel Approaches for Markers Identification. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8448. [PMID: 39126015 PMCID: PMC11313450 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) represents a major cellular response to anticancer treatments. Both malignant and non-malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment undergo TIS and may be harmful for cancer patients since TIS cells develop a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that can sustain tumor growth. The SASP also modulates anti-tumor immunity, although the immune populations involved and the final results appear to be context-dependent. In addition, senescent cancer cells are able to evade senescence growth arrest and to resume proliferation, likely contributing to relapse. So, research data suggest that TIS induction negatively affects therapy outcomes in cancer patients. In line with this, new interventions aimed at the removal of senescent cells or the reprogramming of their SASP, called senotherapy, have become attractive therapeutic options. To date, the lack of reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use TIS biomarkers hinders the application of recent anti-senescence therapeutic approaches in the clinic. Hence, the identification of biomarkers for the detection of TIS tumor cells and TIS non-neoplastic cells is a high priority in cancer research. In this review article, we describe the current knowledge about TIS, outline critical gaps in our knowledge, and address recent advances and novel approaches for the discovery of TIS biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Pacifico
- Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fulvio Magni
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20854 Vedano al Lambro, Italy;
| | - Antonio Leonardi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Elvira Crescenzi
- Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy;
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2
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Ning D, Xue J, Lou X, Shao R, Liu Y, Chen G. Transforming toxins into treatments: the revolutionary role of α-amanitin in cancer therapy. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1705-1716. [PMID: 38555326 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03727-0] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Amanita phalloides is the primary species responsible for fatal mushroom poisoning, as its main toxin, α-amanitin, irreversibly and potently inhibits eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), leading to cell death. There is no specific antidote for α-amanitin, which hinders its clinical application. However, with the advancement of precision medicine in oncology, including the development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), the potential value of various toxic small molecules has been explored. These ADCs ingeniously combine the targeting precision of antibodies with the cytotoxicity of small-molecule payloads to precisely kill tumor cells. We searched PubMed for studies in this area using these MeSH terms "Amanitins, Alpha-Amanitin, Therapeutic use, Immunotherapy, Immunoconjugates, Antibodies" and did not limit the time interval. Recent studies have conducted preclinical experiments on ADCs based on α-amanitin, showing promising therapeutic effects and good tolerance in primates. The current challenges include the not fully understood toxicological mechanism of α-amanitin and the lack of clinical studies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ADCs developed based on α-amanitin. In this article, we will discuss the role and therapeutic efficacy of α-amanitin as an effective payload in ADCs for the treatment of various cancers, providing background information for the research and application strategies of current and future drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyuan Ning
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jinfang Xue
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xiran Lou
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ruifei Shao
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Guobing Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, No 157 Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, 650032, China.
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Xu FX, Sun R, Owens R, Hu K, Fu D. Assessing drug uptake and response differences in 2D and 3D cellular environments using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590622. [PMID: 38712095 PMCID: PMC11071388 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The architecture of cell culture-two-dimensional (2D) versus three-dimensional (3D)-significantly impacts various cellular factors, including cell-cell interactions, nutrient and oxygen gradients, metabolic activity, and gene expression profiles. This can result in different cellular responses during cancer drug treatment, with 3D-cultured cells often exhibiting higher resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. While various genetic and proteomic analyses have been employed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this increased resistance, complementary techniques that provide experimental evidence of spatial molecular profiling data are limited. Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy has demonstrated its capability to measure both intracellular drug uptake and growth inhibition. In this work, we applied three-band SRS imaging to 2D and 3D cell cultures and provided a comparative analysis of drug uptake and response with the goal of understanding whether the difference in drug uptake explains the drug resistance in 3D culture compared to 2D. Our investigations revealed that despite similar intracellular drug levels in 2D and 3D A549 cells during lapatinib treatment, the growth of 3D spheroids is less impacted, supporting an enhanced drug tolerance in the 3D microenvironment. We further elucidated drug penetration patterns and the resulting heterogeneous cellular responses across different spheroid layers. Additionally, we investigated the role of the extracellular matrix in modulating drug delivery and cell response, and we discovered that limited drug penetration in 3D could also contribute to lower drug response. Our study provides valuable insights into the intricate mechanisms of increased drug resistance in 3D tumor models during cancer drug treatments.
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Lê H, Deforges J, Cutolo P, Lamarque A, Hua G, Lindner V, Jain S, Balloul JM, Benkirane-Jessel N, Quéméneur E. Patient-derived tumoroids and proteomic signatures: tools for early drug discovery. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1379613. [PMID: 38698850 PMCID: PMC11063793 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1379613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Onco-virotherapy is an emergent treatment for cancer based on viral vectors. The therapeutic activity is based on two different mechanisms including tumor-specific oncolysis and immunostimulatory properties. In this study, we evaluated onco-virotherapy in vitro responses on immunocompetent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient-derived tumoroids (PDTs) and healthy organoids. PDTs are accurate tools to predict patient's clinical responses at the in vitro stage. We showed that onco-virotherapy could exert specific antitumoral effects by producing a higher number of viral particles in PDTs than in healthy organoids. In the present work, we used multiplex protein screening, based on proximity extension assay to highlight different response profiles. Our results pointed to the increase of proteins implied in T cell activation, such as IFN-γ following onco-virotherapy treatment. Based on our observation, oncolytic viruses-based therapy responders are dependent on several factors: a high PD-L1 expression, which is a biomarker of greater immune response under immunotherapies, and the number of viral particles present in tumor tissue, which is dependent to the metabolic state of tumoral cells. Herein, we highlight the use of PDTs as an alternative in vitro model to assess patient-specific responses to onco-virotherapy at the early stage of the preclinical phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Lê
- Transgene S.A., Illkirch–Graffenstaden, France
- INSERM UMR1260, Regenerative Nanomedicine, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | - Guoqiang Hua
- INSERM UMR1260, Regenerative Nanomedicine, Strasbourg, France
| | - Véronique Lindner
- INSERM UMR1260, Regenerative Nanomedicine, Strasbourg, France
- Department of Pathology, Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Eames A, Chandrasekaran S. Leveraging metabolic modeling and machine learning to uncover modulators of quiescence depth. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae013. [PMID: 38292544 PMCID: PMC10825626 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Quiescence, a temporary withdrawal from the cell cycle, plays a key role in tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Quiescence is increasingly viewed as a continuum between shallow and deep quiescence, reflecting different potentials to proliferate. The depth of quiescence is altered in a range of diseases and during aging. Here, we leveraged genome-scale metabolic modeling (GEM) to define the metabolic and epigenetic changes that take place with quiescence deepening. We discovered contrasting changes in lipid catabolism and anabolism and diverging trends in histone methylation and acetylation. We then built a multi-cell type machine learning model that accurately predicts quiescence depth in diverse biological contexts. Using both machine learning and genome-scale flux simulations, we performed high-throughput screening of chemical and genetic modulators of quiescence and identified novel small molecule and genetic modulators with relevance to cancer and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Eames
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sriram Chandrasekaran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Beckers C, Vasilikos L, Sanchez Fernandez A, Moor L, Pruschy M. Targeting the survival kinase DYRK1B: A novel approach to overcome radiotherapy-related treatment resistance. Radiother Oncol 2024; 190:110039. [PMID: 38040123 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cell survival under stress conditions is a prerequisite for the development of treatment resistance. The survival kinase DYRK1B is a key regulator of stress survival pathways and might thereby also contribute to radiation resistance. Here we investigate the strategy of targeting DYRK1B in combination with ionizing radiation (IR) to enhance tumor cell killing under stress conditions. METHODS DYRK1B expression, ROS formation and DNA damage were investigated under serum-starvation (0.1% FBS), hypoxia (0.2%, 1% O2) and IR. The combined treatment modality of IR and DYRK1B inhibition was investigated in 2D and in spheroids derived from the colorectal cancer cell line SW620, and in primary patient-derived colorectal carcinoma (CRC) organoids. RESULTS Expression of DYRK1B was upregulated under starvation and hypoxia, but not in response to IR. The small molecule DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 and shRNA-mediated DYRK1B knockdown significantly reduced proliferative activity and clonogenicity of SW620 tumor cells alone and in combination with IR under serum-starved conditions, which correlated with increased ROS levels and DNA damage. Furthermore, AZ191 successfully targeted the hypoxic core of tumor spheroids while IR preferentially targeted normoxic cells in the rim of the spheroids. A combined treatment effect was also observed in CRC-organoids but not in healthy tissue-derived organoids. CONCLUSION Combined treatment with the DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 and IR resulted in (supra-) additive tumor cell killing in colorectal tumor cell systems and in primary CRC organoids. Mechanistic investigations support the rational to target the stress-enhanced survival kinase DYRK1B in combination with irradiation to overcome hypoxia- and starvation-induced treatment resistances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Beckers
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Lazaros Vasilikos
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Alba Sanchez Fernandez
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Lorena Moor
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Martin Pruschy
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Buonvino S, Arciero I, Martinelli E, Seliktar D, Melino S. Modelling the disease: H 2S-sensitivity and drug-resistance of triple negative breast cancer cells can be modulated by embedding in isotropic micro-environment. Mater Today Bio 2023; 23:100862. [PMID: 38046276 PMCID: PMC10689286 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems provide more physiologically relevant information, representing more accurately the actual microenvironment where cells reside in tissues. However, the differences between the tissue culture plate (TCP) and 3D culture systems in terms of tumour cell growth, proliferation, migration, differentiation and response to the treatment have not been fully elucidated. Tumoroid microspheres containing the MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cell line were prepared using either tunable PEG-fibrinogen (PFs) or tunable PEG-silk fibroin (PSFs) hydrogels, respectively named MDAPFs and MDAPSFs. The cancer cells in the tumoroids showed changes both in globular morphology and at the protein expression level. A decrease of both Histone H3 acetylation and cyclin D1 expression in all 3D systems, compared to the 2D cell culture, was detected in parallel to changes of the matrix stiffness. The effects of a glutathionylated garlic extract (GSGa), a slow H2S-releasing donor, were investigated on both tumoroid systems. A pro-apoptotic effect of GSGa on tumour cell growth in 2D culture was observed as opposed to a pro-proliferative effect apparent in both MDAPFs and MDAPSFs. A dedicated ad hoc 3D cell migration chip was designed and optimized for studying tumour cell invasion in a gel-in-gel configuration. An anti-cell-invasion effect of the GSGa was observed in the 2D cell culture, whereas a pro-migratory effect in both MDAPFs and MDAPSFs was observed in the 3D cell migration chip assay. An increase of cyclin D1 expression after GSGa treatment was observed in agreement with an increase of the cell invasion index. Our results suggest that the "dimensionality" and the stiffness of the 3D cell culture milieu can change the response to both the gasotransmitter H2S and doxorubicin due to differences in both H2S diffusion and changes in protein expression. Moreover, we uncovered a direct relation between the cyclin D1 expression and the stiffness of the 3D cell culture milieu, suggesting the potential causal involvement of the cyclin D1 as a bio-marker for sensitivity of the tumour cells to their matrix stiffness. Therefore, our hydrogel-based tumoroids represent a valid tunable model for studying the physically induced transdifferentiation (PiT) of cancer cells and as a more reliable and predictive in vitro screening platform to investigate the effects of anti-tumour drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Buonvino
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Arciero
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Martinelli
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Studies on Lab-on -Chip and Organ-on-Chip Applications, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Dror Seliktar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sonia Melino
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Rome, Italy
- NAST Centre, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy
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Lu X, Zhong L, Lindell E, Veanes M, Guo J, Zhao M, Salehi M, Swartling FJ, Chen X, Sjöblom T, Zhang X. Identification of ATF3 as a novel protective signature of quiescent colorectal tumor cells. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:676. [PMID: 37833290 PMCID: PMC10576032 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06204-1] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in the world. In most cases, drug resistance and tumor recurrence are ultimately inevitable. One obstacle is the presence of chemotherapy-insensitive quiescent cancer cells (QCCs). Identification of unique features of QCCs may facilitate the development of new targeted therapeutic strategies to eliminate tumor cells and thereby delay tumor recurrence. Here, using single-cell RNA sequencing, we classified proliferating and quiescent cancer cell populations in the human colorectal cancer spheroid model and identified ATF3 as a novel signature of QCCs that could support cells living in a metabolically restricted microenvironment. RNA velocity further showed a shift from the QCC group to the PCC group indicating the regenerative capacity of the QCCs. Our further results of epigenetic analysis, STING analysis, and evaluation of TCGA COAD datasets build a conclusion that ATF3 can interact with DDIT4 and TRIB3 at the transcriptional level. In addition, decreasing the expression level of ATF3 could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU on CRC MCTS models. In conclusion, ATF3 was identified as a novel marker of QCCs, and combining conventional drugs targeting PCCs with an option to target QCCs by reducing ATF3 expression levels may be a promising strategy for more efficient removal of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Lu
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lei Zhong
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Sichuan, China
| | - Emma Lindell
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Margus Veanes
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jing Guo
- Centre for Computational Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Miao Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maede Salehi
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xingqi Chen
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tobias Sjöblom
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Levantini E. Novel Therapeutic Targets in Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14660. [PMID: 37834107 PMCID: PMC10572778 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914660] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells can arise in any organ of the body, and their cells of origin vary depending on the tissue type [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Levantini
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (CNR), Area della Ricerca di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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