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Sheikh S, Ernst D, Keating A. Prodrugs and prodrug-activated systems in gene therapy. Mol Ther 2021; 29:1716-1728. [PMID: 33831557 PMCID: PMC8116605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The inclusion of genes that control cell fate (so-called suicide, or kill-switch, genes) into gene therapy vectors is based on a compelling rationale for the safe and selective elimination of aberrant transfected cells. Prodrug-activated systems were developed in the 1980s and 1990s and rely on the enzymatic conversion of non-active prodrugs to active metabolites that lead to cell death. Although considerable effort and ingenuity has gone into vector design for gene therapy, less attention has been directed at the efficacy or associated adverse effects of the prodrug systems employed. In this review, we discuss prodrug systems employed in clinical trials and consider their role in the field of gene therapy. We highlight potential drawbacks associated with the use of specific prodrugs, such as systemic toxicity of the activated compound, the paucity of data on biodistribution of prodrugs, bystander effects, and destruction of genetically modified cells, and how these can inform future advances in cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semira Sheikh
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Daniel Ernst
- Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Armand Keating
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Schroeder Arthritis Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Walter RFH, Vollbrecht C, Werner R, Mairinger T, Schmeller J, Flom E, Wohlschlaeger J, Barbetakis N, Paliouras D, Chatzinikolaou F, Adamidis V, Tsakiridis K, Zarogoulidis P, Trakada G, Christoph DC, Schmid KW, Mairinger FD. Screening of Pleural Mesotheliomas for DNA-damage Repair Players by Digital Gene Expression Analysis Can Enhance Clinical Management of Patients Receiving Platin-Based Chemotherapy. J Cancer 2016; 7:1915-1925. [PMID: 27698933 PMCID: PMC5039377 DOI: 10.7150/jca.16390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, predominantly asbestos-related and biologically highly aggressive tumour leading to a dismal prognosis. Multimodality therapy consisting of platinum-based chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. The reasons for the rather poor efficacy of platinum compounds remain largely unknown. Material and Methods: For this exploratory mRNA study, 24 FFPE tumour specimens were screened by digital gene expression analysis. Based on data from preliminary experiments and recent literature, a total of 366 mRNAs were investigated using a Custom CodeSet from NanoString. All statistical analyses were calculated with the R i386 statistical programming environment. Results: CDC25A and PARP1 gene expression were correlated with lymph node spread, BRCA1 and TP73 expression levels with higher IMIG stage. NTHL1 and XRCC3 expression was associated with TNM stage. CHECK1 as well as XRCC2 expression levels were correlated with tumour progression in the overall cohort of patients. CDKN2A and MLH1 gene expression influenced overall survival in this collective. In the adjuvant treated cohort only, CDKN2A, CHEK1 as well as ERCC1 were significantly associated with overall survival. Furthermore, TP73 expression was associated with progression in this subgroup. Conclusion: DNA-damage response plays a crucial role in response to platin-based chemotherapeutic regimes. In particular, CHEK1, XRCC2 and TP73 are strongly associated with tumour progression. ERCC1, MLH1, CDKN2A and most promising CHEK1 are prognostic markers for OS in MPM. TP73, CDKN2A, CHEK1 and ERCC1 seem to be also predictive markers in adjuvant treated MPMs. After a prospective validation, these markers may improve clinical and pathological practice, finally leading to a patients' benefit by an enhanced clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Fred Henry Walter
- Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Centre, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany;; Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Claudia Vollbrecht
- Institute of Pathology, Division of Molecular Pathology, Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Werner
- Department of Pathology, Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin Germany
| | - Thomas Mairinger
- Department of Pathology, Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin Germany
| | - Jan Schmeller
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elena Flom
- Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Centre, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jeremias Wohlschlaeger
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany;; Institute of Pathology, Ev.-Luth. Diakonissenkrankenhaus Flensburg, Flensburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaos Barbetakis
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Paliouras
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Theagenio Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Vasilis Adamidis
- Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Kosmas Tsakiridis
- Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Paul Zarogoulidis
- Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Trakada
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Kurt Werner Schmid
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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