The hallmarks of cancer and their therapeutic targeting in current use and clinical trials

Systematic review of comparative transcriptomic studies of cellular resistance to genotoxic stress

The development of resistance by tumor cells to various types of therapy is a significant problem that decreases the effectiveness of oncology treatments. For more than two decades, comparative transcriptomic studies of tumor cells with different sensitivities to ionizing radiation and chemotherapeutic agents have been conducted in order to identify the causes and mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. However, the results of such studies have little in common and often contradict each other. We have assumed that a systematic analysis of a large number of such studies will provide new knowledge about the mechanisms of development of therapeutic resistance in tumor cells. Our comparison of 123 differentially expressed gene (DEG) lists published in 98 papers suggests a very low degree of consistency between the study results. Grouping the data by type of genotoxic agent and tumor type did not increase the similarity. The most frequently overexpressed genes were found to be those encoding the transport protein ABCB1 and the antiviral defense protein IFITM1. We put forward a hypothesis that the role played by the overexpression of the latter in the development of resistance may be associated not only with the stimulation of proliferation, but also with the limitation of exosomal communication and, as a result, with a decrease in the bystander effect. Among down regulated DEGs, BNIP3 was observed most frequently. The expression of BNIP3, together with BNIP3L, is often suppressed in cells resistant to non-platinum genotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, whereas it is increased in cells resistant to ionizing radiation. These observations are likely to be mediated by the binary effects of these gene products on survival, and regulation of apoptosis and autophagy. The combined data also show that even such obvious mechanisms as inhibition of apoptosis and increase of proliferation are not universal but show multidirectional changes.

Prophylactic antineoplastic activity of Toxoplasma gondii RH derived antigen against ehrlich solid carcinoma with evidence of shared antigens by comparative immunoblotting

BACKGROUND

With cancer cases escalation, an urgent request to develop novel combating strategies arise. Pathogen-based cancer-immunotherapy is getting more consideration. Autoclaved parasitic antigens seem promising candidates, taking steadily their first steps. Our aim was to examine the prophylactic antineoplastic activity of autoclaved Toxoplasma vaccine (ATV) and to test for the shared antigen theory between Toxoplasma gondii and cancer cells.

METHODS

Mice were immunized with ATV followed by Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) inoculation. Tumor weight, volume, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry for CD8⁺ T cells, Treg cells and VEGF were assessed. In addition, the proposed shared antigen theory between parasites and cancer was also verified using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Results revealed powerful prophylactic activity of ATV with 13.3% inhibition of ESC incidence, significant reduction in tumor weight and volume in ATV vaccinated mice. Immunologically, significantly higher CD8⁺T cells and lower FOXP3⁺ Treg cells surrounded and infiltrated ESC in ATV immunized mice with higher CD8⁺T/Treg cells ratio and significant antiangiogenic effect. Moreover, SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting showed four shared bands between Ehrlich carcinoma and ATV of approximate molecular weights 60, 26, 22 and 12.5 KDa.

CONCLUSION

Exclusively, we demonstrated a prophylactic antineoplastic activity of autoclaved Toxoplasma vaccine against ESC. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report highlighting the existence of cross-reactive antigens between Toxoplasma gondi parasite and cancer cells of Ehrlich carcinoma.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived antigen modifies tumor microenvironment of Ehrlich solid carcinoma murine model and enhances immunotherapeutic activity of cyclophosphamide

Pathogen-based cancer vaccine is a promising immunotherapeutic weapon to stimulate cancer immunosuppressive state. Toxoplasma gondii is a potent immunostimulant, and low-dose infection was linked to cancer resistance. Our goal was to evaluate the therapeutic antineoplastic activity of autoclaved Toxoplasma vaccine (ATV) against Ehrlich solid carcinoma (ESC) in mice in reference to and in combination with low-dose cyclophosphamide (CP), a cancer immunomodulator. Mice inoculation with ESC was followed by applying different treatment modalities including ATV, CP, and CP/ATV. We evaluated the impact of the different treatments on liver enzymes and pathology, tumor weight, volume, and histopathological changes. Using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated CD8⁺ T cell, FOXP3⁺ Treg, CD8⁺/Treg outside and inside ESC, and angiogenesis. Results showed significant tumor weights and volumes reduction with all treatments with 13.3% inhibition of tumor development upon combined CP/ATV use. Significant necrosis and fibrosis were noted in ESC by all treatments with improved hepatic functions versus non-treated control. Although ATV was almost equivalent to CP in tumor gross and histopathology, it promoted an immunostimulatory activity with significant Treg cells depletion outside ESC and CD8⁺ T cells infiltration inside ESC with higher CD8⁺ T/Treg ratio inside ESC superior to CP. Combined with CP, ATV exhibited significant synergistic immunotherapeutic and antiangiogenic action compared to either treatment alone with significant Kupffer cells hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Exclusively, therapeutic antineoplastic and antiangiogenic activity of ATV against ESC was verified that boosted CP immunomodulatory action which highlights a novel biological cancer immunotherapeutic vaccine candidate.

Rationale for Tailoring an Alternative Oncology Trial Using a Novel Gallium-Based Nanocomplex: Mechanistic Insights and Preclinical Challenges

Introduction: In the fight against cancer, cisplatin is most widely used as a clinical mainstay for the chemotherapy of various human cancers. Meanwhile, its cytotoxic profile, as well as drug resistance, limits its widespread application. The goal of precision medicine is to tailor an optimized therapeutic program based on the biology of the disease. Recently, nanotechnology has been demonstrated to be promising in this scenario. Objective: The current work provides a rationale for the design of an alternative oncology trial for the treatment of hepatocarcinogenesis using a novel eco-friendly nanocomplex, namely gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles. Moreover, the study tests whether the antineoplastic efficacy of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could be enhanced or not when it is administrated together with cisplatin. Methods: The work comprised a series of both in vitro and in vivo investigations. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy of such treatments, against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, was strictly evaluated by tracking target genes expressions, iron homeostasis, diverse biomarkers alterations, and lastly, routine paraclinical investigations were also assessed. Results: The in vitro biological evaluation of gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles in a HepG-2 cancer cell line established its superior cytotoxicity. Else more, the results of the in vivo experiment highlighted that gallic acid-coated gallium nanoparticles could diminish key hallmarks of cancer by ameliorating most of the investigated parameters. This was well-appreciated with the histopathological findings of the liver architectures of the treated groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that novel biogenic Ga-based nanocomplexes may potentially present new hope for the development of alternative liver cancer therapeutics, which should attract further scientific interest.

Patient-Derived Tumor Organoids for Drug Repositioning in Cancer Care: A Promising Approach in the Era of Tailored Treatment

Simple Summary

Currently, organoid research is having a growing impact in oncology. Tumor organoids, directly derived from patients’ specimens, can easily be expanded and cryopreserved. For that reason, they are becoming an indispensable ally in clinics for quicker diagnosis and prognosis of malignancies. Patient-derived cancer organoids are used as a platform to predict the efficacy of standard-of-care, as well as novel drugs. Therefore, this approach might be further utilized for validating off-label molecules, in order to widen the cancer care offer.

Abstract

Malignancies heterogeneity represents a critical issue in cancer care, as it often causes therapy resistance and tumor relapse. Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) miniaturized representations of selected tissues within a dish. Lately, organoid technology has been applied to oncology with growing success and Patients Derived Tumor Organoids (PDTOs) constitute a novel available tool which fastens cancer research. PDTOs are in vitro models of cancer, and importantly, they can be used as a platform to validate the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs. For that reason, they are currently utilized in clinics as emerging in vitro screening technology to tailor the therapy around the patient, with the final goal of beating cancer resistance and recurrence. In this sense, PDTOs biobanking is widely used and PDTO-libraries are helping the discovery of novel anticancer molecules. Moreover, they represent a good model to screen and validate compounds employed for other pathologies as off-label drugs potentially repurposed for the treatment of tumors. This will open up novel avenues of care thus ameliorating the life expectancy of cancer patients. This review discusses the present advancements in organoids research applied to oncology, with special attention to PDTOs and their translational potential, especially for anti-cancer drug testing, including off-label molecules.