Synthesis of Multifunctional Polymersomes Prepared by Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly

Polymersomes are an exciting modality for drug delivery due to their structural similarity to biological cells and their ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. In this regard, the current work aimed to develop multifunctional polymersomes, integrating dye (with hydrophobic Nile red and hydrophilic sulfo-cyanine5-NHS ester as model drugs) encapsulation, stimulus responsiveness, and surface-ligand modifications. Polymersomes constituting poly(N-2-hydroxypropylmethacrylamide)-b-poly(N-(2-(methylthio)ethyl)acrylamide) (PHPMAm-b-PMTEAM) are prepared by aqueous dispersion RAFT-mediated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA). The hydrophilic block lengths have an effect on the obtained morphologies, with short chain P(HPMAm)₁₆ affording spheres and long chain P(HPMAm)₄₃ yielding vesicles. This further induces different responses to H₂O₂, with spheres fragmenting and vesicles aggregating. Folic acid (FA) is successfully conjugated to the P(HPMAm)₄₃, which self-assembles into FA-functionalized P(HPMAm)₄₃-b-P(MTEAM)₃₀₀ polymersomes. The FA-functionalized P(HPMAm)₄₃-b-P(MTEAM)₃₀₀ polymersomes entrap both hydrophobic Nile red (NR) and hydrophilic Cy5 dye. The NR-loaded FA-linked polymersomes exhibit a controlled release of the encapsulated NR dye when exposed to 10 mM H₂O₂. All the polymersomes formed are stable in human plasma and well-tolerated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These preliminary results demonstrate that, with simple and scalable chemistry, PISA offers access to different shapes and opens up the possibility of the one-pot synthesis of multicompartmental and responsive polymersomes.

The Neuropilin-1/PKC axis promotes neuroendocrine differentiation and drug resistance of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a multi-resistant variant of prostate cancer (PCa) that has become a major challenge in clinics. Understanding the neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) process at the molecular level is therefore critical to define therapeutic strategies that can prevent multi-drug resistance.

METHODS

Using RNA expression profiling and immunohistochemistry, we have identified and characterised a gene expression signature associated with the emergence of NED in a large PCa cohort, including 169 hormone-naïve PCa (HNPC) and 48 castration-resistance PCa (CRPC) patients. In vitro and preclinical in vivo NED models were used to explore the cellular mechanism and to characterise the effects of castration on PCa progression.

RESULTS

We show for the first time that Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a key component of NED in PCa cells. NRP1 is upregulated in response to androgen deprivation therapies (ADT) and elicits cell survival through induction of the PKC pathway. Downmodulation of either NRP1 protein expression or PKC activation suppresses NED, prevents tumour evolution toward castration resistance and increases the efficacy of docetaxel-based chemotherapy in preclinical models in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals the NRP1/PKC axis as a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of neuroendocrine castration-resistant variants of PCa and indicates NRP1 as an early transitional biomarker.

Proviral role of human respiratory epithelial cell-derived small extracellular vesicles in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs) are 50-200 nm in diameter vesicles delimited by a lipid bilayer, formed within the endosomal network or derived from the plasma membrane. They are secreted in various biological fluids, including airway nasal mucus. The goal of this work was to understand the role of sEVs present in the mucus (mu-sEVs) produced by human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. We show that uninfected HNECs produce mu-sEVs containing SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 and activated protease TMPRSS2. mu-sEVs cleave prefusion viral Spike proteins at the S1/S2 boundary, resulting in higher proportions of prefusion S proteins exposing their receptor binding domain in an 'open' conformation, thereby facilitating receptor binding at the cell surface. We show that the role of nasal mu-sEVs is to complete prefusion Spike priming performed by intracellular furin during viral egress from infected cells. This effect is mediated by vesicular TMPRSS2 activity, rendering SARS-CoV-2 virions prone to entry into target cells using the 'early', TMPRSS2-dependent pathway instead of the 'late', cathepsin-dependent route. These results indicate that prefusion Spike priming by mu-sEVs in the nasal cavity plays a role in viral tropism. They also show that nasal mucus does not protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection, but instead facilitates it.

Urinary extracellular vesicles contain mature transcriptome enriched in circular and long noncoding RNAs with functional significance in prostate cancer

Long noncoding (lnc)RNAs modulate gene expression alongside presenting unexpected source of neoantigens. Despite their immense interest, their ability to be transferred and control adjacent cells is unknown. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) offer a protective environment for nucleic acids, with pro and antitumourigenic functions by controlling the immune response. In contrast to extracellular nonvesicular RNA, few studies have addressed the full RNA content within human fluids' EVs and have compared them with their tissue of origin. Here, we performed Total RNA-Sequencing on six Formalin-Fixed-Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) prostate cancer (PCa) tumour tissues and their paired urinary (u)EVs to provide the first whole transcriptome comparison from the same patients. UEVs contain simplified transcriptome with intron-free cytoplasmic transcripts and enriched lnc/circular (circ)RNAs, strikingly common to an independent 20 patients' urinary cohort. Our full cellular and EVs transcriptome comparison within three PCa cell lines identified a set of overlapping 14 uEV-circRNAs characterized as essential for prostate cell proliferation in vitro and 28 uEV-lncRNAs belonging to the cancer-related lncRNA census (CLC2). In addition, we found 15 uEV-lncRNAs, predicted to encode 768 high-affinity neoantigens, and for which three of the encoded-ORF produced detectable unmodified peptides by mass spectrometry. Our dual analysis of EVs-lnc/circRNAs both in urines' and in vitro's EVs provides a fundamental resource for future uEV-lnc/circRNAs phenotypic characterization involved in PCa.

Overexpression of Nucleolin and Associated Genes in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. If local PCa presents a favorable prognosis, available treatments for advanced PCa display limiting benefits due to therapeutic resistances. Nucleolin (NCL) is a ubiquitous protein involved in numerous cell processes, such as ribosome biogenesis, cell cycles, or angiogenesis. NCL is overexpressed in several tumor types in which it has been proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. In PCa, NCL has mainly been studied as a target for new therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, little data are available concerning its expression in patient tissues. Here, we investigated the expression of NCL using a new cohort from Mondor Hospital and data from published cohorts. Results were then compared with NCL expression using in vitro models. NCL was overexpressed in PCa tissues compared to the normal tissues, but no prognostic values were demonstrated. Nine genes were highly co-expressed with NCL in patient tissues and tumor prostate cell lines. Our data demonstrate that NCL is an interesting diagnostic biomarker and propose a signature of genes co-expressed with NCL.

Régulation de TMPRSS2 par la voie des androgènes et implications dans l’infection SARS-CoV-2

Objectifs

TMPRSS2 est une protéase cellulaire régulée par les androgènes dans les cellules prostatiques. L’entrée de SARS-CoV2 par fusion membranaire dans les cellules pulmonaires nécessite le clivage de Spike par TMPRSS2. Notre hypothèse est que le niveau des androgènes et la présence du récepteur des androgènes (RA) dans les cellules pulmonaires pourrait réguler l’expression de TMPRSS2 et influencerait l’entrée de SARS-CoV-2.

Méthodes

Les régulations de TMPRSS2 et du RA ont été étudiées dans deux lignées cellulaires pulmonaires (A549 et Calu-3) et dans des lignées de cellules prostatiques contrôles (LNCaP ou VCaP) grâce à des expériences de privation et de supplémentation en androgènes ainsi que par utilisation d’un siRNA ciblant le RA. La régulation de l’expression de ces deux gènes a été étudiée par RT-qPCR et Western blot. L’infection de SARS-CoV2 dans les cellules Calu-3 a été étudiée en condition de blocage du RA.

Résultats

Les études cliniques semblent montrer que les patients atteints de cancer de la prostate sous hormonothérapie ont une incidence plus faible d’infection par le SARS-CoV2 suggérant le rôle du RA dans l’infection du virus. Nos résultats montrent que les deux lignées de cellules pulmonaires utilisées (A549 et Calu-3) expriment TMPRSS2 et le RA au niveau ARNm et protéique. Dans ces lignées, il existe également une régulation de l’expression de TMPRSS2 et du RA par les androgènes. Cet effet est connu et bien retrouvé pour les lignées prostatiques. Enfin, nous avons pu montrer qu’au niveau des cellules pulmonaires, le taux d’infection par le SARS-CoV2 était moins important lorsque la voie du RA a été au préalable bloquée.

Conclusion

Le blocage de TMPRSS2 permettrait de limiter l’infection du virus. Nos résultats suggèrent que l’expression de TMPRSS2 est régulée par les androgènes dans des cellules pulmonaires et que la testostérone pourrait jouer un rôle dans l’infection du SARS-CoV2. Le blocage du RA serait donc une option thérapeutique envisagée pour limiter la COVID-19.

Extracellular Vesicles in Advanced Prostate Cancer: Tools to Predict and Thwart Therapeutic Resistance

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide. At first, advanced PCa is treated by androgen deprivation therapy with a good initial response. Nevertheless, recurrences occur, leading to Castrate-Resistance Prostate Cancer (CRPC). During the last decade, new therapies based on inhibition of the androgen receptor pathway or taxane chemotherapies have been used to treat CRPC patients leading to an increase in overall survival, but the occurrence of resistances limits their benefits. Numerous studies have demonstrated the implication of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in different cancer cellular mechanisms. Thus, the possibility to isolate and explore EVs produced by tumor cells in plasma/sera represents an important opportunity for the deciphering of those mechanisms and the discovery of biomarkers. Herein, we summarized the role of EVs in therapeutic resistance of advanced prostate cancer and their use to find biomarkers able to predict these resistances.

Implication of NPM1 phosphorylation and preclinical evaluation of the nucleoprotein antagonist N6L in prostate cancer

Despite the advent of several new treatment options over the past years, advanced/metastatic prostate carcinoma (PCa) still remains incurable, which justifies the search for novel targets and therapeutic molecules. Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a shuttling nucleoprotein involved in tumor growth and its targeting could be a potential approach for cancer therapy. We previously demonstrated that the multivalent pseudopeptide N6L binds to NPM1 potently affecting in vitro and in vivo tumor cell growth of various tumor types as well as angiogenesis. Furthermore, NPM1 binds to androgen receptor (AR) and modulate its activity. In this study, we first investigated the implication of the NPM1 and its Thr199 and Thr234/237 phosphorylated forms in PCa. We showed that phosphorylated forms of NPM1 interact with androgen receptor (AR) in nucleoplasm. N6L treatment of prostate tumor cells led to inhibition of NPM1 phosphorylation in conjunction with inhibition of AR activity. We also found that total and phosphorylated NPM1 were overexpressed in castration-resistant PCa. Assessment of the potential therapeutic role of N6L in PCa indicated that N6L inhibited tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo when used either alone or in combination with the standard-of-care first- (hormonotherapy) and second-line (docetaxel) treatments for advanced PCa. Our findings reveal the role of Thr199 and Thr234/237 phosphorylated NPM1 in PCa progression and define N6L as a new drug candidate for PCa therapy.

N6L pseudopeptide interferes with nucleophosmin protein-protein interactions and sensitizes leukemic cells to chemotherapy

NPM1 is a multifunctional nucleolar protein implicated in several processes such as ribosome maturation and export, DNA damage response and apoptotic response to stress stimuli. The NPM1 gene is involved in human tumorigenesis and is found mutated in one third of acute myeloid leukemia patients, leading to the aberrant cytoplasmic localization of NPM1. Recent studies indicated that the N6L multivalent pseudopeptide, a synthetic ligand of cell-surface nucleolin, is also able to bind NPM1 with high affinity. N6L inhibits cell growth with different mechanisms and represents a good candidate as a novel anticancer drug for a number of malignancies of different histological origin. In this study we investigated whether N6L treatment could drive antitumor effect in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines. We found that N6L binds NPM1 at the N-terminal domain, co-localizes with cytoplasmic, mutated NPM1, and interferes with its protein-protein associations. N6L toxicity appears to be p53 dependent but interestingly, the leukemic cell line harbouring the mutated form of NPM1 is more resistant to treatment, suggesting that NPM1 cytoplasmic delocalization confers protection from p53 activation. Moreover, we show that N6L sensitizes AML cells to doxorubicin and cytarabine treatment. These studies suggest that N6L may be a promising option in combination therapies for acute myeloid leukemia treatment.

Multivalent cationic pseudopeptide polyplexes as a tool for cancer therapy

In this study, a novel anticancer reagent based on polyplexes nanoparticles was developed. These nanoparticles are obtained by mixing negatively charged polyelectrolytes with the antitumour cationically-charged pseudopeptide N6L. Using two in vivo experimental tumor pancreatic models based upon PANC-1 and mPDAC cells, we found that the antitumour activity of N6L is significantly raised via its incorporation in polyplexed nanoparticles. Study of the mechanism of action using affinity isolation and si-RNA experiments indicated that N6L-polyplexes are internalized through their interaction with nucleolin. In addition, using a very aggressive model of pancreatic cancer in which gemcitabine, a standard of care for this type of cancer, has a weak effect on tumour growth, we observed that N6L-polyplexes administration has a stronger efficacy than gemcitabine. Biodistribution studies carried out in tumour-bearing mice indicated that N6L-polyplexes localises in tumour tissue, in agreement with its antitumour effect. These results support the idea that N6L nanoparticles could develop into a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer, especially hard-to-treat pancreatic cancers.

Extracellular vesicles released by mesenchymal-like prostate carcinoma cells modulate EMT state of recipient epithelial-like carcinoma cells through regulation of AR signaling

Extracellular vesicles released from cancer cells may play an important role in cancer progression by shuttling oncogenic information into recipient cells. However, our knowledge is still fragmentary and there remain numerous questions regarding the mechanisms at play and the functional consequences of these interactions. We have recently established a mesenchymal-like prostate cancer cell line (22Rv1/CR-1; Mes-PCa). In this study, we assessed the effects of the extracellular vesicles released by these cells on recipient androgen-dependent epithelial VCaP prostate cancer cells. Mes-PCa derived vesicles were found to promote mesenchymal features in the recipient epithelial-like prostate cancer cells. This transformation was accompanied by a modulation of androgen receptor signaling and activation of TGFβ signaling pathway. Moreover, recipient cells acquiring mesenchymal traits displayed enhanced migratory and invasive features as well as increased resistance to the androgen receptor antagonist, enzalutamide. Our results suggest a previously unappreciated role for Mes-PCa secreted vesicles in cancer promotion by transferring cell-mediated signals and promoting phenotypic changes in recipient prostate cancer cells.

Nucleolin Targeting Impairs the Progression of Pancreatic Cancer and Promotes the Normalization of Tumor Vasculature

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive tumor, mostly resistant to the standard treatments. Nucleolin is overexpressed in cancers and its inhibition impairs tumor growth. Herein, we showed that nucleolin was overexpressed in human specimens of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and that the overall survival significantly increased in patients with low levels of nucleolin. The nucleolin antagonist N6L strongly impaired the growth of primary tumors and liver metastasis in an orthotopic mouse model of PDAC (mPDAC). Similar antitumor effect of N6L has been observed in a highly angiogenic mouse model of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor RIP-Tag2. N6L significantly inhibited both human and mouse pancreatic cell proliferation and invasion. Notably, the analysis of tumor vasculature revealed a strong increase of pericyte coverage and vessel perfusion both in mPDAC and RIP-Tag2 tumors, in parallel to an inhibition of tumor hypoxia. Nucleolin inhibition directly affected endothelial cell (EC) activation and changed a proangiogenic signature. Among the vascular activators, nucleolin inhibition significantly decreased angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) secretion and expression in ECs, in the tumor and in the plasma of mPDAC mice. As a consequence of the observed N6L-induced tumor vessel normalization, pre-treatment with N6L efficiently improved chemotherapeutic drug delivery and increased the antitumor properties of gemcitabine in PDAC mice. In conclusion, nucleolin inhibition is a new anti-pancreatic cancer therapeutic strategy that dually blocks tumor progression and normalizes tumor vasculature, improving the delivery and efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, we unveiled Ang-2 as a potential target and suitable response biomarker for N6L treatment in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Res; 76(24); 7181-93. ©2016 AACR.

Abstract 3366: NCL targeting impairs the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and promotes tumor vessel normalization through Ang-2 inhibition

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor, mostly resistant to the standard treatments. NCL is overexpressed in cancers and its inhibition impairs tumor growth. Herein we described, that NCL was overexpressed in human specimens of PDAC, and low NCL staining patients had increased overall survival. Previously, we described a family of multivalent pseudopeptides binding to NCL and inhibiting tumour growth. Here, NCL antagonist N6L, strongly impaired tumor growth, liver metastasis formation and angiogenesis in an orthothopic mouse model of PDAC. N6L inhibited both human and mouse tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Proteome analysis of endothelial cell secreted proteins showed that NCL inhibition decreased Ang-2 levels and switched a pro-angiogenic signature. Importantly, Ang-2 levels were decreased in plasma of N6L-treated PDAC mice. The analysis of tumor vasculature revealed a strong increase of pericyte coverage and vessel perfusion in parallel to an inhibition of tumor hypoxia. As consequence of N6L-induced tumor vessel normalization, pre-treatment with N6L efficiently improved chemotherapeutic drug delivery and increased the anti-tumor properties of gemcitabine in PDAC mice.

In conclusion, NCL inhibition is a new anti-tumor therapeutic strategy that dually blocks tumor progression and normalizes tumor vessels improving the delivery and efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in PDAC cancers. Moreover, we identified Ang-2 as a potential target and suitable response biomarker for N6L treatment in PDAC.

Citation Format: Maud-Emmanuelle Gilles, Federica Maione, Mélissande Cossutta, Gilles Carpentier, Laure Caruana, Silvia Di Maria, Damien Destouches, Ksenya Shchors, Christopher Prochasson, Anne Couvelard, José Courty, Enrico Giraudo, Ilaria Cascone. NCL targeting impairs the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and promotes tumor vessel normalization through Ang-2 inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3366.

Pleiotrophin exerts its migration and invasion effect through the neuropilin-1 pathway

Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a pleiotropic growth factor that exhibits angiogenic properties and is involved in tumor growth and metastasis. Although it has been shown that PTN is expressed in tumor cells, few studies have investigated its receptors and their involvement in cell migration and invasion. Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a receptor for multiple growth factors that mediates cell motility and plays an important role in angiogenesis and tumor progression. Here we provide evidence for the first time that NRP-1 is crucial for biological activities of PTN. We found that PTN interacted directly with NRP-1 through its thrombospondin type-I repeat domains. Importantly, binding of PTN to NRP-1 stimulated the internalization and recycling of NRP-1 at the cell surface. Invalidation of NRP-1 by RNA interference in human carcinoma cells inhibited PTN-induced intracellular signaling of the serine-threonine kinase, mitogen-activated protein MAP kinase, and focal adhesion kinase pathways. Accordingly, NRP-1 silencing or blocking by antibody inhibited PTN-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration and tumor cell invasion. These results suggest that NRP-1/PTN interaction provides a novel mechanism for controlling the response of endothelial and tumoral cells to PTN and may explain, at least in part, how PTN contributes to tumor angiogenesis and cancer progression.

CRIPTO overexpression promotes mesenchymal differentiation in prostate carcinoma cells through parallel regulation of AKT and FGFR activities

Members of the EGF-CFC (Cripto, FRL-1, Cryptic) protein family are increasingly recognized as key mediators of cell movement and cell differentiation during vertebrate embryogenesis. The founding member of this protein family, CRIPTO, is overexpressed in various human carcinomas. Yet, the biological role of CRIPTO in this setting remains unclear. Here, we find CRIPTO expression as especially high in a subgroup of primary prostate carcinomas with poorer outcome, wherein resides cancer cell clones with mesenchymal traits. Experimental studies in PCa models showed that one notable function of CRIPTO expression in prostate carcinoma cells may be to augment PI3K/AKT and FGFR1 signaling, which promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and sustains a mesenchymal state. In the observed signaling events, FGFR1 appears to function parallel to AKT, and the two pathways act cooperatively to enhance migratory, invasive and transformation properties specifically in the CRIPTO overexpressing cells. Collectively, these findings suggest a novel molecular network, involving CRIPTO, AKT, and FGFR signaling, in favor of the emergence of mesenchymal-like cancer cells during the development of aggressive prostate tumors.

Nucleolin antagonist triggers autophagic cell death in human glioblastoma primary cells and decreased in vivo tumor growth in orthotopic brain tumor model

Nucleolin (NCL) is highly expressed in several types of cancer and represents an interesting therapeutic target. It is expressed at the plasma membrane of tumor cells, a property which is being used as a marker for several human cancer including glioblastoma. In this study we investigated targeting NCL as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this pathology. To explore this possibility, we studied the effect of an antagonist of NCL, the multivalent pseudopeptide N6L using primary culture of human glioblastoma cells. In this system, N6L inhibits cell growth with different sensitivity depending to NCL localization. Cell cycle analysis indicated that N6L-induced growth reduction was due to a block of the G1/S transition with down-regulation of the expression of cyclin D1 and B2. By monitoring autophagy markers such as p62 and LC3II, we demonstrate that autophagy is enhanced after N6L treatment. In addition, N6L-treatment of mice bearing tumor decreased in vivo tumor growth in orthotopic brain tumor model and increase mice survival. The results obtained indicated an anti-proliferative and pro-autophagic effect of N6L and point towards its possible use as adjuvant agent to the standard therapeutic protocols presently utilized for glioblastoma.

Multivalent pseudopeptides targeting cell surface nucleoproteins inhibit cancer cell invasion through tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 3 (TIMP-3) release

Blockage of the metastasis process remains a significant clinical challenge, requiring innovative therapeutic approaches. For this purpose, molecules that inhibit matrix metalloproteinases activity or induce the expression of their natural inhibitor, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), are potentially interesting. In a previous study, we have shown that synthetic ligands binding to cell surface nucleolin/nucleophosmin and known as HB 19 for the lead compound and NucAnt 6L (N6L) for the most potent analog, inhibit both tumor growth and angiogenesis. Furthermore, they prevent metastasis in a RET transgenic mice model which develops melanoma. Here, we investigated the effect of N6L on the invasion capacity of MDA-MB-435 melanoma cells. Our results show that the multivalent pseudopeptide N6L inhibited Matrigel invasion of MDA-MB-435 cells in a modified Boyden chamber model. This was associated with an increase in TIMP-3 in the cell culture medium without a change in TIMP-3 mRNA expression suggesting its release from cell surface and/or extracellular matrix. This may be explained by our demonstrated N6L interaction with sulfated glycosaminoglycans and consequently the controlled bioavailability of glycosaminoglycan-bound TIMP-3. The implication of TIMP-3 in N6L-induced inhibition of cell invasion was evidenced by siRNA silencing experiments showing that the loss of TIMP-3 expression abrogated the effect of N6L. The inhibition of tumor cell invasion by N6L demonstrated in this study, in addition to its previously established inhibitory effect on tumor growth and angiogenesis, suggests that N6L represents a promising anticancer drug candidate warranting further investigation.

A simple approach to cancer therapy afforded by multivalent pseudopeptides that target cell-surface nucleoproteins

Recent studies have implicated the involvement of cell surface forms of nucleolin in tumor growth. In this study, we investigated whether a synthetic ligand of cell-surface nucleolin known as N6L could exert antitumor activity. We found that N6L inhibits the anchorage-dependent and independent growth of tumor cell lines and that it also hampers angiogenesis. Additionally, we found that N6L is a proapoptotic molecule that increases Annexin V staining and caspase-3/7 activity in vitro and DNA fragmentation in vivo. Through affinity isolation experiments and mass-spectrometry analysis, we also identified nucleophosmin as a new N6L target. Notably, in mouse xenograft models, N6L administration inhibited human tumor growth. Biodistribution studies carried out in tumor-bearing mice indicated that following administration N6L rapidly localizes to tumor tissue, consistent with its observed antitumor effects. Our findings define N6L as a novel anticancer drug candidate warranting further investigation.

Abstract 661: Efficiency of the multivalent pseudopeptide nucant 6L in castration- and chemo-resistant prostate cancers

Introduction: Targeted therapies on advanced prostate cancer, resistant to castration and chemotherapy, offer significant hope for future treatments. NucAnt 6L (N6L) is a ligand of surface nucleolin. This protein is overexpressed at the cell surface of tumoral and endothelial cells, and is involved in tumor growth and associated angiogenesis. It has been demonstrated that N6L displays, in vitro and in vivo, a double anti-tumoral activity. It inhibits growth of various human tumor cell lines derived from mammary and colorectal carcinoma, melanoma, glioblastoma and lymphoma. In addition, it can compromise associated angiogenesis. In this context, N6L might be of value for therapeutic intervention. Previous studies have demonstrated drug's efficacy of this agent in prostate cancer cell lines. However, its effect on therapeutic resistant lines has yet to be documented. Using in vivo and in vitro models, the aim of this work is to evaluate N6L activity on castration and chemo-resistant prostate cancers.

Methods: When maintained in medium deprived of androgens, androgen-responsive LNCaP cells undergo a “transdifferentiation” process giving rise to neuroendocrine (NE) like LNCaP cells which are resistant to androgen deprivation and chemotherapeutic agents such as docetaxel. Here, the anti-tumoral activity of N6L has been evaluated, in vitro, on human LNCaP-NE cells. Cell viability, as assessed by MTT test, and soft agar assays were performed at 72 hours after treatment with N6L (range of 0.1 to 100 µM). In vivo, anti-tumoral activity was then confirmed using VCaP ectopic xenografts into athymic nude mice, a condition that mimics clinical evolution of advanced prostate cancers in human. Mice bearing tumors of about 600 mm3 were castrated. Mice were treated with either vehicle or N6L at 10 mg/kg by the intraperitoneal route at different times of tumor growth. Tumors volumes were monitored at different time points using the caliper method.

Results: N6L induces death of LNCaP-NE cells with a IC50 of 16.2 µM. These findings were supported by soft agar assays in which LNCaP-NE cells were found to be sensitive to N6L treatment whereas they were resistant to docetaxel. In vivo, N6L inhibits VCaP tumor growth at different stages of tumor progression, the castration-sensitive state and also the castration resistant state.

Conclusions: N6L, which is currently in I/IIb phase of clinical trials, might represent a new targeted approach to treat advanced prostate cancers resistant to castration and chemotherapy.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 661. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-661

Targeting surface nucleolin with a multivalent pseudopeptide delays development of spontaneous melanoma in RET transgenic mice

BACKGROUND

The importance of cell-surface nucleolin in cancer biology was recently highlighted by studies showing that ligands of nucleolin play critical role in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. By using a specific antagonist that binds the C-terminal tail of nucleolin, the HB-19 pseudopeptide, we recently reported that HB-19 treatment markedly suppressed the progression of established human breast tumor cell xenografts in the athymic nude mice without apparent toxicity.

METHODS

The in vivo antitumoral action of HB-19 treatment was assessed on the spontaneous development of melanoma in the RET transgenic mouse model. Ten days old RET mice were treated with HB-19 in a prophylactic setting that extended 300 days. In parallel, the molecular basis for the action of HB-19 was investigated on a melanoma cell line (called TIII) derived from a cutaneous nodule of a RET mouse.

RESULTS

HB-19 treatment of RET mice caused a significant delay in the onset of cutaneous tumors, several-months delay in the incidence of large tumors, a lower frequency of cutaneous nodules, and a reduction of visceral metastatic nodules while displaying no toxicity to normal tissue. Moreover, microvessel density was significantly reduced in tumors recovered from HB-19 treated mice compared to corresponding controls. Studies on the melanoma-derived tumor cells demonstrated that HB-19 treatment of TIII cells could restore contact inhibition, impair anchorage-independent growth, and reduce their tumorigenic potential in mice. Moreover, HB-19 treatment caused selective down regulation of transcripts coding matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the TIII cells and in melanoma tumors of RET mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Although HB-19 treatment failed to prevent the development of spontaneous melanoma in the RET mice, it delayed for several months the onset and frequency of cutaneous tumors, and exerted a significant inhibitory effect on visceral metastasis. Consequently, HB-19 could provide a novel therapeutic agent by itself or as an adjuvant therapy in association with current therapeutic interventions on a virulent cancer like melanoma.

Suppression of tumor growth and angiogenesis by a specific antagonist of the cell-surface expressed nucleolin

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidences suggest that nucleolin expressed on the cell surface is implicated in growth of tumor cells and angiogenesis. Nucleolin is one of the major proteins of the nucleolus, but it is also expressed on the cell surface where is serves as a binding protein for variety of ligands implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, mitogenesis and angiogenesis.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

By using a specific antagonist that binds the C-terminal tail of nucleolin, the HB-19 pseudopeptide, here we show that the growth of tumor cells and angiogenesis are suppressed in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models. HB-19 inhibited colony formation in soft agar of tumor cell lines, impaired migration of endothelial cells and formation of capillary-like structures in collagen gel, and reduced blood vessel branching in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. In athymic nude mice, HB-19 treatment markedly suppressed the progression of established human breast tumor cell xenografts in nude mice, and in some cases eliminated measurable tumors while displaying no toxicity to normal tissue. This potent antitumoral effect is attributed to the direct inhibitory action of HB-19 on both tumor and endothelial cells by blocking and down regulating surface nucleolin, but without any apparent effect on nucleolar nucleolin.

CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE

Our results illustrate the dual inhibitory action of HB-19 on the tumor development and the neovascularization process, thus validating the cell-surface expressed nucleolin as a strategic target for an effective cancer drug. Consequently, the HB-19 pseudopeptide provides a unique candidate to consider for innovative cancer therapy.