1
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Sturtzel C, Grissenberger S, Bozatzi P, Scheuringer E, Wenninger-Weinzierl A, Zajec Z, Dernovšek J, Pascoal S, Gehl V, Kutsch A, Granig A, Rifatbegovic F, Carre M, Lang A, Valtingojer I, Moll J, Lötsch D, Erhart F, Widhalm G, Surdez D, Delattre O, André N, Stampfl J, Tomašič T, Taschner-Mandl S, Distel M. Refined high-content imaging-based phenotypic drug screening in zebrafish xenografts. NPJ Precis Oncol 2023; 7:44. [PMID: 37202469 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00386-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish xenotransplantation models are increasingly applied for phenotypic drug screening to identify small compounds for precision oncology. Larval zebrafish xenografts offer the opportunity to perform drug screens at high-throughput in a complex in vivo environment. However, the full potential of the larval zebrafish xenograft model has not yet been realized and several steps of the drug screening workflow still await automation to increase throughput. Here, we present a robust workflow for drug screening in zebrafish xenografts using high-content imaging. We established embedding methods for high-content imaging of xenografts in 96-well format over consecutive days. In addition, we provide strategies for automated imaging and analysis of zebrafish xenografts including automated tumor cell detection and tumor size analysis over time. We also compared commonly used injection sites and cell labeling dyes and show specific site requirements for tumor cells from different entities. We demonstrate that our setup allows us to investigate proliferation and response to small compounds in several zebrafish xenografts ranging from pediatric sarcomas and neuroblastoma to glioblastoma and leukemia. This fast and cost-efficient assay enables the quantification of anti-tumor efficacy of small compounds in large cohorts of a vertebrate model system in vivo. Our assay may aid in prioritizing compounds or compound combinations for further preclinical and clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sturtzel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - S Grissenberger
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - P Bozatzi
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - E Scheuringer
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - A Wenninger-Weinzierl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Z Zajec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - J Dernovšek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Pascoal
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - V Gehl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - A Kutsch
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Polymers for Biomaterials and 3D Printing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Granig
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Polymers for Biomaterials and 3D Printing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Rifatbegovic
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - M Carre
- Service d'Hématologie & Oncologie Pédiatrique, Timone Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - A Lang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - I Valtingojer
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - J Moll
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
- Renon Biotech and Pharma Consulting, Unterinn am Ritten (Bz), Italy
| | - D Lötsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Erhart
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - G Widhalm
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - D Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - O Delattre
- INSERM U830, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Lab, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - N André
- Service d'Hématologie & Oncologie Pédiatrique, Timone Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - J Stampfl
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Polymers for Biomaterials and 3D Printing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - T Tomašič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Taschner-Mandl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria.
| | - M Distel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria.
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Grissenberger S, Sturtzel C, Wenninger-Weinzierl A, Radic-Sarikas B, Scheuringer E, Bierbaumer L, Etienne V, Némati F, Pascoal S, Tötzl M, Tomazou EM, Metzelder M, Putz EM, Decaudin D, Delattre O, Surdez D, Kovar H, Halbritter F, Distel M. High-content drug screening in zebrafish xenografts reveals high efficacy of dual MCL-1/BCL-X L inhibition against Ewing sarcoma. Cancer Lett 2023; 554:216028. [PMID: 36462556 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.216028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric bone and soft tissue cancer with an urgent need for new therapies to improve disease outcome. To identify effective drugs, phenotypic drug screening has proven to be a powerful method, but achievable throughput in mouse xenografts, the preclinical Ewing sarcoma standard model, is limited. Here, we explored the use of xenografts in zebrafish for high-throughput drug screening to discover new combination therapies for Ewing sarcoma. We subjected xenografts in zebrafish larvae to high-content imaging and subsequent automated tumor size analysis to screen single agents and compound combinations. We identified three drug combinations effective against Ewing sarcoma cells: Irinotecan combined with either an MCL-1 or an BCL-XL inhibitor and in particular dual inhibition of the anti-apoptotic proteins MCL-1 and BCL-XL, which efficiently eradicated tumor cells in zebrafish xenografts. We confirmed enhanced efficacy of dual MCL-1/BCL-XL inhibition compared to single agents in a mouse PDX model. In conclusion, high-content screening of small compounds on Ewing sarcoma zebrafish xenografts identified dual MCL-1/BCL-XL targeting as a specific vulnerability and promising therapeutic strategy for Ewing sarcoma, which warrants further investigation towards clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caterina Sturtzel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Wenninger-Weinzierl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Branka Radic-Sarikas
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Scheuringer
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Bierbaumer
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Vesnie Etienne
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Fariba Némati
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Susana Pascoal
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcus Tötzl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Eleni M Tomazou
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Metzelder
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva M Putz
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Didier Decaudin
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France; Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie Research Centre, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Lab, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie Research Centre, Paris, France
| | - Didier Surdez
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Lab, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie Research Centre, Paris, France; Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Heinrich Kovar
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Dept. Pediatrics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Martin Distel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria; Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria.
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3
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Gabler L, Jaunecker CN, Katz S, van Schoonhoven S, Englinger B, Pirker C, Mohr T, Vician P, Stojanovic M, Woitzuck V, Laemmerer A, Kirchhofer D, Mayr L, LaFranca M, Erhart F, Grissenberger S, Wenninger-Weinzierl A, Sturtzel C, Kiesel B, Lang A, Marian B, Grasl-Kraupp B, Distel M, Schüler J, Gojo J, Grusch M, Spiegl-Kreinecker S, Donoghue DJ, Lötsch D, Berger W. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 promotes glioblastoma progression: a central role of integrin-mediated cell invasiveness. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:65. [PMID: 35484633 PMCID: PMC9052585 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01363-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is characterized by a particularly invasive phenotype, supported by oncogenic signals from the fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/ FGF receptor (FGFR) network. However, a possible role of FGFR4 remained elusive so far. Several transcriptomic glioma datasets were analyzed. An extended panel of primary surgical specimen-derived and immortalized GBM (stem)cell models and original tumor tissues were screened for FGFR4 expression. GBM models engineered for wild-type and dominant-negative FGFR4 overexpression were investigated regarding aggressiveness and xenograft formation. Gene set enrichment analyses of FGFR4-modulated GBM models were compared to patient-derived datasets. Despite widely absent in adult brain, FGFR4 mRNA was distinctly expressed in embryonic neural stem cells and significantly upregulated in glioblastoma. Pronounced FGFR4 overexpression defined a distinct GBM patient subgroup with dismal prognosis. Expression levels of FGFR4 and its specific ligands FGF19/FGF23 correlated both in vitro and in vivo and were progressively upregulated in the vast majority of recurrent tumors. Based on overexpression/blockade experiments in respective GBM models, a central pro-oncogenic function of FGFR4 concerning viability, adhesion, migration, and clonogenicity was identified. Expression of dominant-negative FGFR4 resulted in diminished (subcutaneous) or blocked (orthotopic) GBM xenograft formation in the mouse and reduced invasiveness in zebrafish xenotransplantation models. In vitro and in vivo data consistently revealed distinct FGFR4 and integrin/extracellular matrix interactions. Accordingly, FGFR4 blockade profoundly sensitized FGFR4-overexpressing GBM models towards integrin/focal adhesion kinase inhibitors. Collectively, FGFR4 overexpression contributes to the malignant phenotype of a highly aggressive GBM subgroup and is associated with integrin-related therapeutic vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Gabler
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carola Nadine Jaunecker
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Katz
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sushilla van Schoonhoven
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Englinger
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Christine Pirker
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Mohr
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Vician
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirjana Stojanovic
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentin Woitzuck
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Laemmerer
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dominik Kirchhofer
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Mayr
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mery LaFranca
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, via Archirafi 32, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Friedrich Erhart
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Barbara Kiesel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Lang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Marian
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Grasl-Kraupp
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Distel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Schüler
- Charles River Discovery Research Services Germany GmbH, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Gojo
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Grusch
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Spiegl-Kreinecker
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kepler University Hospital GmbH, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Wagner-Jauregg-Weg 15, 4020, Linz and Altenberger Strasse 69, 4020, Linz, Austria
| | - Daniel J Donoghue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Moores UCSD Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0367, USA
| | - Daniela Lötsch
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Berger
- Center for Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8A, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Grissenberger S, Poetsch A, Heinzl M, Morelli L, Sheffield N, Popitsch N, Kovar H, Distel M. Abstract B28: A cross-species enhancer activity analysis approach to identify the Ewing sarcoma cell of origin. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.pedca19-b28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone and soft tissue tumor in children and adolescents. In 85% of all cases the formation of Ewing sarcoma is caused by a chromosomal translocation, leading to the expression of the oncogene EWS-FLI1. This aberrant transcription factor is the main driver of the disease and leads to massive transcriptional dysregulation. Although the genetic mechanism driving Ewing sarcoma is well understood, an animal model adequately mimicking the disease is still lacking. One reason why modeling attempts have remained difficult is the elusive cell of origin in Ewing sarcoma. Several cell types including neural crest progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells have been proposed, but none of them has yet been confirmed as cell of origin of Ewing sarcoma. Towards identifying this cell of origin, we are currently following a novel cross-species approach by exploring the use of enhancers, which are specifically active in Ewing sarcoma cells, but were not created de novo by EWS-FLI1. Injection of reporter constructs into zebrafish embryos allows for visualization of cell types with activity of the selected enhancers and provides us with cell-of-origin candidate cell types. To investigate which of these candidate cells are permissive for development of Ewing-like tumors, we will also express EWS-FLI1 in these cells. If successful, this approach will not only reveal the Ewing sarcoma cell of origin but also result in a zebrafish Ewing sarcoma model, which will help to understand tumor initiation and progression and, furthermore, will be a valuable tool to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
Citation Format: Sarah Grissenberger, Anna Poetsch, Monika Heinzl, Luisa Morelli, Nathan Sheffield, Niko Popitsch, Heinrich Kovar, Martin Distel. A cross-species enhancer activity analysis approach to identify the Ewing sarcoma cell of origin [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr B28.
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Grissenberger S, Riedl S, Rinner B, Leber R, Zweytick D. Design of human lactoferricin derived antitumor peptides-activity and specificity against malignant melanoma in 2D and 3D model studies. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr 2020; 1862:183264. [PMID: 32151609 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop effective and specific anti-cancer drugs based on membrane active peptides. In previous studies we showed that human lactoferricin (hLFcin) derived peptides facilitate specific killing of cancer cells. These antitumor peptides were found by conventional melanoma two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures to induce apoptosis of cancer cells and to specifically target lipid phosphatidylserine located on the outside of cancer cell membranes. In order to have a more relevant in vitro model able to mimic the natural microenvironments of tumor tissues we established three-dimensional (3D) multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS). We used a set of (retro) di-peptides derived from LF11, an 11 amino acid long fragment of hLFcin, which differed in peptide length, positive net charge and hydrophobicity and determined antitumor activity and non-specific toxicity on non-neoplastic cells using 2D and 3D model systems. 2D studies unveiled a correlation between length, positive net charge and hydrophobicity of peptides and their specific antitumor activity. (Retro) di-peptides as R-DIM-P-LF11-215 and DIM-LF11-322 with a net charge of +9 and moderate hydrophobicity exhibited the highest specific antitumor activity. Further evaluation of the peptides anticancer activity by 3D in vitro studies confirmed their higher activity and cancer specificity compared to their parent R-DIM-P-LF11, with the exception of DIM-LF11-339. This highly hydrophobic peptide caused cell death mainly at the border of tumor spheroids indicating that too high hydrophobicity may prevent peptides from reaching the center of the spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Grissenberger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstraße 50/III, A-8010 Graz, Austria; Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Zimmermannplatz 10, A-1090 Wien, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria
| | - Sabrina Riedl
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstraße 50/III, A-8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria; Center for Medical Research, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstraße 24, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Beate Rinner
- Center for Medical Research, Medical University of Graz, Stiftingtalstraße 24, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Regina Leber
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstraße 50/III, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
| | - Dagmar Zweytick
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Humboldtstraße 50/III, A-8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Austria.
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6
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Mayr V, Sturtzel C, Stadler M, Grissenberger S, Distel M. Fast Dynamic in vivo Monitoring of Erk Activity at Single Cell Resolution in DREKA Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:111. [PMID: 30320107 PMCID: PMC6170801 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise regulation of signaling pathways in single cells underlies tissue development, maintenance and repair in multicellular organisms, but our ability to monitor signaling dynamics in living vertebrates is currently limited. We implemented kinase translocation reporter (KTR) technology to create DREKA ("dynamic reporter of Erk activity") zebrafish, which allow one to observe Erk activity in vivo at single cell level with high temporal resolution. DREKA zebrafish faithfully reported Erk activity after muscle cell wounding and revealed the kinetics of small compound uptake. Our results promise that kinase translocation reporters can be adapted for further applications in developmental biology, disease modeling, and in vivo pharmacology in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Mayr
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Caterina Sturtzel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Stadler
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah Grissenberger
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Distel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Riedl S, Rinner B, Schaider H, Liegl-Atzwanger B, Meditz K, Preishuber-Pflügl J, Grissenberger S, Lohner K, Zweytick D. In vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity of human lactoferricin derived antitumor peptide R-DIM-P-LF11-334 on human malignant melanoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:71817-71832. [PMID: 29069749 PMCID: PMC5641092 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Di-peptides derived from the human host defense peptide lactoferricin were previously described to specifically interact with the negatively charged lipid phosphatidylserine exposed by cancer cells. In this study one further derivative, namely R-DIM-P-LF11-334 is shown to exhibit even increased cancer toxicity in vitro and in vivo while non-neoplastic cells are not harmed. In liposomal model systems composed of phosphatidylserine mimicking cancerous and phosphatidylcholine mimicking non-cancerous membranes the specific interaction with the cancer marker PS was confirmed by specific induction of membrane perturbation and permeabilization in presence of the peptide. In vitro studies with cell lines of human malignant melanoma, such as A375, or primary cells of human melanoma metastases to the brain, as MUG Mel1, and non-neoplastic human dermal fibroblasts NHDF revealed high cytotoxic effect of R-DIM-P-LF11-334 on melanoma cells of A375 and MUG Mel1, whereas only minor effect on the dermal fibroblasts NHDF was observed, yielding an about 20-fold killing-specificity for A375 and MUG-Mel1. The LC50 values for melanoma A375 and MUG Mel1 were about 10 μM. Analysis of secondary structure of the peptide revealed an increase in the proportion of β-sheets exclusively in presence of the cancer mimic. Stability studies further indicated a potential adequate stability in blood or under stringent conditions. Importantly the cytotoxic effect on cancer cells was also proven in vivo in mouse xenografts of human melanoma, where peptide treatment induced strong tumor regression and in average a tumor area reduction of 85% compared to tumors of control mice without peptide treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Riedl
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Helmut Schaider
- Biomedical Research, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Cancer Biology Unit, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Bernadette Liegl-Atzwanger
- Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Southern Clinical Division, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Julia Preishuber-Pflügl
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sarah Grissenberger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Karl Lohner
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Dagmar Zweytick
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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