1
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Hegde M, Girisa S, Aswani BS, Alqahtani MS, Abbas M, Sethi G, Kunnumakkara AB. Harnessing potential role of gangliosides in immunomodulation and cancer therapeutics. Life Sci 2024:122786. [PMID: 38848944 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Gangliosides represent glycolipids containing sialic acid residues, present on the cell membrane with glycan residues exposed to the extracellular matrix (ECM), while the ceramides are anchored within the membrane. These molecules play a critical role in pathophysiological processes such as host-pathogen interactions, cell-cell recognition, signal transduction, cell adhesion, motility, and immunomodulation. Accumulated evidence suggests the overexpression of gangliosides on tumor tissues in comparison to healthy human tissues. These tumor-associated gangliosides have been implicated in various facets of tumor biology, including cell motility, differentiation, signaling, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Consequently, these entities emerge as attractive targets for immunotherapeutic interventions. Notably, the administration of antibodies targeting gangliosides has demonstrated cytotoxic effects on cancer cells that exhibit an overexpression of these glycolipids. Passive immunotherapy approaches utilizing murine or murine/human chimeric anti-ganglioside antibodies have been explored as potential treatments for diverse cancer types. Additionally, vaccination strategies employing tumor-associated gangliosides in conjunction with adjuvants have entered the realm of promising techniques currently undergoing clinical trials. The present comprehensive review encapsulates the multifaceted roles of gangliosides in tumor initiation, progression, immunosuppression, and metastasis. Further, an overview is provided of the correlation between the expression status of gangliosides in normal and tumor cells and its impact on cancer patient survival. Furthermore, the discussion extends to ongoing and completed clinical trials employing diverse strategies to target gangliosides, elucidating their effectiveness in treating cancers. This emerging discipline is expected to supply substantial impetus for the establishment of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mangala Hegde
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Sosmitha Girisa
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Babu Santha Aswani
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Mohammed S Alqahtani
- Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia; BioImaging Unit, Space Research Centre, Michael Atiyah Building, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Mohamed Abbas
- Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore; NUS Center for Cancer Research, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117699, Singapore.
| | - Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India.
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2
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Jin X, Cheng H, Chen X, Cao X, Xiao C, Ding F, Qu H, Wang PG, Feng Y, Yang GY. A modular chemoenzymatic cascade strategy for the structure-customized assembly of ganglioside analogs. Commun Chem 2024; 7:17. [PMID: 38238524 PMCID: PMC10796935 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01102-9] [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: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Gangliosides play vital biological regulatory roles and are associated with neurological system diseases, malignancies, and immune deficiencies. They have received extensive attention in developing targeted drugs and diagnostic markers. However, it is difficult to obtain enough structurally defined gangliosides and analogs especially at an industrial-relevant scale, which prevent exploring structure-activity relationships and identifying drug ingredients. Here, we report a highly modular chemoenzymatic cascade assembly (MOCECA) strategy for customized and large-scale synthesis of ganglioside analogs with various glycan and ceramide epitopes. We typically accessed five gangliosides with therapeutic promising and systematically prepared ten GM1 analogs with diverse ceramides. Through further process amplification, we achieved industrial production of ganglioside GM1 in the form of modular assembly at hectogram scale. Using MOCECA-synthesized GM1 analogs, we found unique ceramide modifications on GM1 could enhance the ability to promote neurite outgrowth. By comparing the structures with synthetic analogs, we further resolved the problem of contradicting descriptions for GM1 components in different pharmaceutical documents by reinterpreting the exact two-component structures of commercialized GM1 drugs. Because of its applicability and stability, the MOCECA strategy can be extended to prepare other glycosphingolipid structures, which may pave the way for developing new glycolipid drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmaceutics, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China
| | - Hanchao Cheng
- School of Food and Drug, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Pharmacology, Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefeng Cao
- Glycogene LLC, 10th Floor, Building 3, Wuhan Precision Medicine Industrial Base, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, China
| | - Cong Xiao
- Glycogene LLC, 10th Floor, Building 3, Wuhan Precision Medicine Industrial Base, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, China
| | - Fengling Ding
- Glycogene LLC, 10th Floor, Building 3, Wuhan Precision Medicine Industrial Base, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, China
| | - Huirong Qu
- Glycogene LLC, 10th Floor, Building 3, Wuhan Precision Medicine Industrial Base, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng George Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Schengrund CL. The Ying and Yang of Ganglioside Function in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5362. [PMID: 38001622 PMCID: PMC10670608 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The plethora of information about the expression of cancer cell-associated gangliosides, their role(s) in signal transduction, and their potential usefulness in the development of cancer treatments makes this an appropriate time to review these enigmatic glycosphingolipids. Evidence, reflecting the work of many, indicates that (1) expression of specific gangliosides, not generally found in high concentrations in most normal human cells, can be linked to certain types of cancer. (2) Gangliosides can affect the ability of cells to interact either directly or indirectly with growth factor receptors, thereby changing such things as a cell's mobility, rate of proliferation, and metastatic ability. (3) Anti-ganglioside antibodies have been tested, with some success, as potential treatments for certain cancers. (4) Cancer-associated gangliosides shed into the circulation can (a) affect immune cell responsiveness either positively or negatively, (b) be considered as diagnostic markers, and (c) be used to look for recurrence. (5) Cancer registries enable investigators to evaluate data from sufficient numbers of patients to obtain information about potential therapies. Despite advances that have been made, a discussion of possible approaches to identifying additional treatment strategies to inhibit metastasis, responsible for the majority of deaths of cancer patients, as well as for treating therapy-resistant tumors, is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara-Lynne Schengrund
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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4
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Nejatie A, Yee SS, Jeter A, Saragovi HU. The cancer glycocode as a family of diagnostic biomarkers, exemplified by tumor-associated gangliosides. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1261090. [PMID: 37954075 PMCID: PMC10637394 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1261090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
One unexploited family of cancer biomarkers comprise glycoproteins, carbohydrates, and glycolipids (the Tumor Glycocode).A class of glycolipid cancer biomarkers, the tumor-marker gangliosides (TMGs) are presented here as potential diagnostics for detecting cancer, especially at early stages, as the biological function of TMGs makes them etiological. We propose that a quantitative matrix of the Cancer Biomarker Glycocode and artificial intelligence-driven algorithms will expand the menu of validated cancer biomarkers as a step to resolve some of the challenges in cancer diagnosis, and yield a combination that can identify a specific cancer, in a tissue-agnostic manner especially at early stages, to enable early intervention. Diagnosis is critical to reducing cancer mortality but many cancers lack efficient and effective diagnostic tests, especially for early stage disease. Ideal diagnostic biomarkers are etiological, samples are preferably obtained via non-invasive methods (e.g. liquid biopsy of blood or urine), and are quantitated using assays that yield high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for efficient diagnosis, prognosis, or predicting response to therapy. Validated biomarkers with these features are rare. While the advent of proteomics and genomics has led to the identification of a multitude of proteins and nucleic acid sequences as cancer biomarkers, relatively few have been approved for clinical use. The use of multiplex arrays and artificial intelligence-driven algorithms offer the option of combining data of known biomarkers; however, for most, the sensitivity and the specificity are below acceptable criteria, and clinical validation has proven difficult. One strategic solution to this problem is to expand the biomarker families beyond those currently exploited. One unexploited family of cancer biomarkers comprise glycoproteins, carbohydrates, and glycolipids (the Tumor Glycocode). Here, we focus on a family of glycolipid cancer biomarkers, the tumor-marker gangliosides (TMGs). We discuss the diagnostic potential of TMGs for detecting cancer, especially at early stages. We include prior studies from the literature to summarize findings for ganglioside quantification, expression, detection, and biological function and its role in various cancers. We highlight the examples of TMGs exhibiting ideal properties of cancer diagnostic biomarkers, and the application of GD2 and GD3 for diagnosis of early stage cancers with high sensitivity and specificity. We propose that a quantitative matrix of the Cancer Biomarker Glycocode and artificial intelligence-driven algorithms will expand the menu of validated cancer biomarkers as a step to resolve some of the challenges in cancer diagnosis, and yield a combination that can identify a specific cancer, in a tissue-agnostic manner especially at early stages, to enable early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Nejatie
- Center for Translational Research, Lady Davis Research Institute-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Samantha S. Yee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Horacio Uri Saragovi
- Center for Translational Research, Lady Davis Research Institute-Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Ophthalmology and Vision Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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5
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van der Haar Àvila I, Windhouwer B, van Vliet SJ. Current state-of-the-art on ganglioside-mediated immune modulation in the tumor microenvironment. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:941-958. [PMID: 37266839 PMCID: PMC10584724 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10108-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Gangliosides are sialylated glycolipids, mainly present at the cell surface membrane, involved in a variety of cellular signaling events. During malignant transformation, the composition of these glycosphingolipids is altered, leading to structural and functional changes, which are often negatively correlated to patient survival. Cancer cells have the ability to shed gangliosides into the tumor microenvironment, where they have a strong impact on anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor progression. Since most ganglioside species show prominent immunosuppressive activities, they might be considered checkpoint molecules released to counteract ongoing immunosurveillance. In this review, we highlight the current state-of-the-art on the ganglioside-mediated immunomodulation, specified for the different immune cells and individual gangliosides. In addition, we address the dual role that certain gangliosides play in the tumor microenvironment. Even though some ganglioside species have been more extensively studied than others, they are proven to contribute to the defense mechanisms of the tumor and should be regarded as promising therapeutic targets for inclusion in future immunotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene van der Haar Àvila
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Britt Windhouwer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra J van Vliet
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan, 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Cancer Biology and Immunology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Cancer Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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6
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Machy P, Mortier E, Birklé S. Biology of GD2 ganglioside: implications for cancer immunotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1249929. [PMID: 37670947 PMCID: PMC10475612 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1249929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Part of the broader glycosphingolipid family, gangliosides are composed of a ceramide bound to a sialic acid-containing glycan chain, and locate at the plasma membrane. Gangliosides are produced through sequential steps of glycosylation and sialylation. This diversity of composition is reflected in differences in expression patterns and functions of the various gangliosides. Ganglioside GD2 designates different subspecies following a basic structure containing three carbohydrate residues and two sialic acids. GD2 expression, usually restrained to limited tissues, is frequently altered in various neuroectoderm-derived cancers. While GD2 is of evident interest, its glycolipid nature has rendered research challenging. Physiological GD2 expression has been linked to developmental processes. Passing this stage, varying levels of GD2, physiologically expressed mainly in the central nervous system, affect composition and formation of membrane microdomains involved in surface receptor signaling. Overexpressed in cancer, GD2 has been shown to enhance cell survival and invasion. Furthermore, binding of antibodies leads to immune-independent cell death mechanisms. In addition, GD2 contributes to T-cell dysfunction, and functions as an immune checkpoint. Given the cancer-associated functions, GD2 has been a source of interest for immunotherapy. As a potential biomarker, methods are being developed to quantify GD2 from patients' samples. In addition, various therapeutic strategies are tested. Based on initial success with antibodies, derivates such as bispecific antibodies and immunocytokines have been developed, engaging patient immune system. Cytotoxic effectors or payloads may be redirected based on anti-GD2 antibodies. Finally, vaccines can be used to mount an immune response in patients. We review here the pertinent biological information on GD2 which may be of use for optimizing current immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stéphane Birklé
- Nantes Université, Univ Angers, INSERM, CNRS, CRCI2NA, Nantes, France
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7
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Larrosa C, Mora J, Cheung NK. Global Impact of Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) in Children: A Focus on Anti-GD2. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3729. [PMID: 37509390 PMCID: PMC10378537 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as the name implies, are clonal antibodies that bind to the same antigen. mAbs are broadly used as diagnostic or therapeutic tools for neoplasms, autoimmune diseases, allergic conditions, and infections. Although most mAbs are approved for treating adult cancers, few are applicable to childhood malignancies, limited mostly to hematological cancers. As for solid tumors, only anti-disialoganglioside (GD2) mAbs are approved specifically for neuroblastoma. Inequities of drug access have continued, affecting most therapeutic mAbs globally. To understand these challenges, a deeper dive into the complex transition from basic research to the clinic, or between marketing and regulatory agencies, is timely. This review focuses on current mAbs approved or under investigation in pediatric cancer, with special attention on solid tumors and anti-GD2 mAbs, and the hurdles that limit their broad global access. Beyond understanding the mechanisms of drug resistance, the continual discovery of next generation drugs safer for children and easier to administer, the discovery of predictive biomarkers to avoid futility should ease the acceptance by patient, health care professionals and regulatory agencies, in order to expand clinical utility. With a better integration into the multimodal treatment for each disease, protocols that align with the regional clinical practice should also improve acceptance and cost-effectiveness. Communication and collaboration between academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies should help to ensure accessible, affordable, and sustainable health care for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Larrosa
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (C.L.); (J.M.)
| | - Jaume Mora
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona, 08950 Barcelona, Spain; (C.L.); (J.M.)
| | - Nai-Kong Cheung
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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8
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Jin X, Yang GY. Pathophysiological roles and applications of glycosphingolipids in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer diseases. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 91:101241. [PMID: 37524133 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are major amphiphilic glycolipids present on the surface of living cell membranes. They have important biological functions, including maintaining plasma membrane stability, regulating signal transduction, and mediating cell recognition and adhesion. Specific GSLs and related enzymes are abnormally expressed in many cancer diseases and affect the malignant characteristics of tumors. The regulatory roles of GSLs in signaling pathways suggest that they are involved in tumor pathogenesis. GSLs have therefore been widely studied as diagnostic markers of cancer diseases and important targets of immunotherapy. This review describes the tumor-related biological functions of GSLs and systematically introduces recent progress in using diverse GSLs and related enzymes to diagnose and treat tumor diseases. Development of drugs and biomarkers for personalized cancer therapy based on GSL structure is also discussed. These advances, combined with recent progress in the preparation of GSLs derivatives through synthetic biology technologies, suggest a strong future for the use of customized GSL libraries in treating human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Department of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences and the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Guang-Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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Lin TW, Chang JK, Wu YR, Sun TH, Cheng YY, Ren CT, Pan MH, Wu JL, Chang KH, Yang HI, Chen CM, Wu CY, Chen YR. Ganglioside-focused Glycan Array Reveals Abnormal Anti-GD1b Auto-antibody in Plasma of Preclinical Huntington's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3873-3882. [PMID: 36976478 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03307-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disease marked by inheritable CAG nucleotide expansion. For offspring of HD patients carrying abnormal CAG expansion, biomarkers that predict disease onset are crucially important but still lacking. Alteration of brain ganglioside patterns has been observed in the pathology of patients carrying HD. Here, by using a novel and sensitive ganglioside-focused glycan array, we examined the potential of anti-glycan auto-antibodies for HD. In this study, we collected plasma from 97 participants including 42 control (NC), 16 pre-manifest HD (pre-HD), and 39 HD cases and measured the anti-glycan auto-antibodies by a novel ganglioside-focused glycan array. The association between plasma anti-glycan auto-antibodies and disease progression was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The disease-predictive capacity of anti-glycan auto-antibodies was further investigated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. We found that anti-glycan auto-antibodies were generally higher in the pre-HD group when compared to the NC and HD groups. Specifically, anti-GD1b auto-antibody demonstrated the potential for distinguishing between pre-HD and control groups. Moreover, in combination with age and the number of CAG repeat, the level of anti-GD1b antibody showed excellent predictability with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.95 to discriminate between pre-HD carriers and HD patients. With glycan array technology, this study demonstrated abnormal auto-antibody responses that showed temporal changes from pre-HD to HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tien-Wei Lin
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Kai Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yih-Ru Wu
- Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hsien Sun
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yang-Yu Cheng
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Tai Ren
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Hung Pan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Jin-Lin Wu
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, China Medical University and Academia Sinica, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hwai-I Yang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chung-Yi Wu
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Yun-Ru Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
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10
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Cao S, Hu X, Ren S, Wang Y, Shao Y, Wu K, Yang Z, Yang W, He G, Li X. The biological role and immunotherapy of gangliosides and GD3 synthase in cancers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1076862. [PMID: 36824365 PMCID: PMC9941352 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1076862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Gangliosides are a large subfamily of glycosphingolipids that broadly exist in the nervous system and interact with signaling molecules in the lipid rafts. GD3 and GD2 are two types of disialogangliosides (GDs) that include two sialic acid residues. The expression of GD3 and GD2 in various cancers is mostly upregulated and is involved in tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and immune responses. GD3 synthase (GD3S, ST8SiaI), a subclass of sialyltransferases, regulates the biosynthesis of GD3 and GD2. GD3S is also upregulated in most tumors and plays an important role in the development and progression of tumors. Many clinical trials targeting GD2 are ongoing and various immunotherapy studies targeting gangliosides and GD3S are gradually attracting much interest and attention. This review summarizes the function, molecular mechanisms, and ongoing clinical applications of GD3, GD2, and GD3S in abundant types of tumors, which aims to provide novel targets for future cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangqi Cao
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Hu
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shangqing Ren
- 2Robotic Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial Peoples Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanxiang Shao
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kan Wu
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhen Yang
- 3Department of Urology, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Weixiao Yang
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Gu He
- 4State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China,*Correspondence: Gu He, ; Xiang Li,
| | - Xiang Li
- 1Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,*Correspondence: Gu He, ; Xiang Li,
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11
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Lerman BJ, Li Y, Carlowicz C, Granger M, Cash T, Sadanand A, Somers K, Ranavaya A, Weiss BD, Choe M, Foster JH, Pinto N, Morgenstern DA, Rafael MS, Streby KA, Zeno RN, Mody R, Yazdani S, Desai AV, Macy ME, Shusterman S, Federico SM, Bagatell R. Progression-Free Survival and Patterns of Response in Patients With Relapsed High-Risk Neuroblastoma Treated With Irinotecan/Temozolomide/Dinutuximab/Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:508-516. [PMID: 36206505 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.01273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Although chemoimmunotherapy is widely used for treatment of children with relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), little is known about timing, duration, and evolution of response after irinotecan/temozolomide/dinutuximab/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (I/T/DIN/GM-CSF) therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients eligible for this retrospective study were age < 30 years at diagnosis of HRNB and received ≥ 1 cycle of I/T/DIN/GM-CSF for relapsed or progressive disease. Patients with primary refractory disease who progressed through induction were excluded. Responses were evaluated using the International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria. RESULTS One hundred forty-six patients were included. Tumors were MYCN-amplified in 50 of 134 (37%). Seventy-one patients (49%) had an objective response to I/T/DIN/GM-CSF (objective response; 29% complete response, 14% partial response [PR], 5% minor response [MR], 21% stable disease [SD], and 30% progressive disease). Of patients with SD or better at first post-I/T/DIN/GM-CSF disease evaluation, 22% had an improved response per International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria on subsequent evaluation (13% of patients with initial SD, 33% with MR, and 41% with PR). Patients received a median of 4.5 (range, 1-31) cycles. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 13.1 months, and the 1-year PFS and 2-year PFS were 50% and 28%, respectively. The median duration of response was 15.9 months; the median PFS off all anticancer therapy was 10.4 months after discontinuation of I/T/DIN/GM-CSF. CONCLUSION Approximately half of patients receiving I/T/DIN/GM-CSF for relapsed HRNB had objective responses. Patients with initial SD were unlikely to have an objective response, but > 1 of 3 patients with MR/PR on first evaluation ultimately had complete response. I/T/DIN/GM-CSF was associated with extended PFS in responders both during and after discontinuation of treatment. This study establishes a new comparator for response and survival in patients with relapsed HRNB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Lerman
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Yimei Li
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Cecilia Carlowicz
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Thomas Cash
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Arhanti Sadanand
- Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Aeesha Ranavaya
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Brian D Weiss
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Michelle Choe
- Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX
| | | | | | | | - Margarida Simão Rafael
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Keri A Streby
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Rachel N Zeno
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | | | | | - Ami V Desai
- University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Suzanne Shusterman
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA
| | | | - Rochelle Bagatell
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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12
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Identification of Therapeutic Targets for Medulloblastoma by Tissue-Specific Genome-Scale Metabolic Model. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020779. [PMID: 36677837 PMCID: PMC9864031 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), occurring in the cerebellum, is the most common childhood brain tumor. Because conventional methods decline life quality and endanger children with detrimental side effects, computer models are needed to imitate the characteristics of cancer cells and uncover effective therapeutic targets with minimum toxic effects on healthy cells. In this study, metabolic changes specific to MB were captured by the genome-scale metabolic brain model integrated with transcriptome data. To determine the roles of sphingolipid metabolism in proliferation and metastasis in the cancer cell, 79 reactions were incorporated into the MB model. The pathways employed by MB without a carbon source and the link between metastasis and the Warburg effect were examined in detail. To reveal therapeutic targets for MB, biomass-coupled reactions, the essential genes/gene products, and the antimetabolites, which might deplete the use of metabolites in cells by triggering competitive inhibition, were determined. As a result, interfering with the enzymes associated with fatty acid synthesis (FAs) and the mevalonate pathway in cholesterol synthesis, suppressing cardiolipin production, and tumor-supporting sphingolipid metabolites might be effective therapeutic approaches for MB. Moreover, decreasing the activity of succinate synthesis and GABA-catalyzing enzymes concurrently might be a promising strategy for metastatic MB.
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13
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Federico SM, Cash T. A bridge over troubled water—Extending induction for high‐risk neuroblastoma patients with poor end‐of‐induction response. Cancer 2022; 128:2880-2882. [PMID: 35665920 PMCID: PMC9728546 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Federico
- Department of Oncology St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis Tennessee
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis Tennessee
| | - Thomas Cash
- Department of Pediatrics Emory University Atlanta Georgia
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Atlanta Georgia
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14
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Expression of Immunomodulatory Checkpoint Molecules in Drug-Resistant Neuroblastoma: An Exploratory Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030751. [PMID: 35159017 PMCID: PMC8833944 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neuroblastoma is a common childhood cancer with poor prognosis. Prior studies suggest that inhibition of molecules called checkpoint proteins, which normally prevent one’s own immune system from attacking itself, has been successfully used for treatment of multiple advanced adult cancers but has yet to be fully explored in neuroblastoma. Cancer can hijack these pathways to prevent the immune system from recognizing and destroying cancer cells. We investigated checkpoint protein expression in pediatric neuroblastoma and its role in drug resistance. We created drug-resistant neuroblastoma cell lines and compared expression of checkpoint proteins between drug-resistant and parental cell lines. In total, 13 checkpoint proteins were expressed by all cell lines regardless of drug resistance. Although PD-L1 and checkpoint proteins do not necessarily impart drug resistance, they may be potential targets for drug therapy. Benchmarking checkpoint proteins provides the basis for future studies identifying targets for directed therapy and biomarkers for cancer detection or prognosis. Abstract Neuroblastoma is a common childhood cancer with poor prognosis when at its advanced stage. Checkpoint molecule inhibition is successful in treating multiple advanced adult cancers. We investigated PD-L1 and other checkpoint molecule expression to determine their roles in drug resistance and usefulness as targets for drug therapy. We developed three doxorubicin-resistant (DoxR) cell lines from parental cell lines. Matrigel in vitro invasion assays were used to compare invasiveness. Western blot assays were used to compare PD-L1 expression. Immuno-oncology checkpoint protein panels were used to compare concentrations of 17 checkpoint molecules both cellular and soluble. PD-L1 and 12 other checkpoint molecules were present in all cell lysates of each cell line without significantly different levels. Three were solubilized in the media of each cell line. PD-L1 is expressed in all DoxR and parental neuroblastoma cells and may be a potential target for drug therapy although its role in drug resistance remains unclear. Benchmarking checkpoint molecules provides the basis for future studies identifying targets for directed therapy and biomarkers for cancer detection or prognosis.
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15
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Sha Y, Han L, Sun B, Zhao Q. Identification of a Glycosyltransferase Signature for Predicting Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment in Neuroblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:769580. [PMID: 35071226 PMCID: PMC8773256 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.769580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common solid tumors in children. Glycosyltransferases (GTs) play a crucial role in tumor development and immune escape and have been used as prognostic biomarkers in various tumors. However, the biological functions and prognostic significance of GTs in NB remain poorly understood. The expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) were collected as training and testing data. Based on a progression status, differentially expressed GTs were identified. We constructed a GTscore through support vector machine, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and Cox regression in NB, which included four prognostic GTs and was an independent prognostic risk factor for NB. Patients in the high GTscore group had an older age, MYCN amplification, advanced International Neuroblastoma Staging System stage, and high risk. Samples with high GTscores revealed high disialoganglioside (GD2) and neuron-specific enolase expression levels. In addition, a lack of immune cell infiltration was observed in the high GTscore group. This GTscore was also associated with the expression of chemokines (CCL2, CXCL9, and CXCL10) and immune checkpoint genes (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4, granzyme H, and granzyme K). A low GTscore was also linked to an enhanced response to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients, and one type of tumor was also derived from neuroectodermal cells such as NB. In conclusion, the constructed GTscore revealed the relationship between GT expression and the NB outcome, GD2 phenotype, and immune infiltration and provided novel clues for the prediction of prognosis and immunotherapy response in NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongliang Sha
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Cancer Molecular Diagnostics Core, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Bei Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Outpatient Office, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
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16
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Busch CM, Balis FM. Age-dependent reference intervals in children for the disialoganglioside, G D2, a circulating tumor biomarker for the childhood cancer, neuroblastoma. Clin Biochem 2021; 101:1-4. [PMID: 34929151 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2021.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The disialoganglioside GD2 is a circulating tumor biomarker for the childhood cancer, neuroblastoma. This study establishes reference intervals for GD2 concentration in children within the age range where neuroblastoma commonly occurs. METHODS Leftover plasma samples taken for routine clinical laboratory tests from children without cancer were collected and assayed for the 18-carbon fatty acid chain length lipoform of GD2 using a validated high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method with a lower limit of quantification of 3 nM. Samples were stratified into 5 age cohorts (0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-36 months, 3-10 years and > 10 years). Non-parametric statistical methods were used to define the upper bound of the reference interval for each age cohort. RESULTS GD2 was measurable in 90% of samples from children < 10 years of age and GD2 concentration was age-dependent, peaking at 9 months followed by a gradual decline. GD2 was below the lower limit of quantification in 55% of samples in the > 10 years cohort. Upper bounds of reference intervals were 15.5 nM in 0-6 month cohort, 35.1 nM in 6-12 month cohort, 24.9 nM in 12-36 month cohort, 18.4 in 3-10 year cohort and 10.4 nM in > 10 year cohort. CONCLUSIONS Age-dependent reference intervals were defined for circulating GD2 in children. GD2 concentration was highest in the 6-12 month age cohort, which is below the age of most children with high-risk neuroblastoma. The peak GD2 concentration at 9 months may reflect neurodevelopmental events in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frank M Balis
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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17
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Pharmacokinetics of the disialoganglioside, G D2, a circulating tumor biomarker for neuroblastoma, in nonhuman primates. J Circ Biomark 2021; 10:26-29. [PMID: 34898668 PMCID: PMC8655510 DOI: 10.33393/jcb.2021.2329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The ganglioside GD2 is a potential circulating tumor biomarker for the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Interpreting the levels of a circulating tumor biomarker depends in part on a knowledge of the biomarker’s clinical pharmacology. Methods: We studied the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics of the C18 lipoform of GD2 in two nonhuman primates with indwelling subcutaneous CSF lateral ventricular reservoir systems. GD2 was quantified with a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/tandem mass spectrometry assay. GD2 was administered as a short intravenous infusion and frequent plasma and CSF samples were drawn over 72 hours. Results: GD2 plasma concentration declined monoexponentially with a half-life of 16 hours. Clearance was 0.0136 and 0.0131 L/h and volume of distribution (Vd) was 0.035 and 0.038 L/kg in the two animals. Vd was equivalent to plasma volume. Greater than 98% of GD2 in plasma is in a bound form consistent with its known association with lipoproteins and accounting for its limited volume of distribution. GD2 did not cross over from plasma into the CSF. Conclusions: The pharmacokinetic profile of GD2 is favorable for a circulating tumor biomarker. This study demonstrates the value of characterizing the clinical pharmacology of circulating biomarkers to better understand their clinical behavior.
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18
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Piazzesi A, Afsar SY, van Echten‐Deckert G. Sphingolipid metabolism in the development and progression of cancer: one cancer's help is another's hindrance. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:3256-3279. [PMID: 34289244 PMCID: PMC8637577 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer development is a multistep process in which cells must overcome a series of obstacles before they can become fully developed tumors. First, cells must develop the ability to proliferate unchecked. Once this is accomplished, they must be able to invade the neighboring tissue, as well as provide themselves with oxygen and nutrients. Finally, they must acquire the ability to detach from the newly formed mass in order to spread to other tissues, all the while evading an immune system that is primed for their destruction. Furthermore, increased levels of inflammation have been shown to be linked to the development of cancer, with sites of chronic inflammation being a common component of tumorigenic microenvironments. In this Review, we give an overview of the impact of sphingolipid metabolism in cancers, from initiation to metastatic dissemination, as well as discussing immune responses and resistance to treatments. We explore how sphingolipids can either help or hinder the progression of cells from a healthy phenotype to a cancerous one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Piazzesi
- LIMES Institute for Membrane Biology and Lipid BiochemistryUniversity of BonnGermany
| | - Sumaiya Yasmeen Afsar
- LIMES Institute for Membrane Biology and Lipid BiochemistryUniversity of BonnGermany
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19
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Xu W, Li S, Li M, Yang X, Xie S, Lin L, Li G, Zhou H. Targeted elimination of myeloid-derived suppressor cells via regulation of the STAT pathway alleviates tumor immunosuppression in neuroblastoma. Immunol Lett 2021; 240:31-40. [PMID: 34600949 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) has high morality rates and is the most common malignant tumor found in children. High aggregation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor microenvironment results in immunosuppression and affects therapeutic effectiveness. At present, doxorubicin (DOX) and dopamine (DA) are the specific drugs used to selectively remove or mature MDSCs. The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility and underlying mechanism of targeting elimination of MDSCs via DOX or DA administration to alleviate tumor immunosuppression in NB. In the present study, a BALB/c tumor-bearing mouse model was established, and mice were grouped into the control, DOX2.5, DOX5 and DA50 mg/kg groups. DOX or DA were injected intravenously on days 7 and 12 after inoculation, following which the parameters related to the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway in MDSCs, the proportion of MDSCs, T cell infiltration, programmed death-1 (PD-1) on the surface of T cells, the number of regulatory T cells (Tregs), polarization of tumor-related macrophages (TAMs) and tumor growth were compared between the groups on days 14, 17 and 23 after inoculation. The results demonstrated that following DOX or DA administration, STAT1/phosphorylated (p)-STAT1 decreased, whereas STAT3/p-STAT3, STAT5/p-STAT5 and STAT6/p-STAT6 increased, which was accompanied by a decrease in the MDSC proportion in each experimental group. Simultaneously, T cell infiltration in tumors was increased, whereas expression of PD-1, the number of Tregs, TAM polarization and tumor growth were inhibited. The most significant findings were observed in the DOX2.5 mg/kg group. To conclude, low dose DOX or DA administration could effectively regulate the STAT pathway to eliminate MDSCs, alleviate immunosuppression and improve the immune response against NB tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Xu
- Departments of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China.
| | - Suolin Li
- Departments of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Meng Li
- Departments of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Departments of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Shaojian Xie
- Departments of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Lin Lin
- Departments of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Guixin Li
- Departments of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Departments of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050000, P.R. China
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20
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Shawraba F, Hammoud H, Mrad Y, Saker Z, Fares Y, Harati H, Bahmad HF, Nabha S. Biomarkers in Neuroblastoma: An Insight into Their Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Utilities. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2021; 22:102. [PMID: 34580780 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-021-00898-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Neuroblastoma (NB) is a heterogeneous solid tumor of the pediatric population that originates from neural crest cells and affects the developing sympathetic nervous system. It is the most common neuroblastic tumor accounting for approximately 10% of all childhood cancers and 10-15% of pediatric tumor mortalities. The outcomes range from spontaneous tumor regression in low-risk groups to metastasis and death even after multimodal therapy in high-risk groups. Hence, the detection of NB at an early stage improves outcomes and provides a better prognosis for patients. Early detection and prognosis of NB depend on specific molecules termed biomarkers which can be tissue-specific or circulating. Certain biomarkers are employed in the classification of NB into different groups to improve the treatment and prognosis, and others can be used as therapeutic targets. Therefore, novel biomarker discovery is essential for the early detection of NB, predicting the course of the disease, and developing new targeted treatment strategies. In this review, we aim to summarize the literature pertinent to some important biomarkers of NB and discuss the prognostic role of these biomarkers as well as their potential role in targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Shawraba
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hussein Hammoud
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Yara Mrad
- Université Clermont Auvergne, Inserm, Neuro-Dol, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Zahraa Saker
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Youssef Fares
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hayat Harati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hisham F Bahmad
- Arkadi M. Rywlin M.D. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL, 33140, USA.
| | - Sanaa Nabha
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon.
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21
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Cancer-Associated Glycosphingolipids as Tumor Markers and Targets for Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116145. [PMID: 34200284 PMCID: PMC8201009 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of glycosphingolipids is a hallmark of cancer cells and is associated with their malignant properties. Disialylated gangliosides GD2 and GD3 are considered as markers of neuroectoderm origin in tumors, whereas fucosyl-GM1 is expressed in very few normal tissues but overexpressed in a variety of cancers, especially in small cell lung carcinoma. These gangliosides are absent in most normal adult tissues, making them targets of interest in immuno-oncology. Passive and active immunotherapy strategies have been developed, and have shown promising results in clinical trials. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge on GD2, GD3, and fucosyl-GM1 expression in health and cancer, their biosynthesis pathways in the Golgi apparatus, and their biological roles. We described how their overexpression can affect intracellular signaling pathways, increasing the malignant phenotypes of cancer cells, including their metastatic potential and invasiveness. Finally, the different strategies used to target these tumor-associated gangliosides for immunotherapy were discussed, including the use and development of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, immune system modulators, and immune effector-cell therapy, with a special focus on adoptive cellular therapy with T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors.
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22
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Deciphering the Importance of Glycosphingolipids on Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11010062. [PMID: 33418847 PMCID: PMC7824851 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Every living cell is covered with a dense and complex layer of glycans on the cell surface, which have important functions in the interaction between cells and their environment. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are glycans linked to lipid molecules that together with sphingolipids, sterols, and proteins form plasma membrane lipid rafts that contribute to membrane integrity and provide specific recognition sites. GSLs are subdivided into three major series (globo-, ganglio-, and neolacto-series) and are synthesized in a non-template driven process by enzymes localized in the ER and Golgi apparatus. Altered glycosylation of lipids are known to be involved in tumor development and metastasis. Metastasis is frequently linked with reversible epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involved in tumor progression, and the formation of new distant metastatic sites (mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition or MET). On a single cell basis, cancer cells lose their epithelial features to gain mesenchymal characteristics via mechanisms influenced by the composition of the GSLs on the cell surface. Here, we summarize the literature on GSLs in the context of reversible and cancer-associated EMT and discuss how the modification of GSLs at the cell surface may promote this process.
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23
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Kumar A, Rocke JPJ, Kumar BN. Evolving treatments in high-risk neuroblastoma. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2020.1865918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Kumar
- Division of Medicine, University College London Medical School, London, UK
| | - John P J Rocke
- ENT Department, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan, UK
| | - B Nirmal Kumar
- ENT Department, Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh Teaching NHS, Wigan, UK
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24
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Schengrund CL. Gangliosides and Neuroblastomas. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5313. [PMID: 32726962 PMCID: PMC7432824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The focus of this review is the ganglio-series of glycosphingolipids found in neuroblastoma (NB) and the myriad of unanswered questions associated with their possible role(s) in this cancer. NB is one of the more common solid malignancies of children. Five-year survival for those diagnosed with low risk NB is 90-95%, while that for children with high-risk NB is around 40-50%. Much of the survival rate reflects age of diagnosis with children under a year having a much better prognosis than those over two. Identification of expression of GD2 on the surface of most NB cells led to studies of the effectiveness and subsequent approval of anti-GD2 antibodies as a treatment modality. Despite much success, a subset of patients, possibly those whose tumors fail to express concentrations of gangliosides such as GD1b and GT1b found in tumors from patients with a good prognosis, have tumors refractory to treatment. These observations support discussion of what is known about control of ganglioside synthesis, and their actual functions in NB, as well as their possible relationship to treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara-Lynne Schengrund
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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Nazha B, Inal C, Owonikoko TK. Disialoganglioside GD2 Expression in Solid Tumors and Role as a Target for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1000. [PMID: 32733795 PMCID: PMC7358363 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gangliosides are carbohydrate-containing sphingolipids that are widely expressed in normal tissues, making most subtypes unsuitable as targets for cancer therapy. However, the disialoganglioside GD2 subtype has limited expression in normal tissues but is overexpressed across a wide range of tumors. Disialoganglioside GD2 can be considered a tumor-associated antigen and well-suited as a target for cancer therapy. Disialoganglioside GD2 is implicated in tumor development and malignant phenotypes through enhanced cell proliferation, motility, migration, adhesion, and invasion, depending on the tumor type. This provides a rationale for targeting disialoganglioside GD2 in cancer therapy with the development of anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic approaches. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies target GD2-expressing tumor cells, leading to phagocytosis and destruction by means of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, lysis by complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and apoptosis and necrosis through direct induction of cell death. Anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies may also prevent homing and adhesion of circulating malignant cells to the extracellular matrix. Disialoganglioside GD2 is highly expressed by almost all neuroblastomas, by most melanomas and retinoblastomas, and by many Ewing sarcomas and, to a more variable degree, by small cell lung cancer, gliomas, osteosarcomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. Successful treatment of disialoganglioside GD2-expressing tumors with anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies is hindered by pharmacologic factors such as insufficient antibody affinity to mediate antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, inadequate penetration of antibody into the tumor microenvironment, and toxicity related to disialoganglioside GD2 expression by normal tissues such as peripheral sensory nerve fibers. Nonetheless, anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody dinutuximab (ch14.18) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and dinutuximab beta (ch14.18/CHO) has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma in pediatric patients. Clinical trials of anti-GD2 therapy are currently ongoing in patients with other types of disialoganglioside GD2-expressing tumors as well as neuroblastoma. In addition to anti-GD2 monoclonal antibodies, anti-GD2 therapeutic approaches include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, disialoganglioside GD2 vaccines, immunocytokines, immunotoxins, antibody-drug conjugates, radiolabeled antibodies, targeted nanoparticles, and T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies. Clinical trials should clarify further the potential of anti-GD2 therapy for disialoganglioside GD2-expressing malignant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassel Nazha
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Cengiz Inal
- Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, VA, United States
| | - Taofeek K. Owonikoko
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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