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Bansal S, Liu D, Mao Q, Bauer N, Wang B. Carbon Monoxide as a Potential Therapeutic Agent: A Molecular Analysis of Its Safety Profiles. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38864348 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Carbon monoxide (CO) is endogenously produced in mammals, with blood concentrations in the high micromolar range in the hemoglobin-bound form. Further, CO has shown therapeutic effects in various animal models. Despite its reputation as a poisonous gas at high concentrations, we show that CO should have a wide enough safety margin for therapeutic applications. The analysis considers a large number of factors including levels of endogenous CO, its safety margin in comparison to commonly encountered biomolecules or drugs, anticipated enhanced safety profiles when delivered via a noninhalation mode, and the large amount of safety data from human clinical trials. It should be emphasized that having a wide enough safety margin for therapeutic use does not mean that it is benign or safe to the general public, even at low doses. We defer the latter to public health experts. Importantly, this Perspective is written for drug discovery professionals and not the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Bansal
- Department of Chemistry and the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Dongning Liu
- Department of Chemistry and the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Qiyue Mao
- Department of Chemistry and the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Nicola Bauer
- Department of Chemistry and the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
| | - Binghe Wang
- Department of Chemistry and the Center for Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, United States
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2
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Tardito S, MacKay C. Rethinking our approach to cancer metabolism to deliver patient benefit. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:406-415. [PMID: 37340094 PMCID: PMC10403540 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02324-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered cellular metabolism is a major mechanism by which tumours support nutrient consumption associated with increased cellular proliferation. Selective dependency on specific metabolic pathways provides a therapeutic vulnerability that can be targeted in cancer therapy. Anti-metabolites have been used clinically since the 1940s and several agents targeting nucleotide metabolism are now well established as standard of care treatment in a range of indications. However, despite great progress in our understanding of the metabolic requirements of cancer and non-cancer cells within the tumour microenvironment, there has been limited clinical success for novel agents targeting pathways outside of nucleotide metabolism. We believe that there is significant therapeutic potential in targeting metabolic processes within cancer that is yet to be fully realised. However, current approaches to identify novel targets, test novel therapies and select patient populations most likely to benefit are sub-optimal. We highlight recent advances in technologies and understanding that will support the identification and validation of novel targets, re-evaluation of existing targets and design of optimal clinical positioning strategies to deliver patient benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saverio Tardito
- The Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Craig MacKay
- Cancer Research Horizons, The Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK.
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3
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Tirado-Muñiz N, Spangler TL, Van Rooyen H, Oakes JB, Doerning BJ, Suckow MA. Evaluation of Cage Mate-induced Postsurgical Trauma in Mice. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2023; 62:170-178. [PMID: 36894168 PMCID: PMC10078933 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-22-000085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Although mice are social animals, individual housing is sometimes requested after surgery. We questioned whether pair-housing mice after surgery resulted in greater trauma to the surgical site as compared with single housing. We further evaluated the effect of individual housing after surgery on the wellbeing of mice that had previously been pair-housed. Female C57Bl/6 mice (age, 6 to 8 wk) were housed as follows: group A, individually housed before and after surgery (n = 10; all 10 mice underwent surgery); group B, pair-housed before surgery but individually housed after surgery (n = 10; all 10 mice received surgery); group C, pair-housed before and after surgery (n = 20; 10 mice underwent surgery but their cage mates did not); and group D, pair-housed before and after surgery (n = 10; all 10 mice underwent surgery). Dependent variables were body weight, body condition, grimace based on real-time scoring, nest building, time to incorporate into nest test (TINT) score, wound trauma score, and missing wound clips. Weight was significantly different between groups A and C both before and after surgery. Mean nest building scores were significantly higher for pair-housed (groups C and D) than for individually housed mice (groups A and B) after surgery while TINT scores were significantly higher for these same groups both before and after surgery. Mean values for body condition, grimace score, wound score, and number of wound clips missing did not differ significantly between any groups either before or after surgery. Taken together, these results suggest that pair housing mice after surgery benefited their wellbeing but did not increase trauma to the surgical incision site or disturb wound clips as compared with individually housed mice. Furthermore, separating previously pair-housed mice (group B) did not affect these measures as compared with individually housed mice (Group A) either before or after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noé Tirado-Muñiz
- Office of the Attending Veterinarian, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky;,
| | - Tatum L Spangler
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Hollie Van Rooyen
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Jason B Oakes
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Bernard J Doerning
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Mark A Suckow
- Office of the Attending Veterinarian, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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4
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Yi Q, Wang J, Liu T, Yao Y, Loveless I, Subedi K, Toor J, Adrianto I, Xiao H, Chen B, Crawford H, Fang D, Zhou L, Mi QS. scRNA-Seq and imaging mass cytometry analyses unveil iNKT cells-mediated anti-tumor immunity in pancreatic cancer liver metastasis. Cancer Lett 2023; 561:216149. [PMID: 36990268 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T cells that are abundant in liver sinusoids and play a critical role in tumor immunity. However, the role of iNKT cells in pancreatic cancer liver metastasis (PCLM) has not been fully explored. In this study, we employed a hemi-spleen pancreatic tumor cell injection mouse model of PCLM, a model that closely mimics clinical conditions in humans, to explore the role of iNKT cells in PCLM. Activation of iNKT cells with α-galactosylceramide (αGC) markedly increased immune cell infiltration and suppressed PCLM progression. Via single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) we profiled over 30,000 immune cells from normal liver and PCLM with or without αGC treatment and were able to characterize the global changes of the immune cells in the tumor microenvironment upon αGC treatment, identifying a total of 12 subpopulations. Upon treatment with αGC, scRNA-Seq and flow cytometry analyses revealed increased cytotoxic activity of iNKT/NK cells and skewing CD4 T cells towards a cytotoxic Th1 profile and CD8 T cells towards a cytotoxic profile, characterized by higher proliferation and reduced exhaustion marker PD1 expression. Moreover, αGC treatment excluded tumor associated macrophages. Lastly, imaging mass cytometry analysis uncovered the reduced epithelial to mesenchymal transition related markers and increased active CD4 and CD8 T cells in PCLM with αGC treatment. Overall, our findings uncover the protective function of activated iNKT cells in pancreatic cancer liver metastasis through increased NK and T cell immunity and decreased tumor associated macrophages.
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5
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Zhang T, Zhang G, Chen X, Chen Z, Tan AY, Lin A, Zhang C, Torres LK, Bajrami S, Zhang T, Zhang G, Xiang JZ, Hissong EM, Chen YT, Li Y, Du YCN. Low-dose carbon monoxide suppresses metastatic progression of disseminated cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2022; 546:215831. [PMID: 35868533 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215831] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Low-dose carbon monoxide (CO) is under investigation in clinical trials to treat non-cancerous diseases and has excellent safety profiles. Due to the early detection and cancer awareness, increasing cancer patients are diagnosed at early stages and potentially curative surgical resection can be done. However, many patients ultimately experience recurrence. Here, we evaluate the therapeutic effect of CO on cancer metastatic progression. We show that 250 ppm CO inhibits migration of multiple types of cancer cell lines including breast, pancreatic, colon, prostate, liver, and lung cancer and reduces the ability to adhere to fibronectin. We demonstrate that in mouse models, 250 ppm inhaled CO inhibits lung metastasis of breast cancer and liver metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, low-dose CO suppresses recurrence and increases survival after surgical removal of primary pancreatic cancer in mice. Mechanistically, low-dose CO blocks transcription of heme importers, leading to diminished intracellular heme levels and a heme-regulated enzyme, cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1). Either supplementing heme or overexpressing CYP1B1 reverses the anti-migration effect of low-dose CO. Taken together, low-dose CO therapy inhibits cell migration, reduces adhesion to fibronectin, prevents disseminated cancer cells from expanding into gross metastases, and improves survival in pre-clinical mouse models of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - George Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Zhengming Chen
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Adrian Y Tan
- Genomics Resources Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Anthony Lin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Cheryl Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Lisa K Torres
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sandi Bajrami
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Tuo Zhang
- Genomics Resources Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Guoan Zhang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jenny Z Xiang
- Genomics Resources Core Facility, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Erika M Hissong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yao-Tseng Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yi Li
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yi-Chieh Nancy Du
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Sheng W, Tang J, Cao R, Shi X, Ma Y, Dong M. Numb-PRRL promotes TGF-β1- and EGF-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:173. [PMID: 35197444 PMCID: PMC8866481 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04609-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Isoform-specific functions of Numb in the development of cancers, especially in the initiation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) remains controversial. We study the specific function of Numb-PRRL isoform in activated EMT of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PC), which is distinguished from our previous studies that only focused on the total Numb protein. Numb-PRRL isoform was specifically overexpressed and silenced in PC cells combining with TGF-β1 and EGF stimulus. We systematically explored the potential effect of Numb-PRRL in the activated EMT of PC in vitro and in vivo. The total Numb protein was overexpressed in the normal pancreatic duct and well-differentiated PC by IHC. However, Numb-PRRS isoform but not Numb-PRRL showed dominant expression in PC tissues. Numb-PRRL overexpression promoted TGF-β1-induced EMT in PANC-1 and Miapaca-2 cells. TGF-β1-induced EMT-like cell morphology, cell invasion, and migration were enhanced in Numb-PRRL overexpressing groups following the increase of N-cadherin, Vimentin, Smad2/3, Snail1, Snail2, and cleaved-Notch1 and the decrease of E-cadherin. Numb-PRRL overexpression activated TGFβ1-Smad2/3-Snail1 signaling was significantly reversed by the Notch1 inhibitor RO4929097. Conversely, Numb-PRRL silencing inhibited EGF-induced EMT in AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 cells following the activation of EGFR-ERK/MAPK signaling via phosphorylating EGFR at tyrosine 1045. In vivo, Numb-PRRL overexpression or silencing promoted or inhibited subcutaneous tumor size and distant liver metastases via regulating EMT and Snail signaling, respectively. Numb-PRRL promotes TGF-β1- and EGF-induced EMT in PC by regulating TGF-β1-Smad2/3-Snail and EGF-induced EGFR-ERK/MAPK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Sheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, 110001, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jingtong Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, 110001, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Rongxian Cao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, 110001, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoyang Shi
- Department of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Chaoyang Hospital, 100043, Beijing, China
| | - Yuteng Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, 110001, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ming Dong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Hospital, China Medical University, 110001, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Miquel M, Zhang S, Pilarsky C. Pre-clinical Models of Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:748631. [PMID: 34778259 PMCID: PMC8578999 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.748631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a hostile solid malignancy coupled with an extremely high mortality rate. Metastatic disease is already found in most patients at the time of diagnosis, resulting in a 5-year survival rate below 5%. Improved comprehension of the mechanisms leading to metastasis is pivotal for the development of new targeted therapies. A key field to be improved are modeling strategies applied in assessing cancer progression, since traditional platforms fail in recapitulating the complexity of PDAC. Consequently, there is a compelling demand for new preclinical models that mirror tumor progression incorporating the pressure of the immune system, tumor microenvironment, as well as molecular aspects of PDAC. We suggest the incorporation of 3D organoids derived from genetically engineered mouse models or patients as promising new tools capable to transform PDAC pre-clinical modeling and access new frontiers in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Miquel
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Shuman Zhang
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Pilarsky
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Supadmanaba IGP, Comandatore A, Morelli L, Giovannetti E, Lagerweij T. Organotypic-liver slide culture systems to explore the role of extracellular vesicles in pancreatic cancer metastatic behavior and guide new therapeutic approaches. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2021; 17:937-946. [PMID: 33945374 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2021.1925646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Recent studies suggested that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a role both in the metastatic niche formation and in the progression of several tumors, including pancreatic cancer. In particular, the effects of EVs on metastasis should be studied in model systems that take into account both the tumor cells and the metastatic site/tumor microenvironment. Studies with labeled EVs or EV-secreting cells in ex vivo models will reflect the physiological and pathological functions of EVs. The organotypic-tissue slide culture systems can fulfill such a role.Areas covered: This review provides an overview of available organotypic-culture slide systems. We specifically focus on the assay system of liver culture-slides in combination with pancreatic tumors, which can be modulated to test the efficacy of new therapeutic approaches.Expert opinion: The intercellular exchange of EVs has emerged as a biologically relevant phenomenon to drive cancer metastasis. However, further models need to be developed to better elucidate the functional roles of EVs. The use of novel organotypic slide culture systems provides the opportunity to explore the role of EVs in the metastatic behavior of pancreatic cancer, decreasing the use of costly and cumbersome organoid or animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gede Putu Supadmanaba
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Annalisa Comandatore
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Morelli
- General Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per La Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tonny Lagerweij
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Marvin DL, Ten Dijke P, Ritsma L. An Experimental Liver Metastasis Mouse Model Suitable for Short and Long-Term Intravital Imaging. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e116. [PMID: 33961349 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The liver is a frequent site of cancer metastasis, but current treatment options for cancer patients with liver metastasis are limited, resulting in poor prognosis. Colonization of the liver by cancer cells is a multistep and temporally controlled process. Investigating this process in biological relevant settings in a dynamic manner may lead to new therapeutic avenues. Experimental mouse models of liver metastasis combined with high-resolution microscopy methods can facilitate study of the mechanisms that underlie the outgrowth of cancer cells in the liver. Intravital imaging can provide information on the behavior of tumor cells in their biological setting, in time frames of hours to days. In this unit, we describe the experimental induction of liver metastasis through administration of cancer cells into mice via mesenteric vein injection. The behavior of these injected cells can then be studied using intravital imaging by surgical exposure or through an abdominal imaging window. The approach is described for use with an upright multiphoton microscope, making it widely applicable. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Inducing liver metastasis through mesenteric vein injection Basic Protocol 2: Short-term imaging of tumor cells in mouse liver Basic Protocol 3: Long-term imaging of tumor cells in mouse liver using an abdominal imaging window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwke L Marvin
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Ten Dijke
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Laila Ritsma
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZC Leiden, the Netherlands
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Yoon S, Huang KW, Andrikakou P, Vasconcelos D, Swiderski P, Reebye V, Sodergren M, Habib N, Rossi JJ. Targeted Delivery of C/EBPα-saRNA by RNA Aptamers Shows Anti-tumor Effects in a Mouse Model of Advanced PDAC. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 18:142-154. [PMID: 31546149 PMCID: PMC6796740 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies; it preferentially metastasizes to the liver and is the main cause of death from this disease. In previous studies, small activating RNA against CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα-saRNA) demonstrated efficacy of PDAC in a local subcutaneous tumor model. In this study, we focused on the efficacy of C/EBPα-saRNA in advanced stage PDAC. For targeted delivery, we selected a new anti-transferrin receptor aptamer (TR14), which demonstrated a high binding affinity to target proteins. The TR14 aptamer was internalized with clathrin-mediated endocytosis, distributed in early endosome, late endosome, and lysosome subcellularly. To investigate its anti-tumor effects to advanced PDAC, we conjugated C/EBPα-saRNA to TR14. Treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with the conjugates upregulated expression of C/EBPα and its downstream target p21, and inhibited cell proliferation. For in vivo assays, we established an advanced PDAC mouse model by engrafting luciferase reporter-PANC-1 cells directly into the livers of non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. After treatment of aptamer-C/EBPα conjugates, we observed significant reduction of tumor growth in this advanced PDAC mouse model. Combinational treatment of the conjugates with gemcitabine also demonstrated enhanced anti-tumor effects in advanced PDAC. This suggests that aptamer-C/EBPα conjugates could be used as an adjuvant, along with other conventional anti-cancer drugs in advanced PDAC. In conclusion, targeted delivery of C/EBPα-saRNAs by aptamers might have potential therapeutic effects in advanced PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorah Yoon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Kai-Wen Huang
- Department of Surgery and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10051, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
| | - Pinelopi Andrikakou
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | | | - Piotr Swiderski
- DNA/RNA Synthesis Core Facility, Department of Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | | | - Mikael Sodergren
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nagy Habib
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - John J Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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11
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Buicko JL, Finnerty BM, Zhang T, Kim BJ, Fahey TJ, Nancy Du YC. Insights into the biology and treatment strategies of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 2. [PMID: 31535089 DOI: 10.21037/apc.2019.06.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are the second most common primary pancreatic neoplasms after pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. PNETs present with widely various clinical manifestation and unfavorable survival rate. The recent advances in next generation sequencing have significantly increased our understanding of the molecular landscape of PNETs and help guide the development of targeted therapies. This review intends to outline a holistic picture of the tumors by discussing current understanding of clinical presentations, up-to-date treatment strategies, novel mouse models, and molecular biology of PNETs. Furthermore, we will provide insight into the future development of more effective targeted therapies that are necessary to manage PNETs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Buicko
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Tiantian Zhang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Bu Jung Kim
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Thomas J Fahey
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yi-Chieh Nancy Du
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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