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Schunk CT, Wang W, Sabo LN, Taufalele PV, Reinhart-King CA. Matrix stiffness increases energy efficiency of endothelial cells. Matrix Biol 2024; 133:77-85. [PMID: 39147247 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2024.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
To form blood vessels, endothelial cells rearrange their cytoskeleton, generate traction stresses, migrate, and proliferate, all of which require energy. Despite these energetic costs, stiffening of the extracellular matrix promotes tumor angiogenesis and increases cell contractility. However, the interplay between extracellular matrix, cell contractility, and cellular energetics remains mechanistically unclear. Here, we utilized polyacrylamide substrates with various stiffnesses, a real-time biosensor of ATP, and traction force microscopy to show that endothelial cells exhibit increasing traction forces and energy usage trend as substrate stiffness increases. Inhibition of cytoskeleton reorganization via ROCK inhibition resulted in decreased cellular energy efficiency, and an opposite trend was found when cells were treated with manganese to promote integrin affinity. Altogether, our data reveal a link between matrix stiffness, cell contractility, and cell energetics, suggesting that endothelial cells on stiffer substrates can better convert intracellular energy into cellular traction forces. Given the critical role of cellular metabolism in cell function, our study also suggests that not only energy production but also the efficiency of its use plays a vital role in regulating cell behaviors and may help explain how increased matrix stiffness promotes angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis T Schunk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Lindsey N Sabo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Paul V Taufalele
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
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2
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Liu Y, Liang J, Zhang Y, Guo Q. Drug resistance and tumor immune microenvironment: An overview of current understandings (Review). Int J Oncol 2024; 65:96. [PMID: 39219258 PMCID: PMC11387120 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2024.5684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of antitumor drugs represents a reliable strategy for cancer therapy. Unfortunately, drug resistance has become increasingly common and contributes to tumor metastasis and local recurrence. The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) consists of immune cells, cytokines and immunomodulators, and collectively they influence the response to treatment. Epigenetic changes including DNA methylation and histone modification, as well as increased drug exportation have been reported to contribute to the development of drug resistance in cancers. In the past few years, the majority of studies on tumors have only focused on the development and progression of a tumor from a mechanistic standpoint; few studies have examined whether the changes in the TME can also affect tumor growth and drug resistance. Recently, emerging evidence have raised more concerns regarding the role of TME in the development of drug resistance. In the present review, it was discussed how the suppressive TME adapts to drug resistance characterized by the cooperation of immune cells, cytokines, immunomodulators, stromal cells and extracellular matrix. Furthermore, it was reviewed how these immunological or metabolic changes alter immuno‑surveillance and thus facilitate tumor drug resistance. In addition, potential targets present in the TME for developing novel therapeutic strategies to improve individualized therapy for cancer treatment were revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Radiology, Qingdao Haici Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266000, P.R. China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Qingdao Haici Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266000, P.R. China
| | - Qie Guo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266003, P.R. China
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3
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Ayoub NM, Sardiah S, Al-Share QY, Alkader MS. Exploring angiogenic pathways in breast cancer: Clinicopathologic correlations and prognostic implications based on gene expression profiles from a large-scale genomic dataset. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0310557. [PMID: 39302921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiogenesis inhibitors targeting VEGF, or its receptors have consistently produced disappointing clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore alternative angiogenic pathways in breast cancer. This study aimed to describe the gene expression of pivotal pro-angiogenic genes in breast cancer and to further analyze the associations with the clinicopathologic tumor features, prognostic factors, and overall survival. Such findings would expand the understanding of the role of different angiogenic pathways in breast cancer pathogenesis and identify patients at risk of more aggressive disease who could be eligible for intense treatment regimens. Additionally, exploring angiogenic pathways helps identify new potential drug targets for breast cancer. METHODS The mRNA expression levels for eight pro-angiogenic genes [VEGFA, HGF, FGF1, FGF2, ANGPT1, ANGPT2, PDGFA, and PDGFB] were obtained from the METABRIC (Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium) dataset available at cBioPortal public domain. Pertinent demographic and tumor information were retrieved. RESULTS VEGFA and ANGPT2 genes had the highest expression levels with average mRNA log intensities of 7.18±0.7 and 7.11±0.53, respectively. VEGFA expression was not correlated with the expression of other pro-angiogenic genes, the clinicopathologic tumor features, and the overall survival of patients. FGF1, ANGPT1, and PDGFA mRNA levels were negatively correlated with the age of patients at diagnosis. The expression of FGF1 and FGF2 correlated inversely with tumor size and the Nottingham Prognostic Index (p = 0.03 and p = 0.002, respectively). Expression of HGF was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (p<0.05). Expression of ANGPT1 and ANGPT2 was associated with hormone receptor-negative status and the non-luminal subtypes. PDGFB expression was significantly higher in patients with high-grade disease and HER2-positive status. Patients with high expression status of ANGPT2 and PDGFB had significantly reduced overall survival compared to those with low expression levels of these genes (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In this dataset of patients with breast cancer, the expression levels of 8 different pro-angiogenic genes revealed remarkable differences in terms of their association with clinicopathologic tumor characteristics and prognosis. The expression of ANGPTs and PDGFs was associated with adverse tumor features, worse prognosis, and reduced survival in patients. Targeting ANGPTs and PDGF pathways could provide new insights for effective anti-angiogenic drugs in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehad M Ayoub
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Salam Sardiah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Qusai Y Al-Share
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Mohammad S Alkader
- Department of Medical Oncology, Military Cancer Center, Jordanian Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan
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4
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Chen K, Wu S. Integrating the incident angle of main vessel of breast nodule with BI-RADS can improve the efficacy of breast malignancy evaluation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20783. [PMID: 39242652 PMCID: PMC11379884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71567-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the measurement of the incident angle of the main blood vessel, and the benefits of its integral with ultrasound malignant features of breast nodules for the assessment of breast malignancy based on BI-RADS. The incident angles of main blood vessels of 185 breast nodules in 185 patients who underwent breast nodule surgical excision or biopsy were quantitatively measured using color Doppler ultrasound from October 2022 to October 2023 in a tertiary hospital, and related data were collected and analyzed. Based on histopathology as the gold standard, the breast nodules were classified into benign and malignant groups. The incident angle values of both groups were compared, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, and the optimal cutoff value for distinguishing between benign and malignant breast nodules was determined. The malignancy risk of the breast nodules was assessed using the incident angle of the breast main vessel, BI-RADS classification, and a combination of ultrasound malignant features with the incident angle. The areas under the ROC curves (AUC) for each method were calculated and compared. The average incident angle of the main vessel of the breast nodule for the benign and malignant breast nodule groups was (41.47 ± 14.27)° and (22.65 ± 11.09)°, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (t = 10.027, P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between the breast nodule vessel incident angle and histopathological malignancy (r = - 0.593, P < 0.001). The ROC curve and Youden index suggested that the optimal cutoff value for distinguishing between benign and malignant breast nodules using the vascular incident angle was 26.9°, with a sensitivity of 76.34%, specificity of 84.78%, positive predictive value of 83.53%, negative predictive value of 78.00%, and AUC of 0.853. The diagnostic performance of BI-RADS classification based on ultrasound malignant features of the breast nodules alone in assessing the malignancy risk of breast nodules showed a sensitivity of 78.50%, specificity of 92.39%, positive predictive value of 91.25%, negative predictive value of 79.95%, and AUC of 0.905. The integral of ultrasound malignant features and vascular incident angle for BI-RADS based assessment for breast nodule malignancy risk demonstrated a sensitivity of 90.32%, specificity of 89.13%, positive predictive value of 89.36%, negative predictive value of 90.11%, and AUC of 0.940. The differences in negative predictive value and AUC between ultrasound malignant features BI-RADS classification alone and the combination of ultrasound malignant features BI-RADS classification with the incident angle of the main vessel of the breast nodule were all statistically significant (x2 = 3.243, P = 0.042; Z = 2.955, P = 0.003). Measuring the incident angle of the main blood vessel of breast nodules and combining this measurement with ultrasound malignant features for BI-RADS classification can enhance the effectiveness of malignancy risk assessment of breast nodules, increase the negative predictive value, and potentially reduce unnecessary biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailiang Chen
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, No.31, Longhua Road, Haikou, 570102, China
| | - Size Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, No.31, Longhua Road, Haikou, 570102, China.
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5
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Hu L, Cohen RI, Barroso M, Boustany NN. Comparison of vinculin tension in cellular monolayers and three-dimensional multicellular aggregates. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:5199-5214. [PMID: 39296399 PMCID: PMC11407257 DOI: 10.1364/boe.529156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
Confocal frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells expressing the vinculin tension sensor (VinTS) is used to compare vinculin tension in three-dimensional (3D) multicellular aggregates and 2D cellular monolayers. In both 2D and 3D cultures, the FRET efficiency of VinTS is 5-6% lower than that of VinTL (p < 0.05), a tail-less control which cannot bind actin or paxillin. The difference between VinTS and VinTL FRET efficiency can be mitigated by treatment with the Rho-associated kinase inhibitor Y-27632, demonstrating that VinTS is under tension in both 2D and 3D cultures. However, there is an overall decrease in FRET efficiency of both VinTS and VinTL in the 3D multicellular aggregates compared with the 2D monolayers. Expression of VinTS in 2D and 3D cultures exhibits puncta consistent with cellular adhesions. While paxillin is present at the sites of VinTS expression in the 2D monolayers, it is generally absent from VinTS puncta in the 3D aggregates. The results suggest that VinTS experiences a modified environment in 3D aggregates compared with 2D monolayers and provide a basis for further investigation of molecular tension sensors in 3D tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luni Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Rick I Cohen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Margarida Barroso
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Nada N Boustany
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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Torres-Herrero B, Armenia I, Ortiz C, de la Fuente JM, Betancor L, Grazú V. Opportunities for nanomaterials in enzyme therapy. J Control Release 2024; 372:619-647. [PMID: 38909702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, enzyme therapy strategies have rapidly evolved to catalyze essential biochemical reactions with therapeutic potential. These approaches hold particular promise in addressing rare genetic disorders, cancer treatment, neurodegenerative conditions, wound healing, inflammation management, and infectious disease control, among others. There are several primary reasons for the utilization of enzymes as therapeutics: their substrate specificity, their biological compatibility, and their ability to generate a high number of product molecules per enzyme unit. These features have encouraged their application in enzyme replacement therapy where the enzyme serves as the therapeutic agent to rectify abnormal metabolic and physiological processes, enzyme prodrug therapy where the enzyme initiates a clinical effect by activating prodrugs, and enzyme dynamic or starving therapy where the enzyme acts upon host substrate molecules. Currently, there are >20 commercialized products based on therapeutic enzymes, but approval rates are considerably lower than other biologicals. This has stimulated nanobiotechnology in the last years to develop nanoparticle-based solutions that integrate therapeutic enzymes. This approach aims to enhance stability, prevent rapid clearance, reduce immunogenicity, and even enable spatio-temporal activation of the therapeutic catalyst. This comprehensive review delves into emerging trends in the application of therapeutic enzymes, with a particular emphasis on the synergistic opportunities presented by incorporating enzymes into nanomaterials. Such integration holds the promise of enhancing existing therapies or even paving the way for innovative nanotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Torres-Herrero
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC/Universidad de Zaragoza, c/ Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ilaria Armenia
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC/Universidad de Zaragoza, c/ Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Cecilia Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad ORT Uruguay, Mercedes 1237, 11100 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jesús Martinez de la Fuente
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC/Universidad de Zaragoza, c/ Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Betancor
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad ORT Uruguay, Mercedes 1237, 11100 Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Valeria Grazú
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC/Universidad de Zaragoza, c/ Edificio I+D, Mariano Esquillor Gómez, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Avenida Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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7
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Mpekris F, Panagi M, Charalambous A, Voutouri C, Stylianopoulos T. Modulating cancer mechanopathology to restore vascular function and enhance immunotherapy. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101626. [PMID: 38944037 PMCID: PMC11293360 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Solid tumor pathology, characterized by abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment (TME), challenges therapeutic effectiveness. Mechanical factors, including increased tumor stiffness and accumulation of intratumoral forces, can determine the success of cancer treatments, defining the tumor's "mechanopathology" profile. These abnormalities cause extensive vascular compression, leading to hypoperfusion and hypoxia. Hypoperfusion hinders drug delivery, while hypoxia creates an unfavorable TME, promoting tumor progression through immunosuppression, heightened metastatic potential, drug resistance, and chaotic angiogenesis. Strategies targeting TME mechanopathology, such as vascular and stroma normalization, hold promise in enhancing cancer therapies with some already advancing to the clinic. Normalization can be achieved using anti-angiogenic agents, mechanotherapeutics, immune checkpoint inhibitors, engineered bacterial therapeutics, metronomic nanomedicine, and ultrasound sonopermeation. Here, we review the methods developed to rectify tumor mechanopathology, which have even led to cures in preclinical models, and discuss their bench-to-bedside translation, including the derivation of biomarkers from tumor mechanopathology for personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonia Charalambous
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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8
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Yang D, Dang S, Wang Z, Xie M, Li X, Ding X. Vessel co-option: a unique vascular-immune niche in liver cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1386772. [PMID: 38737903 PMCID: PMC11082301 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1386772] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor vasculature is pivotal in regulating tumor perfusion, immune cell infiltration, metastasis, and invasion. The vascular status of the tumor is intricately linked to its immune landscape and response to immunotherapy. Vessel co-option means that tumor tissue adeptly exploits pre-existing blood vessels in the para-carcinoma region to foster its growth rather than inducing angiogenesis. It emerges as a significant mechanism contributing to anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Different from angiogenic tumors, vessel co-option presents a distinctive vascular-immune niche characterized by varying states and distribution of immune cells, including T-cells, tumor-associated macrophages, neutrophils, and hepatic stellate cells. This unique composition contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that is crucial in modulating the response to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we systematically reviewed the evidence and molecular mechanisms of vessel co-option in liver cancer, while also exploring its implications for anti-angiogenic drug resistance and the immune microenvironment, to provide new ideas and clues for screening patients with liver cancer who are effective in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiangming Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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9
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Xie H, Wang S, Niu D, Yang C, Bai H, Lei T, Liu H. A bibliometric analysis of the research landscape on vascular normalization in cancer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29199. [PMID: 38617971 PMCID: PMC11015447 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor vascular normalization profoundly affects the advancement of cancer therapy. Currently, with the rapid increase in research on tumor vascular normalization, few analytical and descriptive studies have investigated the trends in its development, key research power, present research hotspots, and future outlooks. In this study, articles and reviews published between January 1, 2003, and October 29, 2022 were retrieved from Web of Science database. Subsequently, published research trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords were analyzed based on traditional bibliometric laws (such as Price's exponential growth, Bradford's, Lotka's, and Zipf's). Our results showed that the last two decades have seen an increase in tumor vascular normalization research. USA emerged as the preeminent contributor to the field, boasting the highest H-index and accruing the greatest quantity of publications and citations. Among institutions, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University made significant contributions, and Professor RK Jain was identified as a key leader in this field. Out of 583 academic journals, Cancer Research and Clinical Cancer Research published the most articles on vascular normalization. The research focal points in the field primarily include immunotherapy, tumor microenvironments, nanomedicine, and emerging frontier themes such as metabolism and mechanomedicine. Concurrently, the challenges of vascular normalization in cancer are discussed as well. In conclusion, the study presented a thorough analysis of the literature covering the past 20 years on vascular normalization in cancer, highlighting leading countries, institutions, authors, journals, and the emerging research focal points in this field. Future studies will advance the ongoing efforts in the field of tumor vascular normalization, aiming to enhance our ability to effectively manage and treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanghang Xie
- Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital), Affiliated People's Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital), Affiliated People's Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dongling Niu
- Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital), Affiliated People's Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Med-X Institute, Center for Immunological and Metabolic Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongmei Bai
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
| | - Ting Lei
- Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital), Affiliated People's Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongli Liu
- Xi'an People's Hospital (Xi'an Fourth Hospital), Affiliated People's Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, China
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10
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Bui TM, Yalom LK, Ning E, Urbanczyk JM, Ren X, Herrnreiter CJ, Disario JA, Wray B, Schipma MJ, Velichko YS, Sullivan DP, Abe K, Lauberth SM, Yang GY, Dulai PS, Hanauer SB, Sumagin R. Tissue-specific reprogramming leads to angiogenic neutrophil specialization and tumor vascularization in colorectal cancer. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e174545. [PMID: 38329810 PMCID: PMC10977994 DOI: 10.1172/jci174545] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil (PMN) tissue accumulation is an established feature of ulcerative colitis (UC) lesions and colorectal cancer (CRC). To assess the PMN phenotypic and functional diversification during the transition from inflammatory ulceration to CRC we analyzed the transcriptomic landscape of blood and tissue PMNs. Transcriptional programs effectively separated PMNs based on their proximity to peripheral blood, inflamed colon, and tumors. In silico pathway overrepresentation analysis, protein-network mapping, gene signature identification, and gene-ontology scoring revealed unique enrichment of angiogenic and vasculature development pathways in tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). Functional studies utilizing ex vivo cultures, colitis-induced murine CRC, and patient-derived xenograft models demonstrated a critical role for TANs in promoting tumor vascularization. Spp1 (OPN) and Mmp14 (MT1-MMP) were identified by unbiased -omics and mechanistic studies to be highly induced in TANs, acting to critically regulate endothelial cell chemotaxis and branching. TCGA data set and clinical specimens confirmed enrichment of SPP1 and MMP14 in high-grade CRC but not in patients with UC. Pharmacological inhibition of TAN trafficking or MMP14 activity effectively reduced tumor vascular density, leading to CRC regression. Our findings demonstrate a niche-directed PMN functional specialization and identify TAN contributions to tumor vascularization, delineating what we believe to be a new therapeutic framework for CRC treatment focused on TAN angiogenic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triet M. Bui
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lenore K. Yalom
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Edward Ning
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jessica M. Urbanczyk
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Xingsheng Ren
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Caroline J. Herrnreiter
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jackson A. Disario
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Brian Wray
- Quantitative Data Science Core, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Matthew J. Schipma
- Quantitative Data Science Core, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yuri S. Velichko
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - David P. Sullivan
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Kouki Abe
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Shannon M. Lauberth
- Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Guang-Yu Yang
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Parambir S. Dulai
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Stephen B. Hanauer
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ronen Sumagin
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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11
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Kwon MR, Youn I, Ko ES, Choi SH. Correlation of shear-wave elastography stiffness and apparent diffusion coefficient values with tumor characteristics in breast cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7180. [PMID: 38531932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57832-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to investigate the correlation between shear-wave elastography (SWE) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in breast cancer and to identify the associated characteristics. We included 91 breast cancer patients who underwent SWE and breast MRI prior to surgery between January 2016 and November 2017. We measured the lesion's mean (Emean) and maximum (Emax) elasticities of SWE and ADC values. We evaluated the correlation between SWE, ADC values and tumor size. The mean SWE and ADC values were compared for categorical variable of the pathological/imaging characteristics. ADC values showed negative correlation with Emean (r = - 0.315, p = 0.002) and Emax (r = - 0.326, p = 0.002). SWE was positively correlated with tumor size (r = 0.343-0.366, p < 0.001). A higher SWE value indicated a tendency towards a higher T stage (p < 0.001). Triple-negative breast cancer showed the highest SWE values (p = 0.02). SWE were significantly higher in breast cancers with posterior enhancement, vascularity, and washout kinetics (p < 0.02). SWE stiffness and ADC values were negatively correlated in breast cancer. SWE values correlated significantly with tumor size, and were higher in triple-negative subtype and aggressive imaging characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Ri Kwon
- Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Inyoung Youn
- Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Sook Ko
- Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.
| | - Seon-Hyeong Choi
- Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Queen's U Clinic, Seoul, South Korea
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Liu Y, Wu H, Sang Y, Chong W, Shang L, Li L. Research progress of exosomes in the angiogenesis of digestive system tumour. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:33. [PMID: 38341827 PMCID: PMC10859358 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00879-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Malignant tumours of the digestive system cover a wide range of diseases that affect the health of people to a large extent. Angiogenesis is indispensable in the development, and metastasis of tumours, mainly in two ways: occupation or formation. Vessels can provide nutrients, oxygen, and growth factors for tumours to encourage growth and metastasis, so cancer progression depends on simultaneous angiogenesis. Recently, exosomes have been proven to participate in the angiogenesis of tumours. They influence angiogenesis by binding to tyrosine kinase receptors (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 with different affinities, regulating Yap-VEGF pathway, Akt pathway or other signaling pathway. Additionally, exosomes are potential therapeutic vectors that can deliver many types of cargoes to different cells. In this review, we summarize the roles of exosomes in the angiogenesis of digestive system tumours and highlight the clinical application prospects, directly used as targers or delivery vehicles, in antiangiogenic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Key Laboratory of Engineering of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yaodong Sang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Key Laboratory of Engineering of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Wei Chong
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Key Laboratory of Engineering of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
| | - Liang Shang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Key Laboratory of Engineering of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
| | - Leping Li
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Key Laboratory of Engineering of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan, 250021, China.
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
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13
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Wendong Y, Jiali J, Qiaomei F, Yayun W, Xianze X, Zheng S, Wei H. Biomechanical forces and force-triggered drug delivery in tumor neovascularization. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116117. [PMID: 38171243 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor angiogenesis is one of the typical hallmarks of tumor occurrence and development, and tumor neovascularization also exhibits distinct characteristics from normal blood vessels. As the number of cells and matrix inside the tumor increases, the biomechanical force is enhanced, specifically manifested as solid stress, fluid stress, stiffness, and topology. This mechanical microenvironment also provides shelter for tumors and intensifies angiogenesis, providing oxygen and nutritional support for tumor progression. During tumor development, the biomechanical microenvironment also emerges, which in turn feeds back to regulate the tumor progression, including tumor angiogenesis, and biochemical and biomechanical signals can regulate tumor angiogenesis. Blood vessels possess inherent sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, but compared to the extensive research on biochemical signal regulation, the study of the regulation of tumor neovascularization by biomechanical signals remains relatively scarce. Biomechanical forces can affect the phenotypic characteristics and mechanical signaling pathways of tumor blood vessels, directly regulating angiogenesis. Meanwhile, they can indirectly regulate tumor angiogenesis by causing an imbalance in angiogenesis signals and affecting stromal cell function. Understanding the regulatory mechanism of biomechanical forces in tumor angiogenesis is beneficial for better identifying and even taming the mechanical forces involved in angiogenesis, providing new therapeutic targets for tumor vascular normalization. Therefore, we summarized the composition of biomechanical forces and their direct or indirect regulation of tumor neovascularization. In addition, this review discussed the use of biomechanical forces in combination with anti-angiogenic therapies for the treatment of tumors, and biomechanical forces triggered delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wendong
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China
| | - Jiang Jiali
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China
| | - Fan Qiaomei
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China
| | - Weng Yayun
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China
| | - Xie Xianze
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China
| | - Shi Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China.
| | - Huang Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou 310005, China.
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Porte C, Lisson T, Kohlen M, von Maltzahn F, Dencks S, von Stillfried S, Piepenbrock M, Rix A, Dasgupta A, Koczera P, Boor P, Stickeler E, Schmitz G, Kiessling F. Ultrasound Localization Microscopy for Breast Cancer Imaging in Patients: Protocol Optimization and Comparison with Shear Wave Elastography. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:57-66. [PMID: 37805359 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.09.001] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) has gained increasing attention in recent years because of its ability to visualize blood vessels at super-resolution. The field of oncology, in particular, could benefit from detailed vascular characterization, for example, for diagnosis and therapy monitoring. This study was aimed at refining ULM for breast cancer patients by optimizing the measurement protocol, identifying translational challenges and combining ULM and shear wave elastography. METHODS We computed ULM images of 11 patients with breast cancer by recording contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) sequences and post-processing them in an offline pipeline. For CEUS, two different doses and injection speeds of SonoVue were applied. The best injection protocol was determined based on quantitative parameters derived from so-called occurrence maps. In addition, a suitable measurement time window was determined, also considering the occurrence of motion. ULM results were compared with shear wave elastography and histological vessel density. RESULTS At the higher dose and injection speed, the highest number of microbubbles, number of tracks and vessel coverage were achieved, leading to the most detailed representation of tumor vasculature. Even at the highest concentration, no significant overlay of microbubble signals occurred. Motion significantly reduced the number of usable frames, thus limiting the measurement window to 3.5 min. ULM vessel coverage was comparable to the histological vessel fraction and correlated significantly with mean tumor elasticity. CONCLUSION The settings for microbubble injection strongly influence ULM images, thus requiring optimized protocols for different indications. Patient and examiner motion was identified as the main translational challenge for ULM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Porte
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Lisson
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Matthias Kohlen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Finn von Maltzahn
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Dencks
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Saskia von Stillfried
- Institute of Pathology, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marion Piepenbrock
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anne Rix
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Anshuman Dasgupta
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Patrick Koczera
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Elmar Stickeler
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg Schmitz
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Aachen, Germany.
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15
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Qian C, Liu C, Liu W, Zhou R, Zhao L. Targeting vascular normalization: a promising strategy to improve immune-vascular crosstalk in cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1291530. [PMID: 38193080 PMCID: PMC10773740 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1291530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood vessels are a key target for cancer therapy. Compared with the healthy vasculature, tumor blood vessels are extremely immature, highly permeable, and deficient in pericytes. The aberrantly vascularized tumor microenvironment is characterized by hypoxia, low pH, high interstitial pressure, and immunosuppression. The efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy is affected by abnormal blood vessels. Some anti-angiogenic drugs show vascular normalization effects in addition to targeting angiogenesis. Reversing the abnormal state of blood vessels creates a normal microenvironment, essential for various cancer treatments, specifically immunotherapy. In addition, immune cells and molecules are involved in the regulation of angiogenesis. Therefore, combining vascular normalization with immunotherapy may increase the efficacy of immunotherapy and reduce the risk of adverse reactions. In this review, we discussed the structure, function, and formation of abnormal vessels. In addition, we elaborated on the role of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in the formation of abnormal vessels. Finally, we described the clinical challenges associated with the combination of immunotherapy with vascular normalization, and highlighted future research directions in this therapeutic area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Qian
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaoqun Liu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Johnson BM, Johnson AM, Heim M, Buckley M, Mortimer B, Berry JL, Sewell-Loftin MK. Biomechanical stimulation promotes blood vessel growth despite VEGFR-2 inhibition. BMC Biol 2023; 21:290. [PMID: 38072992 PMCID: PMC10712065 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01792-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiogenesis, or the growth of new vasculature from existing blood vessels, is widely considered a primary hallmark of cancer progression. When a tumor is small, diffusion is sufficient to receive essential nutrients; however, as the tumor grows, a vascular supply is needed to deliver oxygen and nutrients into the increasing mass. Several anti-angiogenic cancer therapies target VEGF and the receptor VEGFR-2, which are major promoters of blood vessel development. Unfortunately, many of these cancer treatments fail to completely stop angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Since these therapies focus on the biochemical activation of VEGFR-2 via VEGF ligand binding, we propose that mechanical cues, particularly those found in the TME, may be a source of VEGFR-2 activation that promotes growth of blood vessel networks even in the presence of VEGF and VEGFR-2 inhibitors. RESULTS In this paper, we analyzed phosphorylation patterns of VEGFR-2, particularly at Y1054/Y1059 and Y1214, stimulated via either VEGF or biomechanical stimulation in the form of tensile strains. Our results show prolonged and enhanced activation at both Y1054/Y1059 and Y1214 residues when endothelial cells were stimulated with strain, VEGF, or a combination of both. We also analyzed Src expression, which is downstream of VEGFR-2 and can be activated through strain or the presence of VEGF. Finally, we used fibrin gels and microfluidic devices as 3D microtissue models to simulate the TME. We determined that regions of mechanical strain promoted increased vessel growth, even with VEGFR-2 inhibition through SU5416. CONCLUSIONS Overall, understanding both the effects that biomechanical and biochemical stimuli have on VEGFR-2 activation and angiogenesis is an important factor in developing effective anti-angiogenic therapies. This paper shows that VEGFR-2 can be mechanically activated through strain, which likely contributes to increased angiogenesis in the TME. These proof-of-concept studies show that small molecular inhibitors of VEGFR-2 do not fully prevent angiogenesis in 3D TME models when mechanical strains are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Allison McKenzie Johnson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Michael Heim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Molly Buckley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Bryan Mortimer
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Joel L Berry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, Wallace Tumor Institute, Room 630A, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
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Tang B, Ma W, Lin Y. Emerging applications of anti-angiogenic nanomaterials in oncotherapy. J Control Release 2023; 364:61-78. [PMID: 37871753 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is the process of generating new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Under normal conditions, this process is delicately controlled by pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. Tumor cells can produce plentiful pro-angiogenic molecules promoting pathological angiogenesis for uncontrollable growth. Therefore, anti-angiogenic therapy, which aims to inhibit tumor angiogenesis, has become an attractive approach for oncotherapy. However, classic anti-angiogenic agents have several limitations in clinical use, such as lack of specific targeting, low bioavailability, and poor therapeutic outcomes. Hence, alternative angiogenic inhibitors are highly desired. With the emergence of nanotechnology, various nanomaterials have been designed for anti-angiogenesis purposes, offering promising features like excellent targeting capabilities, reduced side effects, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we describe tumor vascular features, discuss current dilemma of traditional anti-angiogenic medicines in oncotherapy, and underline the potential of nanomaterials in tumor anti-angiogenic therapy. Moreover, we discuss the current challenges of anti-angiogenic cancer treatment. We expect that this summary of anti-angiogenic nanomaterials in oncotherapy will offer valuable insights, facilitating their extensive applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bicai Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China
| | - Wenjuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China; Sichuan Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.
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18
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Bao L, Kong H, Ja Y, Wang C, Qin L, Sun H, Dai S. The relationship between cancer and biomechanics. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1273154. [PMID: 37901315 PMCID: PMC10602664 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1273154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The onset, development, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer involve intricate interactions among various factors, spanning the realms of mechanics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Within our bodies, cells are subject to a variety of forces such as gravity, magnetism, tension, compression, shear stress, and biological static force/hydrostatic pressure. These forces are perceived by mechanoreceptors as mechanical signals, which are then transmitted to cells through a process known as mechanical transduction. During tumor development, invasion and metastasis, there are significant biomechanical influences on various aspects such as tumor angiogenesis, interactions between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM), interactions between tumor cells and other cells, and interactions between tumor cells and the circulatory system and vasculature. The tumor microenvironment comprises a complex interplay of cells, ECM and vasculature, with the ECM, comprising collagen, fibronectins, integrins, laminins and matrix metalloproteinases, acting as a critical mediator of mechanical properties and a key component within the mechanical signaling pathway. The vasculature exerts appropriate shear forces on tumor cells, enabling their escape from immune surveillance, facilitating their dissemination in the bloodstream, dictating the trajectory of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and playing a pivotal role in regulating adhesion to the vessel wall. Tumor biomechanics plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis, as alterations in biomechanical properties throughout the malignant transformation process trigger a cascade of changes in cellular behavior and the tumor microenvironment, ultimately culminating in the malignant biological behavior of the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqi Bao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Renji College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongru Kong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Ja
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengchao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongwei Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengjie Dai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Sherapura A, Siddesh BM, Malojirao VH, Thirusangu P, Avin BRV, Kumari NS, Ramachandra YL, Prabhakar BT. Steroidal alkaloid solanidine impedes hypoxia-driven ATM phosphorylation to switch on anti-angiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 119:154981. [PMID: 37531902 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154981] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The declined oxygen tension in the cancer cell leads to the hypoxic adaptive response and favors establishment of tumor micro environment [TEM]. The complex TME consists of interwoven hypoxic HIF-1α and DNA damage repair ATM signaling. The ATM/HIF-1α phosphorylation switch on angiogenesis and abort apoptosis. Targeting this signaling nexus would be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancer. BACKGROUND Steroidal alkaloid solanidine is known for varied pharmacological role but with less molecular evidences. Our earlier findings on solanidine proven its anti-neoplastic activity by inducing apoptosis in lung cancer. In continued research, efforts have been made to establish the underlying molecular signaling in induction of DNA damage in prevailing hypoxic TME. METHODS The solanidine induced DNA damage was assessed trough alkali COMET assay; signaling nexus and gene expression profile analysis through IB, qRT-PCR, Gelatin Zymography, IHC, IF and ELISA. Pathophysiological modulations assessed through tube formation, migration, invasion assays. Anti-angiogenic studies through CAM, rat aorta, matrigel assays and corneal neovascularization assay. Anti-tumor activity through in-vivo DLA ascites tumor model and LLC model. RESULTS The results postulates, inhibition of hypoxia driven DDR proteins pATMser1981/pHIF-1αser696 by solanidine induces anti-angiogenesis. Systematic study of both non-tumorigenic and tumorigenic models in-vitro as well as in-vivo experimental system revealed the angio-regression mediated anticancer effect in lung cancer. These effects are due to the impeded expression of angiogenic mediators such as VEGF, MMP2&9 and inflammatory cytokines IL6 and TNFα to induce pathophysiological changes CONCLUSION: The study establishes new role of solanidine by targeting ATM/HIF-1α signaling to induce anti-angiogenesis for the first time. The study highlights the potentiality of plant based phytomedicine solanidine which can targets the multiple hallmarks of cancer by targeting interwoven signaling crosstalk. Such an approach through solanidine necessary to counteract heterogeneous complexity of cancer which could be nearly translated into drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankith Sherapura
- Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, 577203, Karnataka, India
| | - B M Siddesh
- Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, 577203, Karnataka, India
| | - Vikas H Malojirao
- Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, 577203, Karnataka, India; Division for DNA Repair Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Centre for Neuroregeneration, Houston Methodist, Fannin Street, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Prabhu Thirusangu
- Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, 577203, Karnataka, India; Department of Experidmental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - B R Vijay Avin
- Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, 577203, Karnataka, India; Department of Pharmacology and Centre for Lung and Vascular Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, 60612, USA
| | - N Suchetha Kumari
- Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical College, Nitte University, Mangalore, India
| | - Y L Ramachandra
- Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, 577 451, Karnataka, India
| | - B T Prabhakar
- Molecular Biomedicine Laboratory, Postgraduate Department of Studies and Research in Biotechnology, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, 577203, Karnataka, India.
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20
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Mislati R, Uccello TP, Lin Z, Iliza KT, Toussaint KC, Gerber SA, Doyley MM. Shear wave elastography can stratify rectal cancer response to short-course radiation therapy. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16149. [PMID: 37752156 PMCID: PMC10522682 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43383-5] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rectal cancer is a deadly disease typically treated using neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision surgery. To reduce the occurrence of mesorectal excision surgery for patients whose tumors regress from the neoadjuvant therapy alone, conventional imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is used to assess tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. In this work, we hypothesize that shear wave elastography offers valuable insights into tumor response to short-course radiation therapy (SCRT)-information that could help distinguish radiation-responsive from radiation-non-responsive tumors and shed light on changes in the tumor microenvironment that may affect radiation response. To test this hypothesis, we performed elastographic imaging on murine rectal tumors (n = 32) on days 6, 10, 12, 16, 18, 20, 23, and 25 post-tumor cell injection. The study revealed that radiation-responsive and non-radiation-responsive tumors had different mechanical properties. Specifically, radiation-non-responsive tumors showed significantly higher shear wave speed SWS (p < 0.01) than radiation-responsive tumors 11 days after SCRT. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in shear wave attenuation (SWA) (p < 0.01) in radiation-non-responsive tumors 16 days after SCRT compared to SWA measured just one day after SCRT. These results demonstrate the potential of shear wave elastography to provide valuable insights into tumor response to SCRT and aid in exploring the underlying biology that drives tumors' responses to radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Mislati
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Taylor P Uccello
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Zixi Lin
- School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Katia T Iliza
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Scott A Gerber
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Marvin M Doyley
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
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21
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He F, Xiao H, Cai Y, Zhang N. NSD1 promotes esophageal cancer tumorigenesis via HIF1α signaling. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:1835-1850. [PMID: 36522543 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-022-09786-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Unlike angiogenesis in normal tissues, tumor angiogenesis is typically dysregulated, during which the HIF1/VEGFA signaling pathway plays a pivotal role. Solid tumors generate immature vessels, which promote tumor progression and treatment resistance. NSD1 can di-methylate histone 3 lysine 36 and regulate transcription factors binding to the promoters of various genes. However, the role of NSD1 in tumorigenesis remains elusive. Here, we evaluated the relationship between NSD1 signaling and HIF1 signaling. It was found that NSD1 transcriptionally regulates HIF1α expression by recruiting STAT3 molecule into the HIF1α promoter. In vivo xenograft experiments further confirmed that HIF1α and STAT3 maintenance is essential for NSD1-mediated tumor progression and angiogenesis. Therefore, the NSD1/STAT3/HIF1α signaling pathway may be a novel and effective treatment target for ESCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hang Xiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yixin Cai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ni Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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22
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Di X, Gao X, Peng L, Ai J, Jin X, Qi S, Li H, Wang K, Luo D. Cellular mechanotransduction in health and diseases: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:282. [PMID: 37518181 PMCID: PMC10387486 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular mechanotransduction, a critical regulator of numerous biological processes, is the conversion from mechanical signals to biochemical signals regarding cell activities and metabolism. Typical mechanical cues in organisms include hydrostatic pressure, fluid shear stress, tensile force, extracellular matrix stiffness or tissue elasticity, and extracellular fluid viscosity. Mechanotransduction has been expected to trigger multiple biological processes, such as embryonic development, tissue repair and regeneration. However, prolonged excessive mechanical stimulation can result in pathological processes, such as multi-organ fibrosis, tumorigenesis, and cancer immunotherapy resistance. Although the associations between mechanical cues and normal tissue homeostasis or diseases have been identified, the regulatory mechanisms among different mechanical cues are not yet comprehensively illustrated, and no effective therapies are currently available targeting mechanical cue-related signaling. This review systematically summarizes the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of typical mechanical cues in normal conditions and diseases with the updated evidence. The key effectors responding to mechanical stimulations are listed, such as Piezo channels, integrins, Yes-associated protein (YAP) /transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). We also reviewed the key signaling pathways, therapeutic targets and cutting-edge clinical applications of diseases related to mechanical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingpeng Di
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoshuai Gao
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Liao Peng
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Jianzhong Ai
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Xi Jin
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China
| | - Kunjie Wang
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
| | - Deyi Luo
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.
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23
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Bagher-Ebadian H, Brown SL, Ghassemi MM, Nagaraja TN, Movsas B, Ewing JR, Chetty IJ. Radiomics characterization of tissues in an animal brain tumor model imaged using dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10693. [PMID: 37394559 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37723-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we investigate radiomics-based characterization of tumor vascular and microenvironmental properties in an orthotopic rat brain tumor model measured using dynamic-contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. Thirty-two immune compromised-RNU rats implanted with human U-251N cancer cells were imaged using DCE-MRI (7Tesla, Dual-Gradient-Echo). The aim was to perform pharmacokinetic analysis using a nested model (NM) selection technique to classify brain regions according to vasculature properties considered as the source of truth. A two-dimensional convolutional-based radiomics analysis was performed on the raw-DCE-MRI of the rat brains to generate dynamic radiomics maps. The raw-DCE-MRI and respective radiomics maps were used to build 28 unsupervised Kohonen self-organizing-maps (K-SOMs). A Silhouette-Coefficient (SC), k-fold Nested-Cross-Validation (k-fold-NCV), and feature engineering analyses were performed on the K-SOMs' feature spaces to quantify the distinction power of radiomics features compared to raw-DCE-MRI for classification of different Nested Models. Results showed that eight radiomics features outperformed respective raw-DCE-MRI in prediction of the three nested models. The average percent difference in SCs between radiomics features and raw-DCE-MRI was: 29.875% ± 12.922%, p < 0.001. This work establishes an important first step toward spatiotemporal characterization of brain regions using radiomics signatures, which is fundamental toward staging of tumors and evaluation of tumor response to different treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Bagher-Ebadian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Department of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA.
| | - Stephen L Brown
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Mohammad M Ghassemi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tavarekere N Nagaraja
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Benjamin Movsas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - James R Ewing
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Indrin J Chetty
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
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24
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Zhao S, Nguyen CC, Hoang TT, Do TN, Phan HP. Transparent Pneumatic Tactile Sensors for Soft Biomedical Robotics. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:5671. [PMID: 37420836 DOI: 10.3390/s23125671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Palpation is a simple but effective method to distinguish tumors from healthy tissues. The development of miniaturized tactile sensors embedded on endoscopic or robotic devices is key to achieving precise palpation diagnosis and subsequent timely treatment. This paper reports on the fabrication and characterization of a novel tactile sensor with mechanical flexibility and optical transparency that can be easily mounted on soft surgical endoscopes and robotics. By utilizing the pneumatic sensing mechanism, the sensor offers a high sensitivity of 1.25 mbar and negligible hysteresis, enabling the detection of phantom tissues with different stiffnesses ranging from 0 to 2.5 MPa. Our configuration, combining pneumatic sensing and hydraulic actuating, also eliminates electrical wiring from the functional elements located at the robot end-effector, thereby enhancing the system safety. The optical transparency path in the sensors together with its mechanical sensing capability open interesting possibilities in the early detection of solid tumor as well as in the development of all-in-one soft surgical robots that can perform visual/mechanical feedback and optical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinuo Zhao
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Chi Cong Nguyen
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Trung Thien Hoang
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Thanh Nho Do
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Hoang-Phuong Phan
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Kensington Campus, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Tyree Institute of Health Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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25
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Qin C, Liu S, Zhou S, Xia X, Hu J, Yu Y, Ma D. Tanshinone IIA promotes vascular normalization and boosts Sorafenib's anti-hepatoma activity via modulating the PI3K-AKT pathway. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1189532. [PMID: 37324455 PMCID: PMC10267387 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1189532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Angiogenesis is an essential feature of liver cancer. Tumor hypoxia results from abnormal vessel architecture. Numerous studies have sufficiently demonstrated that Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) can increase blood flow and enhance microcirculation. The objectives of this study are to: 1 assess the impact of Tan IIA on tumor angiogenesis and architecture, 2 determine the impact of Tan IIA on tumor hypoxia and susceptibility to Sorafenib, and 3 clarify the relevant mechanisms. Methods: CCK8 and flow cytometry measured cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Tube creation assay was used to investigate medication effects on angiogenesis and structure. Drug effects on tumor development, metastasis, and hypoxic tumor microenvironment are assessed in an orthotopic xenograft model of liver tumors. Protein expression was measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: Our results demonstrated that Tan IIA could not reduce tumor proliferation or enhance Sorafenib's anti-tumor effect in vitro. Nevertheless, it can prevent Sorafenib from demolishing the typical vascular structure and aid sorafenib in blocking the recruitment of vascular endothelial cells by liver cancer cells. Although Tan IIA cannot inhibit tumor growth in vivo, it can significantly boost Sorafenib's inhibitory effect on liver cancer, alleviate tumor microenvironment hypoxia, and minimize lung metastasis. This effect may be achieved by reducing HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression via the PI3K-AKT signal pathway. Discussion: Our results reveal the mechanism of Tan IIA in normalizing tumor blood vessels, provide innovative concepts and approaches to overcome chemotherapy resistance, and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical transformation and usage of Tan IIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengdong Qin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shiqi Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xianghou Xia
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiejie Hu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dening Ma
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Prevention, Diagnosis and Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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26
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Hsia CR, Melters DP, Dalal Y. The Force is Strong with This Epigenome: Chromatin Structure and Mechanobiology. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168019. [PMID: 37330288 PMCID: PMC10567996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
All life forms sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. Throughout evolution, organisms develop diverse mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways, leading to fast and sustained mechanoresponses. Memory and plasticity characteristics of mechanoresponses are thought to be stored in the form of epigenetic modifications, including chromatin structure alterations. These mechanoresponses in the chromatin context share conserved principles across species, such as lateral inhibition during organogenesis and development. However, it remains unclear how mechanotransduction mechanisms alter chromatin structure for specific cellular functions, and if altered chromatin structure can mechanically affect the environment. In this review, we discuss how chromatin structure is altered by environmental forces via an outside-in pathway for cellular functions, and the emerging concept of how chromatin structure alterations can mechanically affect nuclear, cellular, and extracellular environments. This bidirectional mechanical feedback between chromatin of the cell and the environment can potentially have important physiological implications, such as in centromeric chromatin regulation of mechanobiology in mitosis, or in tumor-stroma interactions. Finally, we highlight the current challenges and open questions in the field and provide perspectives for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Ren Hsia
- Chromatin Structure and Epigenetic Mechanisms, Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States. https://twitter.com/JeremiahHsia
| | - Daniël P Melters
- Chromatin Structure and Epigenetic Mechanisms, Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States. https://twitter.com/dpmelters
| | - Yamini Dalal
- Chromatin Structure and Epigenetic Mechanisms, Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States. https://twitter.com/NCIYaminiDalal
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27
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Kuziel G, Moore BN, Arendt LM. Obesity and Fibrosis: Setting the Stage for Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112929. [PMID: 37296891 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a rising health concern and is linked to a worsened breast cancer prognosis. Tumor desmoplasia, which is characterized by elevated numbers of cancer-associated fibroblasts and the deposition of fibrillar collagens within the stroma, may contribute to the aggressive clinical behavior of breast cancer in obesity. A major component of the breast is adipose tissue, and fibrotic changes in adipose tissue due to obesity may contribute to breast cancer development and the biology of the resulting tumors. Adipose tissue fibrosis is a consequence of obesity that has multiple sources. Adipocytes and adipose-derived stromal cells secrete extracellular matrix composed of collagen family members and matricellular proteins that are altered by obesity. Adipose tissue also becomes a site of chronic, macrophage-driven inflammation. Macrophages exist as a diverse population within obese adipose tissue and mediate the development of fibrosis through the secretion of growth factors and matricellular proteins and interactions with other stromal cells. While weight loss is recommended to resolve obesity, the long-term effects of weight loss on adipose tissue fibrosis and inflammation within breast tissue are less clear. Increased fibrosis within breast tissue may increase the risk for tumor development as well as promote characteristics associated with tumor aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevra Kuziel
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Brittney N Moore
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Lisa M Arendt
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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28
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Shakiba D, Genin GM, Zustiak SP. Mechanobiology of cancer cell responsiveness to chemotherapy and immunotherapy: Mechanistic insights and biomaterial platforms. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114771. [PMID: 36889646 PMCID: PMC10133187 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114771] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are central to how cancer treatments such as chemotherapeutics and immunotherapies interact with cells and tissues. At the simplest level, electrostatic forces underlie the binding events that are critical to therapeutic function. However, a growing body of literature points to mechanical factors that also affect whether a drug or an immune cell can reach a target, and to interactions between a cell and its environment affecting therapeutic efficacy. These factors affect cell processes ranging from cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix remodeling to transduction of signals by the nucleus to metastasis of cells. This review presents and critiques the state of the art of our understanding of how mechanobiology impacts drug and immunotherapy resistance and responsiveness, and of the in vitro systems that have been of value in the discovery of these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaram Shakiba
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Guy M Genin
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Silviya P Zustiak
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Science and Engineering, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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29
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Hang Y, Liu Y, Teng Z, Cao X, Zhu H. Mesoporous nanodrug delivery system: a powerful tool for a new paradigm of remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:101. [PMID: 36945005 PMCID: PMC10029196 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-01841-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in tumor progression, metastasis and therapy resistance. Remodeling the TME has recently been deemed an attractive tumor therapeutic strategy. Due to its complexity and heterogeneity, remodeling the TME still faces great challenges. With the great advantage of drug loading ability, tumor accumulation, multifactor controllability, and persistent guest molecule release ability, mesoporous nanodrug delivery systems (MNDDSs) have been widely used as effective antitumor drug delivery tools as well as remolding TME. This review summarizes the components and characteristics of the TME, as well as the crosstalk between the TME and cancer cells and focuses on the important role of drug delivery strategies based on MNDDSs in targeted remodeling TME metabolic and synergistic anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinhui Hang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- Laboratory of Medical Imaging, The First People's Hospital of Zhenjiang, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaogang Teng
- Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiongfeng Cao
- Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haitao Zhu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, People's Republic of China.
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30
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Ghalehbandi S, Yuzugulen J, Pranjol MZI, Pourgholami MH. The role of VEGF in cancer-induced angiogenesis and research progress of drugs targeting VEGF. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 949:175586. [PMID: 36906141 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a double-edged sword; it is a mechanism that defines the boundary between health and disease. In spite of its central role in physiological homeostasis, it provides the oxygen and nutrition needed by tumor cells to proceed from dormancy if pro-angiogenic factors tip the balance in favor of tumor angiogenesis. Among pro-angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prominent target in therapeutic methods due to its strategic involvement in the formation of anomalous tumor vasculature. In addition, VEGF exhibits immune-regulatory properties which suppress immune cell antitumor activity. VEGF signaling through its receptors is an integral part of tumoral angiogenic approaches. A wide variety of medicines have been designed to target the ligands and receptors of this pro-angiogenic superfamily. Herein, we summarize the direct and indirect molecular mechanisms of VEGF to demonstrate its versatile role in the context of cancer angiogenesis and current transformative VEGF-targeted strategies interfering with tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jale Yuzugulen
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Turkey
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31
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Amir S, Arathi A, Reshma S, Mohanan PV. Microfluidic devices for the detection of disease-specific proteins and other macromolecules, disease modelling and drug development: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 235:123784. [PMID: 36822284 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics is a revolutionary technology that has promising applications in the biomedical field.Integrating microfluidic technology with the traditional assays unravels the innumerable possibilities for translational biomedical research. Microfluidics has the potential to build up a novel platform for diagnosis and therapy through precise manipulation of fluids and enhanced throughput functions. The developments in microfluidics-based devices for diagnostics have evolved in the last decade and have been established for their rapid, effective, accurate and economic advantages. The efficiency and sensitivity of such devices to detect disease-specific macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids have made crucial impacts in disease diagnosis. The disease modelling using microfluidic systems provides a more prominent replication of the in vivo microenvironment and can be a better alternative for the existing disease models. These models can replicate critical microphysiology like the dynamic microenvironment, cellular interactions, and biophysical and biochemical cues. Microfluidics also provides a promising system for high throughput drug screening and delivery applications. However, microfluidics-based diagnostics still encounter related challenges in the reliability, real-time monitoring and reproducibility that circumvents this technology from being impacted in the healthcare industry. This review highlights the recent microfluidics developments for modelling and diagnosing common diseases, including cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and autoimmune disorders, and its applications in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amir
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - A Arathi
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - S Reshma
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - P V Mohanan
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India.
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Kara OC, Venkatayogi N, Ikoma N, Alambeigi F. A Reliable and Sensitive Framework for Simultaneous Type and Stage Detection of Colorectal Cancer Polyps. Ann Biomed Eng 2023:10.1007/s10439-023-03153-w. [PMID: 36754924 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03153-w] [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: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
With the goal of enhancing the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) polyps and reducing the risk of mortality in cancer patients, in this article, we present a unique diagnosis framework including a Vision-based Surface Tactile Sensor (VS-TS) and complementary Artificial Intelligence algorithms. Leveraging the morphological characteristics (i.e., shape and texture) and stiffness features of the CRC polyps, the proposed framework is able to reliably and sensitively identify their type and stage. To thoroughly characterize and identify the required VS-TS sensitivity for reliable identification of polyps, we first fabricated three different VS-TSs and qualitatively evaluated their performances on 48 different types of polyp phantoms fabricated based on four different types of realistic CRC polyps and three different materials. Next, to quantitatively compare the performance and sensitivity of the fabricated VS-TSs, we used Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm and employed various statistical metrics (i.e., accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity). Next, using the most sensitive VS-TS, we classified the type of tumors using the SVM algorithm and applied the t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding algorithm to successfully identify the stiffness of classified polyp phantoms solely based on the output images of the VS-TS sensor. Results demonstrated that an SVM algorithm applied on the image outputs of a VS-TS with a Shore hardness of 00-40 scale is able to classify all types of polyps with > 90% accuracy, sensitivity, and reliability. We also repeated experiments on samples of ex-vivo lamb tripe tissues and successfully verified the high sensitivity and reliability of the proposed framework (i.e., > 94%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozdemir Can Kara
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Texas Robotics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Nethra Venkatayogi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Naruhiko Ikoma
- Division of Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Farshid Alambeigi
- Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Texas Robotics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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Kretschmer M, Mamistvalov R, Sprinzak D, Vollmar AM, Zahler S. Matrix stiffness regulates Notch signaling activity in endothelial cells. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:286810. [PMID: 36718783 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is critical for many developmental and disease-related processes. It is widely accepted that Notch has a mechanotransduction module that regulates receptor cleavage. However, the role of biomechanical properties of the cellular environment in Notch signaling in general is still poorly understood. During angiogenesis, differentiation of endothelial cells into tip and stalk cells is regulated by Notch signaling, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix occurs. We investigated the influence of substrate stiffness on the Notch signaling pathway in endothelial cells. Using stiffness-tuned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates, we show that activity of the Notch signaling pathway inversely correlates with a physiologically relevant range of substrate stiffness (i.e. increased Notch signaling activity on softer substrates). Trans-endocytosis of the Notch extracellular domain, but not the overall endocytosis, is regulated by substrate stiffness, and integrin cell-matrix connections are both stiffness dependent and influenced by Notch signaling. We conclude that mechanotransduction of Notch activation is modulated by substrate stiffness, highlighting the role of substrate rigidity as an important cue for signaling. This might have implications in pathological situations associated with stiffening of the extracellular matrix, such as tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maibritt Kretschmer
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Rose Mamistvalov
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - David Sprinzak
- The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Angelika M Vollmar
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Zahler
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany
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Overcoming biophysical barriers with innovative therapeutic delivery approaches. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:1847-1853. [PMID: 36076063 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-022-00529-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is often conceptualized as principally a cellular process, one initiated by genetic mutations in a progenitor cell that result in dysregulated cell proliferation. Accordingly, investigations into mechanisms of treatment resistance to cancer therapies often revolve around the biologic barriers to the therapies. However, there is a growing appreciation for the unique biomechanical properties for tumors and the role they play in treatment resistance for conventional, molecularly targeted, and immune-mediated cancer therapies. This understanding has inspired the development of pharmacologic and interventional approaches to overcome these barriers. Of particular promise are perfusion-enhanced drug delivery (PEDD) approaches that potentially allow for comprehensive tumor coverage with increased delivery pressure and prevention of reflux to drive therapeutics into the tumor parenchyma. In this review, we summarize the key features of the tumor microenvironment that drive tumor progression and impose barriers to anti-cancer therapies. We highlight the rationale and application of pharmacologic approaches and interventional drug delivery devices designed to overcome these impediments. We additionally contextualize these concepts by illustrating their application to the treatment of uveal melanoma liver metastases.
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Li M, Zhang X, Wang M, Wang Y, Qian J, Xing X, Wang Z, You Y, Guo K, Chen J, Gao D, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Chen R, Cui J, Ren Z. Activation of Piezo1 contributes to matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. CANCER COMMUNICATIONS (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 42:1162-1184. [PMID: 36181398 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite integrin being highlighted as a stiffness-sensor molecule in matrix stiffness-driven angiogenesis, other stiffness-sensor molecules and their mechanosensory pathways related to angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain obscure. Here, we explored the interplay between Piezo1 and integrin β1 in the mechanosensory pathway and their effects on HCC angiogenesis to better understand matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis. METHODS The role of Piezo1 in matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis was investigated using orthotopic liver cancer SD rat models with high liver stiffness background, and its clinical significance was evaluated in human HCC tissues. Matrix stiffness-mediated Piezo1 upregulation and activation were assayed using an in vitro fibronectin (FN)-coated cell culture system with different stiffness, Western blotting and Ca2+ probe. The effects of shPiezo1-conditioned medium (CM) on angiogenesis were examined by tube formation assay, wound healing assay and angiogenesis array. The underlying mechanism by which Piezo1 participated in matrix stiffness-induced angiogenesis was analyzed by microRNA quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), matrix stiffness measurement, dual-luciferase reporter assay, ubiquitination assay and co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS Increased matrix stiffness significantly upregulated Piezo1 expression at both cellular and tissue levels, and high expression of Piezo1 indicated an unfavorable prognosis. High matrix stiffness also noticeably enhanced the activation level of Piezo1, similar to its expression level. Piezo1 knockdown significantly suppressed tumor growth, angiogenesis, and lung metastasis of HCC rat models with high liver stiffness background. shPiezo1-CM from HCC cells attenuated tube formation and migration abilities of vascular endothelial cells remarkably, and analysis of differentially expressed pro-angiogenic factors revealed that Piezo1 promoted the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2). Matrix stiffness-caused Piezo1 upregulation/activation restrained hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) ubiquitination, subsequently enhanced the expression of downstream pro-angiogenic factors to accelerate HCC angiogenesis. Besides, collagen 1 (COL1)-reinforced tissue stiffening resulted in more expression of Piezo1 via miR-625-5p. CONCLUSIONS This study unravels a new mechanism by which the integrin β1/Piezo1 activation/Ca2+ influx/HIF-1α ubiquitination/VEGF, CXCL16 and IGFBP2 pathway participates in matrix stiffness-driven HCC angiogenesis. Simultaneously, a positive feedback regulation loop as stiff matrix/integrin β1/miR-625-5p/Piezo1 and COL1/stiffer matrix mediates matrix stiffness-caused Piezo1 upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Li
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Mimi Wang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Department of Radiology, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jiali Qian
- Department of Endocrinology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxia Xing
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Zhiming Wang
- Department of Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yang You
- Department of Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Kun Guo
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jie Chen
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Dongmei Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Rongxin Chen
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jiefeng Cui
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
| | - Zhenggang Ren
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P. R. China
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Li X, Peng X, Zhang C, Bai X, Li Y, Chen G, Guo H, He W, Zhou X, Gou X. Bladder Cancer-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Promote Tumor Angiogenesis by Inducing HBP-Related Metabolic Reprogramming and SerRS O-GlcNAcylation in Endothelial Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202993. [PMID: 36045101 PMCID: PMC9596856 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A malformed tumour vascular network provokes the nutrient-deprived tumour microenvironment (TME), which conversely activates endothelial cell (EC) functions and stimulates neovascularization. Emerging evidence suggests that the flexible metabolic adaptability of tumour cells helps to establish a metabolic symbiosis among various cell subpopulations in the fluctuating TME. In this study, the authors propose a novel metabolic link between bladder cancer (BCa) cells and ECs in the nutrient-scarce TME, in which BCa-secreted glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase 1 (GFAT1) via small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) reprograms glucose metabolism by increasing hexosamine biosynthesis pathway flux in ECs and thus enhances O-GlcNAcylation. Moreover, seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) O-GlcNAcylation at serine 101 in ECs promotes its degradation by ubiquitination and impeded importin α5-mediated nuclear translocation. Intranuclear SerRS attenuates vascular endothelial growth factor transcription by competitively binding to the GC-rich region of the proximal promotor. Additionally, GFAT1 knockout in tumour cells blocks SerRS O-GlcNAcylation in ECs and attenuates angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. However, administration of GFAT1-overexpressing BCa cells-derived sEVs increase the angiogenetic activity in the ECs of GFAT1-knockout mice. In summary, this study suggests that inhibiting sEV-mediated GFAT1 secretion from BCa cells and targeting SerRS O-GlcNAcylation in ECs may serve as novel strategies for BCa antiangiogenetic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Li
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
- Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and EpigeneticsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xiang Peng
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and EpigeneticsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Chunlin Zhang
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and EpigeneticsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xuesong Bai
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and EpigeneticsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and EpigeneticsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Huixia Guo
- Centre for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
| | - Weiyang He
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and EpigeneticsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
| | - Xin Gou
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing400016China
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Tamayo-Angorrilla M, López de Andrés J, Jiménez G, Marchal JA. The biomimetic extracellular matrix: a therapeutic tool for breast cancer research. Transl Res 2022; 247:117-136. [PMID: 34844003 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A deeper knowledge of the functional versatility and dynamic nature of the ECM has improved the understanding of cancer biology. Translational Significance: This work provides an in-depth view of the importance of the ECM to develop more mimetic breast cancer models, which aim to recreate the components and architecture of tumor microenvironment. Special focus is placed on decellularized matrices derived from tissue and cell culture, both in procurement and applications, as they have achieved great success in cancer research and pharmaceutical sector. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasingly recognized as a master regulator of cell behavior and response to breast cancer (BC) treatment. During BC progression, the mammary gland ECM is remodeled and altered in the composition and organization. Accumulated evidence suggests that changes in the composition and mechanics of ECM, orchestrated by tumor-stromal interactions along with ECM remodeling enzymes, are actively involved in BC progression and metastasis. Understanding how specific ECM components modulate the tumorigenic process has led to an increased interest in the development of biomaterial-based biomimetic ECM models to recapitulate key tumor characteristics. The decellularized ECMs (dECMs) have emerged as a promising in vitro 3D tumor model, whose recent advances in the processing and application could become the biomaterial by excellence for BC research and the pharmaceutical industry. This review offers a detailed view of the contribution of ECM in BC progression, and highlights the application of dECM-based biomaterials as promising personalized tumor models that more accurately mimic the tumorigenic mechanisms of BC and the response to treatment. This will allow the design of targeted therapeutic approaches adapted to the specific characteristics of each tumor that will have a great impact on the precision medicine applied to BC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tamayo-Angorrilla
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Julia López de Andrés
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada- University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Spain
| | - Gema Jiménez
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada- University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Spain; Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Marchal
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada- University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Spain; Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Flournoy J, Ashkanani S, Chen Y. Mechanical regulation of signal transduction in angiogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:933474. [PMID: 36081909 PMCID: PMC9447863 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.933474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biophysical and biochemical cues work in concert to regulate angiogenesis. These cues guide angiogenesis during development and wound healing. Abnormal cues contribute to pathological angiogenesis during tumor progression. In this review, we summarize the known signaling pathways involved in mechanotransduction important to angiogenesis. We discuss how variation in the mechanical microenvironment, in terms of stiffness, ligand availability, and topography, can modulate the angiogenesis process. We also present an integrated view on how mechanical perturbations, such as stretching and fluid shearing, alter angiogenesis-related signal transduction acutely, leading to downstream gene expression. Tissue engineering-based approaches to study angiogenesis are reviewed too. Future directions to aid the efforts in unveiling the comprehensive picture of angiogenesis are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Flournoy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute for NanoBio Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Shahad Ashkanani
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute for NanoBio Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute for NanoBio Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Wang C, Yang J. Mechanical forces: The missing link between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151234. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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The Role of Metabolic Plasticity of Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Shaping the Tumor Microenvironment Immunity. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143331. [PMID: 35884391 PMCID: PMC9316955 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells possess a high metabolic demand for their rapid proliferation, survival, and progression and thus create an acidic and hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) deprived of nutrients. Moreover, acidity within the TME is the central regulator of tumor immunity that influences the metabolism of the immune cells and orchestrates the local and systemic immunity, thus, the TME has a major impact on tumor progression and resistance to anti-cancer therapy. Specifically, myeloid cells, which include myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), dendritic cells, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), often reprogram their energy metabolism, resulting in stimulating the angiogenesis and immunosuppression of tumors. This review summarizes the recent findings of glucose, amino acids, and fatty acid metabolism changes of the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and how the altered metabolism shapes the TME and anti-tumor immunity. Multiple proton pumps/transporters are involved in maintaining the alkaline intracellular pH which is necessary for the glycolytic metabolism of the myeloid cells and acidic TME. We highlighted the roles of these proteins in modulating the cellular metabolism of TAMs and their potential as therapeutic targets for improving immune checkpoint therapy.
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Zhang T, Jia Y, Yu Y, Zhang B, Xu F, Guo H. Targeting the tumor biophysical microenvironment to reduce resistance to immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 186:114319. [PMID: 35545136 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors has evolved into a new pillar of cancer treatment in clinics, but dealing with treatment resistance (either primary or acquired) is a major challenge. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has a substantial impact on the pathological behaviors and treatment response of many cancers. The biophysical clues in TME have recently been considered as important characteristics of cancer. Furthermore, there is mounting evidence that biophysical cues in TME play important roles in each step of the cascade of cancer immunotherapy that synergistically contribute to immunotherapy resistance. In this review, we summarize five main biophysical cues in TME that affect resistance to immunotherapy: extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, ECM stiffness, tumor interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), solid stress, and vascular shear stress. First, the biophysical factors involved in anti-tumor immunity and therapeutic antibody delivery processes are reviewed. Then, the causes of these five biophysical cues and how they contribute to immunotherapy resistance are discussed. Finally, the latest treatment strategies that aim to improve immunotherapy efficacy by targeting these biophysical cues are shared. This review highlights the biophysical cues that lead to immunotherapy resistance, also supplements their importance in related technologies for studying TME biophysical cues in vitro and therapeutic strategies targeting biophysical cues to improve the effects of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China
| | - Yuanbo Jia
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710049, PR China
| | - Feng Xu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China; MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China.
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China.
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Akbarian M, Bertassoni LE, Tayebi L. Biological aspects in controlling angiogenesis: current progress. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:349. [PMID: 35672585 PMCID: PMC10171722 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04348-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
All living beings continue their life by receiving energy and by excreting waste products. In animals, the arteries are the pathways of these transfers to the cells. Angiogenesis, the formation of the arteries by the development of pre-existed parental blood vessels, is a phenomenon that occurs naturally during puberty due to certain physiological processes such as menstruation, wound healing, or the adaptation of athletes' bodies during exercise. Nonetheless, the same life-giving process also occurs frequently in some patients and, conversely, occurs slowly in some physiological problems, such as cancer and diabetes, so inhibiting angiogenesis has been considered to be one of the important strategies to fight these diseases. Accordingly, in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the highly controlled process of angiogenesis is very important in tissue repairing. Excessive angiogenesis can promote tumor progression and lack of enough angiogensis can hinder tissue repair. Thereby, both excessive and deficient angiogenesis can be problematic, this review article introduces and describes the types of factors involved in controlling angiogenesis. Considering all of the existing strategies, we will try to lay out the latest knowledge that deals with stimulating/inhibiting the angiogenesis. At the end of the article, owing to the early-reviewed mechanical aspects that overshadow angiogenesis, the strategies of angiogenesis in tissue engineering will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Akbarian
- Department of Chemistry, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Luiz E Bertassoni
- Division of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA.
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Zhang M, Chen Z, Wang Y, Zhao H, Du Y. The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2637. [PMID: 35681617 PMCID: PMC9179444 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecologic tumor and is generally resistant to conventional treatments. Stable cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important cellular components in the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment and may provide novel resources for future treatment strategies. Different subtypes of CAFs display specific functions in tumor pathogenesis and various CAF markers suggest potential treatment targets, such as FAP and GPR77. Both autocrine and paracrine cytokines play important roles in the CAF activation process and regulate tumor progression. Downstream mediators and pathways, including IL-6, TGF-β, NF-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and AKT/mTOR/(p70S6K), play important roles in the initiation, proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells and also participate in angiogenesis, therapeutic resistance, and other biological processes. Several clinical or preclinical trials have targeted stromal fibroblasts and focused on the properties of CAFs to enhance ovarian cancer treatment outcomes. This review concentrates on the origins, subtypes, and activation of CAFs, as well as specific roles of CAFs in regulating tumor development and drug resistance, and aims to provide potential and prospective targets for improving the therapeutic efficacy of ovarian cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Zhang
- Clinical Research Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Zhixian Chen
- Clinical Research Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Clinical Research Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Hongbo Zhao
- Clinical Research Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yan Du
- Clinical Research Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
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GEINDREAU M, BRUCHARD M, VEGRAN F. Role of Cytokines and Chemokines in Angiogenesis in a Tumor Context. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102446. [PMID: 35626056 PMCID: PMC9139472 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor growth in solid cancers requires adequate nutrient and oxygen supply, provided by blood vessels created by angiogenesis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that this mechanism plays a crucial role in cancer development and appears to be a well-defined hallmark of cancer. This process is carefully regulated, notably by cytokines with pro-angiogenic or anti-angiogenic features. In this review, we will discuss the role of cytokines in the modulation of angiogenesis. In addition, we will summarize the therapeutic approaches based on cytokine modulation and their clinical approval. Abstract During carcinogenesis, tumors set various mechanisms to help support their development. Angiogenesis is a crucial process for cancer development as it drives the creation of blood vessels within the tumor. These newly formed blood vessels insure the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor, helping its growth. The main factors that regulate angiogenesis are the five members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer and has been the target of new therapies this past few years. However, angiogenesis is a complex phenomenon with many redundancy pathways that ensure its maintenance. In this review, we will first describe the consecutive steps forming angiogenesis, as well as its classical regulators. We will then discuss how the cytokines and chemokines present in the tumor microenvironment can induce or block angiogenesis. Finally, we will focus on the therapeutic arsenal targeting angiogenesis in cancer and the challenges they have to overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mannon GEINDREAU
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France; (M.G.); (M.B.)
- CRI INSERM UMR1231 ‘Lipids, Nutrition and Cancer’ Team CAdiR, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Mélanie BRUCHARD
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France; (M.G.); (M.B.)
- CRI INSERM UMR1231 ‘Lipids, Nutrition and Cancer’ Team CAdiR, 21000 Dijon, France
- Centre Georges-François Leclerc, UNICANCER, 21000 Dijon, France
- LipSTIC Labex, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Frédérique VEGRAN
- Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France; (M.G.); (M.B.)
- CRI INSERM UMR1231 ‘Lipids, Nutrition and Cancer’ Team CAdiR, 21000 Dijon, France
- Centre Georges-François Leclerc, UNICANCER, 21000 Dijon, France
- LipSTIC Labex, 21000 Dijon, France
- Correspondence:
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Humphries BA, Aliabouzar M, Quesada C, Bevoor A, Ho KK, Farfel A, Buschhaus JM, Rajendran S, Fabiilli ML, Luker GD. Ultrasound-Induced Mechanical Compaction in Acoustically Responsive Scaffolds Promotes Spatiotemporally Modulated Signaling in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2101672. [PMID: 35106975 PMCID: PMC9117464 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells continually sense and respond to mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Interaction with the ECM can alter intracellular signaling cascades, leading to changes in processes that promote cancer cell growth, migration, and survival. The present study used a recently developed composite hydrogel composed of a fibrin matrix and phase-shift emulsion, termed an acoustically responsive scaffold (ARS), to investigate effects of local mechanical properties on breast cancer cell signaling. Treatment of ARSs with focused ultrasound drives acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) in a spatiotemporally controlled manner, inducing local compaction and stiffening of the fibrin matrix adjacent to the matrix-bubble interface. Combining ARSs and live single cell imaging of triple-negative breast cancer cells, it is discovered that both basal and growth-factor stimulated activities of protein kinase B (also known as Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), two major kinases driving cancer progression, negatively correlate with increasing distance from the ADV-induced bubble both in vitro and in a mouse model. Together, these data demonstrate that local changes in ECM compaction regulate Akt and ERK signaling in breast cancer and support further applications of the novel ARS technology to analyze spatial and temporal effects of ECM mechanics on cell signaling and cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brock A. Humphries
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mitra Aliabouzar
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Carole Quesada
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Avinash Bevoor
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kenneth K.Y. Ho
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Alex Farfel
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Johanna M. Buschhaus
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shrila Rajendran
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mario L. Fabiilli
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Applied Physics Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary D. Luker
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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46
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Zhang Y, Sun Y, Dong X, Wang QS, Zhu D, Mei L, Yan H, Lv F. A Platelet Intelligent Vehicle with Navigation for Cancer Photothermal-Chemotherapy. ACS NANO 2022; 16:6359-6371. [PMID: 35324149 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Controllable and visible delivery of therapeutic agents is critical for tumor precise therapy. Tumor targeting and deep penetration of therapeutic agents are still challenging issues for controllable delivery. Visible drug delivery with imaging navigation can optimize the treatment window for personalized medicine. Herein, a biomimetic platelet intelligent vehicle with navigation (IRDNP-PLT) was developed to achieve controllable and visible delivery with a navigation system, a driving system, and a loading system. The platelets acted as engines and drug repositories to exert the target driving and delivery functions. The fluorescent photothermal agent IR-820 was introduced in the platform to offer an imaging navigation for the intelligent platelet vehicle in addition to photothermal therapy. The nanodrug-loaded platelets enabled efficient drug loading and controlled release of the therapeutic payload by encapsulating photothermal-/pH-sensitive chemotherapeutic nanoparticles (PDA@Dox NPs). In in vivo experiments on 4T1 tumor-bearing mice models, IRDNP-PLT performed well in tumor targeting and showed excellent therapeutic efficacy and tumor recurrence prevention ability. The intelligent platelet vehicle achieved the functions of tumor targeting and deep penetration, fluorescence imaging guidance, photocontrolled drug release, and chemo-photothermal combination therapy, suggesting the advancement for tumor precise delivery and efficient therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanchao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Dong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang-Song Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, People's Republic of China
| | - Dunwan Zhu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Mei
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, People's Republic of China
| | - Husheng Yan
- Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Lv
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Nanotechnology for Cancer Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, People's Republic of China
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Reptiles as Promising Sources of Medicinal Natural Products for Cancer Therapeutic Drugs. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040874. [PMID: 35456708 PMCID: PMC9025323 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products have historically played an important role as a source of therapeutic drugs for various diseases, and the development of medicinal natural products is still a field with high potential. Although diverse drugs have been developed for incurable diseases for several decades, discovering safe and efficient anticancer drugs remains a formidable challenge. Reptiles, as one source of Asian traditional medicines, are known to possess anticancer properties and have been used for a long time without a clarified scientific background. Recently, it has been reported that extracts, crude peptides, sera, and venom isolated from reptiles could effectively inhibit the survival and proliferation of various cancer cells. In this article, we summarize recent studies applying ingredients derived from reptiles in cancer therapy and discuss the difficulties and prospective development of natural product research.
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Tian H, Zhao H, Qu B, Chu X, Xin X, Zhang Q, Li W, Yang S. TRIM24 promotes colorectal cancer cell progression via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activation. Am J Transl Res 2022; 14:831-848. [PMID: 35273688 PMCID: PMC8902576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of TRIM24 is observed in several human cancers and is correlated with an increase in the progression and metastasis of tumors. In this study, we investigated the changes in activity and biochemical events that occur after overexpression of TRIM24 in a colorectal cancer (CRC) mouse model. We observed upregulated TRIM24 expression in CRC tissues compared to that in nonneoplastic adjacent tissues. Enhanced expression of TRIM24 was significantly associated with the status of lymph nodes and poor recurrence-free survival of patients with CRC. The role of TRIM24 in CRC tumor growth was investigated using an orthotopic model of MC38 mouse colon cancer cells overexpressing TRIM24, and CRC tumor growth was found to increase dramatically by TRIM24 overexpression. Moreover, angiogenesis was stimulated by TRIM24 overexpression via the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. Overexpression of TRIM24 in MC38 cells led to an increase in the protein levels of ALDH1 and other stem cell markers. In addition, we observed that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required for the function of TRIM24 in CRC cells. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were found to be recruited by tumor cells overexpressing TRIM24 via the increased expression of CCL2/5, CSF-1, and VEGF, further enhancing CRC tumor growth. In conclusion, overexpression of TRIM24 facilitates the growth of CRC and the remodeling of the tumor stroma via angiogenesis stimulation and TAM recruitment. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a possible crucial link in the TRIM24-associated progression of tumors, which may provide opportunities for pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Tian
- Oncology Department, The 4th People’s Hospital of ShenyangShenyang 110013, Liaoning, China
| | - Hongmei Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People’s Hospital of China Medical University (The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province)Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Bo Qu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People’s Hospital of China Medical University (The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province)Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoli Chu
- Oncology Department, The 4th People’s Hospital of ShenyangShenyang 110013, Liaoning, China
| | - Xing Xin
- Oncology Department, The 4th People’s Hospital of ShenyangShenyang 110013, Liaoning, China
| | - Qingwei Zhang
- General Surgery Dept. VI Ward (Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery), The People’s Hospital of China Medical University (The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province)Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Weizhou Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People’s Hospital of China Medical University (The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province)Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
| | - Shida Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The People’s Hospital of China Medical University (The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province)Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, China
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Miller B, Sewell-Loftin MK. Mechanoregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Angiogenesis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:804934. [PMID: 35087885 PMCID: PMC8787114 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.804934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial cells that compose the vascular system in the body display a wide range of mechanotransductive behaviors and responses to biomechanical stimuli, which act in concert to control overall blood vessel structure and function. Such mechanosensitive activities allow blood vessels to constrict, dilate, grow, or remodel as needed during development as well as normal physiological functions, and the same processes can be dysregulated in various disease states. Mechanotransduction represents cellular responses to mechanical forces, translating such factors into chemical or electrical signals which alter the activation of various cell signaling pathways. Understanding how biomechanical forces drive vascular growth in healthy and diseased tissues could create new therapeutic strategies that would either enhance or halt these processes to assist with treatments of different diseases. In the cardiovascular system, new blood vessel formation from preexisting vasculature, in a process known as angiogenesis, is driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) which promotes blood vessel development. However, physical forces such as shear stress, matrix stiffness, and interstitial flow are also major drivers and effectors of angiogenesis, and new research suggests that mechanical forces may regulate VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. In fact, VEGFR-2 activation has been linked to known mechanobiological agents including ERK/MAPK, c-Src, Rho/ROCK, and YAP/TAZ. In vascular disease states, endothelial cells can be subjected to altered mechanical stimuli which affect the pathways that control angiogenesis. Both normalizing and arresting angiogenesis associated with tumor growth have been strategies for anti-cancer treatments. In the field of regenerative medicine, harnessing biomechanical regulation of angiogenesis could enhance vascularization strategies for treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia or permit development of novel tissue engineering scaffolds. This review will focus on the impact of VEGFR-2 mechanosignaling in endothelial cells (ECs) and its interaction with other mechanotransductive pathways, as well as presenting a discussion on the relationship between VEGFR-2 activation and biomechanical forces in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that can help treat diseases with dysfunctional vascular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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50
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Liu Y, Pan L, Li Y, Deng Y, Han X, Fu H, Wang T. Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS)/H2S System Promotes Lymph Node Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) by Activating SIRT1. Carcinogenesis 2022; 43:382-392. [PMID: 34994384 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgac002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymph node metastasis is a key factor of death and prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previous studies have demonstrated that Cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS)/H2S system plays important roles in progression of various cancer. However, the function and mechanism of CBS/H2S system in lymph node metastasis of ESCC remains unclear. Here, we found that CBS was highly expressed in human ESCC tissues and closely associated with lymph node metastasis in ESCC patients. Functional studies demonstrated that CBS could significantly promote lymph node metastasis of ESCC tumor cells. In vitro, CBS knockdown inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while CBS overexpression produced the opposite results. In vivo, downregulation of CBS distinctly inhibited ESCC tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis, as evidenced by the decreased size and weight of tumor and popliteal lymph node. Meanwhile, we also found high expression of CBS induced ESCC angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in vitro and in vivo by upregulating VEGF, VEGF-C and VEGF-D. Mechanistically, CBS up-regulated the expression of SIRT1 and thus interrupted the Notch1/Hes1 axis, which plays a crucial role in lymph node metastasis of ESCC. Moreover, it was demonstrated that H2S derived from CBS activated SIRT1 via increasing the NAD +/NADH ratio and promoting the phosphorylation of SIRT1. In addition, H2S derived from CBS also enhanced SIRT1 protein stability. Taken together, these data show that the high expression of CBS/H2S system promotes ESCC lymph node metastasis via activating SIRT1 signaling pathway and CBS could serve as a potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Limin Pan
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Yuxi Li
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Yuying Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Xue Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Han Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
| | - Tianxiao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, P.R. China
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