A new model of rectal cancer with regional lymph node metastasis allowing in vivo evaluation by imaging biomarkers

A clinical-radiomics nomogram based on spectral CT multi-parameter images for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer

To develop a clinical-radiomics nomogram based on spectral CT multi-parameter images for predicting lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer. A total of 76 patients with colorectal cancer and 156 lymph nodes were included. The clinical data of the patients were collected, including gender, age, tumor location and size, preoperative tumor markers, etc. Three sets of conventional images in the arterial, venous, and delayed phases were obtained, and six sets of spectral images were reconstructed using the arterial phase spectral data, including virtual monoenergetic images (40 keV, 70 keV, 100 keV), iodine density maps, iodine no water maps, and virtual non-contrast images. Radiomics features of lymph nodes were extracted from the above images, respectively. Univariate analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were used to select features. A clinical model was constructed based on age and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. The radiomics features selected were used to generate a composed radiomics signature (Com-RS). A nomogram was developed using age, CEA, and the Com-RS. The models' prediction efficiency, calibration, and clinical application value were evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis, respectively. The nomogram outperforms the clinical model and the Com-RS (AUC = 0.879, 0.824). It is well calibrated and has great clinical application value. This study developed a clinical-radiomics nomogram based on spectral CT multi-parameter images, which can be used as an effective tool for preoperative personalized prediction of lymph node metastasis in colorectal cancer.

Tumor and peritumoral adipose tissue crosstalk: De-differentiated adipocytes influence spread of colon carcinoma cells

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer and often has a fatal course. There are many studies in the literature that have described a close functional relationship between the tumor mass and surrounding tissue, or tumor stroma, which is affected by the continuous metabolic exchange that occurs at the interface between tumor and tissues in contact with it. There is much evidence that the presence of adipose tissue in stroma plays a fundamental role in modulating the tumor microenvironment and promote tumor development, growth, and angiogenesis due to its endocrine characteristics. In this analysis, we have studied the alterations of adipose tissue surrounding colorectal tumors with MRI and optical imaging in vivo techniques to monitor tumor progression and also performed histological and molecular analysis. We detected differences in the principal adipose markers expressed by adipocytes residing around the rectal colon and observed that peritumoral adipose tissue is exposed to a mesenchymal transition process that leads to the acquisition of a less differentiated phenotype of adipocyte that represents the main cellular type present in tumor stroma. The mesenchymal transition correlated with the acquisition of more aggressive tumor phenotype and could represent a valid target for tumor therapy.

High activity and low toxicity of a novel CD71-targeting nanotherapeutic named The-0504 on preclinical models of several human aggressive tumors

Background

Ferritin receptor (CD71) is an example of a very attractive cancer target, since it is highly expressed in virtually all tumor types, including metastatic loci. However, this target can be considered to be inaccessible to conventional target therapies, due to its presence in many healthy tissues. Here, we describe the preclinical evaluation of a tumor proteases-activatable human ferritin (HFt)-based drug carrier (The-0504) that is able to selectively deliver the wide-spectrum topoisomerase I inhibitor Genz-644282 to CD71-expressing tumors, preventing the limiting toxic effects associated with CD71-targeting therapies.

Methods

CD71 expression was evaluated using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry techniques. The-0504 antiproliferative activity towards several cancer cell lines was assessed in vitro. The-0504 antitumor efficacy and survival benefit were evaluated in different human tumors, which had been grown either as xenografts or patient-derived xenografts in mice. The-0504 toxicology profile was investigated in multiple-cycle repeat-dose study in rodents.

Results

In vitro studies indicate that The-0504 is highly specific for CD71 expressing cells, and that there is a relationship between CD71 levels and The-0504 anticancer activity. In vivo treatments with The-0504 showed a remarkable efficacy, eradicating several human tumors of very diverse and aggressive histotypes, such as pancreas, liver and colorectal carcinomas, and triple-negative breast cancer.

Conclusions

Durable disease-free survival, persistent antitumor responses after discontinuation of treatment and favorable toxicology profile make The-0504 an ideal candidate for clinical development as a novel, CD71-targeted, low-toxicity alternative to chemotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01851-8.

Preclinical imaging and translational animal models of cancer for accelerated clinical implementation of nanotechnologies and macromolecular agents

The majority of animal models of cancer have performed poorly in terms of predicting clinical performance of new therapeutics, which are most often first evaluated in patients with advanced, metastatic disease. The development and use of metastatic models of cancer may enhance clinical translatability of preclinical studies focused on the development of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems and macromolecular therapeutics, potentially accelerating their clinical implementation. It is recognized that the development and use of such models are not without challenge. Preclinical imaging tools offer a solution by allowing temporal and spatial characterization of metastatic lesions. This paper provides a review of imaging methods applicable for evaluation of novel therapeutics in clinically relevant models of advanced cancer. An overview of currently utilized models of oncology in small animals is followed by image-based development and characterization of visceral metastatic cancer models. Examples of imaging tools employed for metastatic lesion detection, evaluation of anti-tumor and anti-metastatic potential and biodistribution of novel therapies, as well as the co-development and/or use of imageable surrogates of response, are also discussed. While the focus is on development of macromolecular and nanotechnology-based therapeutics, examples with small molecules are included in some cases to illustrate concepts and approaches that can be applied in the assessment of nanotechnologies or macromolecules.