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Wurm LM, Fischer B, Neuschmelting V, Reinecke D, Fischer I, Croner RS, Goldbrunner R, Hacker MC, Dybaś J, Kahlert UD. Rapid, label-free classification of glioblastoma differentiation status combining confocal Raman spectroscopy and machine learning. Analyst 2023; 148:6109-6119. [PMID: 37927114 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01303k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Label-free identification of tumor cells using spectroscopic assays has emerged as a technological innovation with a proven ability for rapid implementation in clinical care. Machine learning facilitates the optimization of processing and interpretation of extensive data, such as various spectroscopy data obtained from surgical samples. The here-described preclinical work investigates the potential of machine learning algorithms combining confocal Raman spectroscopy to distinguish non-differentiated glioblastoma cells and their respective isogenic differentiated phenotype by means of confocal ultra-rapid measurements. For this purpose, we measured and correlated modalities of 1146 intracellular single-point measurements and sustainingly clustered cell components to predict tumor stem cell existence. By further narrowing a few selected peaks, we found indicative evidence that using our computational imaging technology is a powerful approach to detect tumor stem cells in vitro with an accuracy of 91.7% in distinct cell compartments, mainly because of greater lipid content and putative different protein structures. We also demonstrate that the presented technology can overcome intra- and intertumoral cellular heterogeneity of our disease models, verifying the elevated physiological relevance of our applied disease modeling technology despite intracellular noise limitations for future translational evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennard M Wurm
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Björn Fischer
- Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- FISCHER GmbH, Raman Spectroscopic Services, 40667 Meerbusch, Germany
| | | | - David Reinecke
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Igor Fischer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Roland S Croner
- Clinic of General- Visceral-, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Molecular and Experimental Surgery, University Hospital Magdeburg and Medical Faculty Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Roland Goldbrunner
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael C Hacker
- Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jakub Dybaś
- Jagiellonian Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ulf D Kahlert
- Clinic of General- Visceral-, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, Department of Molecular and Experimental Surgery, University Hospital Magdeburg and Medical Faculty Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
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WNT/β-Catenin-Mediated Resistance to Glucose Deprivation in Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133165. [PMID: 35804936 PMCID: PMC9264876 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor. It is associated with a particularly poor prognosis, as reflected by an overall median survival of only 15 months in patients who undergo a supramarginal surgical reduction of the tumor mass followed by combined chemoradiotherapy. The highly malignant nature of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma is thought to be driven by glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) that harbor the ability of self-renewal, survival, and adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. The wingless (WNT) signaling pathway is a phylogenetically highly conserved stemness pathway, which promotes metabolic plasticity and adaptation to a nutrient-limited tumor microenvironment. To unravel the reciprocal regulation of the WNT pathway and the nutrient-limited microenvironment, glioblastoma cancer stem-like cells were cultured in a medium with either standard or reduced glucose concentrations for various time points (24, 48, and 72 h). Glucose depletion reduced cell viability and facilitated the survival of a small population of starvation-resistant tumor cells. The surviving cells demonstrated increased clonogenic and invasive properties as well as enhanced chemosensitivity to pharmacological inhibitors of the WNT pathway (LGK974, berberine). Glucose depletion partially led to the upregulation of WNT target genes such as CTNNB1, ZEB1, and AXIN2 at the mRNA and corresponding protein levels. LGK974 treatment alone or in combination with glucose depletion also altered the metabolite concentration in intracellular compartments, suggesting WNT-mediated metabolic regulation. Taken together, our findings suggest that WNT-mediated metabolic plasticity modulates the survival of GSCs under nutrient-restricted environmental conditions.
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In Vitro Validation of the Therapeutic Potential of Dendrimer-Based Nanoformulations against Tumor Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105691. [PMID: 35628503 PMCID: PMC9143703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells with stem cell properties are considered to play major roles in promoting the development and malignant behavior of aggressive cancers. Therapeutic strategies that efficiently eradicate such tumor stem cells are of highest clinical need. Herein, we performed the validation of the polycationic phosphorus dendrimer-based approach for small interfering RNAs delivery in in vitro stem-like cells as models. As a therapeutic target, we chose Lyn, a member of the Src family kinases as an example of a prominent enzyme class widely discussed as a potent anti-cancer intervention point. Our selection is guided by our discovery that Lyn mRNA expression level in glioma, a class of brain tumors, possesses significant negative clinical predictive value, promoting its potential as a therapeutic target for future molecular-targeted treatments. We then showed that anti-Lyn siRNA, delivered into Lyn-expressing glioma cell model reduces the cell viability, a fact that was not observed in a cell model that lacks Lyn-expression. Furthermore, we have found that the dendrimer itself influences various parameters of the cells such as the expression of surface markers PD-L1, TIM-3 and CD47, targets for immune recognition and other biological processes suggested to be regulating glioblastoma cell invasion. Our findings prove the potential of dendrimer-based platforms for therapeutic applications, which might help to eradicate the population of cancer cells with augmented chemotherapy resistance. Moreover, the results further promote our functional stem cell technology as suitable component in early stage drug development.
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Uhlmann C, Nickel AC, Picard D, Rossi A, Li G, Hildebrandt B, Brockerhoff G, Bendt F, Hübenthal U, Hewera M, Steiger HJ, Wieczorek D, Perrakis A, Zhang W, Remke M, Koch K, Tigges J, Croner RS, Fritsche E, Kahlert UD. Progenitor cells derived from gene-engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells as synthetic cancer cell alternatives for in vitro pharmacology. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2100693. [PMID: 35334498 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100693] [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: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Limitations in genetic stability and recapitulating accurate physiological disease properties challenge the utility of patient-derived (PD) cancer models for reproducible and translational research. We have genetically engineered a portfolio of isogenic human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with different pan-cancer relevant oncoprotein signatures followed by differentiation into lineage-committed progenitor cells. Characterization on molecular and biological level validated successful stable genetic alterations in pluripotency state as well as upon differentiation to prove the functionality of our approach Meanwhile proposing core molecular networks possibly involved in early dysregulation of stem cell homeostasis, the application of our cell systems in comparative substance testing indicates the potential for cancer research such as identification of augmented therapy resistance of stem cells in response to activation of distinct oncogenic signatures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanze Uhlmann
- Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Medical Center Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ann-Christin Nickel
- Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Medical Center Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Daniel Picard
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncogenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Essen/Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andrea Rossi
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Guanzhang Li
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Barbara Hildebrandt
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Farina Bendt
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulrike Hübenthal
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Hewera
- Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Medical Center Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hans-Jakob Steiger
- Department for Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty and University Medical Center Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dagmar Wieczorek
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aristoteles Perrakis
- Molecular and Experimental Surgery, University Clinic for General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Magdeburg and Faculty of Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Wei Zhang
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Marc Remke
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncogenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Essen/Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Department of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katharina Koch
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia Tigges
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Roland S Croner
- Molecular and Experimental Surgery, University Clinic for General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Magdeburg and Faculty of Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany.,Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulf D Kahlert
- Molecular and Experimental Surgery, University Clinic for General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Magdeburg and Faculty of Medicine, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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Amphiphilic Triazine-Phosphorus Metallodendrons Possessing Anti-Cancer Stem Cell Activity. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020393. [PMID: 35214126 PMCID: PMC8880151 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic molecules bearing metal complexes in their structure (metallodendrimers and metallodendrons) are considered prospective therapeutic entities. In particular, metallodendrons raise interest as antitumor agents for the treatment of poorly curable or drug-resistant tumors. Herein, we have synthesized amphiphilic triazine-phosphorus dendrons bearing multiple copper (II) or gold (III) complexes on the periphery and a branched hydrophobic fragment at the focal point. Due to their amphiphilic nature, metallodendrons formed single micelles (mean diameter ~9 nm) or multi-micellar aggregates (mean diameter ~60 nm) in a water solution. We have tested the antitumor activity of amphiphilic metallodendrons towards glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor with a notoriously high level of therapy resistance, as a model disease. The metallodendrons exhibit higher cytotoxic activity towards glioblastoma stem cells (BTSC233, JHH520, NCH644, and SF188 cell lines) and U87 glioblastoma cells (IC50 was 3–6 µM for copper-containing dendron and 11–15 µM for gold-containing dendron) in comparison with temozolomide (IC50 >100 µM)—the clinical standard of care for glioblastoma. Our findings show the potential of metallodendron-based nanoformulations as antitumor entities.
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