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Modi S, Giri B, Gupta VK, Lavania S, Sethi V, Sharma NS, Pandey S, Vickers S, Dudeja V, Saluja AK. Minnelide synergizes with conventional chemotherapy by targeting both cancer and associated stroma components in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2022; 537:215591. [PMID: 35398530 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Addition of nab-paclitaxel to gemcitabine offers a survival benefit of only 6 weeks over gemcitabine alone at a cost of increased toxicity in PDAC. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of Minnelide, a water-soluble prodrug of triptolide, in combination with the standard of care regimen for chemotherapy with the added advantage of reducing the doses of these drugs to minimize toxicity. Pancreatic cancer cell lines were implanted subcutaneously or orthotopically in athymic nude or C57BL/6J mice. Subsequently, animals were randomized and received saline or minnelide or full dose chemotherapy or low dose chemotherapy or minnelide in combination with low dose chemotherapy. Our results show that a combination of low doses of Minnelide with Gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel significantly inhibited tumor progression and increased the survival of tumor-bearing mice in comparison with conventional chemotherapy alone. Moreover, combination therapy significantly reduced cancer-related morbidity by decreasing ascites and metastasis and effectively targeted both cancer and the associated stroma. In vitro studies with a combination of low doses of triptolide and paclitaxel significantly decreased the cell viability, increased apoptosis and led to significantly increased M-phase cell cycle arrest in various pancreatic cancer cell lines as compared to either drug alone. Our results show that Minnelide synergizes with conventional chemotherapy leading to a significant reduction in the doses of these toxic drugs, all the while achieving better efficacy in the treatment of PDAC. This combination effectively targeted both the cancer and the associated stromal components of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrey Modi
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Bhuwan Giri
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Vineet K Gupta
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Shweta Lavania
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Vrishketan Sethi
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Nikita S Sharma
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Somnath Pandey
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Selwyn Vickers
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Vikas Dudeja
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ashok K Saluja
- Department of Surgery and, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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Regulation of pancreatic cancer TRAIL resistance by protein O-GlcNAcylation. J Transl Med 2020; 100:777-785. [PMID: 31896813 PMCID: PMC7183418 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0365-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
TRAIL-activating therapy is promising in treating various cancers, including pancreatic cancer, a highly malignant neoplasm with poor prognosis. However, many pancreatic cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis despite their expression of intact death receptors (DRs). Protein O-GlcNAcylation is a versatile posttranslational modification that regulates various biological processes. Elevated protein O-GlcNAcylation has been recently linked to cancer cell growth and survival. In this study, we evaluated the role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in pancreatic cancer TRAIL resistance, and identified higher levels of O-GlcNAcylation in TRAIL-resistant pancreatic cancer cells. With gain- and loss-of-function of the O-GlcNAc-adding enzyme, O-GlcNActransferase (OGT), we determined that increasing O-GlcNAcylation rendered TRAIL-sensitive cells more resistant to TRA-8-induced apoptosis, while inhibiting O-GlcNAcylation promoted TRA-8-induced apoptosis in TRAIL-resistance cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that OGT knockdown sensitized TRAIL-resistant cells to TRA-8 therapy in a mouse model in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed direct O-GlcNAc modifications of DR5, which regulated TRA-8-induced DR5 oligomerization. We further defined that DR5 O-GlcNAcylation was independent of FADD, the adapter protein for the downstream death-inducing signaling. These studies have demonstrated an important role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in regulating TRAIL resistance of pancreatic cancer cells; and uncovered the contribution of O-GlcNAcylation to DR5 oligomerization and thus mediating DR-inducing signaling.
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Chakraborty A, Dorsett KA, Trummell HQ, Yang ES, Oliver PG, Bonner JA, Buchsbaum DJ, Bellis SL. ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase promotes chemoresistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by abrogating gemcitabine-mediated DNA damage. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:984-994. [PMID: 29191829 PMCID: PMC5777269 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.808584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Gemcitabine, as a single agent or in combination therapy, remains the frontline chemotherapy despite its limited efficacy due to de novo or acquired chemoresistance. There is an acute need to decipher mechanisms underlying chemoresistance and identify new targets to improve patient outcomes. Here, we report a novel role for the ST6Gal-I sialyltransferase in gemcitabine resistance. Utilizing MiaPaCa-2 and BxPC-3 PDAC cells, we found that knockdown (KD) of ST6Gal-I expression, as well as removal of surface α2-6 sialic acids by neuraminidase, enhances gemcitabine-mediated cell death assessed via clonogenic assays and cleaved caspase 3 expression. Additionally, KD of ST6Gal-I potentiates gemcitabine-induced DNA damage as measured by comet assays and quantification of γH2AX foci. ST6Gal-I KD also alters mRNA expression of key gemcitabine metabolic genes, RRM1, RRM2, hENT1, and DCK, leading to an increased gemcitabine sensitivity ratio, an indicator of gemcitabine toxicity. Gemcitabine-resistant MiaPaCa-2 cells display higher ST6Gal-I levels than treatment-naïve cells along with a reduced gemcitabine sensitivity ratio, suggesting that chronic chemotherapy selects for clonal variants with more abundant ST6Gal-I. Finally, we examined Suit2 PDAC cells and Suit2 derivatives with enhanced metastatic potential. Intriguingly, three metastatic and chemoresistant subclones, S2-CP9, S2-LM7AA, and S2-013, exhibit up-regulated ST6Gal-I relative to parental Suit2 cells. ST6Gal-I KD in S2-013 cells increases gemcitabine-mediated DNA damage, indicating that suppressing ST6Gal-I activity sensitizes inherently resistant cells to gemcitabine. Together, these findings place ST6Gal-I as a critical player in imparting gemcitabine resistance and as a potential target to restore PDAC chemoresponse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmi Chakraborty
- From the Departments of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology and
| | - Kaitlyn A Dorsett
- From the Departments of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology and
| | - Hoa Q Trummell
- Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Eddy S Yang
- Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Patsy G Oliver
- Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - James A Bonner
- Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | | | - Susan L Bellis
- From the Departments of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology and
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Detection of Phosphatidylcholine-Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Orthotopic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma using Hyperspectral Imaging. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129172. [PMID: 26046360 PMCID: PMC4457854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoparticle uptake and distribution to solid tumors are limited by reticuloendothelial system systemic filtering and transport limitations induced by irregular intra-tumoral vascularization. Although vascular enhanced permeability and retention can aid targeting, high interstitial fluid pressure and dense extracellular matrix may hinder local penetration. Extravascular diffusivity depends upon nanoparticle size, surface modifications, and tissue vascularization. Gold nanoparticles functionalized with biologically-compatible layers may achieve improved uptake and distribution while enabling cytotoxicity through synergistic combination of chemotherapy and thermal ablation. Evaluation of nanoparticle uptake in vivo remains difficult, as detection methods are limited. We employ hyperspectral imaging of histology sections to analyze uptake and distribution of phosphatidylcholine-coated citrate gold nanoparticles (CGN) and silica-gold nanoshells (SGN) after tail-vein injection in mice bearing orthotopic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. For CGN, the liver and tumor showed 26.5±8.2 and 23.3±4.1 particles/100μm2 within 10μm from the nearest source and few nanoparticles beyond 50μm, respectively. The spleen had 35.5±9.3 particles/100μm2 within 10μm with penetration also limited to 50μm. For SGN, the liver showed 31.1±4.1 particles/100μm2 within 10μm of the nearest source with penetration hindered beyond 30μm. The spleen and tumor showed uptake of 22.1±6.2 and 15.8±6.1 particles/100μm2 within 10μm, respectively, with penetration similarly hindered. CGH average concentration (nanoparticles/μm2) was 1.09±0.14 in the liver, 0.74±0.12 in the spleen, and 0.43±0.07 in the tumor. SGN average concentration (nanoparticles/μm2) was 0.43±0.07 in the liver, 0.30±0.06 in the spleen, and 0.20±0.04 in the tumor. Hyperspectral imaging of histology sections enables analysis of phosphatidylcholine-coated gold-based nanoparticles in pancreatic tumors with the goal to improve nanotherapeutic efficacy.
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Piao J, Liu S, Xu Y, Wang C, Lin Z, Qin Y, Liu S. Ezrin protein overexpression predicts the poor prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Exp Mol Pathol 2015; 98:1-6. [PMID: 25445504 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Ezrin, a member of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) protein family, plays an important role in tumor metastasis. Accumulating studies demonstrated that a high expression level of human ezrin has been correlated with numerous human malignancies. This study was aimed to explore the clinicopathological significance of ezrin protein expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), and to further identify its role as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of PDAC. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of ezrin protein was performed on 106 PDAC tissue samples and 37 adjacent and 21 normal pancreatic tissue samples. Additionally, localization of ezrin protein in Panc-1 PDAC cell line was observed using immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The correlation between ezrin overexpression and the clinicopathological features of PDAC was evaluated using Chi-square test, and differences in survival curves were analyzed using log-rank tests. In results, ezrin protein is widely distributed in the cytoplasm and membrane of PDAC cells by IHC and IF staining, but some cases showed a cell membrane staining pattern. The positive rate of ezrin protein expression was 82.1% (87/106) in PDAC, which was significantly higher than it in either adjacent pancreatic tissues (37.8%, 14/37) or normal pancreatic tissues (19.0%, 4/21). Overexpression of ezrin was closely related with larger tumor size, positive lymph node metastasis and advanced clinical stage. However, it was not correlated with patient age, gender, differentiation, Ki-67 expression index, and pancreas calcification point. Survival analysis showed that patients with ezrin high expression level had significantly lower overall survival rate than that with ezrin low expression level. Importantly, further analysis using a Cox proportional hazard regression model revealed that high ezrin expression emerged as a significant independent hazard factor for overall survival rates of patients with PDAC along with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. In conclusion, ezrin protein played an important role in the progression of PDAC, and the overexpression of ezrin protein might be a useful prognostic marker of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Piao
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Research Center, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji 133002, Jilin, China.
| | - Shusen Liu
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Research Center, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji 133002, Jilin, China.
| | - Yunjie Xu
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Research Center, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji 133002, Jilin, China.
| | - Changan Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.
| | - Zhenhua Lin
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Research Center, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji 133002, Jilin, China.
| | - Yunzhi Qin
- Department of Surgery, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji 133002, Jilin, China.
| | - Shuangping Liu
- Department of Pathology & Cancer Research Center, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji 133002, Jilin, China.
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Chapiro J, Sur S, Savic LJ, Ganapathy-Kanniappan S, Reyes J, Duran R, Thiruganasambandam SC, Moats CR, Lin M, Luo W, Tran PT, Herman JM, Semenza GL, Ewald AJ, Vogelstein B, Geschwind JF. Systemic delivery of microencapsulated 3-bromopyruvate for the therapy of pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:6406-17. [PMID: 25326230 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-1271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study characterized the therapeutic efficacy of a systemically administered formulation of 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA), microencapsulated in a complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), using an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The presence of the β-CD-3-BrPA complex was confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Monolayer as well as three-dimensional organotypic cell culture was used to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of β-CD-3-BrPA, free 3-BrPA, β-CD (control), and gemcitabine in MiaPaCa-2 and Suit-2 cell lines, both in normoxia and hypoxia. Phase-contrast microscopy, bioluminescence imaging (BLI), as well as zymography and Matrigel assays were used to characterize the effects of the drug in vitro. An orthotopic lucMiaPaCa-2 xenograft tumor model was used to investigate the in vivo efficacy. RESULTS β-CD-3-BrPA and free 3-BrPA demonstrated an almost identical IC50 profile in both PDAC cell lines with higher sensitivity in hypoxia. Using the Matrigel invasion assay as well as zymography, 3-BrPA showed anti-invasive effects in sublethal drug concentrations. In vivo, animals treated with β-CD-3-BrPA demonstrated minimal or no tumor progression as evident by the BLI signal as opposed to animals treated with gemcitabine or the β-CD (60-fold and 140-fold signal increase, respectively). In contrast to animals treated with free 3-BrPA, no lethal toxicity was observed for β-CD-3-BrPA. CONCLUSION The microencapsulation of 3-BrPA represents a promising step towards achieving the goal of systemically deliverable antiglycolytic tumor therapy. The strong anticancer effects of β-CD-3-BrPA combined with its favorable toxicity profile suggest that clinical trials, particularly in patients with PDAC, should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Chapiro
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Surojit Sur
- Ludwig Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Lynn Jeanette Savic
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Shanmugasundaram Ganapathy-Kanniappan
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Juvenal Reyes
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rafael Duran
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Cassandra Rae Moats
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - MingDe Lin
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Weibo Luo
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Phuoc T Tran
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joseph M Herman
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gregg L Semenza
- Vascular Program, Institute for Cell Engineering and Department of Biological Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andrew J Ewald
- Department of Cell Biology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Bert Vogelstein
- Ludwig Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jean-François Geschwind
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Ye J, Kawaguchi M, Haruyama Y, Kanemaru A, Fukushima T, Yamamoto K, Lin CY, Kataoka H. Loss of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 participates in metastatic spreading of human pancreatic cancer cells in a mouse orthotopic transplantation model. Cancer Sci 2013; 105:44-51. [PMID: 24147538 PMCID: PMC4317873 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2013] [Revised: 10/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1 (HAI-1) is a membrane-bound serine protease inhibitor that is expressed on the surface of epithelial and carcinoma cells. On the cell surface, HAI-1 regulates membrane-anchored serine proteases, with matriptase being the most critical target. Matriptase is involved in pericellular processing of biologically active molecules, including protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2). Previously we reported that S2-CP8 cells, a metastatic variant of the SUIT-2 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, showed markedly decreased HAI-1 expression. To assess the significance of HAI-1 loss in invasion and spontaneous metastasis of S2-CP8 cells, we established stable S2-CP8 sublines that expressed HAI-1 under the control of a tetracycline-regulated promoter. In vitro migration and invasion assays revealed inhibitory effects of HAI-1 on S2-CP8 cell migration and invasion. Matriptase activity was suppressed by the expression of HAI-1. As the enhanced invasiveness in the absence of HAI-1 was alleviated by knockdown of matriptase by 81% and of PAR-2 completely, and PAR-2 antagonist also suppressed the invasion, matriptase-mediated PAR-2 activation is involved in HAI-1 loss-induced invasion of S2-CP8 cells. We then analyzed the effect of HAI-1 expression on metastasis of S2-CP8 cells in vivo using a nude mouse orthotopic xenograft model. Although approximately 50% of the control mice developed distant metastasis, mice treated with doxycycline to induce HAI-1 expression did not develop metastasis. These data indicate that HAI-1 loss contributes to invasion and dissemination of a highly metastatic subline of SUIT-2, suggesting crucial roles for the balance of pericellular serine proteases/inhibitors in pancreatic cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjia Ye
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan; Clinical Research Center, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Zhao M, Tominaga Y, Ohuchida K, Mizumoto K, Cui L, Kozono S, Fujita H, Maeyama R, Toma H, Tanaka M. Significance of combination therapy of zoledronic acid and gemcitabine on pancreatic cancer. Cancer Sci 2012; 103:58-66. [PMID: 21954965 PMCID: PMC11164147 DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2011.02113.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of combination therapy with zoledronic acid (ZOL) and gemcitabine (GEM) on pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Four human pancreatic cancer cell lines were treated with ZOL, GEM or a combination of both, and the effects of the respective drug regimens on cell proliferation, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression were examined. A pancreatic cancer cell line was also intrasplenically or orthotopically implanted into athymic mice and the effects of these drugs on tumor metastasis and growth in vivo were evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Combination treatment with low doses of ZOL and GEM efficiently inhibited the proliferation (P < 0.001) and invasion (P < 0.001) of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. Western blotting assay revealed that MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels were decreased after ZOL treatment. In vivo, combined treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth (P < 0.05) and the development of liver metastasis (P < 0.05). These data revealed that ZOL and GEM, when used in combination, have significant antitumor, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic effects on pancreatic cancer cells. The present study is the first to report the significance of the combination treatment of ZOL and GEM in pancreatic cancer using an in vivo model. These data are promising for the future application of this drug regimen in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhao
- Department of Surgery and Oncology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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McNally LR, Welch DR, Beck BH, Stafford LJ, Long JW, Sellers JC, Huang ZQ, Grizzle WE, Stockard CR, Nash KT, Buchsbaum DJ. KISS1 over-expression suppresses metastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a xenograft mouse model. Clin Exp Metastasis 2010; 27:591-600. [PMID: 20844932 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-010-9349-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2010] [Accepted: 08/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Identifying molecular targets for treatment of pancreatic cancer metastasis is critical due to the high frequency of dissemination prior to diagnosis of this lethal disease. Because the KISS1 metastasis suppressor is expressed at reduced levels in advanced pancreatic cancer, we hypothesized that re-expression of KISS1 would reduce metastases. Highly metastatic S2VP10 cells expressing luciferase (S2VP10L) were transfected with a FLAG-tagged version of KISS1 (KFM), KFMΔSS (with deleted secretion signal sequence), or pcDNA3 control plasmid (CP) and expression was confirmed by RTQ-PCR. SCID mice were implanted orthotopically with S2VP10L cells or transfectants and tumor growth and metastases were monitored using bioluminescence imaging. Mice with S2VP10L-KISS1 tumors developed fewer liver (98%) and lung (99%) metastases than S2VP10L. Unexpectedly, mice with S2VP10L-KFMΔSS tumors also had reduced liver and lung metastases, but had more metastases than mice with S2VP10L-KISS. KISS1 protein was found in the cytoplasm of both KFMΔSS and KISS1-expressing orthotopic tumors by immunohistochemistry. Metastases were not found in lungs of mice with S2VP10L-KISS1 tumors; whereas, KFMΔSS lung sections had regions of concentrated KISS1 staining, suggesting that secretion of KISS1 is needed to reduce metastasis significantly. These data suggest induction of KISS1 expression has potential as an adjuvant treatment for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey R McNally
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-2182, USA
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Meng Y, Lu Z, Yu S, Zhang Q, Ma Y, Chen J. Ezrin promotes invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. J Transl Med 2010; 8:61. [PMID: 20569470 PMCID: PMC2916894 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-8-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2010] [Accepted: 06/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate because it is usually diagnosed when metastasis have already occurred (microscopic and gross disease). Ezrin plays important roles in cell motility, invasion and tumor progression, and it is especially crucial for metastasis. However, its function in pancreatic cancer remains elusive. METHODS AND RESULTS We found that ezrin overexpression promoted cell protrusion, microvillus formation, anchorage-independent growth, motility and invasion in a pancreatic cancer cell line, MiaPaCa-2, whereas ezrin silencing resulted in the opposite effects. Ezrin overexpression also increased the number of metastatic foci (6/8 vs. 1/8) in a spontaneous metastasis nude mouse model. Furthermore, ezrin overexpression activated Erk1/2 in MiaPaCa-2 cells, which might be partially related to the alteration of cell morphology and invasion. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that ezrin was overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) (91.4%) and precancerous lesions, i.e. the tubular complexes in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PanIN) (85.7% and 97.1%, respectively), compared to normal pancreatic tissues (0%). Ezrin was also expressed in intercalated ducts adjacent to the adenocarcinoma, which has been considered to be the origin of ducts and acini, as well as the starting point of pancreatic ductal carcinoma development. CONCLUSIONS We propose that ezrin might play functional roles in modulating morphology, growth, motility and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, and that the Erk1/2 pathway may be involved in these roles. Moreover, ezrin may participate in the early events of PDAC development and may promote its progression to the advanced stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiao Meng
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, 1 Shuai Fu Yuan Hu Tong, Beijing, China
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RHOA and PRKCZ control different aspects of cell motility in pancreatic cancer metastatic clones. Mol Cancer 2010; 9:61. [PMID: 20236512 PMCID: PMC2846889 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2009] [Accepted: 03/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Our understanding of the mechanism regulating pancreatic cancer metastatic phenotype is limited. We analyzed the role of RHOA and PRKCZ in the motility attitude of two subclones of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line SUIT-2 (S2), with different in vivo metastatic potential in nude mice: S2-m with a low metastatic potential and highly metastatic S2-CP9 using RHOA and PRKCZ cell-permeable inhibitory peptides. Methods Adhesion assays, cell permeable peptides, RHOA activity assay, western blotting Results When used in combination cell-permeable inhibitory peptides partially inhibited cell adhesion by about 50% in clone S2-CP9. In clone S2-m, the effect was limited to 15% inhibition. In a wound healing assay, S2-CP9 was sensitive only to treatment with the combination of both RHOA and PRKCZ inhibitory peptides. Conversely, S2-m was unable to migrate toward both ends of the wound in basal conditions. Migration of cells through a membrane with 8 μm pores was completely abolished in both clones by individual treatment with RHOA and PRKCZ inhibitory peptides. Conclusion Herein, we demonstrate a critical role for RHOA and PRKCZ in the regulation of different aspects of cell motility of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and demonstrate the need to inhibit both pathways to obtain a functionally relevant effect in most assays. These results indicate that RHOA and PRKCZ, and their downstream effectors, can represent important pharmacological targets that could potentially control the highly metastatic attitude of PDAC.
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Takahashi N, Fukushima T, Yorita K, Tanaka H, Chijiiwa K, Kataoka H. Dickkopf-1 is overexpressed in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and is involved in invasive growth. Int J Cancer 2010; 126:1611-20. [PMID: 19711349 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The protein products of the Dickkopf (DKK) genes are antagonists of Wnt glycoproteins, which participate in tumor development and progression by binding to frizzled receptors. In this study, the expression of DKK-1 was analyzed in a panel of 43 human cultured carcinoma cell lines. DKK-1 expression was consistently and significantly upregulated in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. Low level of DKK-3 expression was also seen. In contrast, the expression of DKK-2 and -4 was not detectable in most pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. The overexpression of DKK-1 was confirmed in surgically resected human pancreatic cancer tissues, in which the mRNA level was evaluated in paired samples from cancerous and noncancerous pancreatic tissues. In ductal adenocarcinomas (23 cases), DKK-1 mRNA levels were significantly upregulated compared to corresponding noncancerous tissues in a statistically significant level. To test the biological role of DKK-1 in pancreatic carcinoma cells, we performed a knockdown of DKK-1 in SUIT-2 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line and S2-CP8, its metastatic subline, using a retroviral short hairpin RNA expression vector. DKK-1 knockdown resulted in reduced migratory activity of SUIT-2 in vitro. The in vitro growth rate and Matrigel invasion were also suppressed by DKK-1 knockdown in S2-CP8 cells. Collectively, the evidence suggests that, despite of its presumed antagonistic role in Wnt signaling, DKK-1 may have a role in the aggressiveness of pancreatic carcinoma cells and could, therefore, serve as a novel biomarker of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyasu Takahashi
- Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan
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Peterson NC. From bench to cageside: Risk assessment for rodent pathogen contamination of cells and biologics. ILAR J 2009; 49:310-5. [PMID: 18506064 PMCID: PMC7108569 DOI: 10.1093/ilar.49.3.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many newly developed animal models involve the transfer of cells, serum, or other tissue-derived products into live rodents. These biologics can serve as repositories for adventitious rodent pathogens that, when used in animal studies, can alter research outcomes and result in endemic outbreaks. This review includes a description of some of the biologics that have inadvertently introduced infectious agents into in vivo studies and/or resulted in endemic outbreaks. I also discuss the points of potential exposure of specific biologics to adventitious rodent pathogens as well as the importance of acquiring a complete developmental and testing history of each biologic introduced into a barrier facility. There are descriptions of specific cases of mycoplasma and lactate dehydrogenase–elevating virus (LDHV), two of the most common organisms that contaminate cells and cell byproducts. The information in this article should help investigators and animal resource program personnel to perform an appropriate risk assessment of biologics before their use in in vivo studies that involve rodents.
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Guillen-Ahlers H, Buechler SA, Suckow MA, Castellino FJ, Ploplis VA. Sulindac treatment alters collagen and matrilysin expression in adenomas of ApcMin/+ mice. Carcinogenesis 2008; 29:1421-7. [PMID: 18499699 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgn123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have shown potential as chemopreventive agents against cancer formation, especially colorectal cancers. However, the mechanisms by which these drugs act are not fully understood. In this study, Apc(Min/+) mice, a genetic model of human familial adenomatous polyposis, were treated with sulindac, and these mice demonstrated tumor reduction of >80%, consistent with previous reports. Gene microarray analyses of RNA from adenoma-derived dysplastic epithelial cells revealed that collagen genes, viz. Col1a2, Col5a2, Col6a2 and Col6a3, were upregulated, and matrilysin matrix metalloproteases-7 (Mmp7) was downregulated, in sulindac-treated mice. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction validated gene expression of the Col6a2 subunit of collagen VI and of Mmp7. Confocal microscopy and immunofluorescence showed that within the tumors of non-treated mice, collagen VI was present in low amounts, but was enhanced within the tumors of sulindac-treated mice. Collagens I and V demonstrated similar patterns, but were not as prominent as collagen VI. Mmp7 was found in 'hot spot' areas within the tumors of Apc(Min/+) mice treated with the vehicle, but was greatly diminished in those mice treated with sulindac. Studies with Apc(Min/+)/Mmp7(-/-) double-deficient mice demonstrated the reciprocal relationships of Mmp7 expression and the levels of these three collagens in vivo. The results of this study demonstrated that sulindac was effective in increasing the expression of different collagens and decreasing the expression of Mmp7, effects that may contribute to altered tumor burden in cancer patients undergoing NSAIDs treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Guillen-Ahlers
- W. M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Mauri P, Scarpa A, Nascimbeni AC, Benazzi L, Parmagnani E, Mafficini A, Della Peruta M, Bassi C, Miyazaki K, Sorio C. Identification of proteins released by pancreatic cancer cells by multidimensional protein identification technology: a strategy for identification of novel cancer markers. FASEB J 2005; 19:1125-7. [PMID: 15985535 DOI: 10.1096/fj.04-3000fje] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify novel proteins released by cancer cells that are involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling using small-volume samples and automated technology. We applied multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPIT), which incorporates two-dimensional capillary chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry to small quantities of serum-free supernatants of resting or phorbol ester-activated Suit-2 pancreatic cancer cells. Selected markers were validated in additional pancreatic cancer cell lines, primary cancers, and xenografted cancer cells. MudPIT analysis of 10 microl of supernatants identified 46 proteins, 21 of which are classified as secreted, and 10 have never been associated with pancreatic cancer. These include CSPG2/versican, Mac25/angiomodulin, IGFBP-1, HSPG2/perlecan, syndecan 4, FAM3C, APLP2, cyclophilin B, beta2 microglobulin, and ICA69. Evidence that cancer cells release these proteins in vivo was obtained for CSPG2/versican and Mac25/angiomodulin by immunohistochemistry on both primary pancreatic cancers and in a model consisting of Suit-2 cells embedded in an amorphous matrix and implanted in athymic mice. MudPIT allowed efficient and rapid identification of proteins released by cancer cells, including molecules previously undescribed in the type of cancer analyzed. Our finding that pancreatic cancer cells secrete a series of proteoglycans, including versican, perlecan, syndecan 1 and 4, challenges the common view that fibroblasts of tumor stroma are the sole source of these molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Mauri
- Istituto Tecnologie Biomediche (ITB-CNR), Segrate, Milano, Italy
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Abstract
Pancreatic tumours are scirrhous, avascular tumours, suggesting that they may produce angiogenesis inhibitors that suppress the growth of the vasculature to the tumour and metastases. We have sought evidence for the angiogenesis inhibitor, endostatin, in normal and cancerous pancreatic tissue. Using Western blotting, we found mature 20 kDa endostatin in cancer tissue but not in normal tissue. Several endostatin-related peptides of higher mol wt were present in both tissues. Extracts from normal tissue were able to degrade exogenous endostatin, whereas extracts from cancer were without effect. Although the exocrine pancreas secretes inactive proenzymes of trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase, their possible role in this degradation was examined. The trypsin/chymotrypsin inhibitor, Glycine max, did not prevent the degradation of endostatin by normal pancreatic extracts but elastatinal, a specific inhibitor of elastase, reduced the rate of degradation. Extracts of pancreatic tumours did not express any detectable elastase activity, but an elastase (Km 1.1 mM) was expressed by extracts of normal pancreas. We conclude that endostatin is present and stable in pancreatic cancer tissues, which may explain their avascular nature, but that normal pancreatic tissue expresses enzymes, including elastase, which rapidly degrade endostatin. The stability of endostatin may have implications for its therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Brammer
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - S R Bramhall
- Department of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
| | - M C Eggo
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. E-mail
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Kawano K, Iwamura T, Yamanari H, Seo Y, Suganuma T, Chijiiwa K. Establishment and characterization of a novel human pancreatic cancer cell line (SUIT-4) metastasizing to lymph nodes and lungs in nude mice. Oncology 2004; 66:458-67. [PMID: 15452375 DOI: 10.1159/000079500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2002] [Accepted: 11/26/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A new tumor cell line (SUIT-4) derived from ascites of a patient with carcinoma of the pancreas has been established in tissue culture and in nude mice, and maintained for over 7 years. In tissue culture, the cells grew as a confluent monolayer with piling up of cells in some areas. The population doubling time during the exponential phase of the cell growth was 43.9 h in vitro. Chromosome count ranged from 63 to 68 with a modal number of 67. Subcutaneous injection of cultured cells into the flanks of nude mice resulted in tumor formation with a doubling time of 88.8 h. Histopathologically, xenografts in nude mice were moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and the tumor cells showed spontaneous metastasis to the regional lymph nodes in 6 of 21 nude mice and to the lung in 4 of 21. Transmission electron microphotographs confirmed the ductal cell origin of the carcinoma and revealed that the cells had abundant mitochondria and lysosomes. SUIT-4 cells released carcinoembryonic antigen (3.08 x 10(2) ng/1 x 10(6) cells/24 h) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (4.75 x 10(4) U/1 x 10(6) cells/24 h) during exponential cell growth in vitro. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction studies revealed that SUIT-4 cells expressed matrix metalloproteinases 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kikuo Kawano
- Department of Surgery I, Miyazaki University School of Medicine, Kihara, Kiyotake, Japan
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