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Suresh D, Mukherjee S, Zambre A, Ghoshdastidar S, Yadavilli S, Rekha KR, Upendran A, Kannan R. Nanoparticle-Mediated Cosilencing of Drug Resistance and Compensatory Genes Enhances Lung Cancer Therapy. ACS NANO 2025; 19:15256-15271. [PMID: 40239042 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2025]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is challenging to treat due to acquired drug resistance, leading to high mortality rates. NSCLC patients with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) region are treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) as a first-line treatment, but many develop resistance within 1-2 years. AXL overexpression contributes to drug resistance in over 25% of patients, as shown by tumor analyses, prompting efforts to develop small-molecule inhibitors targeting AXL. However, we found that AXL repression increases compensatory FN14 signaling that could affect the therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, we chose to evaluate therapeutic efficacy after silencing both AXL and FN14 genes using short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy. While siRNAs are more selective than small-molecule inhibitors, they are prone to in vivo degradation. To address this, we developed gelatin nanoparticles carrying siRNAs targeting AXL and FN14 (GsiAF). These nanoparticles were designed to protect siRNA from serum degradation and to allow antibody functionalization on their surface. We demonstrate that GsiAF selectively and effectively silences the respective genes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, thereby overcoming compensatory FN14 signaling. Results indicate that GsiAF was successful in delivering siRNAs to tumors and downregulating both AXL and FN14 genes. We show that coinhibition of AXL and FN14 has effectively decreased TKI resistance in cancer cells and significantly reduced tumor growth in mice bearing lung cancer. The gelatin-siRNA nanoconstruct combined with TKI represents a promising strategy for overcoming drug resistance in NSCLC and other cancers, with potential for future clinical translation.
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MESH Headings
- Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Lung Neoplasms/therapy
- Humans
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Animals
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy
- Nanoparticles/chemistry
- Mice
- Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/chemistry
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Mice, Nude
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhananjay Suresh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Soumavo Mukherjee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Ajit Zambre
- Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Shreya Ghoshdastidar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Sairam Yadavilli
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Karamkolly R Rekha
- Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Anandhi Upendran
- Department of Medical Pharmacology & Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Raghuraman Kannan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
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2
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Asadi M, Zafari V, Sadeghi-Mohammadi S, Shanehbandi D, Mert U, Soleimani Z, Caner A, Zarredar H. The role of tumor microenvironment and self-organization in cancer progression: Key insights for therapeutic development. BIOIMPACTS : BI 2024; 15:30713. [PMID: 40256216 PMCID: PMC12008505 DOI: 10.34172/bi.30713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2024] [Revised: 10/08/2024] [Accepted: 11/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2025]
Abstract
Introduction The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression, influencing tumor initiation, growth, invasion, metastasis, and response to therapies. This study explores the dynamic interactions within the TME, particularly focusing on self-organization-a process by which tumor cells and their microenvironment reciprocally shape one another, leading to cancer progression and resistance. Understanding these interactions can reveal new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets within the TME, such as extracellular matrix (ECM) components, immune cells, and cytokine signaling pathways. Methods A comprehensive search method was employed to investigate the current academic literature on TME, particularly focusing on self-organization in the context of cancer progression and resistance across the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases. Results Recent studies suggest that therapies that disrupt TME self-organization could improve patient outcomes by defeating drug resistance and increasing the effectiveness of conventional therapy. Additionally, this research highlights the essential of understanding the biophysical properties of the TME, like cytoskeletal alterations, in the development of more effective malignancy therapy. Conclusion This review indicated that targeting the ECM and immune cells within the TME can improve therapy effectiveness. Also, by focusing on TME self-organization, we can recognize new therapeutic plans to defeat drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Asadi
- Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Venus Zafari
- Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sanam Sadeghi-Mohammadi
- Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Dariush Shanehbandi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ufuk Mert
- Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Zahra Soleimani
- Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ayşe Caner
- Department of Basic Oncology, Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Habib Zarredar
- Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Yang J, Sun Q, Liu X, Yang Y, Rong R, Yan P, Xie Y. Targeting Notch signaling pathways with natural bioactive compounds: a promising approach against cancer. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1412669. [PMID: 39092224 PMCID: PMC11291470 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1412669] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling pathway is activated abnormally in solid and hematological tumors, which perform essential functions in cell differentiation, survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis. The activation of Notch signaling and communication among Notch and other oncogenic pathways heighten malignancy aggressiveness. Thus, targeting Notch signaling offers opportunities for improved survival and reduced disease incidence. Already, most attention has been given to its role in the cancer cells. Recent research shows that natural bioactive compounds can change signaling molecules that are linked to or interact with the Notch pathways. This suggests that there may be a link between Notch activation and the growth of tumors. Here, we sum up the natural bioactive compounds that possess inhibitory effects on human cancers by impeding the Notch pathway and preventing Notch crosstalk with other oncogenic pathways, which provoke further study of these natural products to derive rational therapeutic regimens for the treatment of cancer and develop novel anticancer drugs. This review revealed Notch as a highly challenging but promising target in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qihui Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Classical Theory, Ministry of Education, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Rong Rong
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Peiyu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Ying Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Salcedo EC, Winter MB, Khuri N, Knudsen GM, Sali A, Craik CS. Global Protease Activity Profiling Identifies HER2-Driven Proteolysis in Breast Cancer. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:712-723. [PMID: 33765766 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Differential expression of extracellular proteases and endogenous protease inhibitors has been associated with distinct molecular subtypes of breast cancer. However, due to the tight post-translational regulation of protease activity, protease expression-level data alone are not sufficient to understand the role of proteases in malignant transformation. Therefore, we hypothesized that global profiles of extracellular protease activity could more completely reflect differences observed at the transcriptional level in breast cancer and that subtype-associated protease activity may be leveraged to identify specific proteases that play a functional role in cancer signaling. Here, we used a global peptide library-based approach to profile the activities of proteases within distinct breast cancer subtypes. Analysis of 3651 total peptide cleavages from a panel of well-characterized breast cancer cell lines demonstrated differences in proteolytic signatures between cell lines. Cell line clustering based on protease cleavages within the peptide library expanded upon the expected classification derived from transcriptional profiling. An isogenic cell line model developed to further interrogate proteolysis in the HER2 subtype revealed a proteolytic signature consistent with activation of TGF-β signaling. Specifically, we determined that a metalloprotease involved in TGF-β signaling, BMP1, was upregulated at both the protein (2-fold, P = 0.001) and activity (P = 0.0599) levels. Inhibition of BMP1 and HER2 suppressed invasion of HER2-expressing cells by 35% (P < 0.0001), compared to 15% (P = 0.0086) observed in cells where only HER2 was inhibited. In summary, through global identification of extracellular proteolysis in breast cancer cell lines, we demonstrate subtype-specific differences in protease activity and elucidate proteolysis associated with HER2-mediated signaling.
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Autocrine TGFβ1 Opposes Exogenous TGFβ1-Induced Cell Migration and Growth Arrest through Sustainment of a Feed-Forward Loop Involving MEK-ERK Signaling. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061357. [PMID: 33802809 PMCID: PMC8002526 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061357] [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: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Transforming growth factor (TGF) β signaling is intimately involved in nearly all aspects of tumor development and is known for its role as both a tumor suppressor in benign tissues and a tumor promoter in advanced cancers. This dual role is also reflected by cancer cell-produced TGFβ that eventually acts on the same cell(s) in an autocrine fashion. Recently, we observed that endogenous TGFB1 can inhibit rather than stimulate cell motility in cell lines with high autocrine TGFβ production. The unexpected anti-migratory role prompted us to evaluate how autocrine TGFβ1 impacts the cells’ migratory and proliferative responses to exogenous (recombinant human) TGFβ. Surprisingly, endogenous TGFB1 opposed the migratory and growth-inhibitory responses induced by exogenous TGFβ1 by driving a self-perpetuating feedforward loop involving MEK-ERK signaling. Our observation has implications for the use of TGFβ signaling inhibitors in cancer therapy. Abstract Autocrine transforming growth factor β (aTGFβ) has been implicated in the regulation of cell invasion and growth of several malignant cancers such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Recently, we observed that endogenous TGFB1 can inhibit rather than stimulate cell motility in cell lines with high aTGFβ production and mutant KRAS, i.e., Panc1 (PDAC) and MDA-MB-231 (TNBC). The unexpected anti-migratory role prompted us to evaluate if aTGFβ1 may be able to antagonize the action of exogenous (recombinant human) TGFβ (rhTGFβ), a well-known promoter of cell motility and growth arrest in these cells. Surprisingly, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the endogenous TGFB1 sensitized genes involved in EMT and cell motility (i.e., SNAI1) to up-regulation by rhTGFβ1, which was associated with a more pronounced migratory response following rhTGFβ1 treatment. Ectopic expression of TGFB1 decreased both basal and rhTGFβ1-induced migratory activities in MDA-MB-231 cells but had the opposite effect in Panc1 cells. Moreover, silencing TGFB1 reduced basal proliferation and enhanced growth inhibition by rhTGFβ1 and induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21WAF1. Finally, we show that aTGFβ1 promotes MEK-ERK signaling and vice versa to form a self-perpetuating feedforward loop that is sensitive to SB431542, an inhibitor of the TGFβ type I receptor, ALK5. Together, these data suggest that in transformed cells an ALK5-MEK-ERK-aTGFβ1 pathway opposes the promigratory and growth-arresting function of rhTGFβ1. This observation has profound translational implications for TGFβ signaling in cancer.
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Melchionna R, Trono P, Tocci A, Nisticò P. Actin Cytoskeleton and Regulation of TGFβ Signaling: Exploring Their Links. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020336. [PMID: 33672325 PMCID: PMC7926735 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human tissues, to maintain their architecture and function, respond to injuries by activating intricate biochemical and physical mechanisms that regulates intercellular communication crucial in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Coordination of the communication occurs through the activity of different actin cytoskeletal regulators, physically connected to extracellular matrix through integrins, generating a platform of biochemical and biomechanical signaling that is deregulated in cancer. Among the major pathways, a controller of cellular functions is the cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), which remains a complex and central signaling network still to be interpreted and explained in cancer progression. Here, we discuss the link between actin dynamics and TGFβ signaling with the aim of exploring their aberrant interaction in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (P.T.); (A.T.)
| | - Paola Trono
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (P.T.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, via Ramarini 32, 00015 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Tocci
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (P.T.); (A.T.)
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; (R.M.); (P.T.); (A.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0652662539
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7
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Ungefroren H. Autocrine TGF-β in Cancer: Review of the Literature and Caveats in Experimental Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:977. [PMID: 33478130 PMCID: PMC7835898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autocrine signaling is defined as the production and secretion of an extracellular mediator by a cell followed by the binding of that mediator to receptors on the same cell to initiate signaling. Autocrine stimulation often operates in autocrine loops, a type of interaction, in which a cell produces a mediator, for which it has receptors, that upon activation promotes expression of the same mediator, allowing the cell to repeatedly autostimulate itself (positive feedback) or balance its expression via regulation of a second factor that provides negative feedback. Autocrine signaling loops with positive or negative feedback are an important feature in cancer, where they enable context-dependent cell signaling in the regulation of growth, survival, and cell motility. A growth factor that is intimately involved in tumor development and progression and often produced by the cancer cells in an autocrine manner is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). This review surveys the many observations of autocrine TGF-β signaling in tumor biology, including data from cell culture and animal models as well as from patients. We also provide the reader with a critical discussion on the various experimental approaches employed to identify and prove the involvement of autocrine TGF-β in a given cellular response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany;
- Clinic for General Surgery, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
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8
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Ungefroren H, Wellner UF, Keck T, Lehnert H, Marquardt JU. The Small GTPase RAC1B: A Potent Negative Regulator of-and Useful Tool to Study-TGFβ Signaling. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3475. [PMID: 33266416 PMCID: PMC7700615 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RAC1 and its alternatively spliced isoform, RAC1B, are members of the Rho family of GTPases. Both isoforms are involved in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell motility, cell proliferation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Compared to RAC1, RAC1B exhibits a number of distinctive features with respect to tissue distribution, downstream signaling and a role in disease conditions like inflammation and cancer. The subcellular locations and interaction partners of RAC1 and RAC1B vary depending on their activation state, which makes RAC1 and RAC1B ideal candidates to establish cross-talk with cancer-associated signaling pathways-for instance, interactions with signaling by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), a known tumor promoter. Although RAC1 has been found to promote TGFβ-driven tumor progression, recent observations in pancreatic carcinoma cells surprisingly revealed that RAC1B confers anti-oncogenic properties, i.e., through inhibiting TGFβ-induced EMT. Since then, an unexpected array of mechanisms through which RAC1B cross-talks with TGFβ signaling has been demonstrated. However, rather than being uniformly inhibitory, RAC1B interacts with TGFβ signaling in a way that results in the selective blockade of tumor-promoting pathways, while concomitantly allowing tumor-suppressive pathways to proceed. In this review article, we are going to discuss the specific interactions between RAC1B and TGFβ signaling, which occur at multiple levels and include various components such as ligands, receptors, cytosolic mediators, transcription factors, and extracellular inhibitors of TGFβ ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, Campus Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany;
- Clinic for General Surgery, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, Campus Kiel, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Ulrich F. Wellner
- Clinic for Surgery, Campus Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (U.F.W.); (T.K.)
| | - Tobias Keck
- Clinic for Surgery, Campus Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (U.F.W.); (T.K.)
| | | | - Jens-Uwe Marquardt
- First Department of Medicine, Campus Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany;
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Adaptive T cell immunotherapy in cancer. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 64:363-371. [PMID: 32712831 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1713-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Impaired tumor-specific effector T cells contribute to tumor progression and unfavorable clinical outcomes. As a compensatory T cell-dependent cancer immunoediting strategy, adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) has achieved encouraging therapeutic results, and this strategy is now on the center stage of cancer treatment and research. ACT involves the ex vivo stimulation and expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with inherent tumor reactivity or T cells that have been genetically modified to express the cognate chimeric antigen receptor or T cell receptor (CAR/TCR), followed by the passive transfer of these cells into a lymphodepleted host. Primed T cells must provide highly efficient and long-lasting immune defense against transformed cells during ACT. Anin-depth understanding of the basic mechanisms of these living drugs can help us improve upon current strategies and design better next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies. From this perspective, we provide an overview of current developments in different ACT strategies, with a focus on frontier clinical trials that offer a proof of principle. Meanwhile, insights into the determinants of ACT are discussed, which will lead to more rational, potent and widespread applications in the future.
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10
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Abdoli Shadbad M, Hajiasgharzadeh K, Baradaran B. Cross-talk between myeloid-derived suppressor cells and Mucin1 in breast cancer vaccination: On the verge of a breakthrough. Life Sci 2020; 258:118128. [PMID: 32710947 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Although breast cancer is one of the leading troublesome cancers, the available therapeutic options have not fulfilled the desired outcomes. Immune-based therapy has gained special attention for breast cancer treatment. Although this approach is highly tolerable, its low response rate has rendered it as an undesirable approach. This review aims to describe the essential oncogenic pathways involved in breast cancer, elucidate the immunosuppression and oncogenic effect of Mucin1, and introduce myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which are the main culprits of anti-tumoral immune response attenuation. The various auto-inductive loops between Mucin1 and myeloid-derived suppressor cells are focal in the suppression of anti-tumoral immune responses in patients with breast cancer. These cross-talks between the Mucin1 and myeloid-derived suppressor cells can be the underlying causes of immunotherapy's impotence for patients with breast cancer. This approach can pave the road for the development of a potent vaccine for patients with breast cancer and is translated into clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Khalil Hajiasgharzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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11
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Active RAC1 Promotes Tumorigenic Phenotypes and Therapy Resistance in Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061541. [PMID: 32545340 PMCID: PMC7352592 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acting as molecular switches, all three members of the Guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-ase-family, Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC), Rho, and Cdc42 contribute to various processes of oncogenic transformations in several solid tumors. We have reviewed the distribution of patterns regarding the frequency of Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1)-alteration(s) and their modes of actions in various cancers. The RAC1 hyperactivation/copy-number gain is one of the frequently observed features in various solid tumors. We argued that RAC1 plays a critical role in the progression of tumors and the development of resistance to various therapeutic modalities applied in the clinic. With this perspective, here we interrogated multiple functions of RAC1 in solid tumors pertaining to the progression of tumors and the development of resistance with a special emphasis on different tumor cell phenotypes, including the inhibition of apoptosis and increase in the proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stemness, pro-angiogenic, and metastatic phenotypes. Our review focuses on the role of RAC1 in adult solid-tumors and summarizes the contextual mechanisms of RAC1 involvement in the development of resistance to cancer therapies.
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12
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Chu X, Li Y, Huang W, Feng X, Sun P, Yao Y, Yang X, Sun W, Bai H, Liu C, Ma Y. Combined immunization against TGF-β1 enhances HPV16 E7-specific vaccine-elicited antitumour immunity in mice with grafted TC-1 tumours. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 46:1199-1209. [PMID: 29929402 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2018.1482306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccine appears to be a potential approach for the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated tumours, but its efficacy can be dampened by immunosuppressive factors such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. We sought to investigate whether active immunity against TGF-β1 enhances the anti-tumour immunity elicited by an HPV16 E7-specific vaccine that we developed previously. In this study, virus-like particles of hepatitis B virus core antigen were used as vaccine carriers to deliver either TGF-β1 B cell epitopes or E7 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope. The combination of preventive immunization against TGF-β1 and therapeutic immunization with the E7 vaccine significantly reduced the growth of grafted TC-1 tumours in C57 mice, showing better efficacy than immunization with only one of the vaccines. The improved efficacy of combined immunization is evidenced by elevated IFN-γ and decreased IL-4 and TGF-β1 levels in cultured splenocytes, increased E7-specific IFN-γ-expressing splenocytes, and increased numbers of CD4+IFN-γ+ and CD8+IFN-γ+ cells and decreased numbers of Treg (CD4+Foxp3+) cells in the spleen and tumours. The results strongly indicate that targeting TGF-β1 through active immunization might be a potent approach to enhancing antigen-specific therapeutic vaccine-induced anti-tumour immune efficacy and providing a combined strategy for effective cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Chu
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Yang Li
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Weiwei Huang
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Xuejun Feng
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Pengyan Sun
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Yufeng Yao
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Xu Yang
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Wenjia Sun
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Hongmei Bai
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Cunbao Liu
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- a Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College , Kunming , China.,b Yunnan Key Laboratory of Vaccine Research & Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China.,c Yunnan Engineering Research Center of Vaccine Research and Development on Severe Infectious Disease , Kunming , China
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13
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Wang J, Tai G. Role of C-Jun N-terminal Kinase in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development. Target Oncol 2017; 11:723-738. [PMID: 27392951 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-016-0446-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most frequently occurring cancers and the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Identification of the signaling pathways regulating liver carcinogenesis is critical for developing novel chemoprevention and targeted therapies. C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a member of a larger group of serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinases known as the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. JNK is an important signaling component that converts external stimuli into a wide range of cellular responses, including cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, as well as the development of inflammation, fibrosis, cancer growth, and metabolic diseases. Because of the essential roles of JNK in these cellular functions, deregulated JNK is often found to contribute to the development of HCC. Recently, the functions and molecular mechanisms of JNK in HCC development have been addressed using mouse models and human HCC cell lines. Furthermore, recent studies demonstrate that the activation of JNK by oncogenes can promote the development of cancers by regulating the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad pathway, which makes the oncogenes/JNK/Smad signaling pathway an attractive target for cancer therapy. Additionally, JNK-targeted therapy has a broad potential for clinical applications. In summary, we are convinced that promising new avenues for the treatment of HCC by targeting JNK are on the horizon, which will undoubtedly lead to better, more effective, and faster therapies in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Jilin, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Guixiang Tai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Jilin, Changchun, 130021, China.
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14
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Interplay between TGF-β signaling and receptor tyrosine kinases in tumor development. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2017; 60:1133-1141. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-017-9173-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Jolly LA, Massoll N, Franco AT. Immune Suppression Mediated by Myeloid and Lymphoid Derived Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment Facilitates Progression of Thyroid Cancers Driven by Hras G12V and Pten Loss. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 7. [PMID: 27942419 DOI: 10.4172/2155-9899.1000451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and is predicted to be the 4th most commonly diagnosed cancer by 2030. Approximately one-half of follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC) contain genetic alterations in RAS family members. Furthermore, Cowden's disease, which is characterized by loss of PTEN, predisposes for the development of FTC in humans. We have shown that thyroid specific expression of HrasG12V at endogenous levels and Pten inactivation (HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-cre mice) leads to the development of FTCs that closely recapitulate human disease, with complete penetrance at one year. In patients, FTCs metastasize via the bloodstream to distant sites, frequently the lungs, bones and brain. The first objective of the study was to determine if these mice developed de novo metastasis to relevant sites. Indeed, spontaneous metastasis to the lungs was observed in 56% of HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-cre mice. We next sought to identify the cellular components within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of FTC that contribute to tumor progression and metastasis via FACS analysis. Surprisingly, a large amount of immune infiltrate was observed. HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-Cre thyroid tumors were comprised of 68.5 ± 11.79% CD45+ cells, in stark contrast to wild-type (WT) thyroids which were comprised of 17.6% CD45+ cells. Further, 53.1 ± 10.9% of the CD45+ cells from HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-Cre thyroid tumors were of myeloid-lineage (CD11b+), consisting of macrophages (F4/80+Gr-1-) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (F4/80-Gr-1+). Further, HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-cre tumors contained Arginase-1 positive cells as determined by immunohistochemical analysis, supporting an immunosuppressive TME in HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-Cre thyroid tumors. We next evaluated whether or not cytotoxic (CD8+) or helper T cells (CD4+) were recruited to HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-Cre tumors. The majority of T cells in these tumors were double positive for CD4 and CD25, markers of immune suppressive regulatory T cells (Treg). Additionally, we identified Foxp3 positive cells by immunohistochemical analysis of tumor sections, indicating a functional suppressive Treg phenotype in vivo. HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-Cre tumor cell lines displayed increased secretion of SDF-1, I-TAC, CCL9/10, and MCP5, cytokines that have been reported to play a direct role in the chemotaxis of immune cells and thus could contribute to the increased recruitment of myeloid and lymphoid derived cells in HrasG12V/Pten-/-/TPO-Cre tumors. These studies are the first to identify and implicate the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells in Ras-driven thyroid cancer progression, which we hope will lead to the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for aggressive forms of thyroid cancer that target the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Ann Jolly
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Nicole Massoll
- Department of Pathology, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Aime T Franco
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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16
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Abstract
Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor type 2 (HER2) gene amplification and/or protein overexpression is observed in patients suffering from HER2+ breast cancer. This subtype of breast cancer has improved prognosis due to availability of anti-HER2 therapy. However, drug resistance and tumor recurrence still remains a major concern. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are believed to constitute the subset of cell population that is resistant to drug treatment and possesses characteristics of stem cells. CSCs enable the tumors to thrive despite major insults. This review provides a comprehensive idea about the concept of CSCs in context of HER2+ breast cancer by providing the description of the markers that are used for the identification of CSCs and by elucidating the signaling pathways that are associated with HER2+ breast CSCs. Furthermore, the review also describes the interaction of HER2 with those signaling pathways and the future of targeting CSCs in HER2+ breast cancer.
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17
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Mucin1 shifts Smad3 signaling from the tumor-suppressive pSmad3C/p21(WAF1) pathway to the oncogenic pSmad3L/c-Myc pathway by activating JNK in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2015; 6:4253-65. [PMID: 25714018 PMCID: PMC4414187 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucin1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that acts as an oncogene in human hepatic tumorigenesis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells often gain advantage by reducing the tumor-suppressive activity of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) together with stimulation of its oncogenic activity as in MUC1 expressing HCC cells; however, molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Type I TGF-β receptor (TβRI) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) differentially phosphorylate Smad3 mediator to create 2 phosphorylated forms: COOH-terminally phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3C) and linker-phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3L). Here, we report that MUC1 overexpression in HCC cell lines suppresses TβRI-mediated pSmad3C signaling which involves growth inhibition by up-regulating p21WAF1. Instead, MUC1 directly activates JNK to stimulate oncogenic pSmad3L signaling, which fosters cell proliferation by up-regulating c-Myc. Conversely, MUC1 gene silencing in MUC1 expressing HCC cells results in preserved tumor-suppressive function via pSmad3C, while eliminating pSmad3L-mediated oncogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, high correlation between MUC1 and pSmad3L/c-Myc but not pSmad3C/p21WAF1 expression was observed in HCC tissues from patients. Collectively, these results indicate that MUC1 shifts Smad3 signaling from a tumor-suppressive pSmad3C/p21WAF1 to an oncogenic pSmad3L/c-Myc pathway by directly activating JNK in HCC cells, suggesting that MUC1 is an important target for HCC therapy.
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18
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Sun Z, Shi Y, Shen Y, Cao L, Zhang W, Guan X. Analysis of different HER-2 mutations in breast cancer progression and drug resistance. J Cell Mol Med 2015; 19:2691-701. [PMID: 26305917 PMCID: PMC4687700 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies over the last two decades have identified that amplified human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER‐2; c‐erbB‐2, neu) and its overexpression have been frequently implicated in the carcinogenesis and prognosis in a variety of solid tumours, especially breast cancer. Lots of painstaking efforts were invested on the HER‐2 targeted agents, and significantly improved outcome and prolonged the survival of patients. However, some patients classified as ‘HER‐2‐positive’ would be still resistant to the anti‐HER‐2 therapy. Various mechanisms of drug resistance have been illustrated and the alteration of HER‐2 was considered as a crucial mechanism. However, systematic researches in regard to the HER‐2 mutations and variants are still inadequate. Notably, the alterations of HER‐2 play an important role in drug resistance, but also have a potential association with the cancer risk. In this review, we summarize the possible mutations and focus on HER‐2 variants’ role in breast cancer tumourigenesis. Additionally, the alteration of HER‐2, as a potential mechanism of resistance to trastuzumab, is discussed here. We hope that HER‐2 related activating mutations could potentially offer more therapeutic opportunities to a broader range of patients than previously classified as HER‐2 overexpressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijia Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yaqin Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lulu Cao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Guan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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19
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Herbertz S, Sawyer JS, Stauber AJ, Gueorguieva I, Driscoll KE, Estrem ST, Cleverly AL, Desaiah D, Guba SC, Benhadji KA, Slapak CA, Lahn MM. Clinical development of galunisertib (LY2157299 monohydrate), a small molecule inhibitor of transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway. Drug Des Devel Ther 2015; 9:4479-99. [PMID: 26309397 PMCID: PMC4539082 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s86621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 281] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling regulates a wide range of biological processes. TGF-β plays an important role in tumorigenesis and contributes to the hallmarks of cancer, including tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and escape of immune surveillance. There are several pharmacological approaches to block TGF-β signaling, such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides, and small molecule inhibitors. Galunisertib (LY2157299 monohydrate) is an oral small molecule inhibitor of the TGF-β receptor I kinase that specifically downregulates the phosphorylation of SMAD2, abrogating activation of the canonical pathway. Furthermore, galunisertib has antitumor activity in tumor-bearing animal models such as breast, colon, lung cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Continuous long-term exposure to galunisertib caused cardiac toxicities in animals requiring adoption of a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic-based dosing strategy to allow further development. The use of such a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model defined a therapeutic window with an appropriate safety profile that enabled the clinical investigation of galunisertib. These efforts resulted in an intermittent dosing regimen (14 days on/14 days off, on a 28-day cycle) of galunisertib for all ongoing trials. Galunisertib is being investigated either as monotherapy or in combination with standard antitumor regimens (including nivolumab) in patients with cancer with high unmet medical needs such as glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The present review summarizes the past and current experiences with different pharmacological treatments that enabled galunisertib to be investigated in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Scott Sawyer
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Anja J Stauber
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Kyla E Driscoll
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shawn T Estrem
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ann L Cleverly
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Windlesham, Surrey, UK
| | - Durisala Desaiah
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Susan C Guba
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Karim A Benhadji
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Michael M Lahn
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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20
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Wang J, Liu G, Li Q, Wang F, Xie F, Zhai R, Guo Y, Chen T, Zhang N, Ni W, Yuan H, Tai G. Mucin1 promotes the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via JNK-mediated phosphorylation of Smad2 at the C-terminal and linker regions. Oncotarget 2015; 6:19264-78. [PMID: 26057631 PMCID: PMC4662489 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucin1 (MUC1), as an oncogene, plays a key role in the progression and tumorigenesis of many human adenocarcinomas. In this study, wound-healing, transwell migration and matrigel invasion assays showed that MUC1 promotes human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell migration and invasion by MUC1 gene silencing and overexpressing. Treatment with exogenous transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)1, TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI) inhibitor, TGF-β1 siRNAs, or activator protein 1 (AP-1) inhibitor to MUC1-overexpressing HCC cells revealed that MUC1-induced autocrine TGF-β via JNK/AP-1 pathway promotes the cell migration and invasion. In addition, the migration and invasion of HCC cells were more significantly inhibited by JNK inhibitor compared with that by TβRI inhibitor or TGF-β1 siRNAs. Further studies demonstrated that MUC1-mediated JNK activation not only enhances the phosphorylation of Smad2 C-terminal at Ser-465/467 site (Smad2C) through TGF-β/TβRI, but also directly enhances the phosphorylation of Smad2 linker region at Ser-245/250/255 site (Smad2L), and then both of them collaborate to upregulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9-mediated cell migration and invasion of HCC. These results indicate that MUC1 is an attractive target in liver cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guomu Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qiongshu Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fei Xie
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ruiping Zhai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingying Guo
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tanxiu Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Nannan Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Weihua Ni
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongyan Yuan
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guixiang Tai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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21
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Engström W, Darbre P, Eriksson S, Gulliver L, Hultman T, Karamouzis MV, Klaunig JE, Mehta R, Moorwood K, Sanderson T, Sone H, Vadgama P, Wagemaker G, Ward A, Singh N, Al-Mulla F, Al-Temaimi R, Amedei A, Colacci AM, Vaccari M, Mondello C, Scovassi AI, Raju J, Hamid RA, Memeo L, Forte S, Roy R, Woodrick J, Salem HK, Ryan EP, Brown DG, Bisson WH. The potential for chemical mixtures from the environment to enable the cancer hallmark of sustained proliferative signalling. Carcinogenesis 2015; 36 Suppl 1:S38-S60. [PMID: 26106143 PMCID: PMC4565610 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgv030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Revised: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work is to review current knowledge relating the established cancer hallmark, sustained cell proliferation to the existence of chemicals present as low dose mixtures in the environment. Normal cell proliferation is under tight control, i.e. cells respond to a signal to proliferate, and although most cells continue to proliferate into adult life, the multiplication ceases once the stimulatory signal disappears or if the cells are exposed to growth inhibitory signals. Under such circumstances, normal cells remain quiescent until they are stimulated to resume further proliferation. In contrast, tumour cells are unable to halt proliferation, either when subjected to growth inhibitory signals or in the absence of growth stimulatory signals. Environmental chemicals with carcinogenic potential may cause sustained cell proliferation by interfering with some cell proliferation control mechanisms committing cells to an indefinite proliferative span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm Engström
- Department of Biosciences and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7028, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden,
| | - Philippa Darbre
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6UB, UK
| | - Staffan Eriksson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 575, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda Gulliver
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9050, New Zealand
| | - Tove Hultman
- Department of Biosciences and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7028, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6UB, UK
| | - Michalis V Karamouzis
- Department of Biological Chemistry Medical School, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Athens, Marasli 3, Kolonaki, Athens 10676, Greece
| | - James E Klaunig
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington , 1025 E. 7th Street, Suite 111, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Rekha Mehta
- Regulatory Toxicology Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, HPFB, Health Canada, 251 Sir F.G. Banting Driveway, AL # 2202C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Kim Moorwood
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Thomas Sanderson
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Hideko Sone
- Environmental Exposure Research Section, Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibraki 3058506, Japan
| | - Pankaj Vadgama
- IRC in Biomedical Materials, School of Engineering & Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Gerard Wagemaker
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Andrew Ward
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Neetu Singh
- Centre for Advanced Research, King George's Medical University, Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003, India
| | - Fahd Al-Mulla
- Department of Pathology, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait
| | | | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Firenze, Firenze 50134, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Colacci
- Center for Environmental Carcinogenesis and Risk Assessment, Environmental Protection and Health Prevention Agency, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Monica Vaccari
- Center for Environmental Carcinogenesis and Risk Assessment, Environmental Protection and Health Prevention Agency, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Chiara Mondello
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - A Ivana Scovassi
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Jayadev Raju
- Regulatoty Toxicology Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, HPFB, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A0K9, Canada
| | - Roslida A Hamid
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lorenzo Memeo
- Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande 95029, Italy
| | - Stefano Forte
- Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande 95029, Italy
| | - Rabindra Roy
- Molecular Oncology Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jordan Woodrick
- Molecular Oncology Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Hosni K Salem
- Urology Dept. kasr Al-Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, El Manial, Cairo 12515, Egypt
| | - Elizabeth P Ryan
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Sciences, Colorado State University//Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins CO 80523-1680, USA and
| | - Dustin G Brown
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Sciences, Colorado State University//Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins CO 80523-1680, USA and
| | - William H Bisson
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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22
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Li Q, Liu G, Shao D, Wang J, Yuan H, Chen T, Zhai R, Ni W, Tai G. Mucin1 mediates autocrine transforming growth factor beta signaling through activating the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/activator protein 1 pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 59:116-25. [PMID: 25526895 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In a previous study, we observed by global gene expression analysis that oncogene mucin1 (MUC1) silencing decreased transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line SMMC-7721. In this study, we report that MUC1 overexpression enhanced the levels of phosphorylated Smad3 linker region (p-Smad3L) (Ser-213) and its target gene MMP-9 in HCC cells, suggesting that MUC1 mediates TGF-β signaling. To investigate the effect of MUC1 on TGF-β signaling, we determined TGF-β secretion in MUC1 gene silencing and overexpressing cell lines. MUC1 expression enhanced not only TGF-β1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels but also luciferase activity driven by a TGF-β promoter, as well as elevated the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and c-Jun, a member of the activation protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor family. Furthermore, pharmacological reduction of TGF-β receptor (TβR), JNK and c-Jun activity inhibited MUC1-induced autocrine TGF-β signaling. Moreover, a co-immunoprecipitation assay showed that MUC1 directly bound and activated JNK. In addition, both MUC1-induced TGF-β secretion and exogenous TGF-β1 significantly increased Smad signaling and cell migration, which were markedly inhibited by either TβR inhibitor or small interfering RNA silencing of TGF-β1 gene in HCC cells. The high correlation between MUC1 and TGF-β1 or p-Smad3L (Ser-213) expression was shown in tumor tissues from HCC patients by immunohistochemical staining analysis. Collectively, these results indicate that MUC1 mediates autocrine TGF-β signaling by activating the JNK/AP-1 pathway in HCC cells. Therefore, MUC1 plays a key role in HCC progression and could serve as an attractive target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongshu Li
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Guomu Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Dan Shao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Hongyan Yuan
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Tanxiu Chen
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ruiping Zhai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Weihua Ni
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Guixiang Tai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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Ramírez A, Boulaiz H, Morata-Tarifa C, Perán M, Jiménez G, Picon-Ruiz M, Agil A, Cruz-López O, Conejo-García A, Campos JM, Sánchez A, García MA, Marchal JA. HER2-signaling pathway, JNK and ERKs kinases, and cancer stem-like cells are targets of Bozepinib small compound. Oncotarget 2014; 5:3590-3606. [PMID: 24946763 PMCID: PMC4116505 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of novel anticancer drugs presenting more than one molecular target and efficacy against cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) subpopulations represents a therapeutic need to combat the resistance and the high risk of relapse in patients. In the present work we show how Bozepinib [(RS)-2,6-dichloro-9-[1-(p-nitrobenzenesulfonyl)-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-4,1-benzoxazepin-3-yl]-9H-purine], a small anti-tumor compound, demonstrated selectivity on cancer cells and showed an inhibitory effect over kinases involved in carcinogenesis, proliferation and angiogenesis. The cytotoxic effects of Bozepinib were observed in both breast and colon cancer cells expressing different receptor patterns. Bozepinib inhibited HER-2 signaling pathway and JNK and ERKs kinases. In addition, Bozepinib has an inhibitory effect on AKT and VEGF together with anti-angiogenic and anti-migratory activities. Moreover, the modulation of pathways involved in tumorigenesis by Bozepinib was also evident in microarrays analysis. Interestingly, Bozepinib inhibited both mamo- and colono-spheres formation and eliminated ALDH+ CSCs subpopulations at a low micromolar range similar to Salinomycin. Bozepinib induced the down-regulation of c-MYC, β-CATENIN and SOX2 proteins and the up-regulation of the GLI-3 hedgehog-signaling repressor. Finally, Bozepinib shows in vivo anti-tumor and anti-metastatic efficacy in xenotransplanted nude mice without presenting sub-acute toxicity. These findings support further studies on the therapeutic potential of Bozepinib in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ramírez
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Houria Boulaiz
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biopathology and Medicine Regenerative Institute (IBIMER), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Cynthia Morata-Tarifa
- Biopathology and Medicine Regenerative Institute (IBIMER), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Macarena Perán
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Gema Jiménez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biopathology and Medicine Regenerative Institute (IBIMER), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Picon-Ruiz
- Biopathology and Medicine Regenerative Institute (IBIMER), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ahmad Agil
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Spain
| | - Olga Cruz-López
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Conejo-García
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Joaquín M. Campos
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Sánchez
- Andalusian Public Health System Biobank, Granada, Spain
| | - María A. García
- Biopathology and Medicine Regenerative Institute (IBIMER), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Department of Oncology, Virgen de las Nieves, University Hospital, Granada, Spain
| | - Juan A. Marchal
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biopathology and Medicine Regenerative Institute (IBIMER), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
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Cao Z, Shang B, Zhang G, Miele L, Sarkar FH, Wang Z, Zhou Q. Tumor cell-mediated neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis contrive tumor progression and cancer metastasis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2013; 1836:273-286. [PMID: 23933263 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2013.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Robust neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis have been found in a variety of aggressive and metastatic tumors. Endothelial sprouting angiogenesis is generally considered to be the major mechanism by which new vasculature forms in tumors. However, increasing evidence shows that tumor vasculature is not solely composed of endothelial cells (ECs). Some tumor cells acquire processes similar to embryonic vasculogenesis and produce new vasculature through vasculogenic mimicry, trans-differentiation of tumor cells into tumor ECs, and tumor cell-EC vascular co-option. In addition, tumor cells secrete various vasculogenic factors that induce sprouting angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Vasculogenic tumor cells actively participate in the formation of vascular cancer stem cell niche and a premetastatic niche. Therefore, tumor cell-mediated neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis are closely associated with tumor progression, cancer metastasis, and poor prognosis. Vasculogenic tumor cells have emerged as key players in tumor neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis and play pivotal roles in tumor progression and cancer metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying tumor cell-mediated vascularity as they relate to tumor progression and cancer metastasis remain unclear. Increasing data have shown that various intrinsic and extrinsic factors activate oncogenes and vasculogenic genes, enhance vasculogenic signaling pathways, and trigger tumor neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis. Collectively, tumor cells are the instigators of neovascularization. Therefore, targeting vasculogenic tumor cells, genes, and signaling pathways will open new avenues for anti-tumor vasculogenic and metastatic drug discovery. Dual targeting of endothelial sprouting angiogenesis and tumor cell-mediated neovascularization and lymphangiogenesis may overcome current clinical problems with anti-angiogenic therapy, resulting in significantly improved anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei Cao
- Cyrus Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
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25
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Bid HK, Roberts RD, Manchanda PK, Houghton PJ. RAC1: an emerging therapeutic option for targeting cancer angiogenesis and metastasis. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:1925-34. [PMID: 24072884 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis and metastasis are well recognized as processes fundamental to the development of malignancy. Both processes involve the coordination of multiple cellular and chemical activities through myriad signaling networks, providing a mass of potential targets for therapeutic intervention. This review will focus on one master regulator of cell motility, RAC1, and the existing data with regard to its role in cell motility, including particular roles for tumor angiogenesis and invasion/metastasis. We also emphasize the preclinical investigations carried out with RAC1 inhibitors to evaluate the therapeutic potential of this target. Herein, we explore potential future directions as well as the challenges of targeting RAC1 in the treatment of cancer. Recent insights at the molecular and cellular levels are paving the way for a more directed and detailed approach to target mechanisms of RAC1 regulating angiogenesis and metastasis. Understanding these mechanisms may provide insight into RAC1 signaling components as alternative therapeutic targets for tumor angiogenesis and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant K Bid
- Corresponding Author: Peter J. Houghton, Center for Childhood Cancer, The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205.
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Rexer BN, Ghosh R, Narasanna A, Estrada MV, Chakrabarty A, Song Y, Engelman JA, Arteaga CL. Human breast cancer cells harboring a gatekeeper T798M mutation in HER2 overexpress EGFR ligands and are sensitive to dual inhibition of EGFR and HER2. Clin Cancer Res 2013; 19:5390-401. [PMID: 23948973 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-1038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mutations in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) genes can confer resistance to receptor-targeted therapies. A T798M mutation in the HER2 oncogene has been shown to confer resistance to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lapatinib. We studied the mechanisms of HER2-T798M-induced resistance to identify potential strategies to overcome that resistance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN HER2-T798M was stably expressed in BT474 and MCF10A cells. Mutant cells and xenografts were evaluated for effects of the mutation on proliferation, signaling, and tumor growth after treatment with combinations of inhibitors targeting the EGFR/HER2/HER3/PI3K axis. RESULTS A low 3% allelic frequency of the T798M mutant shifted 10-fold the IC50 of lapatinib. In mutant-expressing cells, lapatinib did not block basal phosphorylation of HER2, HER3, AKT, and ERK1/2. In vitro kinase assays showed increased autocatalytic activity of HER2-T798M. HER3 association with PI3K p85 was increased in mutant-expressing cells. BT474-T798M cells were also resistant to the HER2 antibody trastuzumab. These cells were sensitive to the pan-PI3K inhibitors BKM120 and XL147 and the irreversible HER2/EGFR TKI afatinib but not the MEK1/2 inhibitor CI-1040, suggesting continued dependence of the mutant cells on ErbB receptors and downstream PI3K signaling. BT474-T798M cells showed increased expression of the EGFR ligands EGF, TGFα, amphiregulin, and HB-EGF. Addition of the EGFR neutralizing antibody cetuximab or lapatinib restored trastuzumab sensitivity of BT474-T798M cells and xenografts, suggesting that increased EGFR ligand production was causally associated with drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS Simultaneous blockade of HER2 and EGFR should be an effective treatment strategy against HER2 gene-amplified breast cancer cells harboring T798M mutant alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent N Rexer
- Authors' Affiliations: Departments of Medicine and Cancer Biology, Breast Cancer Research Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center; and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Shang B, Zhang G, Pan Y, Zhou Q. Deciphering the Key Features of Malignant Tumor Microenvironment for Anti-cancer Therapy. CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT SOCIETY 2012; 5:211-23. [PMID: 22592483 PMCID: PMC3460050 DOI: 10.1007/s12307-012-0108-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) is important in tumor development and may be a target for anti-cancer therapy. The genesis of TME is a dynamic process that is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors and coordinated by multiple genes, cells, and signal pathways. Cancer anaerobic metabolism and various oncogenes may stimulate the genesis of TME. Tumor cells and cancer stem cells actively participate in the genesis of the cancer stem cell niche and tumor neovascularization, important in the initiation of the TME. Various cancer-associated stromal cells, derived niche factors, and tumor-associated macrophages may function as promoters in the genesis of the TME. Dicer1 gene-deleted stromal cells can induce generation of cancer stem cells and initiate tumorigenesis, suggesting that stromal cells also may promote the genesis of the TME. Therefore, the key features of TME include niche-driving oncogenes, cancer anaerobic metabolism, niche-driving cancer stem cells, neovascularization, tumor-associated inflammatory cells, and cancer-associated stromal cells. These features are potential targets for normalization of the malignant TME and effective anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingxue Shang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health; Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Gaochuan Zhang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health; Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Yanyan Pan
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health; Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 China
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health; Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 China
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123 China
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Bedi A, Chang X, Noonan K, Pham V, Bedi R, Fertig EJ, Considine M, Califano JA, Borrello I, Chung CH, Sidransky D, Ravi R. Inhibition of TGF-β enhances the in vivo antitumor efficacy of EGF receptor-targeted therapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2012; 11:2429-39. [PMID: 22927667 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-0101-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
EGF receptor (EGFR)-targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAb), such as cetuximab, execute their antitumor effect in vivo via blockade of receptor-ligand interactions and engagement of Fcγ receptors on immune effector cells that trigger antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). We show that tumors counteract the in vivo antitumor activity of anti-EGFR mAbs by increasing tumor cell-autonomous expression of TGF-β. We show that TGF-β suppresses the expression of key molecular effectors of immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity, including Apo2L/TRAIL, CD95L/FasL, granzyme B, and IFN-γ. In addition to exerting an extrinsic inhibition of the cytotoxic function of immune effectors, TGF-β-mediated activation of AKT provides an intrinsic EGFR-independent survival signal that protects tumor cells from immune cell-mediated apoptosis. Treatment of mice-bearing xenografts of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with cetuximab resulted in emergence of resistant tumor cells that expressed relatively higher levels of TGF-β compared with untreated tumor-bearing mice. Although treatment with cetuximab alone forced the natural selection of TGF-β-overexpressing tumor cells in nonregressing tumors, combinatorial treatment with cetuximab and a TGF-β-blocking antibody prevented the emergence of such resistant tumor cells and induced complete tumor regression. Therefore, elevated levels of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment enable tumor cells to evade ADCC and resist the antitumor activity of cetuximab in vivo. Our results show that TGF-β is a key molecular determinant of the de novo and acquired resistance of cancers to EGFR-targeted mAbs, and provide a rationale for combinatorial targeting of TGF-β to improve anti-EGFR-specific antibody therapy of EGFR-expressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atul Bedi
- Head and Neck Cancer Research Division, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 1550 Orleans Street, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Cancer Research Building II, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Marleau AM, Chen CS, Joyce JA, Tullis RH. Exosome removal as a therapeutic adjuvant in cancer. J Transl Med 2012; 10:134. [PMID: 22738135 PMCID: PMC3441244 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-10-134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 307] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosome secretion is a notable feature of malignancy owing to the roles of these nanoparticles in cancer growth, immune suppression, tumor angiogenesis and therapeutic resistance. Exosomes are 30-100 nm membrane vesicles released by many cells types during normal physiological processes. Tumors aberrantly secrete large quantities of exosomes that transport oncoproteins and immune suppressive molecules to support tumor growth and metastasis. The role of exosomes in intercellular signaling is exemplified by human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) over-expressing breast cancer, where exosomes with the HER2 oncoprotein stimulate tumor growth and interfere with the activity of the therapeutic antibody Herceptin®. Since numerous observations from experimental model systems point toward an important clinical impact of exosomes in cancer, several pharmacological strategies have been proposed for targeting their malignant activities. We also propose a novel device strategy involving extracorporeal hemofiltration of exosomes from the entire circulatory system using an affinity plasmapheresis platform known as the Aethlon ADAPT™ (adaptive dialysis-like affinity platform technology) system, which would overcome the risks of toxicity and drug interactions posed by pharmacological approaches. This technology allows affinity agents, including exosome-binding lectins and antibodies, to be immobilized in the outer-capillary space of plasma filtration membranes that integrate into existing kidney dialysis systems. Device therapies that evolve from this platform allow rapid extracorporeal capture and selective retention of target particles < 200 nm from the entire circulatory system. This strategy is supported by clinical experience in hepatitis C virus-infected patients using an ADAPT™ device, the Hemopurifier®, to reduce the systemic load of virions having similar sizes and glycosylated surfaces as cancer exosomes. This review discusses the possible therapeutic approaches for targeting immune suppressive exosomes in cancer patients, and the anticipated significance of these strategies for reversing immune dysfunction and improving responses to standard of care treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette M Marleau
- Aethlon Medical Inc, 8910 University Center Lane, Suite 660, San Diego, CA 92122, USA.
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30
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Finigan JH, Downey GP, Kern JA. Human epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in acute lung injury. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2012. [PMID: 22652197 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2012‐0100tr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome marked by increased permeability across the pulmonary epithelium resulting in pulmonary edema. Recent evidence suggests that members of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family are activated in alveolar epithelial cells during ALI and regulate alveolar epithelial barrier function. These tyrosine kinase receptors, which also participate in the pathophysiology of pulmonary epithelial malignancies, regulate cell growth, differentiation, and migration as well as cell-cell adhesion, all processes that influence epithelial injury and repair. In this review we outline mechanisms of epithelial injury and repair in ALI, activation patterns of this receptor family in pulmonary epithelial cells as a consequence injury, how receptor activation alters alveolar permeability, and the possible intracellular signaling pathways involved. Finally, we propose a theoretical model for how HER-mediated modulation of alveolar permeability might affect lung injury and repair. Understanding how these receptors signal has direct therapeutic implications in lung injury and other diseases characterized by altered epithelial barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Finigan
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, K736A, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
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31
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Finigan JH, Downey GP, Kern JA. Human epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in acute lung injury. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2012; 47:395-404. [PMID: 22652197 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2012-0100tr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome marked by increased permeability across the pulmonary epithelium resulting in pulmonary edema. Recent evidence suggests that members of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family are activated in alveolar epithelial cells during ALI and regulate alveolar epithelial barrier function. These tyrosine kinase receptors, which also participate in the pathophysiology of pulmonary epithelial malignancies, regulate cell growth, differentiation, and migration as well as cell-cell adhesion, all processes that influence epithelial injury and repair. In this review we outline mechanisms of epithelial injury and repair in ALI, activation patterns of this receptor family in pulmonary epithelial cells as a consequence injury, how receptor activation alters alveolar permeability, and the possible intracellular signaling pathways involved. Finally, we propose a theoretical model for how HER-mediated modulation of alveolar permeability might affect lung injury and repair. Understanding how these receptors signal has direct therapeutic implications in lung injury and other diseases characterized by altered epithelial barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Finigan
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, K736A, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
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Polanovski OL, Lebedenko EN, Deyev SM. ERBB oncogene proteins as targets for monoclonal antibodies. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2012; 77:227-45. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297912030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Peng CC, Hsieh CL, Wang HE, Chung JY, Chen KC, Peng RY. Ferulic acid is nephrodamaging while gallic acid is renal protective in long term treatment of chronic kidney disease. Clin Nutr 2011; 31:405-14. [PMID: 22154988 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2011] [Revised: 10/29/2011] [Accepted: 11/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS & AIMS The long term therapeutic effect of ferulic acid (FA) and gallic acid (GA) in treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been lacking. METHODS Doxorubicin (DR, Adriamycin)-induced CKD rat model was established for this study. RESULTS DR significantly reduced levels of serum albumin, GOT, GPT, RBC, TNF-α, and urinary creatinine and elevated serum cholesterol, TG, BUN, creatinine, uric acid, WBC, platelet count, and IL-6. In DRCKD rats, FA and GA significantly increased kidney weight and glomerular volume. FA reduced glomerular filtration rate but GA did not. FA enhanced more collagen deposition than GA in renal cortex and glomeruli. Both FA and GA showed crucial hyperlipidemic activity. The inhibitory effects of FA and GA on MMP-2 were very comparable. GA suppressed MMP-2 more effectively than FA in DRCKD rats. Both FA and GA induced SOD elevation and MDA elimination. In DRCKD rats, Western blot analysis indicated that FA further up-regulated CD34, α-SMA, tissue pDGFR, p-PDGFR, and TGF-β; and down-regulated p-PI3K, and p-Akt. Since both PDGF-BB and TGF-β are considered to induce kidney prefibrosis stage, GA was proved to be more beneficial in this regard. CONCLUSIONS GA tends to protect the CKD while FA is not recommended for the long term CKD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiung-Chi Peng
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Care, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40202, Taiwan, ROC
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Current world literature. Curr Opin Pediatr 2011; 23:492-7. [PMID: 21750430 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0b013e3283496fc1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Sempere LF, Gunn JR, Korc M. A novel 3-dimensional culture system uncovers growth stimulatory actions by TGFβ in pancreatic cancer cells. Cancer Biol Ther 2011; 12:198-207. [PMID: 21613822 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.12.3.15979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) exerts cell type-specific and context-dependent effects. Understanding the intrinsic effects of TGF-β on cancer cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a prerequisite for rationalized clinical implementation of TGF-β targeting therapies. Since the tumor microenvironment can affect how cancer cell respond to TGF-β, we employed a novel three-dimensional (3D) culturing system to recapitulate stromal and extracellular matrix interactions. We show here that TGF-β stimulates growth of human and murine pancreatic cancer cell lines (PCCs) when embedded in a 3% collagen IV/laminin-rich gelatinous medium (Matrigel™) over a solidified layer of soft agar. Moreover, in this novel 3D model, concomitant treatment with TGF-β1 and epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhanced PCC growth to a greater extent than either growth factor alone, and conferred increased chemoresistance to cytotoxic compounds. These cooperative growth-stimulatory effects were blocked by pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β type I receptor with SB431542 or the EGF receptor with erlotinib. Co-incubation with SB431542 and erlotinib enhanced the efficacy of gemcitabine and cisplatin in PCCs and in primary cell cultures established from pancreata of genetically-engineered mouse models of PDAC. These findings suggest that concomitant inhibition of TGF-β and EGF signaling may represent an effective therapeutic strategy in PDAC, and that this 3D culturing system could be utilized to test ex vivo the therapeutic response of pancreatic tumor biopsies from PDAC patients, thereby providing a functional assay to facilitate personalized targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo F Sempere
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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Targeting EGFR and VEGF(R) pathway cross-talk in tumor survival and angiogenesis. Pharmacol Ther 2011; 131:80-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 03/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Chow A, Arteaga CL, Wang SE. When tumor suppressor TGFβ meets the HER2 (ERBB2) oncogene. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2011; 16:81-8. [PMID: 21590373 PMCID: PMC3398103 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-011-9206-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite its tumor suppressive role in normal mammary epithelial cells, TGFβ has been reported to promote the migration, invasion and survival in breast cancer cells overexpressing the HER2 (ERBB2; neu) oncogene, and to accelerate the metastasis of neu-induced mammary tumors in mice. A clearer understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between TGFβ and HER2 has started to emerge. In recent studies reviewed here, the synergistic effect of TGFβ and HER2 on tumor progression has been shown to likely be a combined result of two distinct features: (1) loss of TGFβ's tumor suppressive effect through functional alterations in the anti-mitogenic effect of Smad-mediated transcription, and (2) gain of pro-survival and pro-migratory function through HER2-dependent mechanisms. In HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, this crosstalk results in increased cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasion, accelerated metastasis in animal models, and resistance to chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy. Thus, the transformed cellular context imparted by constitutively active HER2 signaling, as a consequence of HER2 gene amplification or overexpression, aborts the tumor suppressive role of TGFβ and facilitated the oncogenic role of this pathway. In turn, TGFβ potentiates oncogenic HER2 signaling by inducing shedding of the ERBB ligands and clustering of HER2 with integrins. Here we discuss recent studies examining Smad-dependent and -independent mechanisms of crosstalk between TGFβ and HER2. Therefore, blockade of TGFβ:HER2 crosstalk may suppress breast cancer progression and metastasis, and enhance the efficiency of conventional therapies in patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Chow
- Division of Tumor Cell Biology, Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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Giannelli G, Mazzocca A, Fransvea E, Lahn M, Antonaci S. Inhibiting TGF-β signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2011; 1815:214-23. [PMID: 21129443 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2010.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Revised: 11/18/2010] [Accepted: 11/20/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Activation of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in oncogenic transformation by v-Rel. Virology 2011; 413:60-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2011.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2010] [Revised: 10/11/2010] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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The Functional Crosstalk between HER2 Tyrosine Kinase and TGF-β Signaling in Breast Cancer Malignancy. JOURNAL OF SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION 2011; 2011:804236. [PMID: 21637380 PMCID: PMC3101605 DOI: 10.1155/2011/804236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates a functional crosstalk between the HER2 (ErbB2) tyrosine kinase and the TGF-β signaling mediated by its serine/threonine kinase receptors. In HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, this crosstalk results in increased cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasion, accelerated cancer progression and metastasis in animal models, and resistance to chemotherapy and HER2-targeted therapy. The transformed cellular context with constitutively active HER2 signaling, as a consequence of HER2 gene amplification or overexpression, converts TGF-β from a tumor suppressor to a malignancy-promoting factor. TGF-β, in turn, potentiates oncogenic HER2 signaling by inducing shedding of the ErbB ligands and clustering of HER2 with integrins. In addition, TGF-β is associated with resistance to trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 therapeutic antibody. Recent mechanistic studies indicate that TGF-β and HER2 cooperate through both Smad-dependent and independent mechanisms. Blockade of HER2:TGF-β crosstalk may significantly enhance the efficiency of conventional therapies in breast cancer patients with HER2 overexpression.
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