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Jin P, Duan X, Li L, Zhou P, Zou C, Xie K. Cellular senescence in cancer: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e542. [PMID: 38660685 PMCID: PMC11042538 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging exhibits several hallmarks in common with cancer, such as cellular senescence, dysbiosis, inflammation, genomic instability, and epigenetic changes. In recent decades, research into the role of cellular senescence on tumor progression has received widespread attention. While how senescence limits the course of cancer is well established, senescence has also been found to promote certain malignant phenotypes. The tumor-promoting effect of senescence is mainly elicited by a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which facilitates the interaction of senescent tumor cells with their surroundings. Targeting senescent cells therefore offers a promising technique for cancer therapy. Drugs that pharmacologically restore the normal function of senescent cells or eliminate them would assist in reestablishing homeostasis of cell signaling. Here, we describe cell senescence, its occurrence, phenotype, and impact on tumor biology. A "one-two-punch" therapeutic strategy in which cancer cell senescence is first induced, followed by the use of senotherapeutics for eliminating the senescent cells is introduced. The advances in the application of senotherapeutics for targeting senescent cells to assist cancer treatment are outlined, with an emphasis on drug categories, and the strategies for their screening, design, and efficient targeting. This work will foster a thorough comprehension and encourage additional research within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Jin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio‐Resources in Yunnan, School of Life SciencesYunnan UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Xirui Duan
- Department of OncologySchool of MedicineSichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's HospitalUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduSichuanChina
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Anorectal SurgeryHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineChengduChina
| | - Ping Zhou
- Department of OncologySchool of MedicineSichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's HospitalUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduSichuanChina
| | - Cheng‐Gang Zou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio‐Resources in Yunnan, School of Life SciencesYunnan UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Ke Xie
- Department of OncologySchool of MedicineSichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's HospitalUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduSichuanChina
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2
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Elshazly AM, Shahin U, Al Shboul S, Gewirtz DA, Saleh T. A Conversation with ChatGPT on Contentious Issues in Senescence and Cancer Research. Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:313-327. [PMID: 38458774 PMCID: PMC11026153 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.124.000871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, such as Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT), have achieved a high degree of popularity within the scientific community due to their utility in providing evidence-based reviews of the literature. However, the accuracy and reliability of the information output and the ability to provide critical analysis of the literature, especially with respect to highly controversial issues, has generally not been evaluated. In this work, we arranged a question/answer session with ChatGPT regarding several unresolved questions in the field of cancer research relating to therapy-induced senescence (TIS), including the topics of senescence reversibility, its connection to tumor dormancy, and the pharmacology of the newly emerging drug class of senolytics. ChatGPT generally provided responses consistent with the available literature, although occasionally overlooking essential components of the current understanding of the role of TIS in cancer biology and treatment. Although ChatGPT, and similar AI platforms, have utility in providing an accurate evidence-based review of the literature, their outputs should still be considered carefully, especially with respect to unresolved issues in tumor biology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Artificial Intelligence platforms have provided great utility for researchers to investigate biomedical literature in a prompt manner. However, several issues arise when it comes to certain unresolved biological questions, especially in the cancer field. This work provided a discussion with ChatGPT regarding some of the yet-to-be-fully-elucidated conundrums of the role of therapy-induced senescence in cancer treatment and highlights the strengths and weaknesses in utilizing such platforms for analyzing the scientific literature on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Elshazly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (A.M.E., D.A.G.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt (A.M.E.); and Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan (U.S., S.A.S., T.S.)
| | - Uruk Shahin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (A.M.E., D.A.G.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt (A.M.E.); and Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan (U.S., S.A.S., T.S.)
| | - Sofian Al Shboul
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (A.M.E., D.A.G.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt (A.M.E.); and Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan (U.S., S.A.S., T.S.)
| | - David A Gewirtz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (A.M.E., D.A.G.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt (A.M.E.); and Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan (U.S., S.A.S., T.S.)
| | - Tareq Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (A.M.E., D.A.G.); Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt (A.M.E.); and Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan (U.S., S.A.S., T.S.)
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3
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Zingoni A, Antonangeli F, Sozzani S, Santoni A, Cippitelli M, Soriani A. The senescence journey in cancer immunoediting. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:68. [PMID: 38561826 PMCID: PMC10983694 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01973-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer progression is continuously controlled by the immune system which can identify and destroy nascent tumor cells or inhibit metastatic spreading. However, the immune system and its deregulated activity in the tumor microenvironment can also promote tumor progression favoring the outgrowth of cancers capable of escaping immune control, in a process termed cancer immunoediting. This process, which has been classified into three phases, i.e. "elimination", "equilibrium" and "escape", is influenced by several cancer- and microenvironment-dependent factors. Senescence is a cellular program primed by cells in response to different pathophysiological stimuli, which is based on long-lasting cell cycle arrest and the secretion of numerous bioactive and inflammatory molecules. Because of this, cellular senescence is a potent immunomodulatory factor promptly recruiting immune cells and actively promoting tissue remodeling. In the context of cancer, these functions can lead to both cancer immunosurveillance and immunosuppression. In this review, the authors will discuss the role of senescence in cancer immunoediting, highlighting its context- and timing-dependent effects on the different three phases, describing how senescent cells promote immune cell recruitment for cancer cell elimination or sustain tumor microenvironment inflammation for immune escape. A potential contribution of senescent cells in cancer dormancy, as a mechanism of therapy resistance and cancer relapse, will be discussed with the final objective to unravel the immunotherapeutic implications of senescence modulation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zingoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Antonangeli
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Silvano Sozzani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, 86077, Italy
| | - Marco Cippitelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Soriani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00161, Italy.
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Abu-Humaidan AH, Ismail MA, Ahmad FM, Al Shboul S, Barham R, Tadros JS, Alhesa A, El-Sadoni M, Alotaibi MR, Ababneh NA, Saleh T. Therapy-induced senescent cancer cells exhibit complement activation and increased complement regulatory protein expression. Immunol Cell Biol 2024; 102:240-255. [PMID: 38265162 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) is a primary response to chemotherapy, contributing to untoward treatment outcomes such as evasion of immunosurveillance. Despite the established role of the complement system in the immune response to cancer, the role of complement in mediating the immune response against senescent tumor cells remains poorly understood. To explore this relationship, we exposed lung adenocarcinoma (A549), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) and pancreatic carcinoma (Panc-1) cell lines to sublethal doses of either etoposide or doxorubicin to trigger TIS. Identification of TIS was based on morphological changes, upregulation of the senescence-associated β-galactosidase, p21Cip1 induction and lamin B1 downregulation. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, quantitative PCR, ELISA of conditioned media and in silico analysis, we investigated complement activation, complement protein expression, C3 levels in the conditioned media of senescent cells and secreted complement proteins as part of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), respectively. In cell lines undergoing TIS, complement-related changes included (i) activation of the terminal pathway, evidenced by the deposition of C5b-9 on senescent cells; (ii) an increase in the expression of CD59 and complement factor H and (iii) in A549 cells, an elevation in the expression of C3 with its secretion into the medium. In addition, increased C3 expression was observed in breast cancer samples expressing TIS hallmarks following exposure to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In conclusion, TIS led to the activation of complement, upregulation of complement regulatory proteins and increased C3 expression. Complement appears to play a role in shaping the cancer microenvironment upon senescence induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anas Ha Abu-Humaidan
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mohammad A Ismail
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- South Australian ImmunoGENomics Cancer Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Fatima M Ahmad
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Department of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences, School of Science, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Sofian Al Shboul
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Raghad Barham
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Joud S Tadros
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Alhesa
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mohammed El-Sadoni
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Moureq R Alotaibi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nidaa A Ababneh
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Tareq Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
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Palanivel C, Madduri LSV, Hein AL, Jenkins CB, Graff BT, Camero AL, Zhou S, Enke CA, Ouellette MM, Yan Y. PR55α-controlled protein phosphatase 2A inhibits p16 expression and blocks cellular senescence induction by γ-irradiation. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:4116-4137. [PMID: 38441530 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a permanent cell cycle arrest that can be triggered by both internal and external genotoxic stressors, such as telomere dysfunction and DNA damage. The execution of senescence is mainly by two pathways, p16/RB and p53/p21, which lead to CDK4/6 inhibition and RB activation to block cell cycle progression. While the regulation of p53/p21 signaling in response to DNA damage and other insults is well-defined, the regulation of the p16/RB pathway in response to various stressors remains poorly understood. Here, we report a novel function of PR55α, a regulatory subunit of PP2A Ser/Thr phosphatase, as a potent inhibitor of p16 expression and senescence induction by ionizing radiation (IR), such as γ-rays. The results show that ectopic PR55α expression in normal pancreatic cells inhibits p16 transcription, increases RB phosphorylation, and blocks IR-induced senescence. Conversely, PR55α-knockdown by shRNA in pancreatic cancer cells elevates p16 transcription, reduces RB phosphorylation, and triggers senescence induction after IR. Furthermore, this PR55α function in the regulation of p16 and senescence is p53-independent because it was unaffected by the mutational status of p53. Moreover, PR55α only affects p16 expression but not p14 (ARF) expression, which is also transcribed from the same CDKN2A locus but from an alternative promoter. In normal human tissues, levels of p16 and PR55α proteins were inversely correlated and mutually exclusive. Collectively, these results describe a novel function of PR55α/PP2A in blocking p16/RB signaling and IR-induced cellular senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Palanivel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Lepakshe S V Madduri
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Ashley L Hein
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Christopher B Jenkins
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Brendan T Graff
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Alison L Camero
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Sumin Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Charles A Enke
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Michel M Ouellette
- Department of Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Ying Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Collignon E. Unveiling the role of cellular dormancy in cancer progression and recurrence. Curr Opin Oncol 2024; 36:74-81. [PMID: 38193374 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000001013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cellular dormancy is a major contributor to cancer progression and recurrence. This review explores recent findings on the molecular mechanisms implicated in cancer dormancy and investigates potential strategies to improve therapeutic interventions. RECENT FINDINGS Research on cancer dormancy reveals a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Providing a latent reservoir of tumor cells with reduced proliferation and enhanced drug-tolerance, dormant cancer cells emerge from a clonally diverse population after therapy or at metastatic sites. These cells exhibit distinct transcriptional and epigenetic profiles, involving the downregulation of Myc and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways, and the induction of autophagy. Senescence traits, under the control of factors such as p53, also contribute significantly. The tumor microenvironment can either promote or prevent dormancy establishment, notably through the involvement of T and NK cells within the dormant tumor niche. Strategies to combat dormancy-related relapse include direct elimination of dormant tumor cells, sustaining dormancy to prolong survival, or awakening dormant cells to re-sensitize them to antiproliferative drugs. SUMMARY Improving our understanding of cancer dormancy at primary and secondary sites provides valuable insights into patient care and relapse prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyne Collignon
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB-Cancer Research Centre (U-CRC) and Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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Menendez JA, Cuyàs E, Encinar JA, Vander Steen T, Verdura S, Llop‐Hernández À, López J, Serrano‐Hervás E, Osuna S, Martin‐Castillo B, Lupu R. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) signalome: A molecular guide for precision oncology. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:479-516. [PMID: 38158755 PMCID: PMC10920094 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The initial excitement generated more than two decades ago by the discovery of drugs targeting fatty acid synthase (FASN)-catalyzed de novo lipogenesis for cancer therapy was short-lived. However, the advent of the first clinical-grade FASN inhibitor (TVB-2640; denifanstat), which is currently being studied in various phase II trials, and the exciting advances in understanding the FASN signalome are fueling a renewed interest in FASN-targeted strategies for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Here, we provide a detailed overview of how FASN can drive phenotypic plasticity and cell fate decisions, mitochondrial regulation of cell death, immune escape and organ-specific metastatic potential. We then present a variety of FASN-targeted therapeutic approaches that address the major challenges facing FASN therapy. These include limitations of current FASN inhibitors and the lack of precision tools to maximize the therapeutic potential of FASN inhibitors in the clinic. Rethinking the role of FASN as a signal transducer in cancer pathogenesis may provide molecularly driven strategies to optimize FASN as a long-awaited target for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier A. Menendez
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Jose Antonio Encinar
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE) and Molecular and Cell Biology Institute (IBMC)Miguel Hernández University (UMH)ElcheSpain
| | - Travis Vander Steen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Mayo Clinic Cancer CenterRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology LaboratoryMayo Clinic LaboratoryRochesterMNUSA
| | - Sara Verdura
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Àngela Llop‐Hernández
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Júlia López
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Eila Serrano‐Hervás
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
- ICREABarcelonaSpain
| | - Begoña Martin‐Castillo
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
- Unit of Clinical ResearchCatalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
| | - Ruth Lupu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Mayo Clinic Cancer CenterRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology LaboratoryMayo Clinic LaboratoryRochesterMNUSA
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8
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Chen HL, Jin WL. Diapause-like Drug-Tolerant Persister State: The Key to Nirvana Rebirth. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:228. [PMID: 38399515 PMCID: PMC10890489 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60020228] [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] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Various drugs have been developed to eliminate it but to no avail because a tumor can go into dormancy to avoid therapy. In the past few decades, tumor dormancy has become a popular topic in cancer therapy. Recently, there has been an important breakthrough in the study of tumor dormancy. That is, cancer cells can enter a reversible drug-tolerant persister (DTP) state to avoid therapy, but no exact mechanism has been found. The study of the link between the DTP state and diapause seems to provide an opportunity for a correct understanding of the mechanism of the DTP state. Completely treating cancer and avoiding dormancy by targeting the expression of key genes in diapause are possible. This review delves into the characteristics of the DTP state and its connection with embryonic diapause, and possible treatment strategies are summarized. The authors believe that this review will promote the development of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Lin Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
- Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wei-Lin Jin
- The First Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
- Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Alsalem M, Ellaithy A, Bloukh S, Haddad M, Saleh T. Targeting therapy-induced senescence as a novel strategy to combat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:85. [PMID: 38177894 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08287-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a treatment-limiting adverse effect of anticancer therapy that complicates the lifestyle of many cancer survivors. There is currently no gold-standard for the assessment or management of CIPN. Subsequently, understanding the underlying mechanisms that lead to the development of CIPN is essential for finding better pharmacological therapy. Therapy-induced senescence (TIS) is a form of senescence that is triggered in malignant and non-malignant cells in response to the exposure to chemotherapy. Recent evidence has also suggested that TIS develops in the dorsal root ganglia of rodent models of CIPN. Interestingly, several components of the senescent phenotype are commensurate with the currently established primary processes implicated in the pathogenesis of CIPN including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. In this article, we review the literature that supports the hypothesis that TIS could serve as a holistic mechanism leading to CIPN, and we propose the potential for investigating senotherapeutics as means to mitigate CIPN in cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Alsalem
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Amr Ellaithy
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sarah Bloukh
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Mansour Haddad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
| | - Tareq Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan.
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10
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Manousakis E, Miralles CM, Esquerda MG, Wright RHG. CDKN1A/p21 in Breast Cancer: Part of the Problem, or Part of the Solution? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17488. [PMID: 38139316 PMCID: PMC10743848 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (Cip1/Waf1/CDKN1A/p21) is a well-established protein, primarily recognised for its pivotal role in the cell cycle, where it induces cell cycle arrest by inhibiting the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Over the years, extensive research has shed light on various additional mechanisms involving CDKN1A/p21, implicating it in processes such as apoptosis, DNA damage response (DDR), and the regulation of stem cell fate. Interestingly, p21 can function either as an oncogene or as a tumour suppressor in these contexts. Complicating matters further, the expression of CDKN1A/p21 is elevated in certain tumour types while downregulated in others. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the multifaceted functions of CDKN1A/p21, present clinical data pertaining to cancer patients, and delve into potential strategies for targeting CDKN1A/p21 as a therapeutic approach to cancer. Manipulating CDKN1A/p21 shows great promise for therapy given its involvement in multiple cancer hallmarks, such as sustained cell proliferation, the renewal of cancer stem cells (CSCs), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration, and resistance to chemotherapy. Given the dual role of CDKN1A/p21 in these processes, a more in-depth understanding of its specific mechanisms of action and its regulatory network is imperative to establishing successful therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roni H. G. Wright
- Basic Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Saleh T, Bloukh S, Hasan M, Al Shboul S. Therapy-induced senescence as a component of tumor biology: Evidence from clinical cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188994. [PMID: 37806641 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Therapy-Induced Senescence (TIS) is an established response to anticancer therapy in a variety of cancer models. Ample evidence has characterized the triggers, hallmarks, and functional outcomes of TIS in preclinical studies; however, limited evidence delineates TIS in clinical cancer (human tumor samples). We examined the literature that investigated the induction of TIS in samples derived from human cancers and highlighted the major findings that suggested that TIS represents a main constituent of tumor biology. The most frequently utilized approach to identify TIS in human cancers was to investigate the protein expression of senescence-associated markers (such as cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, Ki67, DNA damage repair response markers, DEC1, and DcR1) via immunohistochemical techniques using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples and/or testing the upregulation of Senescence-Associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) in frozen sections of unfixed tumor samples. Collectively, and in studies where the extent of TIS was determined, TIS was detected in 31-66% of tumors exposed to various forms of chemotherapy. Moreover, TIS was not only limited to both malignant and non-malignant components of tumoral tissue but was also identified in samples of normal (non-transformed) tissue upon chemo- or radiotherapy exposure. Nevertheless, the available evidence continues to be limited and requires a more rigorous assessment of in vivo senescence based on novel approaches and more reliable molecular signatures. The accurate assessment of TIS will be beneficial for determining its relevant contribution to the overall outcome of cancer therapy and the potential translatability of senotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tareq Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan.
| | - Sarah Bloukh
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Mira Hasan
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA
| | - Sofian Al Shboul
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan
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12
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Elshazly AM, Gewirtz DA. Cytoprotective, Cytotoxic and Cytostatic Roles of Autophagy in Response to BET Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12669. [PMID: 37628849 PMCID: PMC10454099 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family inhibitors are small molecules that target the dysregulated epigenetic readers, BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT, at various transcription-related sites, including super-enhancers. BET inhibitors are currently under investigation both in pre-clinical cell culture and tumor-bearing animal models, as well as in clinical trials. However, as is the case with other chemotherapeutic modalities, the development of resistance is likely to constrain the therapeutic benefits of this strategy. One tumor cell survival mechanism that has been studied for decades is autophagy. Although four different functions of autophagy have been identified in the literature (cytoprotective, cytotoxic, cytostatic and non-protective), primarily the cytoprotective and cytotoxic forms appear to function in different experimental models exposed to BET inhibitors (with some evidence for the cytostatic form). This review provides an overview of the cytoprotective, cytotoxic and cytostatic functions of autophagy in response to BET inhibitors in various tumor models. Our aim is to determine whether autophagy targeting or modulation could represent an effective therapeutic strategy to enhance the response to these modalities and also potentially overcome resistance to BET inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M. Elshazly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - David A. Gewirtz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
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13
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Elshazly AM, Sinanian MM, Neely V, Chakraborty E, Alshehri MA, McGrath MK, Harada H, Schoenlein PV, Gewirtz DA. BRD4 Inhibition as a Strategy to Prolong the Response to Standard of Care in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4066. [PMID: 37627092 PMCID: PMC10452571 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring malignancy in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. ER+ breast cancer constitutes approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases. The standard of care for ER+ breast cancer involves estrogen antagonists such as tamoxifen or fulvestrant in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib. However, these treatments are often not curative, with disease recurrence and metastasis being responsible for patient mortality. Overexpression of the epigenetic regulator, BRD4, has been shown to be a negative prognostic indicator in breast cancer, and BET family inhibitors such as ARV-825 and ABBV-744 have garnered interest for their potential to improve and prolong the response to current therapeutic strategies. The current work examined the potential of utilizing ARV-825 and ABBV-744 to increase the effectiveness of tamoxifen or fulvestrant plus palbociclib. ARV-825 was effective in both p53 wild-type (WT) breast tumor cells and in cells lacking functional p53 either alone or in combination with tamoxifen, while the effectiveness of ABBV-744 was limited to fulvestrant plus palbociclib in p53 WT cells. These differential effects may be related to the capacity to suppress c-Myc, a downstream target of BRD4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M. Elshazly
- Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.M.E.); (M.M.S.); (M.A.A.)
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Melanie M. Sinanian
- Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.M.E.); (M.M.S.); (M.A.A.)
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
| | - Victoria Neely
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
- Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Eesha Chakraborty
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
- C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Muruj A. Alshehri
- Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.M.E.); (M.M.S.); (M.A.A.)
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael K. McGrath
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, MCG Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (M.K.M.); (P.V.S.)
| | - Hisashi Harada
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
- Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Patricia V. Schoenlein
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, MCG Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; (M.K.M.); (P.V.S.)
| | - David A. Gewirtz
- Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.M.E.); (M.M.S.); (M.A.A.)
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (V.N.); (E.C.); (H.H.)
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14
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Chojak R, Fares J, Petrosyan E, Lesniak MS. Cellular senescence in glioma. J Neurooncol 2023; 164:11-29. [PMID: 37458855 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-023-04387-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor and is often associated with treatment resistance and poor prognosis. Standard treatment typically involves radiotherapy and temozolomide-based chemotherapy, both of which induce cellular senescence-a tumor suppression mechanism. DISCUSSION Gliomas employ various mechanisms to bypass or escape senescence and remain in a proliferative state. Importantly, senescent cells remain viable and secrete a large number of factors collectively known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that, paradoxically, also have pro-tumorigenic effects. Furthermore, senescent cells may represent one form of tumor dormancy and play a role in glioma recurrence and progression. CONCLUSION In this article, we delineate an overview of senescence in the context of gliomas, including the mechanisms that lead to senescence induction, bypass, and escape. Furthermore, we examine the role of senescent cells in the tumor microenvironment and their role in tumor progression and recurrence. Additionally, we highlight potential therapeutic opportunities for targeting senescence in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Chojak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St Clair Street, Suite 2210, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jawad Fares
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St Clair Street, Suite 2210, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Edgar Petrosyan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St Clair Street, Suite 2210, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maciej S Lesniak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 N. St Clair Street, Suite 2210, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Northwestern Medicine Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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15
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Merat R. The human antigen R as an actionable super-hub within the network of cancer cell persistency and plasticity. Transl Oncol 2023; 35:101722. [PMID: 37352624 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this perspective article, a clinically inspired phenotype-driven experimental approach is put forward to address the challenge of the adaptive response of solid cancers to small-molecule targeted therapies. A list of conditions is derived, including an experimental quantitative assessment of cell plasticity and an information theory-based detection of in vivo dependencies, for the discovery of post-transcriptional druggable mechanisms capable of preventing at multiple levels the emergence of plastic dedifferentiated slow-proliferating cells. The approach is illustrated by the author's own work in the example case of the adaptive response of BRAFV600-melanoma to BRAF inhibition. A bench-to-bedside and back to bench effort leads to a therapeutic strategy in which the inhibition of the baseline activity of the interferon-γ-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT) complex, incriminated in the expression insufficiency of the RNA-binding protein HuR in a minority of cells, results in the suppression of the plastic, intermittently slow-proliferating cells involved in the adaptive response. A similar approach is recommended for the validation of other classes of mechanisms that we seek to modulate to overcome this complex challenge of modern cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rastine Merat
- Dermato-Oncology Unit, Division of Dermatology, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
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16
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Liu J, Zheng R, Zhang Y, Jia S, He Y, Liu J. The Cross Talk between Cellular Senescence and Melanoma: From Molecular Pathogenesis to Target Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092640. [PMID: 37174106 PMCID: PMC10177054 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that originates from melanocytes. The pathogenesis of melanoma involves a complex interaction that occurs between environmental factors, ultraviolet (UV)-light damage, and genetic alterations. UV light is the primary driver of the skin aging process and development of melanoma, which can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the presence of DNA damage in the cells, and results in cell senescence. As cellular senescence plays an important role in the relationship that exists between the skin aging process and the development of melanoma, the present study provides insight into the literature concerning the topic at present and discusses the relationship between skin aging and melanoma, including the mechanisms of cellular senescence that drive melanoma progression, the microenvironment in relation to skin aging and melanoma factors, and the therapeutics concerning melanoma. This review focuses on defining the role of cellular senescence in the process of melanoma carcinogenesis and discusses the targeting of senescent cells through therapeutic approaches, highlighting the areas that require more extensive research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahua Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Runzi Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yanghuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Shuting Jia
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yonghan He
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Aging and Tumor, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
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17
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El-Sadoni M, Shboul SA, Alhesa A, Shahin NA, Alsharaiah E, Ismail MA, Ababneh NA, Alotaibi MR, Azab B, Saleh T. A three-marker signature identifies senescence in human breast cancer exposed to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2023; 91:345-360. [PMID: 36964435 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04523-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite the beneficial effects of chemotherapy, therapy-induced senescence (TIS) manifests itself as an undesirable byproduct. Preclinical evidence suggests that tumor cells undergoing TIS can re-emerge as more aggressive divergents and contribute to recurrence, and thus, senolytics were proposed as adjuvant treatment to eliminate senescent tumor cells. However, the identification of TIS in clinical samples is essential for the optimal use of senolytics in cancer therapy. In this study, we aimed to detect and quantify TIS using matched breast cancer samples collected pre- and post-exposure to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHODS Detection of TIS was based on the change in gene and protein expression levels of three senescence-associated markers (downregulation of Lamin B1 and Ki-67 and upregulation of p16INK4a). RESULTS Our analysis revealed that 23 of 72 (31%) of tumors had a shift in the protein expression of the three markers after exposure to NAC suggestive of TIS. Gene expression sets of two independent NAC-treated breast cancer samples showed consistent changes in the expression levels of LMNB1, MKI67 and CDKN2A. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our study shows a more individualized approach to measure TIS hallmarks in matched breast cancer samples and provides an estimation of the extent of TIS in breast cancer clinically. Results from this work should be complemented with more comprehensive identification approaches of TIS in clinical samples in order to adopt a more careful implementation of senolytics in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed El-Sadoni
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Sofian Al Shboul
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Alhesa
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Nisreen Abu Shahin
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Elham Alsharaiah
- Department of Pathology, Royal Medical Services, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | | | - Nidaa A Ababneh
- Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Moureq R Alotaibi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bilal Azab
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Tareq Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan.
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18
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DeLuca VJ, Saleh T. Insights into the role of senescence in tumor dormancy: mechanisms and applications. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:19-35. [PMID: 36681750 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10082-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
One of the most formidable challenges in oncology and tumor biology research is to provide an accurate understanding of tumor dormancy mechanisms. Dormancy refers to the ability of tumor cells to go undetected in the body for a prolonged period, followed by "spontaneous" escape. Various models of dormancy have been postulated, including angiogenic, immune-mediated, and cellular dormancy. While the former two propose mechanisms by which tumor growth may remain static at a population level, cellular dormancy refers to molecular processes that restrict proliferation at the cell level. Senescence is a form of growth arrest, during which cells undergo distinct phenotypic, epigenetic, and metabolic changes. Senescence is also associated with the development of a robust secretome, comprised of various chemokines and cytokines that interact with the surrounding microenvironment, including other tumor cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. Both tumor and non-tumor cells can undergo senescence following various stressors, many of which are present during tumorigenesis and therapy. As such, senescent cells are present within forming tumors and in residual tumors post-treatment and therefore play a major role in tumor biology. However, the contributions of senescence to dormancy are largely understudied. Here, we provide an overview of multiple processes that have been well established as being involved in tumor dormancy, and we speculate on how senescence may contribute to these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie J DeLuca
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Tareq Saleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan.
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19
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Truskowski K, Amend SR, Pienta KJ. Dormant cancer cells: programmed quiescence, senescence, or both? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:37-47. [PMID: 36598661 PMCID: PMC10014758 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10073-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is the overwhelming driver of cancer mortality, accounting for the majority of cancer deaths. Many patients present with metastatic relapse years after eradication of the primary lesion. Disseminated cancer cells can undergo a durable proliferative arrest and lie dormant in secondary tissues before reentering the cell cycle to seed these lethal relapses. This process of cancer cell dormancy remains poorly understood, largely due to difficulties in studying these dormant cells. In the face of these challenges, the application of knowledge from the cellular senescence and quiescence fields may help to guide future thinking on the study of dormant cancer cells. Both senescence and quiescence are common programs of proliferative arrest that are integral to tissue development and homeostasis. Despite phenotypic differences, these two states also share common characteristics, and both likely play a role in cancer dormancy and delayed metastatic relapse. Understanding the cell biology behind these states, their overlaps and unique characteristics is critical to our future understanding of dormant cancer cells, as these cells likely employ some of the same molecular programs to promote survival and dissemination. In this review, we highlight the biology underlying these non-proliferative states, relate this knowledge to what we currently know about dormant cancer cells, and discuss implications for future work toward targeting these elusive metastatic seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Truskowski
- Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1830 E. Monument St. Suite 20103, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Cancer Ecology Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Sarah R Amend
- Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1830 E. Monument St. Suite 20103, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cancer Ecology Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kenneth J Pienta
- Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 1830 E. Monument St. Suite 20103, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Cancer Ecology Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, USA
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20
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Esimbekova AR, Palkina NV, Zinchenko IS, Belenyuk VD, Savchenko AA, Sergeeva EY, Ruksha T. Focal adhesion alterations in
G0
‐positive melanoma cells. Cancer Med 2022; 12:7294-7308. [PMID: 36533319 PMCID: PMC10067123 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor that exhibits various forms of drug resistance. Recently, reversal transition of cancer cells to the G0 phase of the cell cycle under the influence of therapeutic drugs has been identified as an event associated with tumor dissemination. In the present study, we investigated the ability of chemotherapeutic agent dacarbazine to induce a transition of melanoma cells to the G0 phase as a mechanism of chemoresistance. METHODS We used the flow cytometry to analyze cell distribution within cell cycle phases after dacarbazine treatment as well as to identifyG0 -positive cells population. Transcriptome profiling was provided to determine genes associated with dacarbazine resistance. We evaluated the activity of β-galactosidase in cells treated with dacarbazine by substrate hydrolysis. Cell adhesion strength was measured by centrifugal assay application with subsequent staining of adhesive cells with Ki-67 monoclonal antibodies. Ability of melanoma cells to metabolize dacarbazine was determined by expressional analysis of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2E1 followed by CYP1A1 protein level evaluation by the ELISA method. RESULTS The present study determined that dacarbazine treatment of melanoma cells could induce an increase in the percentage of cells in G0 phase without alterations of β-galactosidase positive cells which corresponded to the fraction of the senescent cells. Transcriptomic profiling of cells under dacarbazine induction of G0 -positive cells percentage revealed that 'VEGFA-VEGFR2 signaling pathway' and 'Cell cycle' signaling were mostly enriched by dysregulated genes. 'Focal adhesion' signaling was also found to be triggered by dacarbazine. In melanoma cells treated with dacarbazine, an increase in G0 -positive cells among adherent cells was found. CONCLUSIONS Dacarbazine induces the alteration in a percentage of melanoma cells residing in G0 phase of a cell cycle. The altered adhesive phenotype of cancer cells under transition in the G0 phase may refer to a specific intercellular communication pattern of quiescent/senescent cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadezhda V. Palkina
- Department of Pathophysiology Krasnoyarsk State Medical University Krasnoyarsk Russia
| | - Ivan S. Zinchenko
- Department of Pathophysiology Krasnoyarsk State Medical University Krasnoyarsk Russia
| | - Vasiliy D. Belenyuk
- Laboratory of Cell Molecular Physiology and Pathology Federal Research Center, Krasnoyarsk Science Center of The Siberian Branch of The Russian Academy of Sciences Krasnoyarsk Russia
| | - Andrey A. Savchenko
- Laboratory of Cell Molecular Physiology and Pathology Federal Research Center, Krasnoyarsk Science Center of The Siberian Branch of The Russian Academy of Sciences Krasnoyarsk Russia
| | - Ekaterina Yu Sergeeva
- Department of Pathophysiology Krasnoyarsk State Medical University Krasnoyarsk Russia
| | - Tatiana G. Ruksha
- Department of Pathophysiology Krasnoyarsk State Medical University Krasnoyarsk Russia
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21
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Bousset L, Gil J. Targeting senescence as an anticancer therapy. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:3855-3880. [PMID: 36065138 PMCID: PMC9627790 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a stress response elicited by different molecular insults. Senescence results in cell cycle exit and is characterised by multiple phenotypic changes such as the production of a bioactive secretome. Senescent cells accumulate during ageing and are present in cancerous and fibrotic lesions. Drugs that selectively kill senescent cells (senolytics) have shown great promise for the treatment of age-related diseases. Senescence plays paradoxical roles in cancer. Induction of senescence limits cancer progression and contributes to therapy success, but lingering senescent cells fuel progression, recurrence, and metastasis. In this review, we describe the intricate relation between senescence and cancer. Moreover, we enumerate how current anticancer therapies induce senescence in tumour cells and how senolytic agents could be deployed to complement anticancer therapies. "One-two punch" therapies aim to first induce senescence in the tumour followed by senolytic treatment to target newly exposed vulnerabilities in senescent tumour cells. "One-two punch" represents an emerging and promising new strategy in cancer treatment. Future challenges of "one-two punch" approaches include how to best monitor senescence in cancer patients to effectively survey their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bousset
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS)UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS)Imperial College LondonUK
| | - Jesús Gil
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS)UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS)Imperial College LondonUK
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22
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Can 3D bioprinting solve the mystery of senescence in cancer therapy? Ageing Res Rev 2022; 81:101732. [PMID: 36100069 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Tumor dormancy leading to cancer relapse is still a poorly understood mechanism. Several cell states such as quiescence and diapause can explain the persistence of tumor cells in a dormant state, but the potential role of tumor cell senescence has been met with hesitance given the historical understanding of the senescent growth arrest as irreversible. However, recent evidence has suggested that senescence might contribute to dormancy and relapse, although its exact role is not fully developed. This limited understanding is largely due to the paucity of reliable study models. The current 2D cell modeling is overly simplistic and lacks the appropriate representation of the interactions between tumor cells (senescent or non-senescent) and the other cell types within the tumor microenvironment (TME), as well as with the extracellular matrix (ECM). 3D cell culture models, including 3D bioprinting techniques, offer a promising approach to better recapitulate the native cancer microenvironment and would significantly improve our understanding of cancer biology and cellular response to treatment, particularly Therapy-Induced Senescence (TIS), and its contribution to tumor dormancy and cancer recurrence. Fabricating a novel 3D bioprinted model offers excellent opportunities to investigate both the role of TIS in tumor dormancy and the utility of senolytics (drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells) in targeting dormant cancer cells and mitigating the risk for resurgence. In this review, we discuss literature on the possible contribution of TIS in tumor dormancy, provide examples on the current 3D models of senescence, and propose a novel 3D model to investigate the ultimate role of TIS in mediating overall response to therapy.
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Therapy-Induced Senescent/Polyploid Cancer Cells Undergo Atypical Divisions Associated with Altered Expression of Meiosis, Spermatogenesis and EMT Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158288. [PMID: 35955416 PMCID: PMC9368617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon anticancer treatment, cancer cells can undergo cellular senescence, i.e., the temporal arrest of cell division, accompanied by polyploidization and subsequent amitotic divisions, giving rise to mitotically dividing progeny. In this study, we sought to further characterize the cells undergoing senescence/polyploidization and their propensity for atypical divisions. We used p53-wild type MCF-7 cells treated with irinotecan (IRI), which we have previously shown undergo senescence/polyploidization. The propensity of cells to divide was measured by a BrdU incorporation assay, Ki67 protein level (cell cycle marker) and a time-lapse technique. Advanced electron microscopy-based cell visualization and bioinformatics for gene transcription analysis were also used. We found that after IRI-treatment of MCF-7 cells, the DNA replication and Ki67 level decreased temporally. Eventually, polyploid cells divided by budding. With the use of transmission electron microscopy, we showed the presence of mononuclear small cells inside senescent/polyploid ones. A comparison of the transcriptome of senescent cells at day three with day eight (when cells just start to escape senescence) revealed an altered expression of gene sets related to meiotic cell cycles, spermatogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Although chemotherapy (DNA damage)-induced senescence is indispensable for temporary proliferation arrest of cancer cells, this response can be followed by their polyploidization and reprogramming, leading to more fit offspring.
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Shafqat S, Arana Chicas E, Shafqat A, Hashmi SK. The Achilles' heel of cancer survivors: fundamentals of accelerated cellular senescence. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:158452. [PMID: 35775492 PMCID: PMC9246373 DOI: 10.1172/jci158452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent improvements in cancer treatment have increased the lifespan of pediatric and adult cancer survivors. However, cancer treatments accelerate aging in survivors, which manifests clinically as the premature onset of chronic diseases, such as endocrinopathies, osteoporosis, cardiac dysfunction, subsequent cancers, and geriatric syndromes of frailty, among others. Therefore, cancer treatment-induced early aging accounts for significant morbidity, mortality, and health expenditures among cancer survivors. One major mechanism driving this accelerated aging is cellular senescence; cancer treatments induce cellular senescence in tumor cells and in normal, nontumor tissue, thereby helping mediate the onset of several chronic diseases. Studies on clinical monitoring and therapeutic targeting of cellular senescence have made considerable progress in recent years. Large-scale clinical trials are currently evaluating senotherapeutic drugs, which inhibit or eliminate senescent cells to ameliorate cancer treatment-related aging. In this article, we survey the recent literature on phenotypes and mechanisms of aging in cancer survivors and provide an up-to-date review of the major preclinical and translational evidence on cellular senescence as a mechanism of accelerated aging in cancer survivors, as well as insight into the potential of senotherapeutic drugs. However, only with time will the clinical effect of senotherapies on cancer survivors be visible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Evelyn Arana Chicas
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Areez Shafqat
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahrukh K Hashmi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Clinical Affairs, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Medicine, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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