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Li M, Freeman S, Franco-Barraza J, Cai KQ, Kim A, Jin S, Cukierman E, Ye K. A bioprinted sea-and-island multicellular model for dissecting human pancreatic tumor-stroma reciprocity and adaptive metabolism. Biomaterials 2024; 310:122631. [PMID: 38815457 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122631] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a formidable clinical challenge due to its intricate microenvironment characterized by desmoplasia and complex tumor-stroma interactions. Conventional models hinder studying cellular crosstalk for therapeutic development. To recapitulate key features of PDAC masses, this study creates a novel sea-and-island PDAC tumor construct (s&i PTC). The s&i PTC consists of 3D-printed islands of human PDAC cells positioned within an interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) populated by human cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This design closely mimics the in vivo desmoplastic architecture and nutrient-poor conditions. The model enables studying dynamic tumor-stroma crosstalk and signaling reciprocity, revealing both known and yet-to-be-discovered multicellular metabolic adaptations. Using the model, we discovered the orchestrated dynamic alterations of CAFs under nutrient stress, resembling critical in vivo human tumor niches, such as the secretion of pro-tumoral inflammatory factors. Additionally, nutrient scarcity induces dynamic alterations in the ECM composition and exacerbates poor cancer cell differentiation-features well-established in PDAC progression. Proteomic analysis unveiled the enrichment of proteins associated with aggressive tumor behavior and ECM remodeling in response to poor nutritional conditions, mimicking the metabolic stresses experienced by avascular pancreatic tumor cores. Importantly, the model's relevance to patient outcomes is evident through an inverse correlation between biomarker expression patterns in the s&i PTCs and PDAC patient survival rates. Key findings include upregulated MMPs and key ECM proteins (such as collagen 11 and TGFβ) under nutrient-avid conditions, known to be regulated by CAFs, alongside the concomitant reduction in E-cadherin expression associated with a poorly differentiated PDAC state under nutrient deprivation. Furthermore, elevated levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and integrins in response to nutrient deprivation underscore the model's fidelity to the PDAC microenvironment. We also observed increased IL-6 and reduced α-SMA expression under poor nutritional conditions, suggesting a transition of CAFs from myofibroblastic to inflammatory phenotypes under a nutrient stress akin to in vivo niches. In conclusion, the s&i PTC represents a significant advancement in engineering clinically relevant 3D models of PDAC masses. It offers a promising platform for elucidating tumor-stroma interactions and guiding future therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Sebastian Freeman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Janusz Franco-Barraza
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lewis Katz Temple School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lewis Katz Temple School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Sha Jin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lewis Katz Temple School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Kaiming Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA.
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2
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Zhai J, Liu Y, Ji W, Huang X, Wang P, Li Y, Li H, Wong AHH, Zhou X, Chen P, Wang L, Yang N, Chen C, Chen H, Mak PI, Deng CX, Martins R, Yang M, Ho TY, Yi S, Yao H, Jia Y. Drug screening on digital microfluidics for cancer precision medicine. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4363. [PMID: 38778087 PMCID: PMC11111680 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48616-3] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug screening based on in-vitro primary tumor cell culture has demonstrated potential in personalized cancer diagnosis. However, the limited number of tumor cells, especially from patients with early stage cancer, has hindered the widespread application of this technique. Hence, we developed a digital microfluidic system for drug screening using primary tumor cells and established a working protocol for precision medicine. Smart control logic was developed to increase the throughput of the system and decrease its footprint to parallelly screen three drugs on a 4 × 4 cm2 chip in a device measuring 23 × 16 × 3.5 cm3. We validated this method in an MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenograft mouse model and liver cancer specimens from patients, demonstrating tumor suppression in mice/patients treated with drugs that were screened to be effective on individual primary tumor cells. Mice treated with drugs screened on-chip as ineffective exhibited similar results to those in the control groups. The effective drug identified through on-chip screening demonstrated consistency with the absence of mutations in their related genes determined via exome sequencing of individual tumors, further validating this protocol. Therefore, this technique and system may promote advances in precision medicine for cancer treatment and, eventually, for any disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Weiqing Ji
- School of Computer and Communication Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Xinru Huang
- Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Haoran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Ada Hang-Heng Wong
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Xiong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- College of electrical and information engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Lianhong Wang
- College of electrical and information engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
| | - Ning Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Department of Electronic Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Chi Chen
- Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haitian Chen
- Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pui-In Mak
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Rui Martins
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- On leave from Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tsung-Yi Ho
- Department of Compute Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuhong Yi
- Liver Transplantation Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Hailong Yao
- School of Computer and Communication Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China.
| | - Yanwei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
- Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
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3
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Angelopoulou A. Nanostructured Biomaterials in 3D Tumor Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Regenerative Medicine and Immunotherapies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5414. [PMID: 38791452 PMCID: PMC11121067 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105414] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of nanostructured biomaterials and medicines is associated with 2D cultures that provide insight into biological mechanisms at the molecular level, while critical aspects of the tumor microenvironment (TME) are provided by the study of animal xenograft models. More realistic models that can histologically reproduce human tumors are provided by tissue engineering methods of co-culturing cells of varied phenotypes to provide 3D tumor spheroids that recapitulate the dynamic TME in 3D matrices. The novel approaches of creating 3D tumor models are combined with tumor tissue engineering (TTE) scaffolds including hydrogels, bioprinted materials, decellularized tissues, fibrous and nanostructured matrices. This review focuses on the use of nanostructured materials in cancer therapy and regeneration, and the development of realistic models for studying TME molecular and immune characteristics. Tissue regeneration is an important aspect of TTE scaffolds used for restoring the normal function of the tissues, while providing cancer treatment. Thus, this article reports recent advancements in the development of 3D TTE models for antitumor drug screening, studying tumor metastasis, and tissue regeneration. Also, this review identifies the significant opportunities of using 3D TTE scaffolds in the evaluation of the immunological mechanisms and processes involved in the application of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athina Angelopoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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Khorsandi D, Rezayat D, Sezen S, Ferrao R, Khosravi A, Zarepour A, Khorsandi M, Hashemian M, Iravani S, Zarrabi A. Application of 3D, 4D, 5D, and 6D bioprinting in cancer research: what does the future look like? J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:4584-4612. [PMID: 38686396 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00310a] [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: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The application of three- and four-dimensional (3D/4D) printing in cancer research represents a significant advancement in understanding and addressing the complexities of cancer biology. 3D/4D materials provide more physiologically relevant environments compared to traditional two-dimensional models, allowing for a more accurate representation of the tumor microenvironment that enables researchers to study tumor progression, drug responses, and interactions with surrounding tissues under conditions similar to in vivo conditions. The dynamic nature of 4D materials introduces the element of time, allowing for the observation of temporal changes in cancer behavior and response to therapeutic interventions. The use of 3D/4D printing in cancer research holds great promise for advancing our understanding of the disease and improving the translation of preclinical findings to clinical applications. Accordingly, this review aims to briefly discuss 3D and 4D printing and their advantages and limitations in the field of cancer. Moreover, new techniques such as 5D/6D printing and artificial intelligence (AI) are also introduced as methods that could be used to overcome the limitations of 3D/4D printing and opened promising ways for the fast and precise diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danial Khorsandi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
| | - Dorsa Rezayat
- Center for Global Design and Manufacturing, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, 2901 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Serap Sezen
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla 34956 Istanbul, Türkiye
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla 34956 Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Rafaela Ferrao
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA
- University of Coimbra, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Doctoral Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine (PDBEB), Portugal
| | - Arezoo Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul 34959, Türkiye
| | - Atefeh Zarepour
- Department of Research Analytics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai - 600 077, India
| | - Melika Khorsandi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hashemian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Siavash Iravani
- Independent Researcher, W Nazar ST, Boostan Ave, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye.
- Graduate School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan 320315, Taiwan
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5
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Tanaka HY, Nakazawa T, Miyazaki T, Cabral H, Masamune A, Kano MR. Targeting ROCK2 improves macromolecular permeability in a 3D fibrotic pancreatic cancer microenvironment model. J Control Release 2024; 369:283-295. [PMID: 38522816 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.03.041] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a densely fibrotic stroma. The fibrotic stroma hinders the intratumoral penetration of nanomedicine and diminishes therapeutic efficacy. Fibrosis is characterized by an abnormal organization of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, namely the abnormal deposition and/or orientation of collagen and fibronectin. Abnormal ECM organization is chiefly driven by pathological signaling in pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), the main cell type involved in fibrogenesis. However, whether targeting signaling pathways involved in abnormal ECM organization improves the intratumoral penetration of nanomedicines is unknown. Here, we show that targeting transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)/Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) 1/2 signaling in PSCs normalizes ECM organization and concomitantly improves macromolecular permeability of the fibrotic stroma. Using a 3-dimensional cell culture model of the fibrotic pancreatic cancer microenvironment, we found that pharmacological inhibition of TGFβ or ROCK1/2 improves the permeation of various macromolecules. By using an isoform-specific pharmacological inhibitor and siRNAs, we show that targeting ROCK2, but not ROCK1, alone is sufficient to normalize ECM organization and improve macromolecular permeability. Moreover, we found that ROCK2 inhibition/knockdown attenuates Yes-associated protein (YAP) nuclear localization in fibroblasts co-cultured with pancreatic cancer cells in 3D. Finally, pharmacological inhibition or siRNA-mediated knockdown of YAP normalized ECM organization and improved macromolecular permeability. Our results together suggest that the TGFβ/ROCK2/YAP signaling axis may be therapeutically targeted to normalize ECM organization and improve macromolecular permeability to augment therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicines in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyoshi Y Tanaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takuya Nakazawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takuya Miyazaki
- Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (KISTEC), 705-1 Shimoimaizumi, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa 243-0435, Japan
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Mitsunobu R Kano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
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6
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Gaebler D, Hachey SJ, Hughes CCW. Microphysiological systems as models for immunologically 'cold' tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1389012. [PMID: 38711620 PMCID: PMC11070549 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1389012] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a diverse milieu of cells including cancerous and non-cancerous cells such as fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial cells and immune cells. The intricate cellular interactions within the TME hold a central role in shaping the dynamics of cancer progression, influencing pivotal aspects such as tumor initiation, growth, invasion, response to therapeutic interventions, and the emergence of drug resistance. In immunologically 'cold' tumors, the TME is marked by a scarcity of infiltrating immune cells, limited antigen presentation in the absence of potent immune-stimulating signals, and an abundance of immunosuppressive factors. While strategies targeting the TME as a therapeutic avenue in 'cold' tumors have emerged, there is a pressing need for novel approaches that faithfully replicate the complex cellular and non-cellular interactions in order to develop targeted therapies that can effectively stimulate immune responses and improve therapeutic outcomes in patients. Microfluidic devices offer distinct advantages over traditional in vitro 3D co-culture models and in vivo animal models, as they better recapitulate key characteristics of the TME and allow for precise, controlled insights into the dynamic interplay between various immune, stromal and cancerous cell types at any timepoint. This review aims to underscore the pivotal role of microfluidic systems in advancing our understanding of the TME and presents current microfluidic model systems that aim to dissect tumor-stromal, tumor-immune and immune-stromal cellular interactions in various 'cold' tumors. Understanding the intricacies of the TME in 'cold' tumors is crucial for devising effective targeted therapies to reinvigorate immune responses and overcome the challenges of current immunotherapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Gaebler
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Stephanie J. Hachey
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Christopher C. W. Hughes
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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7
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Zhang Y, Hu Q, Pei Y, Luo H, Wang Z, Xu X, Zhang Q, Dai J, Wang Q, Fan Z, Fang Y, Ye M, Li B, Chen M, Xue Q, Zheng Q, Zhang S, Huang M, Zhang T, Gu J, Xiong Z. A patient-specific lung cancer assembloid model with heterogeneous tumor microenvironments. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3382. [PMID: 38643164 PMCID: PMC11032376 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47737-z] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer models play critical roles in basic cancer research and precision medicine. However, current in vitro cancer models are limited by their inability to mimic the three-dimensional architecture and heterogeneous tumor microenvironments (TME) of in vivo tumors. Here, we develop an innovative patient-specific lung cancer assembloid (LCA) model by using droplet microfluidic technology based on a microinjection strategy. This method enables precise manipulation of clinical microsamples and rapid generation of LCAs with good intra-batch consistency in size and cell composition by evenly encapsulating patient tumor-derived TME cells and lung cancer organoids inside microgels. LCAs recapitulate the inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity, TME cellular diversity, and genomic and transcriptomic landscape of their parental tumors. LCA model could reconstruct the functional heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts and reflect the influence of TME on drug responses compared to cancer organoids. Notably, LCAs accurately replicate the clinical outcomes of patients, suggesting the potential of the LCA model to predict personalized treatments. Collectively, our studies provide a valuable method for precisely fabricating cancer assembloids and a promising LCA model for cancer research and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Zhang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
- Institute of New Materials and Advanced Manufacturing, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Qifan Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yuquan Pei
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Hao Luo
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zixuan Wang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xinxin Xu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Institute of New Materials and Advanced Manufacturing, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Jianli Dai
- Institute of New Materials and Advanced Manufacturing, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Institute of New Materials and Advanced Manufacturing, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Zilian Fan
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yongcong Fang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Min Ye
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Binhan Li
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Mailin Chen
- Department of Radiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Qi Xue
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Qingfeng Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Shulin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Miao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jin Gu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Zhuo Xiong
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, China.
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8
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Connaughton M, Dabagh M. Modeling Physical Forces Experienced by Cancer and Stromal Cells Within Different Organ-Specific Tumor Tissue. IEEE JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE 2024; 12:413-434. [PMID: 38765886 PMCID: PMC11100865 DOI: 10.1109/jtehm.2024.3388561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical force exerted on cancer cells by their microenvironment have been reported to drive cells toward invasive phenotypes by altering cells' motility, proliferation, and apoptosis. These mechanical forces include compressive, tensile, hydrostatic, and shear forces. The importance of forces is then hypothesized to be an alteration of cancer cells' and their microenvironment's biophysical properties as the indicator of a tumor's malignancy state. Our objective is to investigate and quantify the correlation between a tumor's malignancy state and forces experienced by the cancer cells and components of the microenvironment. In this study, we have developed a multicomponent, three-dimensional model of tumor tissue consisting of a cancer cell surrounded by fibroblasts and extracellular matrix (ECM). Our results on three different organs including breast, kidney, and pancreas show that: A) the stresses within tumor tissue are impacted by the organ specific ECM's biophysical properties, B) more invasive cancer cells experience higher stresses, C) in pancreas which has a softer ECM (Young modulus of 1.0 kPa) and stiffer cancer cells (Young modulus of 2.4 kPa and 1.7 kPa) than breast and kidney, cancer cells experienced significantly higher stresses, D) cancer cells in contact with ECM experienced higher stresses compared to cells surrounded by fibroblasts but the area of tumor stroma experiencing high stresses has a maximum length of 40 μm when the cancer cell is surrounded by fibroblasts and 12 μm for when the cancer cell is in vicinity of ECM. This study serves as an important first step in understanding of how the stresses experienced by cancer cells, fibroblasts, and ECM are associated with malignancy states of cancer cells in different organs. The quantification of forces exerted on cancer cells by different organ-specific ECM and at different stages of malignancy will help, first to develop theranostic strategies, second to predict accurately which tumors will become highly malignant, and third to establish accurate criteria controlling the progression of cancer cells malignancy. Furthermore, our in silico model of tumor tissue can yield critical, useful information for guiding ex vivo or in vitro experiments, narrowing down variables to be investigated, understanding what factors could be impacting cancer treatments or even biomarkers to be looking for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Connaughton
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWI53211USA
| | - Mahsa Dabagh
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukeeWI53211USA
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9
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Hirani P, McDermott J, Rajeeve V, Cutillas PR, Jones JL, Pennington DJ, Wight TN, Santamaria S, Alonge KM, Pearce OM. Versican Associates with Tumor Immune Phenotype and Limits T-cell Trafficking via Chondroitin Sulfate. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:970-985. [PMID: 38517140 PMCID: PMC10989462 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapies for cancers of epithelial origin have limited efficacy, and a growing body of evidence links the composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) with the likelihood of a favorable response to treatment. The ECM may be considered an immunologic barrier, restricting the localization of cytotoxic immune cells to stromal areas and inhibiting their contact with tumor cells. Identifying ECM components of this immunologic barrier could provide targets that whether degraded in situ may support antitumor immunity and improve immunotherapy response. Using a library of primary triple-negative breast cancer tissues, we correlated CD8+ T-cell tumor contact with ECM composition and identified a proteoglycan, versican (VCAN), as a putative member of the immunologic barrier. Our analysis reveals that CD8+ T-cell contact with tumor associates with the location of VCAN expression, the specific glycovariant of VCAN [defined through the pattern of posttranslational attachments of glycosaminoglycans (GAG)], and the cell types that produce the variant. In functional studies, the isomers of chondroitin sulfate presented on VCAN have opposing roles being either supportive or inhibiting of T-cell trafficking, and removal of the GAGs ameliorates these effects on T-cell trafficking. Overall, we conclude that VCAN can either support or inhibit T-cell trafficking within the tumor microenvironment depending on the pattern of GAGs present, and that VCAN is a major component of the ECM immunologic barrier that defines the type of response to immunotherapy. SIGNIFICANCE The response to immunotherapy has been poor toward solid tumors despite immune cells infiltrating into the tumor. The ECM has been associated with impacting T-cell infiltration toward the tumor and in this article we have identified VCAN and its structural modification, chondroitin sulfate as having a key role in T-cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Hirani
- Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline McDermott
- Department of Histopathology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vinothini Rajeeve
- Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro R. Cutillas
- Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - J. Louise Jones
- Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J. Pennington
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London Medical School, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas N. Wight
- Matrix Biology Program, Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington
| | - Salvatore Santamaria
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Edward Jenner Building, University of Surrey, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberly M. Alonge
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Oliver M.T. Pearce
- Barts Cancer Institute, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Song X, Nihashi Y, Imai Y, Mori N, Kagaya N, Suenaga H, Shin-ya K, Yamamoto M, Setoyama D, Kunisaki Y, Kida YS. Collagen Lattice Model, Populated with Heterogeneous Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts, Facilitates Advanced Reconstruction of Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3740. [PMID: 38612551 PMCID: PMC11011612 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073740] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a solid-tumor malignancy. To enhance the treatment landscape of PDAC, a 3D model optimized for rigorous drug screening is essential. Within the PDAC tumor microenvironment, a dense stroma comprising a large extracellular matrix and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is well-known for its vital role in modulating tumor growth, cellular heterogeneity, bidirectional paracrine signaling, and chemoresistance. In this study, we employed a fibroblast-populated collagen lattice (FPCL) modeling approach that has the ability to replicate fibroblast contractility in the collagenous matrix to build dense stroma. This FPCL model allows CAF differentiation by facilitating multifaceted cell-cell interactions between cancer cells and CAFs, with the differentiation further influenced by mechanical forces and hypoxia carried within the 3D structure. Our FPCL models displayed hallmark features, including ductal gland structures and differentiated CAFs with spindle shapes. Through morphological explorations alongside in-depth transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling, we identified substantial molecular shifts from the nascent to mature model stages and potential metabolic biomarkers, such as proline. The initial pharmacological assays highlighted the effectiveness of our FPCL model in screening for improved therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, our PDAC modeling platform mirrors complex tumor microenvironmental dynamics and offers an unparalleled perspective for therapeutic exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Song
- Tsukuba Life Science Innovation Program (T-LSI), School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan;
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
| | - Yuma Nihashi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
| | - Yukiko Imai
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan;
| | - Nobuhito Mori
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
| | - Noritaka Kagaya
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
| | - Hikaru Suenaga
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
| | - Kazuo Shin-ya
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
| | - Masamichi Yamamoto
- Department of Research Promotion and Management, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Ki-shibe-Shimmachi, Suita 564-8565, Japan;
| | - Daiki Setoyama
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan;
| | - Yuya Kunisaki
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan;
| | - Yasuyuki S. Kida
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan; (Y.N.); (N.M.); (N.K.); (H.S.); (K.S.-y.)
- School of Integrative & Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan
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11
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Nguyen HD, Lin CC. Viscoelastic stiffening of gelatin hydrogels for dynamic culture of pancreatic cancer spheroids. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:203-215. [PMID: 38354874 PMCID: PMC10958777 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.010] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a complex milieu of cellular and non-cellular components. Pancreatic cancer cells (PCC) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are two major cell types in PDAC TME, whereas the non-cellular components are enriched with extracellular matrices (ECM) that contribute to high stiffness and fast stress-relaxation. Previous studies have suggested that higher matrix rigidity promoted aggressive phenotypes of tumors, including PDAC. However, the effects of dynamic viscoelastic matrix properties on cancer cell fate remain largely unexplored. The focus of this work was to understand the effects of such dynamic matrix properties on PDAC cell behaviors, particularly in the context of PCC/CAF co-culture. To this end, we engineered gelatin-norbornene (GelNB) based hydrogels with a built-in mechanism for simultaneously increasing matrix elastic modulus and viscoelasticity. Two GelNB-based macromers, namely GelNB-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (GelNB-HPA) and GelNB-boronic acid (GelNB-BA), were modularly mixed and crosslinked with 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol)-thiol (PEG4SH) to form elastic hydrogels. Treating the hybrid hydrogels with tyrosinase not only increased the elastic moduli of the gels (due to HPA dimerization) but also concurrently produced 1,2-diols that formed reversible boronic acid-diol bonding with the BA groups on GelNB-BA. We employed patient-derived CAF and a PCC cell line COLO-357 to demonstrate the effect of increasing matrix stiffness and viscoelasticity on CAF and PCC cell fate. Our results indicated that in the stiffened environment, PCC underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In the co-culture PCC and CAF spheroid, CAF enhanced PCC spreading and stimulated collagen 1 production. Through mRNA-sequencing, we further showed that stiffened matrices, regardless of the degree of stress-relaxation, heightened the malignant phenotype of PDAC cells. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The pancreatic cancer microenvironment is a complex milieu composed of various cell types and extracellular matrices. It has been suggested that stiffer matrices could promote aggressive behavior in pancreatic cancer, but the effect of dynamic stiffening and matrix stress-relaxation on cancer cell fate remains largely undefined. This study aimed to explore the impact of dynamic changes in matrix viscoelasticity on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell behavior by developing a hydrogel system capable of simultaneously increasing stiffness and stress-relaxation on demand. This is achieved by crosslinking two gelatin-based macromers through orthogonal thiol-norbornene photochemistry and post-gelation stiffening with mushroom tyrosinase. The results revealed that higher matrix stiffness, regardless of the degree of stress relaxation, exacerbated the malignant characteristics of PDAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han D Nguyen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Chien-Chi Lin
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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12
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Liu Y, Okesola BO, Osuna de la Peña D, Li W, Lin ML, Trabulo S, Tatari M, Lawlor RT, Scarpa A, Wang W, Knight M, Loessner D, Heeschen C, Mata A, Pearce OMT. A Self-Assembled 3D Model Demonstrates How Stiffness Educates Tumor Cell Phenotypes and Therapy Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2301941. [PMID: 38471128 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301941] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) associated with tumor progression and therapy resistance. To further the understanding of how stiffening of the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to aggressiveness, a three-dimensional (3D) self-assembling hydrogel disease model is developed based on peptide amphiphiles (PAs, PA-E3Y) designed to tailor stiffness. The model displays nanofibrous architectures reminiscent of native TME and enables the study of the invasive behavior of PDAC cells. Enhanced tuneability of stiffness is demonstrated by interacting thermally annealed aqueous solutions of PA-E3Y (PA-E3Yh) with divalent cations to create hydrogels with mechanical properties and ultrastructure similar to native tumor ECM. It is shown that stiffening of PA-E3Yh hydrogels to levels found in PDAC induces ECM deposition, promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enriches CD133+/CXCR4+ cancer stem cells (CSCs), and subsequently enhances drug resistance. The findings reveal how a stiff 3D environment renders PDAC cells more aggressive and therefore more faithfully recapitulates in vivo tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Babatunde O Okesola
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - David Osuna de la Peña
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Weiqi Li
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Meng-Lay Lin
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sara Trabulo
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Martin Knight
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Pancreatic Cancer Heterogeneity, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo (TO), 10060, Italy
| | - Alvaro Mata
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Oliver M T Pearce
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
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13
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Kalli M, Stylianopoulos T. Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:011501. [PMID: 38390314 PMCID: PMC10883717 DOI: 10.1063/5.0183302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the complex tumor microenvironment, cells experience mechanical cues-such as extracellular matrix stiffening and elevation of solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, and fluid shear stress-that significantly impact cancer cell behavior and immune responses. Recognizing the significance of these mechanical cues not only sheds light on cancer progression but also holds promise for identifying potential biomarkers that would predict therapeutic outcomes. However, standardizing methods for studying how mechanical cues affect tumor progression is challenging. This challenge stems from the limitations of traditional in vitro cell culture systems, which fail to encompass the critical contextual cues present in vivo. To address this, 3D tumor spheroids have been established as a preferred model, more closely mimicking cancer progression, but they usually lack reproduction of the mechanical microenvironment encountered in actual solid tumors. Here, we review the role of mechanical forces in modulating tumor- and immune-cell responses and discuss how grasping the importance of these mechanical cues could revolutionize in vitro tumor tissue engineering. The creation of more physiologically relevant environments that better replicate in vivo conditions will eventually increase the efficacy of currently available treatments, including immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kalli
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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14
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Khorsandi D, Yang JW, Foster S, Khosravi S, Hosseinzadeh Kouchehbaghi N, Zarei F, Lee YB, Runa F, Gangrade A, Voskanian L, Adnan D, Zhu Y, Wang Z, Jucaud V, Dokmeci MR, Shen X, Bishehsari F, Kelber JA, Khademhosseini A, de Barros NR. Patient-Derived Organoids as Therapy Screening Platforms in Cancer Patients. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2302331. [PMID: 38359321 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302331] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) developed ex vivo and in vitro are increasingly used for therapeutic screening. They provide a more physiologically relevant model for drug discovery and development compared to traditional cell lines. However, several challenges remain to be addressed to fully realize the potential of PDOs in therapeutic screening. This paper summarizes recent advancements in PDO development and the enhancement of PDO culture models. This is achieved by leveraging materials engineering and microfabrication technologies, including organs-on-a-chip and droplet microfluidics. Additionally, this work discusses the application of PDOs in therapy screening to meet diverse requirements and overcome bottlenecks in cancer treatment. Furthermore, this work introduces tools for data processing and analysis of organoids, along with their microenvironment. These tools aim to achieve enhanced readouts. Finally, this work explores the challenges and future perspectives of using PDOs in drug development and personalized screening for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danial Khorsandi
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Jia-Wei Yang
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Samuel Foster
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Safoora Khosravi
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Negar Hosseinzadeh Kouchehbaghi
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
- Department of Textile Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Hafez Avenue, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Zarei
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Yun Bin Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Farhana Runa
- Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California, 91330, USA
| | - Ankit Gangrade
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Leon Voskanian
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Darbaz Adnan
- Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome and Chronobiology Research, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Yangzhi Zhu
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Zhaohui Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
- Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Vadim Jucaud
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Xiling Shen
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Faraz Bishehsari
- Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome and Chronobiology Research, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome & Chronobiology Research, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Jonathan A Kelber
- Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California, 91330, USA
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, 101 Bagby Ave, Waco, Texas, 76706, USA
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
| | - Natan Roberto de Barros
- Department of Bioengineering, Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 1018 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 91367, USA
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15
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Gupta P, Bermejo-Rodriguez C, Kocher H, Pérez-Mancera PA, Velliou EG. Chemotherapy Assessment in Advanced Multicellular 3D Models of Pancreatic Cancer: Unravelling the Importance of Spatiotemporal Mimicry of the Tumor Microenvironment. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024:e2300580. [PMID: 38327154 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300580] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenge for global health with very low survival rate and high therapeutic resistance. Hence, advanced preclinical models for treatment screening are of paramount importance. Herein, chemotherapeutic (gemcitabine) assessment on novel (polyurethane) scaffold-based spatially advanced 3D multicellular PDAC models is carried out. Through comprehensive image-based analysis at the protein level, and expression analysis at the mRNA level, the importance of stromal cells is confirmed, primarily activated stellate cells in the chemoresistance of PDAC cells within the models. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that, in addition to the presence of activated stellate cells, the spatial architecture of the scaffolds, i.e., segregation/compartmentalization of the cancer and stromal zones, affect the cellular evolution and is necessary for the development of chemoresistance. These results highlight that, further to multicellularity, mapping the tumor structure/architecture and zonal complexity in 3D cancer models is important for better mimicry of the in vivo therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Gupta
- Centre for 3D Models of Health and Disease, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, W1W 7TY, UK
| | - Camino Bermejo-Rodriguez
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Hemant Kocher
- Centre for Tumour Biology and Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Pedro A Pérez-Mancera
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Eirini G Velliou
- Centre for 3D Models of Health and Disease, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, W1W 7TY, UK
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16
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Xu Y, Nipper MH, Dominguez AA, Ye Z, Akanuma N, Lopez K, Deng JJ, Arenas D, Sanchez A, Sharkey FE, Court CM, Singhi AD, Wang H, Fernandez-Zapico ME, Sun LZ, Zheng S, Chen Y, Liu J, Wang P. Reconstitution of human PDAC using primary cells reveals oncogenic transcriptomic features at tumor onset. Nat Commun 2024; 15:818. [PMID: 38280869 PMCID: PMC10821902 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45097-2] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal studies have demonstrated the ability of pancreatic acinar cells to transform into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the tumorigenic potential of human pancreatic acinar cells remains under debate. To address this gap in knowledge, we expand sorted human acinar cells as 3D organoids and genetically modify them through introduction of common PDAC mutations. The acinar organoids undergo dramatic transcriptional alterations but maintain a recognizable DNA methylation signature. The transcriptomes of acinar organoids are similar to those of disease-specific cell populations. Oncogenic KRAS alone do not transform acinar organoids. However, acinar organoids can form PDAC in vivo after acquiring the four most common driver mutations of this disease. Similarly, sorted ductal cells carrying these genetic mutations can also form PDAC, thus experimentally proving that PDACs can originate from both human acinar and ductal cells. RNA-seq analysis reveal the transcriptional shift from normal acinar cells towards PDACs with enhanced proliferation, metabolic rewiring, down-regulation of MHC molecules, and alterations in the coagulation and complement cascade. By comparing PDAC-like cells with normal pancreas and PDAC samples, we identify a group of genes with elevated expression during early transformation which represent potential early diagnostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Michael H Nipper
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Angel A Dominguez
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Zhenqing Ye
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Naoki Akanuma
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Kevin Lopez
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Janice J Deng
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Destiny Arenas
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Ava Sanchez
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Francis E Sharkey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Colin M Court
- Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Huamin Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Martin E Fernandez-Zapico
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Lu-Zhe Sun
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Siyuan Zheng
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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17
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Curvello R, Raghuwanshi VS, Wu CM, Mata J, Garnier G. Nano- and Microstructures of Collagen-Nanocellulose Hydrogels as Engineered Extracellular Matrices. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:1370-1379. [PMID: 38117479 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c10353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the fundamental acellular element of human tissues, providing their mechanical structure while delivering biomechanical and biochemical signals to cells. Three-dimensional (3D) tissue models commonly use hydrogels to recreate the ECM in vitro and support the growth of cells as organoids and spheroids. Collagen-nanocellulose (COL-NC) hydrogels rely on the blending of both polymers to design matrices with tailorable physical properties. Despite the promising application of these biomaterials in 3D tissue models, the architecture and network organization of COL-NC remain unclear. Here, we investigate the structural effects of incorporating NC fibers into COL hydrogels by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultra-SANS (USANS). The critical hierarchical structure parameters of fiber dimensions, interfiber distance, and coassembled open structures of NC and COL in the absence and presence of cells were determined. We found that NC expanded and increased the homogeneity in the COL network without affecting the inherent fiber properties of both polymers. Cells cultured as spheroids in COL-NC remodeled the hydrogel network without a significant impact on its architecture. Our study reveals the polymer organization of COL-NC hydrogels and demonstrates SANS and USANS as exceptional techniques to reveal nano- and micron-scale details on polymer organization, which leads to a better understanding of the structural properties of hydrogels to engineer novel ECMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Curvello
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Vikram Singh Raghuwanshi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Chun-Ming Wu
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Height, New South Wales 2234, Australia
- National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu 300092, Taiwan
| | - Jitendra Mata
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Height, New South Wales 2234, Australia
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Gil Garnier
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Bioresource Processing Research Institute of Australia (BioPRIA), Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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18
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Wu Z, Huang D, Wang J, Zhao Y, Sun W, Shen X. Engineering Heterogeneous Tumor Models for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304160. [PMID: 37946674 PMCID: PMC10767453 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304160] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumor tissue engineering holds great promise for replicating the physiological and behavioral characteristics of tumors in vitro. Advances in this field have led to new opportunities for studying the tumor microenvironment and exploring potential anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of tumor models is the poor understanding and insufficient reconstruction of tumor heterogeneity. In this review, the current progress of engineering heterogeneous tumor models is discussed. First, the major components of tumor heterogeneity are summarized, which encompasses various signaling pathways, cell proliferations, and spatial configurations. Then, contemporary approaches are elucidated in tumor engineering that are guided by fundamental principles of tumor biology, and the potential of a bottom-up approach in tumor engineering is highlighted. Additionally, the characterization approaches and biomedical applications of tumor models are discussed, emphasizing the significant role of engineered tumor models in scientific research and clinical trials. Lastly, the challenges of heterogeneous tumor models in promoting oncology research and tumor therapy are described and key directions for future research are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuhao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Danqing Huang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
| | - Weijian Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325027China
| | - Xian Shen
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyNanjing Drum Tower HospitalSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryThe First Affiliated HospitalWenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou325035China
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19
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Song T, Kong B, Liu R, Luo Y, Wang Y, Zhao Y. Bioengineering Approaches for the Pancreatic Tumor Organoids Research and Application. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2300984. [PMID: 37694339 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202300984] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal form of digestive malignancy that poses significant health risks to individuals worldwide. Chemotherapy-based comprehensive treatment is the primary therapeutic approach for midlife and late-life patients. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of the tumor and individual genetic backgrounds result in substantial variations in drug sensitivity among patients, rendering a single treatment regimen unsuitable for all patients. Conventional pancreatic cancer tumor organoid models are capable of emulating the biological traits of pancreatic cancer and are utilized in drug development and screening. However, these tumor organoids can still not mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME) in vivo, and the poor controllability in the preparation process hinders translation from essential drug screening to clinical pharmacological therapy. In recent years, many engineering methods with remarkable results have been used to develop pancreatic cancer organoid models, including bio-hydrogel, co-culture, microfluidic, and gene editing. Here, this work summarizes and analyzes the recent developments in engineering pancreatic tumor organoid models. In addition, the future direction of improving engineered pancreatic cancer organoids is discussed for their application prospects in clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyu Song
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Bin Kong
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yongan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
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20
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Rushin A, McLeod MA, Ragavan M, Merritt ME. Observing exocrine pancreas metabolism using a novel pancreas perfusion technique in combination with hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]pyruvate. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2023; 61:748-758. [PMID: 37482899 PMCID: PMC10800648 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.5382] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
In a clinical setting, ex vivo perfusions are routinely used to maintain and assess organ viability prior to transplants. Organ perfusions are also a model system to examine metabolic flux while retaining the local physiological structure, with significant success using hyperpolarized (HP) 13 C NMR in this context. We use a novel exocrine pancreas perfusion technique via the common bile duct to assess acinar cell metabolism with HP [1-13 C]pyruvate. The exocrine component of the pancreas produces digestive enzymes through the ductal system and is often neglected in research on the pancreas. Real-time production of [1-13 C]lactate, [1-13 C]alanine, [1-13 C]malate, [4-13 C]malate, [1-13 C]aspartate, and H13 CO3 - was detected. The appearance of these resonances indicates flux through both pyruvate dehydrogenase and pyruvate carboxylase. We studied excised pancreata from C57BL/6J mice and NOD.Rag1-/- .AI4α/β mice, a commonly used model of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Pancreata from the T1D mice displayed increased lactate to alanine ratio without changes in oxygen consumption, signifying increased cytosolic NADH levels. The mass isotopologue analysis of the extracted pancreas tissue using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed confirmatory 13 C enrichment in multiple TCA cycle metabolites that are products of pyruvate carboxylation. The methodology presented here has the potential to provide insight into mechanisms underlying several pancreatic diseases, such as diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rushin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Marc A. McLeod
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Mukundan Ragavan
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Matthew E. Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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21
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Moon HR, Surianarayanan N, Singh T, Han B. Microphysiological systems as reliable drug discovery and evaluation tools: Evolution from innovation to maturity. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:061504. [PMID: 38162229 PMCID: PMC10756708 DOI: 10.1063/5.0179444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPSs), also known as organ-on-chip or disease-on-chip, have recently emerged to reconstitute the in vivo cellular microenvironment of various organs and diseases on in vitro platforms. These microfluidics-based platforms are developed to provide reliable drug discovery and regulatory evaluation testbeds. Despite recent emergences and advances of various MPS platforms, their adoption of drug discovery and evaluation processes still lags. This delay is mainly due to a lack of rigorous standards with reproducibility and reliability, and practical difficulties to be adopted in pharmaceutical research and industry settings. This review discusses the current and potential use of MPS platforms in drug discovery processes while considering the context of several key steps during drug discovery processes, including target identification and validation, preclinical evaluation, and clinical trials. Opportunities and challenges are also discussed for the broader dissemination and adoption of MPSs in various drug discovery and regulatory evaluation steps. Addressing these challenges will transform long and expensive drug discovery and evaluation processes into more efficient discovery, screening, and approval of innovative drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Ran Moon
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | | | - Tarun Singh
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Bumsoo Han
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel: +1-765-494-5626
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22
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Isik M, Okesola BO, Eylem CC, Kocak E, Nemutlu E, D'Este M, Mata A, Derkus B. Bioactive and chemically defined hydrogels with tunable stiffness guide cerebral organoid formation and modulate multi-omics plasticity in cerebral organoids. Acta Biomater 2023; 171:223-238. [PMID: 37793600 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.09.040] [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: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Organoids are an emerging technology with great potential in human disease modelling, drug development, diagnosis, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Organoids as 3D-tissue culture systems have gained special attention in the past decades due to their ability to faithfully recapitulate the complexity of organ-specific tissues. Despite considerable successes in culturing physiologically relevant organoids, their real-life applications are currently limited by challenges such as scarcity of an appropriate biomimetic matrix. Peptide amphiphiles (PAs) due to their well-defined chemistry, tunable bioactivity, and extracellular matrix (ECM)-like nanofibrous architecture represent an attractive material scaffold for organoids development. Using cerebral organoids (COs) as exemplar, we demonstrate the possibility to create bio-instructive hydrogels with tunable stiffness ranging from 0.69 kPa to 2.24 kPa to culture and induce COs growth. We used orthogonal chemistry involving oxidative coupling and supramolecular interactions to create two-component hydrogels integrating the bio-instructive activity and ECM-like nanofibrous architecture of a laminin-mimetic PAs (IKVAV-PA) and tunable crosslinking density of hyaluronic acid functionalized with tyramine (HA-Try). Multi-omics technology including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics reveals the induction and growth of COs in soft HA-Tyr hydrogels containing PA-IKVAV such that the COs display morphology and biomolecular signatures similar to those grown in Matrigel scaffolds. Our materials hold great promise as a safe synthetic ECM for COs induction and growth. Our approach represents a well-defined alternative to animal-derived matrices for the culture of COs and might expand the applicability of organoids in basic and clinical research. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Synthetic bio-instructive materials which display tissue-specific functionality and nanoscale architecture of the native extracellular matrix are attractive matrices for organoids development. These synthetic matrices are chemically defined and animal-free compared to current gold standard matrices such as Matrigel. Here, we developed hydrogel matrices with tunable stiffness, which incorporate laminin-mimetic peptide amphiphiles to grow and expand cerebral organoids. Using multi-omics tools, the present study provides exciting data on the effects of neuro-inductive cues on the biomolecular profiles of brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melis Isik
- Stem Cell Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Babatunde O Okesola
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Cemil Can Eylem
- Analytical Chemistry Division, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06230, Turkey
| | - Engin Kocak
- Division of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Gulhane Pharmacy, Health Science University, Ankara 06018, Turkey
| | - Emirhan Nemutlu
- Analytical Chemistry Division, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06230, Turkey; Bioanalytic and Omics Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Matteo D'Este
- AO Research Institute Davos, Clavadelerstrasse 8, Davos Platz 7270, Switzerland
| | - Alvaro Mata
- School of Pharmacy University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Burak Derkus
- Stem Cell Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara 06560, Turkey.
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23
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Wu Y, Liang H, Luo A, Li Y, Liu Z, Li X, Li W, Liang K, Li J, Liu Z, Du Y. Gelatin-based 3D biomimetic scaffolds platform potentiates culture of cancer stem cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Biomaterials 2023; 302:122323. [PMID: 37717405 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are crucial for tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). To further elucidate the mechanism underlying characteristics of CSCs and develop CSCs-targeted therapy, an efficient culture system that could expand and maintain CSCs is needed. CSCs reside in a complex tumor microenvironment, and three-dimensional (3D) culture systems of biomimetic scaffolds are expected to better support the growth of CSCs by recapitulating the biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we established gelatin-based 3D biomimetic scaffolds mimicking the stiffness and collagen content of ESCC, which could enrich ESCC CSCs efficiently. Biological changes of ESCC cells laden in scaffolds with three different viscoelasticity emulating physiological stiffness of esophageal tissues were thoroughly investigated in varied aspects such as cell morphology, viability, cell phenotype markers, and transcriptomic profiling. The results demonstrated the priming effects of viscoelasticity on the stemness of ESCC. The highly viscous scaffolds (G': 6-403 Pa; G'': 2-75 Pa) better supported the enrichment of ESCC CSCs, and the TGF-beta signaling pathway might be involved in regulating the stemness of ESCC cells. Compared to two-dimensional (2D) cultures, highly viscous scaffolds significantly promoted the clonal expansion of ESCC cells in vitro and tumor formation ability in vivo. Our findings highlight the crucial role of biomaterials' viscoelasticity for the 3D culture of ESCC CSCs in vitro, and this newly-established culture system represents a valuable platform to support their growth, which could facilitate the CSCs-targeted therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yenan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Haiwei Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Aiping Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Kaini Liang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Junyang Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Yanan Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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24
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Buwalda S. Advanced Functional Polymers for Unmet Medical Challenges. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4329-4332. [PMID: 37811641 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00332] [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: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
A significant part of medicine relies on biomaterials, which are designed to interact with biological tissues for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. A number of major trends can be distinguished in the multidisciplinary field of biomaterials science, including the precise synthesis of biomaterial building blocks, elucidation of biomaterial processing-structure-property correlations, as well as clarification of the interactions between living tissues and biomaterials. Moreover, advances in biofabrication facilitate the development of tailored implants with improved functionality, whereas recent achievements in medical imaging allow for a detailed evaluation of the performance and spatiotemporal behavior of medical devices and nanomedicine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sytze Buwalda
- MINES Paris, PSL University, Center for Materials Forming (CEMEF), UMR CNRS 7635, CS 10207, 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France
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25
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Majkowska A, Inostroza-Brito KE, Gonzalez M, Redondo-Gómez C, Rice A, Rodriguez-Cabello JC, Del Rio Hernandez AE, Mata A. Peptide-Protein Coassemblies into Hierarchical and Bioactive Tubular Membranes. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:4419-4429. [PMID: 36696687 PMCID: PMC10565817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01095] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Multicomponent self-assembly offers opportunities for the design of complex and functional biomaterials with tunable properties. Here, we demonstrate how minor modifications in the molecular structures of peptide amphiphiles (PAs) and elastin-like recombinamers (ELs) can be used to generate coassembling tubular membranes with distinct structures, properties, and bioactivity. First, by introducing minor modifications in the charge density of PA molecules (PAK2, PAK3, PAK4), different diffusion-reaction processes can be triggered, resulting in distinct membrane microstructures. Second, by combining different types of these PAs prior to their coassembly with ELs, further modifications can be achieved, tuning the structures and properties of the tubular membranes. Finally, by introducing the cell adhesive peptide RGDS in either the PA or EL molecules, it is possible to harness the different diffusion-reaction processes to generate tubular membranes with distinct bioactivities. The study demonstrates the possibility to trigger and achieve minor but crucial differences in coassembling processes and tune material structure and bioactivity. The study demonstrates the possibility to use minor, yet crucial, differences in coassembling processes to tune material structure and bioactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Majkowska
- William
Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University
of London, London EC1M 6BQ, U.K.
- Institute
of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University
of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
- School
of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen
Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
| | - Karla E. Inostroza-Brito
- School
of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen
Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
| | - Mariel Gonzalez
- School
of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen
Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
| | - Carlos Redondo-Gómez
- Institute
of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University
of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
- School
of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen
Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
| | - Alistair Rice
- Department
of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | | | | | - Alvaro Mata
- Institute
of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University
of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
- School
of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen
Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
- School
of
Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- Biodiscovery
Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
- Department
of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
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26
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Urbanova M, Cihova M, Buocikova V, Slopovsky J, Dubovan P, Pindak D, Tomas M, García-Bermejo L, Rodríguez-Garrote M, Earl J, Kohl Y, Kataki A, Dusinska M, Sainz B, Smolkova B, Gabelova A. Nanomedicine and epigenetics: New alliances to increase the odds in pancreatic cancer survival. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115179. [PMID: 37481927 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115179] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the deadliest cancers worldwide, primarily due to its robust desmoplastic stroma and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which facilitate tumor progression and metastasis. In addition, fibrous tissue leads to sparse vasculature, high interstitial fluid pressure, and hypoxia, thereby hindering effective systemic drug delivery and immune cell infiltration. Thus, remodeling the TME to enhance tumor perfusion, increase drug retention, and reverse immunosuppression has become a key therapeutic strategy. In recent years, targeting epigenetic pathways has emerged as a promising approach to overcome tumor immunosuppression and cancer progression. Moreover, the progress in nanotechnology has provided new opportunities for enhancing the efficacy of conventional and epigenetic drugs. Nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) offer several advantages, including improved drug pharmacokinetics, enhanced tumor penetration, and reduced systemic toxicity. Smart NDDSs enable precise targeting of stromal components and augment the effectiveness of immunotherapy through multiple drug delivery options. This review offers an overview of the latest nano-based approaches developed to achieve superior therapeutic efficacy and overcome drug resistance. We specifically focus on the TME and epigenetic-targeted therapies in the context of PDAC, discussing the advantages and limitations of current strategies while highlighting promising new developments. By emphasizing the immense potential of NDDSs in improving therapeutic outcomes in PDAC, our review paves the way for future research in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Urbanova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marina Cihova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Verona Buocikova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jan Slopovsky
- 2nd Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Spitalska 24, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Dubovan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Surgical Oncology, National CancerInstitute in Bratislava, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová12, 833 03 Bratislava
| | - Daniel Pindak
- Department of Surgical Oncology, National CancerInstitute in Bratislava, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová12, 833 03 Bratislava
| | - Miroslav Tomas
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Surgical Oncology, National CancerInstitute in Bratislava, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová12, 833 03 Bratislava
| | - Laura García-Bermejo
- Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Group, Area4, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar Km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Rodríguez-Garrote
- Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Tumor Markers Group, Area 3, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar Km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julie Earl
- Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Tumor Markers Group, Area 3, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar Km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yvonne Kohl
- Department Bioprocessing & Bioanalytics, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280 Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Agapi Kataki
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vasilissis Sofias 114, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Dusinska
- Health Effects Laboratory, Department of Environmental Chemistry, NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Instituttveien 18, 2002 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Bruno Sainz
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas"Alberto Sols" (IIBM), CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alena Gabelova
- Department of Nanobiology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia..
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Kayser C, Brauer A, Susanne S, Wandmacher AM. The challenge of making the right choice: patient avatars in the era of cancer immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1237565. [PMID: 37638045 PMCID: PMC10449253 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1237565] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies are a key therapeutic strategy to fight cancer. Diverse approaches are used to activate tumor-directed immunity and to overcome tumor immune escape. The dynamic interplay between tumor cells and their tumor(immune)microenvironment (T(I)ME) poses a major challenge to create appropriate model systems. However, those model systems are needed to gain novel insights into tumor (immune) biology and a prerequisite to accurately develop and test immunotherapeutic approaches which can be successfully translated into clinical application. Several model systems have been established and advanced into so-called patient avatars to mimic the patient´s tumor biology. All models have their advantages but also disadvantages underscoring the necessity to pay attention in defining the rationale and requirements for which the patient avatar will be used. Here, we briefly outline the current state of tumor model systems used for tumor (immune)biological analysis as well as evaluation of immunotherapeutic agents. Finally, we provide a recommendation for further development to make patient avatars a complementary tool for testing and predicting immunotherapeutic strategies for personalization of tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Kayser
- Group of Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Annika Brauer
- Group of Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sebens Susanne
- Group of Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Anna Maxi Wandmacher
- Group of Inflammatory Carcinogenesis, Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
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Muzzolini M, Belhabib I, Cardot V, Tijeras-Raballand A, Neuzillet C, Bousquet C, Lupinacci RM, Jean C. Pancreatic cancer orthotopic graft in a murine model. Acta Cir Bras 2023; 38:e382823. [PMID: 37556720 PMCID: PMC10403245 DOI: 10.1590/acb382823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers with increasing incidence. Even if progress have been made, the five-year overall survival remains lower than 10%. There is a desperate need in therapeutic improvements. In the last two decades, new in-vitro models have been developed and improved, including tridimensional-culture spheroids and organoids. However, animal studies remain mandatory in the upscaling before clinical studies. Orthotopic and syngeneic grafting is a robust model to test a drug efficiency in a tumor and its microenvironment. METHODS We described a method for orthotopic and syngeneic graft of KRAS mutated, p53 wildtype, 8305 cells in a C57BL/6J mouse model. RESULTS With this microsurgical method, 30 mice were grafted, 24 by a junior and six by a senior, resulting in 95,8 and 100% of (partial and total) successful tumoral implantation, respectively. Twenty mice underwent ultrasound follow-up. It was an efficient method for the tumoral growth evaluation. At day 16 after grafting, 85% of the tumors were detectable by ultrasound, and at day 22 all tumors were detected. CONCLUSIONS The presented method appears to be a robust and reliable method for pre-clinical studies. A junior master student can provide positive results using this technique, which can be improved with training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Muzzolini
- Ambroise Paré Hospital – Oncologic and Metabolic Surgery – Department of Digestive – Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Paris Cité University Santé, France – Université des Sciences de la Santé – Santé, France
| | - Ismahane Belhabib
- Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier – Université de Toulouse – Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse – Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale – Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Cindy Neuzillet
- Ambroise Paré Hospital – Oncologic and Metabolic Surgery – Department of Digestive – Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Versailles St-Quentin en-Yvelines/Paris Saclay University – UFR Simone Veil – Santé, France
- Institut Curie Saint Cloud – Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Corinne Bousquet
- Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier – Université de Toulouse – Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse – Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale – Toulouse, France
| | - Renato Micelli Lupinacci
- Ambroise Paré Hospital – Oncologic and Metabolic Surgery – Department of Digestive – Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Versailles St-Quentin en-Yvelines/Paris Saclay University – UFR Simone Veil – Santé, France
| | - Christine Jean
- Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier – Université de Toulouse – Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse – Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale – Toulouse, France
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Li C, Holman JB, Shi Z, Qiu B, Ding W. On-chip modeling of tumor evolution: Advances, challenges and opportunities. Mater Today Bio 2023; 21:100724. [PMID: 37483380 PMCID: PMC10359640 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100724] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor evolution is the accumulation of various tumor cell behaviors from tumorigenesis to tumor metastasis and is regulated by the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the mechanism of solid tumor progression has not been completely elucidated, and thus, the development of tumor therapy is still limited. Recently, Tumor chips constructed by culturing tumor cells and stromal cells on microfluidic chips have demonstrated great potential in modeling solid tumors and visualizing tumor cell behaviors to exploit tumor progression. Herein, we review the methods of developing engineered solid tumors on microfluidic chips in terms of tumor types, cell resources and patterns, the extracellular matrix and the components of the TME, and summarize the recent advances of microfluidic chips in demonstrating tumor cell behaviors, including proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, intravasation, extravasation and immune escape of tumor cells. We also outline the combination of tumor organoids and microfluidic chips to elaborate tumor organoid-on-a-chip platforms, as well as the practical limitations that must be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengpan Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Joseph Benjamin Holman
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Zhengdi Shi
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Weiping Ding
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China
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Li W, Zhou Z, Zhou X, Khoo BL, Gunawan R, Chin YR, Zhang L, Yi C, Guan X, Yang M. 3D Biomimetic Models to Reconstitute Tumor Microenvironment In Vitro: Spheroids, Organoids, and Tumor-on-a-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202609. [PMID: 36917657 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202609] [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: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Decades of efforts in engineering in vitro cancer models have advanced drug discovery and the insight into cancer biology. However, the establishment of preclinical models that enable fully recapitulating the tumor microenvironment remains challenging owing to its intrinsic complexity. Recent progress in engineering techniques has allowed the development of a new generation of in vitro preclinical models that can recreate complex in vivo tumor microenvironments and accurately predict drug responses, including spheroids, organoids, and tumor-on-a-chip. These biomimetic 3D tumor models are of particular interest as they pave the way for better understanding of cancer biology and accelerating the development of new anticancer therapeutics with reducing animal use. Here, the recent advances in developing these in vitro platforms for cancer modeling and preclinical drug screening, focusing on incorporating hydrogels are reviewed to reconstitute physiologically relevant microenvironments. The combination of spheroids/organoids with microfluidic technologies is also highlighted to better mimic in vivo tumors and discuss the challenges and future directions in the clinical translation of such models for drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Li
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Zhihang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Bee Luan Khoo
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Renardi Gunawan
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Y Rebecca Chin
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Changqing Yi
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Center of Advanced and Portable Medical Devices, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 518107, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, 999077, China
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Ferreira T, Gama A, Seixas F, Faustino-Rocha AI, Lopes C, Gaspar VM, Mano JF, Medeiros R, Oliveira PA. Mammary Glands of Women, Female Dogs and Female Rats: Similarities and Differences to Be Considered in Breast Cancer Research. Vet Sci 2023; 10:379. [PMID: 37368765 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10060379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common and well-known types of cancer among women worldwide and is the most frequent neoplasm in intact female dogs. Female dogs are considered attractive models or studying spontaneous breast cancer, whereas female rats are currently the most widely used animal models for breast cancer research in the laboratory context. Both female dogs and female rats have contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge in this field, and, in a "One Health" approach, they have allowed broad understanding of specific biopathological pathways, influence of environmental factors and screening/discovery of candidate therapies. This review aims to clearly showcase the similarities and differences among woman, female dog and female rat concerning to anatomical, physiological and histological features of the mammary gland and breast/mammary cancer epidemiology, in order to better portray breast tumorigenesis, and to ensure appropriate conclusions and extrapolation of results among species. We also discuss the major aspects that stand out in these species. The mammary glands of female dogs and women share structural similarities, especially with respect to the lactiferous ducts and lymphatic drainage. In contrast, female rats have only one lactiferous duct per nipple. A comprehensive comparison between humans and dogs is given a special focus, as these species share several aspects in terms of breast/mammary cancer epidemiology, such as age of onset, hormonal etiology, risk factors, and the clinical course of the disease. Holistically, it is clear that each species has advantages and limitations that researchers must consider during the development of experimental designs and data analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Ferreira
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Adelina Gama
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Seixas
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana I Faustino-Rocha
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Zootechnics, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
| | - Carlos Lopes
- Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vítor M Gaspar
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Research Department of the Portuguese League against Cancer-Regional Nucleus of the North (Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro-Núcleo Regional do Norte), 4200-177 Porto, Portugal
- Virology Service, Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Biomedical Research Center (CEBIMED), Faculty of Health Sciences of the Fernando Pessoa University, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Ligorio C, Mata A. Synthetic extracellular matrices with function-encoding peptides. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2023; 1:1-19. [PMID: 37359773 PMCID: PMC10127181 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00055-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The communication of cells with their surroundings is mostly encoded in the epitopes of structural and signalling proteins present in the extracellular matrix (ECM). These peptide epitopes can be incorporated in biomaterials to serve as function-encoding molecules to modulate cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions. In this Review, we discuss natural and synthetic peptide epitopes as molecular tools to bioengineer bioactive hydrogel materials. We present a library of functional peptide sequences that selectively communicate with cells and the ECM to coordinate biological processes, including epitopes that directly signal to cells, that bind ECM components that subsequently signal to cells, and that regulate ECM turnover. We highlight how these epitopes can be incorporated in different biomaterials as individual or multiple signals, working synergistically or additively. This molecular toolbox can be applied in the design of biomaterials aimed at regulating or controlling cellular and tissue function, repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosimo Ligorio
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alvaro Mata
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Heinrich MA, Uboldi I, Kuninty PR, Ankone MJ, van Baarlen J, Zhang YS, Jain K, Prakash J. Microarchitectural mimicking of stroma-induced vasculature compression in pancreatic tumors using a 3D engineered model. Bioact Mater 2023; 22:18-33. [PMID: 36203956 PMCID: PMC9516389 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
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Melzer MK, Resheq Y, Navaee F, Kleger A. The application of pancreatic cancer organoids for novel drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:429-444. [PMID: 36945198 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2194627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma presents with a dismal prognosis. Personalized therapy is urgently warranted to overcome the treatment limitations of the "one-size-fits-all" scheme. Organoids have emerged as fundamental novel tools to study tumor biology and heterogeneity, hence overcoming limitations of other model systems by better-reflecting tissue heterogeneity and recapitulating in-vivo processes. Besides their crucial role in basic research, they have evolved as tools for translational drug discovery and patient stratification. AREAS COVERED This review highlights the achievements of an organoid-based drug investigation and discovery. The authors present an overview of studies using organoids for drug testing. Further, they pinpoint studies correlating the in vitro prediction of organoids to the actual patient`s response. Furthermore, the authors describe novel model systems and take a thorough overlook of microfluidic chips, synthetic matrices, multicellular systems, bioprinting, and stem cell-derived pancreatic organoid systems. EXPERT OPINION Organoid systems promise great potential for future clinical applications. Indeed, they may be implemented into informed decision-making for guiding therapies. However, validation by randomized trials is mandatory. Additionally, organoids in combination with other cellular compartments may be exploited for drug discovery by studying niche-tumor interaction. Yet, several precautions must be kept in mind, such as standardization and reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Karl Melzer
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Urology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yazid Resheq
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Fatemeh Navaee
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- Division of Interdisciplinary Pancreatology, Department of Internal Medicine 1, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
- Core Facility Organoids, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Pancreatic Cancer Organoids: An Emerging Platform for Precision Medicine? Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030890. [PMID: 36979869 PMCID: PMC10046065 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite recent therapeutic advances, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive malignancies, with remarkable resistance to treatment, poor prognosis, and poor clinical outcome. More efficient therapeutic approaches are urgently needed to improve patients’ survival. Recently, the development of organoid culture systems has gained substantial attention as an emerging preclinical research model. PDAC organoids have been developed to study pancreatic cancer biology, progression, and treatment response, filling the translational gap between in vitro and in vivo models. Here, we review the rapidly evolving field of PDAC organoids and their potential as powerful preclinical tools that could pave the way towards precision medicine for pancreatic cancer.
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Shukla HD, Dukic T, Roy S, Bhandary B, Gerry A, Poirier Y, Lamichhane N, Molitoris J, Carrier F, Banerjee A, Regine WF, Polf JC. Pancreatic cancer derived 3D organoids as a clinical tool to evaluate the treatment response. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1072774. [PMID: 36713532 PMCID: PMC9879007 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1072774] [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: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. The standard of care for patients with locally advanced PC of chemotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy (RT), or chemo-radiation-therapy has shown highly variable and limited success rates. However, three-dimensional (3D) Pancreatic tumor organoids (PTOs) have shown promise to study tumor response to drugs, and emerging treatments under in vitro conditions. We investigated the potential for using 3D organoids to evaluate the precise radiation and drug dose responses of in vivo PC tumors. Methods PTOs were created from mouse pancreatic tumor tissues, and their microenvironment was compared to that of in vivo tumors using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. The organoids and in vivo PC tumors were treated with fractionated X-ray RT, 3-bromopyruvate (3BP) anti-tumor drug, and combination of 3BP + fractionated RT. Results Pancreatic tumor organoids (PTOs) exhibited a similar fibrotic microenvironment and molecular response (as seen by apoptosis biomarker expression) as in vivo tumors. Untreated tumor organoids and in vivo tumor both exhibited proliferative growth of 6 folds the original size after 10 days, whereas no growth was seen for organoids and in vivo tumors treated with 8 (Gray) Gy of fractionated RT. Tumor organoids showed reduced growth rates of 3.2x and 1.8x when treated with 4 and 6 Gy fractionated RT, respectively. Interestingly, combination of 100 µM of 3BP + 4 Gy of RT showed pronounced growth inhibition as compared to 3-BP alone or 4 Gy of radiation alone. Further, positive identification of SOX2, SOX10 and TGFβ indicated presence of cancer stem cells in tumor organoids which might have some role in resistance to therapies in pancreatic cancer. Conclusions PTOs produced a similar microenvironment and exhibited similar growth characteristics as in vivo tumors following treatment, indicating their potential for predicting in vivo tumor sensitivity and response to RT and combined chemo-RT treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hem D Shukla
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Hem D Shukla,
| | - Tijana Dukic
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sanjit Roy
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Binny Bhandary
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andrew Gerry
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yannick Poirier
- Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Narottam Lamichhane
- Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jason Molitoris
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - France Carrier
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William F. Regine
- Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jerimy C. Polf
- Division of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Hossan MS, Lin ES, Riedl E, Stram A, Mehlhaff E, Koeppel L, Warner J, Uko I, Mankowski Gettle L, Lubner S, McGregor SM, Zhang W, Murphy W, Kratz JD. Spatial Alignment of Organoids Tracking Subclonal Chemotherapy Resistance in Pancreatic and Ampullary Cancer. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10010091. [PMID: 36671664 PMCID: PMC9854538 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10010091] [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: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic and ampullary cancers remain highly morbid diseases for which accurate clinical predictions are needed for precise therapeutic predictions. Patient-derived cancer organoids have been widely adopted; however, prior work has focused on well-level therapeutic sensitivity. To characterize individual oligoclonal units of therapeutic response, we introduce a low-volume screening assay, including an automated alignment algorithm. The oligoclonal growth response was compared against validated markers of response, including well-level viability and markers of single-cell viability. Line-specific sensitivities were compared with clinical outcomes. Automated alignment algorithms were generated to match organoids across time using coordinates across a single projection of Z-stacked images. After screening for baseline size (50 μm) and circularity (>0.4), the match efficiency was found to be optimized by accepting the diffusion thresholded with the root mean standard deviation of 75 μm. Validated well-level viability showed a limited correlation with the mean organoid size (R = 0.408), and a normalized growth assayed by normalized changes in area (R = 0.474) and area (R = 0.486). Subclonal populations were defined by both residual growth and the failure to induce apoptosis and necrosis. For a culture with clinical resistance to gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, while a therapeutic challenge induced a robust effect in inhibiting cell growth (GΔ = 1.53), residual oligoclonal populations were able to limit the effect on the ability to induce apoptosis (GΔ = 0.52) and cell necrosis (GΔ = 1.07). Bioengineered approaches are feasible to capture oligoclonal heterogeneity in organotypic cultures, integrating ongoing efforts for utilizing organoids across cancer types as integral biomarkers and in novel therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Shahadat Hossan
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Ethan Samuel Lin
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Eleanor Riedl
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Austin Stram
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Eric Mehlhaff
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Luke Koeppel
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jamie Warner
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Inem Uko
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Lori Mankowski Gettle
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Sam Lubner
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA
- William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Health System, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Stephanie M. McGregor
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - William Murphy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jeremy D. Kratz
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA
- William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Health System, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
- Correspondence:
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Perelló-Reus CM, Rubio-Tomás T, Cisneros-Barroso E, Ibargüen-González L, Segura-Sampedro JJ, Morales-Soriano R, Barceló C. Challenges in precision medicine in pancreatic cancer: A focus in cancer stem cells and microbiota. Front Oncol 2022; 12:995357. [PMID: 36531066 PMCID: PMC9751445 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.995357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease, with the lowest 5-years survival rate of all cancers due to late diagnosis. Despite the advance and success of precision oncology in gastrointestinal cancers, the frequency of molecular-informed therapy decisions in PDAC is currently neglectable. The reasons for this dismal situation are mainly the absence of effective early diagnostic biomarkers and therapy resistance. PDAC cancer stem cells (PDAC-SC), which are regarded as essential for tumor initiation, relapse and drug resistance, are highly dependent on their niche i.e. microanatomical structures of the tumor microenvironment. There is an altered microbiome in PDAC patients embedded within the highly desmoplastic tumor microenvironment, which is known to determine therapeutic responses and affecting survival in PDAC patients. We consider that understanding the communication network that exists between the microbiome and the PDAC-SC niche by co-culture of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) with TME microbiota would recapitulate the complexity of PDAC paving the way towards a precision oncology treatment-response prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina M. Perelló-Reus
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Oncogenesis Group, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases (HUSE), Palma de Mallorca, Spain,*Correspondence: Carles Barceló, ; Catalina M. Perelló-Reus,
| | | | | | - Lesly Ibargüen-González
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Oncogenesis Group, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases (HUSE), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Juan José Segura-Sampedro
- Advanced Oncological Surgery, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain,General and Digestive Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, School of Medicine, Balearic Islands Health Research Institute, University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Rafael Morales-Soriano
- Advanced Oncological Surgery, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma de Mallorca, Spain,General and Digestive Surgery Unit, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, School of Medicine, Balearic Islands Health Research Institute, University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Carles Barceló
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Oncogenesis Group, Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Hospital Universitari Son Espases (HUSE), Palma de Mallorca, Spain,*Correspondence: Carles Barceló, ; Catalina M. Perelló-Reus,
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Kast V, Nadernezhad A, Pette D, Gabrielyan A, Fusenig M, Honselmann KC, Stange DE, Werner C, Loessner D. A Tumor Microenvironment Model of Pancreatic Cancer to Elucidate Responses toward Immunotherapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2022:e2201907. [PMID: 36417691 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201907] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating malignancy with minimal treatment options. Standard-of-care therapy, including surgery and chemotherapy, is unsatisfactory, and therapies harnessing the immune system have been unsuccessful in clinical trials. Resistance to therapy and disease progression are mediated by the tumor microenvironment, which contains excessive amounts of extracellular matrix and stromal cells, acting as a barrier to drug delivery. There is a lack of preclinical pancreatic cancer models that reconstruct the extracellular, cellular, and biomechanical elements of tumor tissues to assess responses toward immunotherapy. To address this limitation and explore the effects of immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy, a multicellular 3D cancer model using a star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol)-heparin hydrogel matrix is developed. Human pancreatic cancer cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and myeloid cells are grown encapsulated in hydrogels to mimic key components of tumor tissues, and cell responses toward treatment are assessed. Combining the CD11b agonist ADH-503 with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and chemotherapy leads to a significant reduction in tumor cell viability, proliferation, metabolic activity, immunomodulation, and secretion of immunosuppressive and tumor growth-promoting cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Kast
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ali Nadernezhad
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dagmar Pette
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anastasiia Gabrielyan
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maximilian Fusenig
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kim C Honselmann
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Daniel E Stange
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty, Technical University Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
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40
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Schuth S, Le Blanc S, Krieger TG, Jabs J, Schenk M, Giese NA, Büchler MW, Eils R, Conrad C, Strobel O. Patient-specific modeling of stroma-mediated chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer using a three-dimensional organoid-fibroblast co-culture system. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:312. [PMID: 36273171 PMCID: PMC9588250 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02519-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are considered to play a fundamental role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression and chemoresistance. Patient-derived organoids have demonstrated great potential as tumor avatars for drug response prediction in PDAC, yet they disregard the influence of stromal components on chemosensitivity. METHODS We established direct three-dimensional (3D) co-cultures of primary PDAC organoids and patient-matched CAFs to investigate the effect of the fibroblastic compartment on sensitivity to gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel treatments using an image-based drug assay. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed for three organoid/CAF pairs in mono- and co-culture to uncover transcriptional changes induced by tumor-stroma interaction. RESULTS Upon co-culture with CAFs, we observed increased proliferation and reduced chemotherapy-induced cell death of PDAC organoids. Single-cell RNA sequencing data evidenced induction of a pro-inflammatory phenotype in CAFs in co-cultures. Organoids showed increased expression of genes associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in co-cultures and several potential receptor-ligand interactions related to EMT were identified, supporting a key role of CAF-driven induction of EMT in PDAC chemoresistance. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the potential of personalized PDAC co-cultures models not only for drug response profiling but also for unraveling the molecular mechanisms involved in the chemoresistance-supporting role of the tumor stroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schuth
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908European Pancreas Center, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Solange Le Blanc
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908European Pancreas Center, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.461742.20000 0000 8855 0365NCT partner site Heidelberg, a clinical-translational cancer research partnership between University Hospital Heidelberg and DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Visceral Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Teresa G. Krieger
- grid.484013.a0000 0004 6879 971XBerlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Digital Health Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Jabs
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,Present Address: Merck Healthcare KGaA, Global Research, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Miriam Schenk
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908European Pancreas Center, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nathalia A. Giese
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908European Pancreas Center, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus W. Büchler
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908European Pancreas Center, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- grid.484013.a0000 0004 6879 971XBerlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Digital Health Center, Berlin, Germany ,grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Conrad
- grid.484013.a0000 0004 6879 971XBerlin Institute of Health at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Digital Health Center, Berlin, Germany ,grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Theoretical Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Strobel
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908European Pancreas Center, Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.461742.20000 0000 8855 0365NCT partner site Heidelberg, a clinical-translational cancer research partnership between University Hospital Heidelberg and DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Division of Visceral Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Pan XT, Yang XY, Mao TQ, Liu K, Chen ZZ, Ji LN, Jiang DC, Wang K, Gu ZZ, Xia XH. Super-Long SERS Active Single Silver Nanowires for Molecular Imaging in 2D and 3D Cell Culture Models. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12100875. [PMID: 36291012 PMCID: PMC9599576 DOI: 10.3390/bios12100875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Establishing a systematic molecular information analysis strategy for cell culture models is of great significance for drug development and tissue engineering technologies. Here, we fabricated single silver nanowires with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering activity to extract SERS spectra in situ from two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. The silver nanowires were super long, flexible and thin enough to penetrate through multiple cells. A single silver nanowire was used in combination with a four-dimensional microcontroller as a cell endoscope for spectrally analyzing the components in cell culture models. Then, we adopted a machine learning algorithm to analyze the obtained spectra. Our results show that the abundance of proteins differs significantly between the 2D and 3D models, and that nucleic acid-rich and protein-rich regions can be distinguished with satisfactory accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tong Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xuan-Ye Yang
- Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of the Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tian-Qi Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Kang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zao-Zao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Li-Na Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Correspondence: (L.-N.J.); (D.-C.J.); (K.W.)
| | - De-Chen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Correspondence: (L.-N.J.); (D.-C.J.); (K.W.)
| | - Kang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Correspondence: (L.-N.J.); (D.-C.J.); (K.W.)
| | - Zhong-Ze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Xing-Hua Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Yamada KM, Doyle AD, Lu J. Cell-3D matrix interactions: recent advances and opportunities. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:883-895. [PMID: 35410820 PMCID: PMC9464680 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Tissues consist of cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Cell-ECM interactions play crucial roles in embryonic development, differentiation, tissue remodeling, and diseases including fibrosis and cancer. Recent research advances in characterizing cell-matrix interactions include detailed descriptions of hundreds of ECM and associated molecules, their complex intermolecular interactions in development and disease, identification of distinctive modes of cell migration in different 3D ECMs, and new insights into mechanisms of organ formation. Exploring the roles of the physical features of different ECM microenvironments and the bidirectional regulation of cell signaling and matrix organization emphasize the dynamic nature of these interactions, which can include feedback loops that exacerbate disease. Understanding mechanisms of cell-matrix interactions can potentially lead to targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth M Yamada
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Andrew D Doyle
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiaoyang Lu
- Cell Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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43
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Schueler J, Borenstein J, Buti L, Dong M, Masmoudi F, Hribar K, Anderson E, Sommergruber W. How to build a tumor: An industry perspective. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:103329. [PMID: 35908685 PMCID: PMC9585375 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.07.014] [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: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
During the past 15 years, a plethora of innovative 3D in vitro systems has been developed. They offer the possibility of identifying crucial cellular and molecular contributors to the disease by permitting manipulation of each in isolation. However, improvements are needed particularly with respect to the predictivity and validity of those models. The major challenge now is to identify which assay and readout combination(s) best suits the current scientific question(s). A deep understanding of the different platforms along with their pros and cons is a prerequisite to make this decision. This review aims to give an overview of the most prominent systems with a focus on applications, translational relevance and adoption drivers from an industry perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Schueler
- Charles River Discovery Research Services Germany GmbH, Freiburg, Germany,Corresponding author.
| | | | | | - Meng Dong
- Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Stuttgart, Germany
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Wei Y, Wang K, Luo S, Li F, Zuo X, Fan C, Li Q. Programmable DNA Hydrogels as Artificial Extracellular Matrix. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2107640. [PMID: 35119201 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202107640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The cell microenvironment plays a crucial role in regulating cell behavior and fate in physiological and pathological processes. As the fundamental component of the cell microenvironment, extracellular matrix (ECM) typically possesses complex ordered structures and provides essential physical and chemical cues to the cells. Hydrogels have attracted much attention in recapitulating the ECM. Compared to natural and synthetic polymer hydrogels, DNA hydrogels have unique programmable capability, which endows the material precise structural customization and tunable properties. This review focuses on recent advances in programmable DNA hydrogels as artificial extracellular matrix, particularly the pure DNA hydrogels. It introduces the classification, design, and assembly of DNA hydrogels, and then summarizes the state-of-the-art achievements in cell encapsulation, cell culture, and tissue engineering with DNA hydrogels. Ultimately, the challenges and prospects for cellular applications of DNA hydrogels are delivered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Wei
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Kaizhe Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Shihua Luo
- Department of Traumatology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Fan Li
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acids Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Xiaolei Zuo
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acids Chemistry and Nanomedicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, P. R. China
| | - Chunhai Fan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules and National Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
- WLA Laboratories, Shanghai, 201203, P. R. China
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Temena MA, Acar A. Increased TRIM31 gene expression is positively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 associated genes TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4 in gastrointestinal cancers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11763. [PMID: 35970857 PMCID: PMC9378649 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15911-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Besides typical respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 patients also have gastrointestinal symptoms. Studies focusing on the gastrointestinal tumors derived from gastrointestinal tissues have raised a question whether these tumors might express higher levels of SARS-CoV-2 associated genes and therefore patients diagnosed with GI cancers may be more susceptible to the infection. In this study, we have analyzed the expression of SARS-CoV-2 associated genes and their co-expressions in gastrointestinal solid tumors, cancer cell lines and patient-derived organoids relative to their normal counterparts. Moreover, we have found increased co-expression of TMPRSS2-TMPRSS4 in gastrointestinal cancers suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 viral infection known to be mediated by this protease pair might facilitate the effects of viral infection in GI cancer patients. Further, our findings also demonstrate that TRIM31 expression is upregulated in gastrointestinal tumors, while the inhibition of TRIM31 significantly altered viral replication and viral processes associated with cellular pathways in gastrointestinal cancer samples. Taken together, these findings indicate that in addition to the co-expression of TMPRSS2-TMPRSS4 protease pair in GI cancers, TRIM31 expression is positively correlated with this pair and TRIM31 may play a role in providing an increased susceptibility in GI cancer patients to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Arda Temena
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Universiteler Mah. Dumlupınar Bulvarı 1, 06800, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Acar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Universiteler Mah. Dumlupınar Bulvarı 1, 06800, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey.
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Monteiro MV, Ferreira LP, Rocha M, Gaspar VM, Mano JF. Advances in bioengineering pancreatic tumor-stroma physiomimetic Biomodels. Biomaterials 2022; 287:121653. [PMID: 35803021 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer exhibits a unique bioarchitecture and desmoplastic cancer-stoma interplay that governs disease progression, multi-resistance, and metastasis. Emulating the biological features and microenvironment heterogeneity of pancreatic cancer stroma in vitro is remarkably complex, yet highly desirable for advancing the discovery of innovative therapeutics. Diverse bioengineering approaches exploiting patient-derived organoids, cancer-on-a-chip platforms, and 3D bioprinted living constructs have been rapidly emerging in an endeavor to seamlessly recapitulate major tumor-stroma biodynamic interactions in a preclinical setting. Gathering on this, herein we showcase and discuss the most recent advances in bio-assembling pancreatic tumor-stroma models that mimic key disease hallmarks and its desmoplastic biosignature. A reverse engineering perspective of pancreatic tumor-stroma key elementary units is also provided and complemented by a detailed description of biodesign guidelines that are to be considered for improving 3D models physiomimetic features. This overview provides valuable examples and starting guidelines for researchers envisioning to engineer and characterize stroma-rich biomimetic tumor models. All in all, leveraging advanced bioengineering tools for capturing stromal heterogeneity and dynamics, opens new avenues toward generating more predictive and patient-personalized organotypic 3D in vitro platforms for screening transformative therapeutics targeting the tumor-stroma interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Monteiro
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luís P Ferreira
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marta Rocha
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vítor M Gaspar
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
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Combined Application of Patient-Derived Cells and Biomaterials as 3D In Vitro Tumor Models. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102503. [PMID: 35626107 PMCID: PMC9139582 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary For years, cancer has remained the second leading cause of death in U.S. and Europe even though cancer mortality has decreased, as new advances in medical treatment have made this decrease possible. Chemotherapy has remained the gold standard and “one-size-fits-all” treatment for cancer, yet this approach has lacked precision and, at times, failed. Recent studies attempt to mimic the spatial microenvironment of cancer tissue to better study chemotherapy agents by combining patient-derived cells and three-dimensional (3D) scaffold, bioprinting, spheroid, and hydrogel culturing. This commentary aims to collect and discuss recent findings concerning the combined application of biomaterials with patient-derived cancer cells to better study and test therapies in vitro, that will further personalize and facilitate the treatment of various cancers, and also address the limitation and challenges in developing these 3D models. Abstract Although advances have been made in cancer therapy, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the U.S. and Europe, and thus efforts to continue to study and discover better treatment methods are ongoing. Three-dimensional (3D) tumor models have shown advantages over bi-dimensional (2D) cultures in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy. This commentary aims to highlight the potential of combined application of biomaterials with patient-derived cancer cells as a 3D in vitro model for the study and treatment of cancer patients. Five studies were discussed which demonstrate and provided early evidence to create 3D models with accurate microenvironments that are comparable to in vivo tumors. To date, the use of patient-derived cells for a more personalized approach to healthcare in combination with biomaterials to create a 3D tumor is still relatively new and uncommon for application in clinics. Although highly promising, it is important to acknowledge the current limitations and challenges of developing these innovative in vitro models, including the need for biologists and laboratory technicians to become familiar with biomaterial scaffolds, and the effort for bioengineers to create easy-to-handle scaffolds for routine assessment.
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Rizzo R, Onesto V, Forciniti S, Chandra A, Prasad S, Iuele H, Colella F, Gigli G, Del Mercato LL. A pH-sensor scaffold for mapping spatiotemporal gradients in three-dimensional in vitro tumour models. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 212:114401. [PMID: 35617754 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114401] [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: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The detection of extracellular pH at single cell resolution is challenging and requires advanced sensibility. Sensing pH at high spatial and temporal resolution might provide crucial information in understanding the role of pH and its fluctuations in a wide range of physio-pathological cellular processes, including cancer. Here, a method to embed silica-based fluorescent pH sensors into alginate-based three-dimensional (3D) microgels tumour models, coupled with a computational method for fine data analysis, is presented. By means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, live-cell time-lapse imaging of 3D alginate microgels was performed and the extracellular pH metabolic variations were monitored in both in vitro 3D mono- and 3D co-cultures of tumour and stromal pancreatic cells. The results show that the extracellular pH is cell line-specific and time-dependent. Moreover, differences in pH were also detected between 3D monocultures versus 3D co-cultures, thus suggesting the existence of a metabolic crosstalk between tumour and stromal cells. In conclusion, the system has the potential to image multiple live cell types in a 3D environment and to decipher in real-time their pH metabolic interplay under controlled experimental conditions, thus being also a suitable platform for drug screening and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Rizzo
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Valentina Onesto
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Stefania Forciniti
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Anil Chandra
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Saumya Prasad
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Helena Iuele
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Francesco Colella
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy; Department of Mathematics and Physics ''Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento, via Arnesano, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Loretta L Del Mercato
- Institute of Nanotechnology, National Research Council (CNR-NANOTEC), c/o Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
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Pancreatic Cancer Organoids in the Field of Precision Medicine: A Review of Literature and Experience on Drug Sensitivity Testing with Multiple Readouts and Synergy Scoring. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030525. [PMID: 35158794 PMCID: PMC8833348 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary New treatments are urgently needed for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma because it is one of the most aggressive and lethal cancers, detected too late and resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Tumors in most patients feature a similar set of core mutations but so far it has not been possible to design a one-fits-all treatment strategy. Instead, efforts are underway to personalize the therapies. To find the treatments that might work the best for each patient, entirely new experimental platforms based on living miniature tumors, organoids, have been developed. We review here the latest international findings in designing personalized treatments pancreatic cancer patients using organoids as testing beds. Our own work adds important clues about how such testing could, and perhaps should, be conducted. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a silent killer, often diagnosed late. However, it is also dishearteningly resistant to nearly all forms of treatment. New therapies are urgently needed, and with the advent of organoid culture for pancreatic cancer, an increasing number of innovative approaches are being tested. Organoids can be derived within a short enough time window to allow testing of several anticancer agents, which opens up the possibility for functional precision medicine for pancreatic cancer. At the same time, organoid model systems are being refined to better mimic the cancer, for example, by incorporation of components of the tumor microenvironment. We review some of the latest developments in pancreatic cancer organoid research and in novel treatment design. We also summarize our own current experiences with pancreatic cancer organoid drug sensitivity and resistance testing (DSRT) in 14 organoids from 11 PDAC patients. Our data show that it may be necessary to include a cell death read-out in ex vivo DSRT assays, as metabolic viability quantitation does not capture actual organoid killing. We also successfully adapted the organoid platform for drug combination synergy discovery. Lastly, live organoid culture 3D confocal microscopy can help identify individual surviving tumor cells escaping cell death even during harsh combination treatments. Taken together, the organoid technology allows the development of novel precision medicine approaches for PDAC, which paves the way for clinical trials and much needed new treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients.
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Barbosa MAG, Xavier CPR, Pereira RF, Petrikaitė V, Vasconcelos MH. 3D Cell Culture Models as Recapitulators of the Tumor Microenvironment for the Screening of Anti-Cancer Drugs. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:190. [PMID: 35008353 PMCID: PMC8749977 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, innovative three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have been proposed as viable and biomimetic alternatives for initial drug screening, allowing the improvement of the efficiency of drug development. These models are gaining popularity, given their ability to reproduce key aspects of the tumor microenvironment, concerning the 3D tumor architecture as well as the interactions of tumor cells with the extracellular matrix and surrounding non-tumor cells. The development of accurate 3D models may become beneficial to decrease the use of laboratory animals in scientific research, in accordance with the European Union's regulation on the 3R rule (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement). This review focuses on the impact of 3D cell culture models on cancer research, discussing their advantages, limitations, and compatibility with high-throughput screenings and automated systems. An insight is also given on the adequacy of the available readouts for the interpretation of the data obtained from the 3D cell culture models. Importantly, we also emphasize the need for the incorporation of additional and complementary microenvironment elements on the design of 3D cell culture models, towards improved predictive value of drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie A. G. Barbosa
- Cancer Drug Resistance Group, IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.G.B.); (C.P.R.X.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Cristina P. R. Xavier
- Cancer Drug Resistance Group, IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.G.B.); (C.P.R.X.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Rúben F. Pereira
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Biofabrication Group, INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vilma Petrikaitė
- Laboratory of Drug Targets Histopathology, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, A. Mickevičiaus g 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania;
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - M. Helena Vasconcelos
- Cancer Drug Resistance Group, IPATIMUP—Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.A.G.B.); (C.P.R.X.)
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Biological Sciences, FFUP—Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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