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Gao J, Zhao Y, Wang Z, Liu F, Chen X, Mo J, Jiang Y, Liu Y, Tian P, Li Y, Deng K, Qi X, Han D, Liu Z, Yang Z, Chen Y, Tang Y, Li C, Liu H, Li J, Jiang T. Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing identifies subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft recapitulated medulloblastoma. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38477441 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12399] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors that mainly affect children. Various approaches have been used to model MB to facilitate investigating tumorigenesis. This study aims to compare the recapitulation of MB between subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (sPDX), intracranial patient-derived xenograft (iPDX), and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) at the single-cell level. METHODS We obtained primary human sonic hedgehog (SHH) and group 3 (G3) MB samples from six patients. For each patient specimen, we developed two sPDX and iPDX models, respectively. Three Patch+/- GEMM models were also included for sequencing. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to compare gene expression profiles, cellular composition, and functional pathway enrichment. Bulk RNA-seq deconvolution was performed to compare cellular composition across models and human samples. RESULTS Our results showed that the sPDX tumor model demonstrated the highest correlation to the overall transcriptomic profiles of primary human tumors at the single-cell level within the SHH and G3 subgroups, followed by the GEMM model and iPDX. The GEMM tumor model was able to recapitulate all subpopulations of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells that can be clustered in human SHH tumors, including a higher proportion of tumor-associated astrocytes and immune cells, and an additional cluster of vascular endothelia when compared to human SHH tumors. CONCLUSIONS This study was the first to compare experimental models for MB at the single-cell level, providing value insights into model selection for different research purposes. sPDX and iPDX are suitable for drug testing and personalized therapy screenings, whereas GEMM models are valuable for investigating the interaction between tumor and TME cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Weifang, China
| | - Yahui Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jialin Mo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yongqiang Liu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resources Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiyi Tian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanong Li
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiwen Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueling Qi
- Department of NeuroPathology, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongming Han
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zijia Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yixi Chen
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Tang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunde Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hailong Liu
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Medical Research, Beijing, China
| | | | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Gallo-Oller G, de Ståhl TD, Alaiya A, Nilsson S, Holmberg AR, Márquez-Méndez M. Cytotoxicity of poly-guanidine in medulloblastoma cell lines. Invest New Drugs 2023; 41:688-698. [PMID: 37556022 PMCID: PMC10560188 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01386-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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain tumor. The therapy frequently causes serious side effects, and new selective therapies are needed. MB expresses hyper sialylation, a possible target for selective therapy. The cytotoxic efficacy of a poly guanidine conjugate (GuaDex) incubated with medulloblastoma cell cultures (DAOY and MB-LU-181) was investigated. The cells were incubated with 0.05-8 µM GuaDex from 15 min to 72 h. A fluorometric cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) measured the cytotoxicity. Labeled GuaDex was used to study tumor cell interaction. FITC-label Sambucus nigra confirmed high expression of sialic acid (Sia). Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the cell F-actin and microtubules. The cell interactions were studied by confocal and fluorescence microscopy. Annexin-V assay was used to detect apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis was done by DNA content determination. A wound-healing migration assay determined the effects on the migratory ability of DAOY cells after GuaDex treatment. IC50 for GuaDex was 223.4 -281.1 nM. FMCA showed potent growth inhibition on DAOY and MB-LU-181 cells at 5 uM GuaDex after 4 h of incubation. GuaDex treatment induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. S. nigra FITC-label lectin confirmed high expression of Sia on DAOY medulloblastoma cells. The GuaDex treatment polymerized the cytoskeleton (actin filaments and microtubules) and bound to DNA, inducing condensation. The Annexin V assay results were negative. Cell migration was inhibited at 0.5 µM GuaDex concentration after 24 h of incubation. GuaDex showed potent cytotoxicity and invasion-inhibitory effects on medulloblastoma cells at low micromolar concentrations. GuaDex efficacy was significant and warrants further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Gallo-Oller
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ayodele Alaiya
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Cell Therapy and Immunobiology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Oncology Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sten Nilsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders R Holmberg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcela Márquez-Méndez
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center for Research and Development in Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
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3
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Hill RM, Plasschaert SLA, Timmermann B, Dufour C, Aquilina K, Avula S, Donovan L, Lequin M, Pietsch T, Thomale U, Tippelt S, Wesseling P, Rutkowski S, Clifford SC, Pfister SM, Bailey S, Fleischhack G. Relapsed Medulloblastoma in Pre-Irradiated Patients: Current Practice for Diagnostics and Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:126. [PMID: 35008290 PMCID: PMC8750207 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Relapsed medulloblastoma (rMB) accounts for a considerable, and disproportionate amount of childhood cancer deaths. Recent advances have gone someway to characterising disease biology at relapse including second malignancies that often cannot be distinguished from relapse on imaging alone. Furthermore, there are now multiple international early-phase trials exploring drug-target matches across a range of high-risk/relapsed paediatric tumours. Despite these advances, treatment at relapse in pre-irradiated patients is typically non-curative and focuses on providing life-prolonging and symptom-modifying care that is tailored to the needs and wishes of the individual and their family. Here, we describe the current understanding of prognostic factors at disease relapse such as principal molecular group, adverse molecular biology, and timing of relapse. We provide an overview of the clinical diagnostic process including signs and symptoms, staging investigations, and molecular pathology, followed by a summary of treatment modalities and considerations. Finally, we summarise future directions to progress understanding of treatment resistance and the biological mechanisms underpinning early therapy-refractory and relapsed disease. These initiatives include development of comprehensive and collaborative molecular profiling approaches at relapse, liquid biopsies such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a biomarker of minimal residual disease (MRD), modelling strategies, and the use of primary tumour material for real-time drug screening approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M. Hill
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (S.C.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Sabine L. A. Plasschaert
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (S.L.A.P.); (M.L.); (P.W.)
| | - Beate Timmermann
- Department of Particle Therapy, West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen (WPE), West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
| | - Christelle Dufour
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave Roussy, 94800 Villejuif, France;
| | - Kristian Aquilina
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London WC1N 3JH, UK;
| | - Shivaram Avula
- Department of Radiology, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK;
| | - Laura Donovan
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK;
| | - Maarten Lequin
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (S.L.A.P.); (M.L.); (P.W.)
| | - Torsten Pietsch
- Institute of Neuropathology, DGNN Brain Tumor Reference Center, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Ulrich Thomale
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Stephan Tippelt
- Department of Pediatrics III, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (CTNBS), University Hospital of Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
| | - Pieter Wesseling
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; (S.L.A.P.); (M.L.); (P.W.)
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers/VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Rutkowski
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Steven C. Clifford
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (S.C.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Stefan M. Pfister
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Bailey
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK; (S.C.C.); (S.B.)
| | - Gudrun Fleischhack
- Department of Pediatrics III, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (CTNBS), University Hospital of Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
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4
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Audi ZF, Saker Z, Rizk M, Harati H, Fares Y, Bahmad HF, Nabha SM. Immunosuppression in Medulloblastoma: Insights into Cancer Immunity and Immunotherapy. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2021; 22:83. [PMID: 34328587 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-021-00874-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain malignancy, with a 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of around 65%. The conventional MB treatment, comprising surgical resection followed by irradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy, often leads to impairment in normal body functions and poor quality of life, especially with the increased risk of recurrence and subsequent development of secondary malignancies. The development and progression of MB are facilitated by a variety of immune-evading mechanisms such as the secretion of immunosuppressive molecules, activation of immunosuppressive cells, inhibition of immune checkpoint molecules, impairment of adhesive molecules, downregulation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, protection against apoptosis, and activation of immunosuppressive pathways. Understanding the tumor-immune relationship in MB is crucial for effective development of immune-based therapeutic strategies. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the immunological aspect of the brain, focusing on the current knowledge tackling the mechanisms of MB immune suppression and evasion. We also highlight several key immunotherapeutic approaches developed to date for the treatment of MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahraa F Audi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Zahraa Saker
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mahdi Rizk
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hayat Harati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Youssef Fares
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hisham F Bahmad
- Arkadi M. Rywlin M.D. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL, USA.
| | - Sanaa M Nabha
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
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5
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Hermans E, Hulleman E. Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Models of Pediatric Brain Tumors: In a Mature Phase or Still in Its Infancy? Front Oncol 2020; 9:1418. [PMID: 31970083 PMCID: PMC6960099 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, molecular profiling has led to the discovery of an increasing number of brain tumor subtypes, and associated therapeutic targets. These molecular features have been incorporated in the 2016 new World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS), which now distinguishes tumor subgroups not only histologically, but also based on molecular characteristics. Despite an improved diagnosis of (pediatric) tumors in the CNS however, the survival of children with malignant brain tumors still is far worse than for those suffering from other types of malignancies. Therefore, new treatments need to be developed, based on subgroup-specific genetic aberrations. Here, we provide an overview of the currently available orthotopic xenograft models for pediatric brain tumor subtypes as defined by the 2016 WHO classification, to facilitate the choice of appropriate animal models for the preclinical testing of novel treatment strategies, and to provide insight into the current gaps and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Hermans
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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6
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Stripay JL, Merchant TE, Roussel MF, Tinkle CL. Preclinical Models of Craniospinal Irradiation for Medulloblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12010133. [PMID: 31948065 PMCID: PMC7016884 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is an embryonal tumor that shows a predilection for distant metastatic spread and leptomeningeal seeding. For most patients, optimal management of medulloblastoma includes maximum safe resection followed by adjuvant craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and chemotherapy. Although CSI is crucial in treating medulloblastoma, the realization that medulloblastoma is a heterogeneous disease comprising four distinct molecular subgroups (wingless [WNT], sonic hedgehog [SHH], Group 3 [G3], and Group 4 [G4]) with distinct clinical characteristics and prognoses has refocused efforts to better define the optimal role of CSI within and across disease subgroups. The ability to deliver clinically relevant CSI to preclinical models of medulloblastoma offers the potential to study radiation dose and volume effects on tumor control and toxicity in these subgroups and to identify subgroup-specific combination adjuvant therapies. Recent efforts have employed commercial image-guided small animal irradiation systems as well as custom approaches to deliver accurate and reproducible fractionated CSI in various preclinical models of medulloblastoma. Here, we provide an overview of the current clinical indications for, and technical aspects of, irradiation of pediatric medulloblastoma. We then review the current literature on preclinical modeling of and treatment interventions for medulloblastoma and conclude with a summary of challenges in the field of preclinical modeling of CSI for the treatment of leptomeningeal seeding tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Stripay
- Departments of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; (J.L.S.); (M.F.R.)
| | - Thomas E. Merchant
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA;
| | - Martine F. Roussel
- Departments of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; (J.L.S.); (M.F.R.)
| | - Christopher L. Tinkle
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(901)-595-8735; Fax: +1-(901)-595-3113
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7
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Patient-derived orthotopic xenografts of pediatric brain tumors: a St. Jude resource. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 140:209-225. [PMID: 32519082 PMCID: PMC7360541 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02171-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOX) of childhood brain tumors have recently emerged as a biologically faithful vehicle for testing novel and more effective therapies. Herein, we provide the histopathological and molecular analysis of 37 novel PDOX models generated from pediatric brain tumor patients treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Using a combination of histopathology, whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, and DNA methylation arrays, we demonstrate the overall fidelity and inter-tumoral molecular heterogeneity of pediatric brain tumor PDOX models. These models represent frequent as well as rare childhood brain tumor entities, including medulloblastoma, ependymoma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, and embryonal tumor with multi-layer rosettes. PDOX models will be valuable platforms for evaluating novel therapies and conducting pre-clinical trials to accelerate progress in the treatment of brain tumors in children. All described PDOX models and associated datasets can be explored using an interactive web-based portal and will be made freely available to the research community upon request.
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8
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Inhibition of Rho-Associated Kinase Suppresses Medulloblastoma Growth. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 12:cancers12010073. [PMID: 31888022 PMCID: PMC7016943 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant brain tumor types in children, with an overall survival of 70%. Mortality is associated with metastatic relapsed tumors. Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs), important for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and proper nervous system development, have previously been identified as a promising drug target to inhibit cancer growth and metastatic spread. Here, we show that ROCKs are expressed in medulloblastoma, with higher ROCK2 mRNA expression in metastatic compared to non-metastatic tumors. By evaluating three ROCK inhibitors in a panel of medulloblastoma cell lines we demonstrated that medulloblastoma cells were sensitive for pharmacological ROCK inhibition. The specific ROCK inhibitor RKI-1447 inhibited the tumorigenicity in medulloblastoma cells as well as impeded cell migration and invasion. Differential gene expression analysis suggested that ROCK inhibition was associated with the downregulation of signaling pathways important in proliferation and metastasis e.g., TNFα via NFκβ, TGFβ, and EMT. Expression of key proteins in these pathways such as RHOA, RHOB, JUN, and vimentin was downregulated in ROCK inhibited cells. Finally, we showed that ROCK inhibition by RKI-1447 suppressed medulloblastoma growth and proliferation in vivo. Collectively, our results suggest that ROCK inhibition presents a potential new therapeutic option in medulloblastoma, especially for children with metastatic disease.
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9
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Roussel MF, Stripay JL. Modeling pediatric medulloblastoma. Brain Pathol 2019; 30:703-712. [PMID: 31788908 PMCID: PMC7317774 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of medulloblastoma have proven to be instrumental in understanding disease mechanisms, particularly the role of epigenetic and molecular drivers, and establishing appropriate preclinical pipelines. To date, our research community has developed murine models for all four groups of medulloblastoma, each of which will be critical for the identification and development of new therapeutic approaches. Approaches to modeling medulloblastoma range from genetic engineering with CRISPR/Cas9 or in utero electroporation, to orthotopic and patient‐derived orthotopic xenograft systems. Each approach or model presents unique advantages that have ultimately contributed to an appreciation of medulloblastoma heterogeneity and the clinical obstacles that exist for this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Jennifer L Stripay
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105
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10
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Serial patient-derived orthotopic xenografting of adenoid cystic carcinomas recapitulates stable expression of phenotypic alterations and innervation. EBioMedicine 2019; 41:175-184. [PMID: 30765319 PMCID: PMC6442226 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models have significantly enhanced cancer research, and often serve as a robust model. However, enhanced growth rate and altered pathological phenotype with serial passages have repeatedly been shown in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) PDX tumors, which is a major concern. METHODS We evaluated the fidelity of ACCs in their natural habitat by performing ACC orthotopic xenotransplantation (PDOX) in salivary glands. FINDINGS Our PDOX model enabled solid tumors to integrate within the local epithelial, stromal and neuronal environment. Over serial passages, PDOX tumors maintained their stereotypic MYB-NFIB translocation, and FGFR2 and ATM point mutations. Tumor growth rate and histopathology were retained, including ACCs hallmark presentations of cribriform, tubular, solid areas and innervation. We also demonstrate that the PDOX model retains its capacity as a tool for drug testing. INTERPRETATION Unlike the precedent PDX model, our data shows that the PDOX is a superior model for future cancer biology and therapy research. FUND: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) grants DE022557, DE027034, and DE027551.
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11
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Robbins CJ, Bou-Dargham MJ, Sanchez K, Rosen MC, Sang QXA. Decoding Somatic Driver Gene Mutations and Affected Signaling Pathways in Human Medulloblastoma Subgroups. J Cancer 2018; 9:4596-4610. [PMID: 30588243 PMCID: PMC6299398 DOI: 10.7150/jca.27993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Prior studies have concentrated their efforts studying the four molecular subgroups: SHH, Wnt, group 3, and group 4. SHH and Wnt are driven by their canonical pathways. Groups 3 and 4 are highly metastatic and associated with aberrations in epigenetic regulators. Recent developments in the field have revealed that these subgroups are not as homogenous as previously believed. The objective of this study is to investigate the involvement of somatic driver gene mutations in these medulloblastoma subgroups. We obtained medulloblastoma data from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC), which contains distinct samples that were not previously studied in a large cohort. We identified somatic driver gene mutations and the signaling pathways affected by these driver genes for medulloblastoma subgroups using bioinformatics tools. We have revealed novel infrequent drivers in these subgroups that contribute to our understanding of tumor heterogeneity in medulloblastoma. Normally SHH signaling is activated in the SHH subgroup, however, we determined gain-of-function mutations in ubiquitin ligase (CUL1) that inhibit Gli-mediated transcription. This suggests a potential hindrance in SHH signaling for some patients. For group 3, gain-of-function in the inhibitor of proinflammatory cytokines (HIVEP3) suggests an immunosuppressive phenotype and thus a more hostile tumor microenvironment. Surprisingly, group 4 tumors possess mutations that may prompt the activation of Wnt signaling through gain-of-function mutations in MUC16 and PCDH9. These infrequent mutations detected in this study could be due to subclonal or spatially restricted alterations. The investigation of aberrant driver gene mutations can lead to the identification of new drug targets and a greater understanding of human medulloblastoma heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles J Robbins
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University
| | - Mayassa J Bou-Dargham
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University
| | - Kevin Sanchez
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University
| | - Matthew C Rosen
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University
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Neumann JE, Swartling FJ, Schüller U. Medulloblastoma: experimental models and reality. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 134:679-689. [PMID: 28725965 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1753-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant brain tumor in childhood, but it may also affect infants, adolescents, and young adults. Recent advances in the understanding of the disease have shed light on molecular and clinical heterogeneity, which is now reflected in the updated WHO classification of brain tumors. At the same time, it is well accepted that preclinical research and clinical trials have to be subgroup-specific. Hence, valid models have to be generated specifically for every medulloblastoma subgroup to properly mimic molecular fingerprints, clinical features, and responsiveness to targeted therapies. This review summarizes the availability of experimental medulloblastoma models with a particular focus on how well these models reflect the actual disease subgroup. We further describe technical advantages and disadvantages of the models and finally point out how some models have successfully been used to introduce new drugs and why some medulloblastoma subgroups are extraordinary difficult to model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Neumann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center, Martinistrasse 52, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.
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Singh M, Bakhshinyan D, Venugopal C, Singh SK. Preclinical Modeling and Therapeutic Avenues for Cancer Metastasis to the Central Nervous System. Front Oncol 2017; 7:220. [PMID: 28971065 PMCID: PMC5609558 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the dissemination of cells from the primary tumor to other locations within the body, and continues to be the predominant cause of death among cancer patients. Metastatic progression within the adult central nervous system is 10 times more frequent than primary brain tumors. Metastases affecting the brain parenchyma and leptomeninges are associated with grave prognosis, and even after successful control of the primary tumor the median survival is a dismal 2-3 months with treatment options typically limited to palliative care. Current treatment options for brain metastases (BM) and disseminated brain tumors are scarce, and the improvement of novel targeted therapies requires a broader understanding of the biological complexity that characterizes metastatic progression. In this review, we provide insight into patterns of BM progression and leptomeningeal spread, outlining the development of clinically relevant in vivo models and their contribution to the discovery of innovative cancer therapies. In vivo models paired with manipulation of in vitro methods have expanded the tools available for investigators to develop agents that can be used to prevent or treat metastatic disease. The knowledge gained from the use of such models can ultimately lead to the prevention of metastatic dissemination and can extend patient survival by transforming a uniformly fatal systemic disease into a locally controlled and eminently more treatable one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohini Singh
- McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - David Bakhshinyan
- McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chitra Venugopal
- McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila K Singh
- McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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