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Guo M, Zhang J, Han J, Hu Y, Ni H, Yuan J, Sun Y, Liu M, Gao L, Liao W, Ma C, Liu Y, Li S, Li N. VEGFR2 blockade inhibits glioblastoma cell proliferation by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:419. [PMID: 38702818 PMCID: PMC11067099 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05155-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor linked to significant angiogenesis and poor prognosis. Anti-angiogenic therapies with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) inhibition have been investigated as an alternative glioblastoma treatment. However, little is known about the effect of VEGFR2 blockade on glioblastoma cells per se. METHODS VEGFR2 expression data in glioma patients were retrieved from the public database TCGA. VEGFR2 intervention was implemented by using its selective inhibitor Ki8751 or shRNA. Mitochondrial biogenesis of glioblastoma cells was assessed by immunofluorescence imaging, mass spectrometry, and western blot analysis. RESULTS VEGFR2 expression was higher in glioma patients with higher malignancy (grade III and IV). VEGFR2 inhibition hampered glioblastoma cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence imaging showed that the anti-glioblastoma effects of VEGFR2 blockade involved mitochondrial biogenesis, as evidenced by the increases of mitochondrial protein expression, mitochondria mass, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, all of which play important roles in tumor cell apoptosis, growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and cell senescence. Furthermore, VEGFR2 inhibition exaggerated mitochondrial biogenesis by decreased phosphorylation of AKT and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α), which mobilized PGC1α into the nucleus, increased mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression, and subsequently enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis. CONCLUSIONS VEGFR2 blockade inhibits glioblastoma progression via AKT-PGC1α-TFAM-mitochondria biogenesis signaling cascade, suggesting that VEGFR2 intervention might bring additive therapeutic values to anti-glioblastoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Guo
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Junhao Zhang
- Department of Medicine-Solna, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiang Han
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (NKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yingyue Hu
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (NKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hao Ni
- Department of Medicine-Solna, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Juan Yuan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Immunology and Shandong University-Karolinska Institutet Collaborative Laboratory, Shandong University Cheeloo Medical College, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Meijuan Liu
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (NKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Department of Immunology and Shandong University-Karolinska Institutet Collaborative Laboratory, Shandong University Cheeloo Medical College, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Wangjun Liao
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Department of Immunology and Shandong University-Karolinska Institutet Collaborative Laboratory, Shandong University Cheeloo Medical College, School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yaou Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuijie Li
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and National Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (NKLFZCD), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
| | - Nailin Li
- Department of Medicine-Solna, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Altered cytoskeletal status in the transition from proneural to mesenchymal glioblastoma subtypes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9838. [PMID: 35701472 PMCID: PMC9197936 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14063-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor with poor patient prognosis. Treatment outcomes remain limited, partly due to intratumoral heterogeneity and the invasive nature of the tumors. Glioblastoma cells invade and spread into the surrounding brain tissue, and even between hemispheres, thus hampering complete surgical resection. This invasive motility can arise through altered properties of the cytoskeleton. We hypothesize that cytoskeletal organization and dynamics can provide important clues to the different malignant states of glioblastoma. In this study, we investigated cytoskeletal organization in glioblastoma cells with different subtype expression profiles, and cytoskeletal dynamics upon subtype transitions. Analysis of the morphological, migratory, and invasive properties of glioblastoma cells identified cytoskeletal components as phenotypic markers that can serve as diagnostic or prognostic tools. We also show that the cytoskeletal function and malignant properties of glioblastoma cells shift during subtype transitions induced by altered expression of the neurodevelopmental transcription factor SOX2. The potential of SOX2 re-expression to reverse the mesenchymal subtype into a more proneural subtype might open up strategies for novel glioblastoma treatments.
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Advancements, Challenges, and Future Directions in Tackling Glioblastoma Resistance to Small Kinase Inhibitors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030600. [PMID: 35158868 PMCID: PMC8833415 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Drug resistance is a major issue in brain tumor therapy. Despite novel promising therapeutic approaches, glioblastoma (GBM) remains refractory in showing beneficial responses to anticancer agents, as demonstrated by the failure in clinical trials of small kinase inhibitors. One of the reasons may lie in the development of different types of drug resistance mechanisms derived from the intrinsic heterogeneous nature of GBM. Obtaining insights into these mechanisms could improve the management of the clinical intervention and monitoring. Such insights could be achieved with the improvement of preclinical in vitro models for studying drug resistance. Abstract Despite clinical intervention, glioblastoma (GBM) remains the deadliest brain tumor in adults. Its incurability is partly related to the establishment of drug resistance, both to standard and novel treatments. In fact, even though small kinase inhibitors have changed the standard clinical practice for several solid cancers, in GBM, they did not fulfill this promise. Drug resistance is thought to arise from the heterogeneity of GBM, which leads the development of several different mechanisms. A better understanding of the evolution and characteristics of drug resistance is of utmost importance to improve the current clinical practice. Therefore, the development of clinically relevant preclinical in vitro models which allow careful dissection of these processes is crucial to gain insights that can be translated to improved therapeutic approaches. In this review, we first discuss the heterogeneity of GBM, which is reflected in the development of several resistance mechanisms. In particular, we address the potential role of drug resistance mechanisms in the failure of small kinase inhibitors in clinical trials. Finally, we discuss strategies to overcome therapy resistance, particularly focusing on the importance of developing in vitro models, and the possible approaches that could be applied to the clinic to manage drug resistance.
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Jenkins EPW, Finch A, Gerigk M, Triantis IF, Watts C, Malliaras GG. Electrotherapies for Glioblastoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100978. [PMID: 34292672 PMCID: PMC8456216 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-thermal, intermediate frequency (100-500 kHz) electrotherapies present a unique therapeutic strategy to treat malignant neoplasms. Here, pulsed electric fields (PEFs) which induce reversible or irreversible electroporation (IRE) and tumour-treating fields (TTFs) are reviewed highlighting the foundations, advances, and considerations of each method when applied to glioblastoma (GBM). Several biological aspects of GBM that contribute to treatment complexity (heterogeneity, recurrence, resistance, and blood-brain barrier(BBB)) and electrophysiological traits which are suggested to promote glioma progression are described. Particularly, the biological responses at the cellular and molecular level to specific parameters of the electrical stimuli are discussed offering ways to compare these parameters despite the lack of a universally adopted physical description. Reviewing the literature, a disconnect is found between electrotherapy techniques and how they target the biological complexities of GBM that make treatment difficult in the first place. An attempt is made to bridge the interdisciplinary gap by mapping biological characteristics to different methods of electrotherapy, suggesting important future research topics and directions in both understanding and treating GBM. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that attempts an in-tandem assessment of the biological effects of different aspects of intermediate frequency electrotherapy methods, thus offering possible strategies toward GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise P. W. Jenkins
- Division of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Alina Finch
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic ScienceUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
| | - Magda Gerigk
- Division of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
| | - Iasonas F. Triantis
- Department of Electrical and Electronic EngineeringCity, University of LondonLondonEC1V 0HBUK
| | - Colin Watts
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic ScienceUniversity of BirminghamBirminghamB15 2TTUK
| | - George G. Malliaras
- Division of Electrical EngineeringDepartment of EngineeringUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB3 0FAUK
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Halatsch ME, Kast RE, Karpel-Massler G, Mayer B, Zolk O, Schmitz B, Scheuerle A, Maier L, Bullinger L, Mayer-Steinacker R, Schmidt C, Zeiler K, Elshaer Z, Panther P, Schmelzle B, Hallmen A, Dwucet A, Siegelin MD, Westhoff MA, Beckers K, Bouche G, Heiland T. A phase Ib/IIa trial of 9 repurposed drugs combined with temozolomide for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma: CUSP9v3. Neurooncol Adv 2021; 3:vdab075. [PMID: 34377985 PMCID: PMC8349180 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdab075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The dismal prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) may be related to the ability of GBM cells to develop mechanisms of treatment resistance. We designed a protocol called Coordinated Undermining of Survival Paths combining 9 repurposed non-oncological drugs with metronomic temozolomide—version 3—(CUSP9v3) to address this issue. The aim of this phase Ib/IIa trial was to assess the safety of CUSP9v3. Methods Ten adults with histologically confirmed GBM and recurrent or progressive disease were included. Treatment consisted of aprepitant, auranofin, celecoxib, captopril, disulfiram, itraconazole, minocycline, ritonavir, and sertraline added to metronomic low-dose temozolomide. Treatment was continued until toxicity or progression. Primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity defined as either any unmanageable grade 3–4 toxicity or inability to receive at least 7 of the 10 drugs at ≥ 50% of the per-protocol doses at the end of the second treatment cycle. Results One patient was not evaluable for the primary endpoint (safety). All 9 evaluable patients met the primary endpoint. Ritonavir, temozolomide, captopril, and itraconazole were the drugs most frequently requiring dose modification or pausing. The most common adverse events were nausea, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, and ataxia. Progression-free survival at 12 months was 50%. Conclusions CUSP9v3 can be safely administered in patients with recurrent GBM under careful monitoring. A randomized phase II trial is in preparation to assess the efficacy of the CUSP9v3 regimen in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Benjamin Mayer
- Institute for Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver Zolk
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bernd Schmitz
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Angelika Scheuerle
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ludwig Maier
- Central Pharmacy, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lars Bullinger
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Regine Mayer-Steinacker
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Carl Schmidt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katharina Zeiler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ziad Elshaer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patricia Panther
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Birgit Schmelzle
- Institute of Experimental Cancer Research, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anke Hallmen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Annika Dwucet
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus D Siegelin
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mike-Andrew Westhoff
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Basic Research Division, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Tim Heiland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
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Guo M, Goudarzi KM, Abedi S, Pieber M, Sjöberg E, Behnan J, Zhang XM, Harris RA, Bartek J, Lindström MS, Nistér M, Hägerstrand D. SFRP2 induces a mesenchymal subtype transition by suppression of SOX2 in glioblastoma. Oncogene 2021; 40:5066-5080. [PMID: 34021259 PMCID: PMC8363098 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01825-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intratumoral heterogeneity is a characteristic of glioblastomas that contain an intermixture of cell populations displaying different glioblastoma subtype gene expression signatures. Proportions of these populations change during tumor evolution, but the occurrence and regulation of glioblastoma subtype transition is not well described. To identify regulators of glioblastoma subtypes we utilized a combination of in vitro experiments and in silico analyses, using experimentally generated as well as publicly available data. Through this combined approach SOX2 was identified to confer a proneural glioblastoma subtype gene expression signature. SFRP2 was subsequently identified as a SOX2-antagonist, able to induce a mesenchymal glioblastoma subtype signature. A subset of patient glioblastoma samples with high SFRP2 and low SOX2 expression was particularly enriched with mesenchymal subtype samples. Phenotypically, SFRP2 decreased tumor sphere formation, stemness as assessed by limiting dilution assay, and overall cell proliferation but increased cell motility, whereas SOX2 induced the opposite effects. Furthermore, an SFRP2/non-canonical-WNT/KLF4/PDGFR/phospho-AKT/SOX2 signaling axis was found to be involved in the mesenchymal transition. Analysis of human tumor tissue spatial gene expression patterns showed distinct expression of SFRP2- and SOX2-correlated genes in vascular and cellular areas, respectively. Finally, conditioned media from SFRP2 overexpressing cells increased CD206 on macrophages. Together, these findings present SFRP2 as a SOX2-antagonist with the capacity to induce a mesenchymal subtype transition in glioma cells located in vascular tumor areas, highlighting its role in glioblastoma tumor evolution and intratumoral heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Guo
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum, Solna, Sweden. .,Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Kaveh M Goudarzi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna, Sweden
| | - Shiva Abedi
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum, Solna, Sweden
| | - Melanie Pieber
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Solna, Sweden
| | - Elin Sjöberg
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jinan Behnan
- Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Department of Neurosurgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xing-Mei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Solna, Sweden
| | - Robert A Harris
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jiri Bartek
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,The Danish Cancer Society Research Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikael S Lindström
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
| | - Monica Nistér
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum, Solna, Sweden
| | - Daniel Hägerstrand
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum, Solna, Sweden. .,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, BioClinicum, Solna, Sweden.
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Ritchie S, Reed DA, Pereira BA, Timpson P. The cancer cell secretome drives cooperative manipulation of the tumour microenvironment to accelerate tumourigenesis. Fac Rev 2021; 10:4. [PMID: 33659922 PMCID: PMC7894270 DOI: 10.12703/r/10-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular secretions are a fundamental aspect of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in vivo. In malignancy, cancer cells have an aberrant secretome compared to their non-malignant counterparts, termed the "cancer cell secretome". The cancer cell secretome can influence every stage of the tumourigenic cascade. At the primary site, cancer cells can secrete a multitude of factors that facilitate invasion into surrounding tissue, allowing interaction with the local tumour microenvironment (TME), driving tumour development and progression. In more advanced disease, the cancer cell secretome can be involved in extravasation and metastasis, including metastatic organotropism, pre-metastatic niche (PMN) preparation, and metastatic outgrowth. In this review, we will explore the latest advances in the field of cancer cell secretions, including its dynamic and complex role in activating the TME and potentiating invasion and metastasis, with comments on how these secretions may also promote therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shona Ritchie
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
| | - Daniel A Reed
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
| | - Brooke A Pereira
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
| | - Paul Timpson
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia
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