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Woodell AS, Landoni E, Valdivia A, Buckley A, Ogunnaike EA, Dotti G, Hingtgen SD. Utilizing induced neural stem cell-based delivery of a cytokine cocktail to enhance chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell therapy for brain cancer. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10538. [PMID: 38023712 PMCID: PMC10658508 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10538] [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: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy has shown enormous clinical promise against blood cancers, yet efficacy against solid tumors remains a challenge. Here, we investigated the potential of a new combination cell therapy, where tumor-homing induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) are used to enhance CAR-T-cell therapy and achieve efficacious suppression of brain tumors. Using in vitro and in vivo migration assays, we found iNSC-secreted RANTES/IL-15 increased CAR-T-cell migration sixfold and expansion threefold, resulting in greater antitumor activity in a glioblastoma (GBM) tumor model. Furthermore, multimodal imaging showed iNSC delivery of RANTES/IL-15 in combination with intravenous administration of CAR-T cells reduced established orthotopic GBM xenografts 2538-fold within the first week, followed by durable tumor remission through 60 days post-treatment. By contrast, CAR-T-cell therapy alone only partially controlled tumor growth, with a median survival of only 19 days. Together, these studies demonstrate the potential of combined cell therapy platforms to improve the efficacy of CAR-T-cell therapy for brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex S. Woodell
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of PharmacyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Elisa Landoni
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Alain Valdivia
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of PharmacyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Andrew Buckley
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of PharmacyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Edikan A. Ogunnaike
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, UNC Eshelman School of PharmacyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Shawn D. Hingtgen
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of PharmacyUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
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2
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Lu J, Gao X, Wang S, He Y, Ma X, Zhang T, Liu X. Advanced strategies to evade the mononuclear phagocyte system clearance of nanomaterials. EXPLORATION (BEIJING, CHINA) 2023; 3:20220045. [PMID: 37323617 PMCID: PMC10191055 DOI: 10.1002/exp.20220045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nanomaterials are promising carriers to improve the bioavailability and therapeutic efficiency of drugs by providing preferential drug accumulation at their sites of action, but their delivery efficacy is severely limited by a series of biological barriers, especially the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS)-the first and major barrier encountered by systemically administered nanomaterials. Herein, the current strategies for evading the MPS clearance of nanomaterials are summarized. First, engineering nanomaterials methods including surface modification, cell hitchhiking, and physiological environment modulation to reduce the MPS clearance are explored. Second, MPS disabling methods including MPS blockade, suppression of macrophage phagocytosis, and macrophages depletion are examined. Last, challenges and opportunities in this field are further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Lu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Chemistry and Materials ScienceNorthwest UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xiao Gao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China of the Ministry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Siyao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China of the Ministry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Yuan He
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Chemistry and Materials ScienceNorthwest UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- National Center for Veterinary Drug Safety EvaluationCollege of Veterinary MedicineChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tingbin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Chemistry and Materials ScienceNorthwest UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China of the Ministry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi'anChina
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive MedicineMed‐X InstituteNational Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative MedicineShaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical EngineeringFirst Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anChina
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3
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Osum M, Kalkan R. Cancer Stem Cells and Their Therapeutic Usage. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1436:69-85. [PMID: 36689167 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_758] [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: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) have unique characteristics which include self-renewal, multi-directional differentiation capacity, quiescence/dormancy, and tumor-forming capability. These characteristics are referred to as the "stemness" properties. Tumor microenvironment contributes to CSC survival, function, and remaining them in an undifferentiated state. CSCs can form malignant tumors with heterogeneous phenotypes mediated by the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the crosstalk between CSCs and tumor microenvironment can modulate tumor heterogeneity. CSCs play a crucial role in several biological processes, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and cellular stress response. In this chapter, we focused characteristics of cancer stem cells, reprogramming strategies cells into CSCs, and then we highlighted the contribution of CSCs to therapy resistance and cancer relapse and their potential of therapeutic targeting of CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryem Osum
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Rasime Kalkan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University, Guzelyurt, Cyprus.
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4
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Thang M, Mellows C, Mercer-Smith A, Nguyen P, Hingtgen S. Current approaches in enhancing TRAIL therapies in glioblastoma. Neurooncol Adv 2023; 5:vdad047. [PMID: 37215952 PMCID: PMC10195206 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent, aggressive, primary brain cancer in adults and continues to pose major medical challenges due in part to its high rate of recurrence. Extensive research is underway to discover new therapies that target GBM cells and prevent the inevitable recurrence in patients. The pro-apoptotic protein tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has attracted attention as an ideal anticancer agent due to its ability to selectively kill cancer cells with minimal toxicity in normal cells. Although initial clinical evaluations of TRAIL therapies in several cancers were promising, later stages of clinical trial results indicated that TRAIL and TRAIL-based therapies failed to demonstrate robust efficacies due to poor pharmacokinetics, resulting in insufficient concentrations of TRAIL at the therapeutic site. However, recent studies have developed novel ways to prolong TRAIL bioavailability at the tumor site and efficiently deliver TRAIL and TRAIL-based therapies using cellular and nanoparticle vehicles as drug loading cargos. Additionally, novel techniques have been developed to address monotherapy resistance, including modulating biomarkers associated with TRAIL resistance in GBM cells. This review highlights the promising work to overcome the challenges of TRAIL-based therapies with the aim to facilitate improved TRAIL efficacy against GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morrent Thang
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Clara Mellows
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alison Mercer-Smith
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Michigan State University School of Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Shawn Hingtgen
- Corresponding Author: Shawn Hingtgen, PhD, Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, 125 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7363, USA ()
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5
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Satterlee AB, Dunn DE, Valdivia A, Malawsky D, Buckley A, Gershon T, Floyd S, Hingtgen S. Spatiotemporal analysis of induced neural stem cell therapy to overcome advanced glioblastoma recurrence. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 26:49-62. [PMID: 35784402 PMCID: PMC9217992 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically engineered neural stem cells (NSCs) are a promising therapy for the highly aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma (GBM); however, treatment durability remains a major challenge. We sought to define the events that contribute to dynamic adaptation of GBM during treatment with human skin-derived induced NSCs releasing the pro-apoptotic agent TRAIL (iNSC-TRAIL) and develop strategies that convert initial tumor kill into sustained GBM suppression. In vivo and ex vivo analysis before, during, and after treatment revealed significant shifts in tumor transcriptome and spatial distribution as the tumors adapted to treatment. To address this, we designed iNSC delivery strategies that increased spatiotemporal TRAIL coverage and significantly decreased GBM volume throughout the brain, reducing tumor burden 100-fold as quantified in live ex vivo brain slices. The varying impact of different strategies on treatment durability and median survival of both solid and invasive tumors provides important guidance for optimizing iNSC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B. Satterlee
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Denise E. Dunn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27704, USA
| | - Alain Valdivia
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Daniel Malawsky
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Andrew Buckley
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Timothy Gershon
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Scott Floyd
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27704, USA
| | - Shawn Hingtgen
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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6
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Mercer-Smith AR, Buckley A, Valdivia A, Jiang W, Thang M, Bell N, Kumar RJ, Bomba HN, Woodell AS, Luo J, Floyd SR, Hingtgen SD. Next-generation Tumor-homing Induced Neural Stem Cells as an Adjuvant to Radiation for the Treatment of Metastatic Lung Cancer. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2474-2493. [PMID: 35441348 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The spread of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to the leptomeninges is devastating with a median survival of only a few months. Radiation offers symptomatic relief, but new adjuvant therapies are desperately needed. Spheroidal, human induced neural stem cells (hiNeuroS) secreting the cytotoxic protein, TRAIL, have innate tumoritropic properties. Herein, we provide evidence that hiNeuroS-TRAIL cells can migrate to and suppress growth of NSCLC metastases in combination with radiation. In vitro cell tracking and post-mortem tissue analysis showed that hiNeuroS-TRAIL cells migrate to NSCLC tumors. Importantly, isobolographic analysis suggests that TRAIL with radiation has a synergistic cytotoxic effect on NSCLC tumors. In vivo, mice treated with radiation and hiNeuroS-TRAIL showed significant (36.6%) improvements in median survival compared to controls. Finally, bulk mRNA sequencing analysis showed both NSCLC and hiNeuroS-TRAIL cells showed changes in genes involved in migration following radiation. Overall, hiNeuroS-TRAIL cells +/- radiation have the capacity to treat NSCLC metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Mercer-Smith
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Andrew Buckley
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alain Valdivia
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wulin Jiang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Morrent Thang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Noah Bell
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Rashmi J Kumar
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Hunter N Bomba
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Alex S Woodell
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jie Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Scott R Floyd
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Shawn D Hingtgen
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA. .,Department of Neurosurgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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7
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Bomba HN, Carey‐Ewend A, Sheets KT, Valdivia A, Goetz M, Findlay IA, Mercer‐Smith A, Kass LE, Khagi S, Hingtgen SD. Use of
FLOSEAL
® as a scaffold and its impact on induced neural stem cell phenotype, persistence, and efficacy. Bioeng Transl Med 2022; 7:e10283. [PMID: 35600639 PMCID: PMC9115686 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic platform for glioblastoma (GBM). iNSCs have the innate ability to home to tumor foci, making them ideal carriers for antitumor payloads. However, the in vivo persistence of iNSCs limits their therapeutic potential. We hypothesized that by encapsulating iNSCs in the FDA‐approved, hemostatic matrix FLOSEAL®, we could increase their persistence and, as a result, therapeutic durability. Encapsulated iNSCs persisted for 95 days, whereas iNSCs injected into the brain parenchyma persisted only 2 weeks in mice. Two orthotopic GBM tumor models were used to test the efficacy of encapsulated iNSCs. In the GBM8 tumor model, mice that received therapeutic iNSCs encapsulated in FLOSEAL® survived 30 to 60 days longer than mice that received nonencapsulated cells. However, the U87 tumor model showed no significant differences in survival between these two groups, likely due to the more solid and dense nature of the tumor. Interestingly, the interaction of iNSCs with FLOSEAL® appears to downregulate some markers of proliferation, anti‐apoptosis, migration, and therapy which could also play a role in treatment efficacy and durability. Our results demonstrate that while FLOSEAL® significantly improves iNSC persistence, this alone is insufficient to enhance therapeutic durability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter N. Bomba
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Abigail Carey‐Ewend
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Kevin T. Sheets
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Alain Valdivia
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Morgan Goetz
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Ingrid A. Findlay
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Alison Mercer‐Smith
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Lauren E. Kass
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Simon Khagi
- Department of Neurosurgery The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
| | - Shawn D. Hingtgen
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill North Carolina USA
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