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Singhto N, Pongphitcha P, Jinawath N, Hongeng S, Chutipongtanate S. Extracellular Vesicles for Childhood Cancer Liquid Biopsy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1681. [PMID: 38730633 PMCID: PMC11083250 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid biopsy involves the utilization of minimally invasive or noninvasive techniques to detect biomarkers in biofluids for disease diagnosis, monitoring, or guiding treatments. This approach is promising for the early diagnosis of childhood cancer, especially for brain tumors, where tissue biopsies are more challenging and cause late detection. Extracellular vesicles offer several characteristics that make them ideal resources for childhood cancer liquid biopsy. Extracellular vesicles are nanosized particles, primarily secreted by all cell types into body fluids such as blood and urine, and contain molecular cargos, i.e., lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids of original cells. Notably, the lipid bilayer-enclosed structure of extracellular vesicles protects their cargos from enzymatic degradation in the extracellular milieu. Proteins and nucleic acids of extracellular vesicles represent genetic alterations and molecular profiles of childhood cancer, thus serving as promising resources for precision medicine in cancer diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and prognosis prediction. This review evaluates the recent progress of extracellular vesicles as a liquid biopsy platform for various types of childhood cancer, discusses the mechanistic roles of molecular cargos in carcinogenesis and metastasis, and provides perspectives on extracellular vesicle-guided therapeutic intervention. Extracellular vesicle-based liquid biopsy for childhood cancer may ultimately contribute to improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilubon Singhto
- Ramathibodi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Pongpak Pongphitcha
- Bangkok Child Health Center, Bangkok Hospital Headquarters, Bangkok 10130, Thailand;
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Natini Jinawath
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand
- Integrative Computational Biosciences Center, Mahidol University, Nakon Pathom 73170, Thailand
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Laboratory, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Extracellular Vesicle Working Group, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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2
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Current State of Immunotherapy and Mechanisms of Immune Evasion in Ewing Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010272. [PMID: 36612267 PMCID: PMC9818129 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010272] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We argue here that in many ways, Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a unique tumor entity and yet, it shares many commonalities with other immunologically cold solid malignancies. From the historical perspective, EwS, osteosarcoma (OS) and other bone and soft-tissue sarcomas were the first types of tumors treated with the immunotherapy approach: more than 100 years ago American surgeon William B. Coley injected his patients with a mixture of heat-inactivated bacteria, achieving survival rates apparently higher than with surgery alone. In contrast to OS which exhibits recurrent somatic copy-number alterations, EwS possesses one of the lowest mutation rates among cancers, being driven by a single oncogenic fusion protein, most frequently EWS-FLI1. In spite these differences, both EwS and OS are allied with immune tolerance and low immunogenicity. We discuss here the potential mechanisms of immune escape in these tumors, including low representation of tumor-specific antigens, low expression levels of MHC-I antigen-presenting molecules, accumulation of immunosuppressive M2 macrophages and myeloid proinflammatory cells, and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) which are capable of reprogramming host cells in the tumor microenvironment and systemic circulation. We also discuss the vulnerabilities of EwS and OS and potential novel strategies for their targeting.
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3
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Liang Q, Jiang C, Zhao Q, Guo Z, Xie M, Zou Y, Cai X, Su J, He Z, Zhao K. Application and prospect of exosomes combined with Chinese herbal medicine in orthopedics. J Herb Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2022.100589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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4
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Adib A, Sahu R, Mohta S, Pollock RE, Casadei L. Cancer-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Their Role in Sarcoma. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12040481. [PMID: 35454972 PMCID: PMC9029613 DOI: 10.3390/life12040481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignancies with limited responses to anticancer therapy. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of bi-lipid layer sacs secreted by cells into extracellular space. Investigations of tumor-derived EVs have revealed their functional capabilities, including cell-to-cell communication and their impact on tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis; however information on the roles of EVs in sarcoma is currently limited. In this review we investigate the role of various EV cargos in sarcoma and the mechanisms by which those cargos can affect the recipient cell phenotype and the aggressivity of the tumor itself. The study of EVs in sarcoma may help establish novel therapeutic approaches that target specific sarcoma subtypes or biologies, thereby improving sarcoma therapeutics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Adib
- The James Cancer Hospital Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Ruhi Sahu
- The James Cancer Hospital Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.A.); (R.S.)
| | - Shivangi Mohta
- The James Cancer Hospital Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Raphael Etomar Pollock
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Lucia Casadei
- The James Cancer Hospital Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.M.); (L.C.)
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5
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Hadjimichael AC, Pergaris A, Kaspiris A, Foukas AF, Theocharis SE. Liquid Biopsy: A New Translational Diagnostic and Monitoring Tool for Musculoskeletal Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11526. [PMID: 34768955 PMCID: PMC8583711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue and bone sarcomas represent a group of aggressive neoplasms often accompanied by dismal patient prognosis, especially when distant metastases are present. Moreover, effective treatment can pose a challenge, as recurrences are frequent and almost half of patients present with advanced disease. Researchers have unveiled the molecular abnormalities implicated in sarcomas' carcinogenesis, paving the way for novel treatment strategies based on each individual tumor's characteristics. Therefore, the development of new techniques aiding in early disease detection and tumor molecular profiling is imperative. Liquid biopsy refers to the sampling and analysis of patients' fluids, such as blood, to identify tumor biomarkers, through a variety of methods, including qRT-PCR, qPCR, droplet digital PCR, magnetic microbeads and digital PCR. Assessment of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating free DNA (ctDNA), micro RNAs (miRs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), exosomes and exosome-associated proteins can yield a plethora of information on tumor molecular signature, histologic type and disease stage. In addition, the minimal invasiveness of the procedure renders possible its wide application in the clinical setting, and, therefore, the early detection of the presence of tumors. In this review of the literature, we gathered information on biomarkers assessed through liquid biopsy in soft tissue and bone sarcoma patients and we present the information they can yield for each individual tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyris C. Hadjimichael
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.C.H.); (A.P.)
- Third Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, “KAT” General Hospital of Athens, Nikis 2, 14561 Kifissia, Greece;
| | - Alexandros Pergaris
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.C.H.); (A.P.)
| | - Angelos Kaspiris
- Division for Orthopaedic Research, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Athanasios F. Foukas
- Third Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, “KAT” General Hospital of Athens, Nikis 2, 14561 Kifissia, Greece;
| | - Stamatios E. Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75, Mikras Asias Street, Bld 10, Goudi, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.C.H.); (A.P.)
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6
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Pachva MC, Lai H, Jia A, Rouleau M, Sorensen PH. Extracellular Vesicles in Reprogramming of the Ewing Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:726205. [PMID: 34604225 PMCID: PMC8484747 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.726205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a highly aggressive cancer and the second most common malignant bone tumor of children and young adults. Although patients with localized disease have a survival rate of approximately 75%, the prognosis for patients with metastatic disease remains dismal (<30%) and has not improved in decades. Standard-of-care treatments include local therapies such as surgery and radiotherapy, in addition to poly-agent adjuvant chemotherapy, and are often associated with long-term disability and reduced quality of life. Novel targeted therapeutic strategies that are more efficacious and less toxic are therefore desperately needed, particularly for metastatic disease, given that the presence of metastasis remains the most powerful predictor of poor outcome in EwS. Intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment is emerging as a crucial mechanism for cancer cells to establish immunosuppressive and cancer-permissive environments, potentially leading to metastasis. Altering this communication within the tumor microenvironment, thereby preventing the transfer of oncogenic signals and molecules, represents a highly promising therapeutic strategy. To achieve this, extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a candidate mechanism as they are actively released by tumor cells and enriched with proteins and RNAs. EVs are membrane-bound particles released by normal and tumor cells, that play pivotal roles in intercellular communication, including cross-talk between tumor, stromal fibroblast, and immune cells in the local tumor microenvironment and systemic circulation. EwS EVs, including the smaller exosomes and larger microvesicles, have the potential to reprogram a diversity of cells in the tumor microenvironment, by transferring various biomolecules in a cell-specific manner. Insights into the various biomolecules packed in EwS EVs as cargos and the molecular changes they trigger in recipient cells of the tumor microenvironment will shed light on various potential targets for therapeutic intervention in EwS. This review details EwS EVs composition, their potential role in metastasis and in the reprogramming of various cells of the tumor microenvironment, and the potential for clinical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manideep C Pachva
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Horton Lai
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Andy Jia
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Melanie Rouleau
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Poul H Sorensen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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7
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Clanchy FIL. Rationale for Early Detection of EWSR1 Translocation-Associated Sarcoma Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:824. [PMID: 33669307 PMCID: PMC7920076 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are mesenchymal tumours that often arise and develop as a result of chromosomal translocations, and for several forms of sarcoma the EWSR1 gene is a frequent translocation partner. Sarcomas are a rare form of malignancy, which arguably have a proportionally greater societal burden that their prevalence would suggest, as they are more common in young people, with survivors prone to lifelong disability. For most forms of sarcoma, histological diagnosis is confirmed by molecular techniques such as FISH or RT-PCR. Surveillance after surgical excision, or ablation by radiation or chemotherapy, has remained relatively unchanged for decades, but recent developments in molecular biology have accelerated the progress towards routine analysis of liquid biopsies of peripheral blood. The potential to detect evidence of residual disease or metastasis in the blood has been demonstrated by several groups but remains unrealized as a routine diagnostic for relapse during remission, for disease monitoring during treatment, and for the detection of occult, residual disease at the end of therapy. An update is provided on research relevant to the improvement of the early detection of relapse in sarcomas with EWSR1-associated translocations, in the contexts of biology, diagnosis, and liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix I. L. Clanchy
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK;
- Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK
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8
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Dong J, Zhang RY, Sun N, Hu J, Smalley MD, Zhou A, Yue H, Rothermich W, Chen M, Chen J, Ye J, Teng PC, Qi D, Toretsky JA, Tomlinson JS, Li M, Weiss PS, Jonas SJ, Federman N, Wu L, Zhao M, Tseng HR, Zhu Y. Coupling Nanostructured Microchips with Covalent Chemistry Enables Purification of Sarcoma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Downstream Functional Studies. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2020; 30:2003237. [PMID: 34220409 PMCID: PMC8248519 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202003237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) play essential roles in intercellular communication during tumor growth and metastatic evolution. Currently, little is known about the possible roles of tumor-derived EVs in sarcoma because the lack of specific surface markers makes it technically challenging to purify sarcoma-derived EVs. In this study, a specific purification system is developed for Ewing sarcoma (ES)-derived EVs by coupling covalent chemistry-mediated EV capture/ release within a nanostructure-embedded microchip. The purification platform-ES-EV Click Chip-takes advantage of specific anti-LINGO-1 recognition and sensitive click chemistry-mediated EV capture, followed by disulfide cleavage-driven EV release. Since the device is capable of specific and efficient purification of intact ES EVs with high purity, ES-EV Click Chip is ideal for conducting downstream functional studies of ES EVs. Absolute quantification of the molecular hallmark of ES (i.e., EWS rearrangements) using reverse transcription Droplet Digital PCR enables specific quantification of ES EVs. The purified ES EVs can be internalized by recipient cells and transfer their mRNA cargoes, exhibiting their biological intactness and potential role as biological shuttles in intercellular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantong Dong
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ryan Y Zhang
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Na Sun
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Junhui Hu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA 650 Charles E Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Matthew D Smalley
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anqi Zhou
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hua Yue
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Winston Rothermich
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mengxiang Chen
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jiayuan Chen
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jinglei Ye
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Pai-Chi Teng
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dongping Qi
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Toretsky
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics Georgetown University 3970 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - James S Tomlinson
- Department of Surgery UCLA 200 Medical Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Mengyuan Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University 202 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Paul S Weiss
- California NanoSystems Institute Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry Bioengineering, and Materials Science and Engineering UCLA 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Steven J Jonas
- Department of Pediatrics Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Noah Federman
- Department of Pediatrics Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lily Wu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA 650 Charles E Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Meiping Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Peking University 202 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Hsian-Rong Tseng
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Yazhen Zhu
- California NanoSystems Institute Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Asthana V, Stern BS, Tang Y, Bugga P, Li A, Ferguson A, Asthana A, Bao G, Drezek RA. Development of a Novel Class of Self-Assembling dsRNA Cancer Therapeutics: A Proof-of-Concept Investigation. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2020; 18:419-431. [PMID: 32913891 PMCID: PMC7452102 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Cancer has proven to be an extremely difficult challenge to treat. Several fundamental issues currently underlie cancer treatment, including differentiating self from nonself, functional coupling of the recognition and therapeutic components of various therapies, and the propensity of cancerous cells to develop resistance to common treatment modalities via evolutionary pressure. Given these limitations, there is an increasing need to develop an all-encompassing therapeutic that can uniquely target malignant cells, decouple recognition from treatment, and overcome evolutionarily driven cancer resistance. We describe herein a new class of programmable self-assembling double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based cancer therapeutics that uniquely targets aberrant genetic sequences and in a functionally decoupled manner, undergoes oncogenic RNA-activated displacement (ORAD), initiating a therapeutic cascade that induces apoptosis and immune activation. As a proof of concept, we show that RNA strands targeting the EWS/Fli1 fusion gene in Ewing sarcoma cells that are end blocked with phosphorothioate bonds and additionally sealed with a 2'-deoxyuridine (2'-U)-modified DNA protector can be used to induce specific and potent killing of cells containing the target oncogenic sequence but not wild type.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brett S Stern
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuqi Tang
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pallavi Bugga
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adam Ferguson
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anantratn Asthana
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rebekah A Drezek
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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10
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Chicón-Bosch M, Tirado OM. Exosomes in Bone Sarcomas: Key Players in Metastasis. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010241. [PMID: 31963599 PMCID: PMC7016778 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are rare cancers which often present with metastatic disease and are still associated with poor survival rates. Studies in the last decade have identified that exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle released by cells, play an important role in tumour progression and dissemination. Through the transfer of their cargo (RNAs, proteins, and lipids) across cells, they are involved in cellular cross-talk and can induce changes in cellular behaviour. Exosomes have been shown to be important in metastasis organotropism, induction of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, the education of cells towards a pro-metastatic phenotype or the interaction between stromal and tumour cells. Due to the importance exosomes have in disease progression and the high incidence of metastasis in bone sarcomas, recent studies have evaluated the implications of these extracellular vesicles in bone sarcomas. In this review, we discuss the studies that evaluate the role of exosomes in osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and preliminary data on chondrosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Chicón-Bosch
- Sarcoma Research Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.C.-B.); (O.M.T.); Tel.: +34-9326-0742 (M.C.-B.); +34-932-603-823 (O.M.T.)
| | - Oscar M. Tirado
- Sarcoma Research Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERONC, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut Català d’Oncologia (ICO), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.C.-B.); (O.M.T.); Tel.: +34-9326-0742 (M.C.-B.); +34-932-603-823 (O.M.T.)
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11
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MiR-708-5p is inversely associated with EWS/FLI1 Ewing sarcoma but does not represent a prognostic predictor. Cancer Genet 2019; 230:21-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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12
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Zhang P, Crow J, Lella D, Zhou X, Samuel G, Godwin AK, Zeng Y. Ultrasensitive quantification of tumor mRNAs in extracellular vesicles with an integrated microfluidic digital analysis chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:3790-3801. [PMID: 30474100 PMCID: PMC6310142 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc01071d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) present a promising liquid biopsy for cancer diagnosis. However, it remains a daunting challenge to quantitatively measure molecular contents of EVs including tumor-associated mRNAs. Herein, we report a configurable microwell-patterned microfluidic digital analysis platform combined with a dual-probe hybridization assay for PCR-free, single-molecule detection of specific mRNAs in EVs. The microwell array in our device is configurable between the flow-through assay mode for enhanced hybridization capture and tagging of mRNAs and the digital detection mode based on femtoliter-scale enzymatic signal amplification for single-molecule counting of surface-bound targets. Furthermore, a dual-probe hybridization assay has been developed to enhance the sensitivity of the digital single-molecule detection of EV mRNAs. Combining the merits of the chip design and the dual-probe digital mRNA hybridization assay, the integrated microfluidic system has been demonstrated to afford quantitative detection of synthetic GAPDH mRNA with a LOD as low as 20 aM. Using this technology, we quantified the level of GAPDH and EWS-FLI1 mRNAs in EVs derived from two cell lines of peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), CHLA-9 and CHLA-258. Our measurements detected 64.6 and 43.5 copies of GAPDH mRNA and 6.5 and 0.277 copies of EWS-FLI1 fusion transcripts per 105 EVs derived from CHLA-9 and CHLA-258 cells, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of quantitative measurement of EWS-FLI1 mRNA copy numbers in Ewing Sarcoma (EWS)-derived EVs. These results highlight the ultralow frequency of tumor-specific mRNA markers in EVs and the necessity of developing highly sensitive methods for analysis of EV mRNAs. The microfluidic digital mRNA analysis platform presented here would provide a useful tool to facilitate quantitative analysis of tumor-associated EV mRNAs for liquid biopsy-based cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS USA
| | - Jennifer Crow
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Divya Lella
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS USA
| | - Glenson Samuel
- Division of Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Andrew K. Godwin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Zhang P, Samuel G, Crow J, Godwin AK, Zeng Y. Molecular assessment of circulating exosomes toward liquid biopsy diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. Transl Res 2018; 201:136-153. [PMID: 30031766 PMCID: PMC6424494 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma was first described in 1921 in the Proceedings of the New York Pathological Society by an eminent American pathologist from Cornell named James R. Ewing as a "diffuse endothelioma of bone." Since this initial description, more has been discovered regarding Ewing sarcoma and in the 1980's both Ewing sarcoma and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors due to their similar features and shared identical genetic abnormality were grouped into a class of cancers entitled Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs). Ewing sarcoma is the second most common pediatric osseous malignancy followed by osteosarcoma, with highest incidence among 10-20 years old. Ewing sarcoma is consistently associated with chromosomal translocation and functional fusion of the EWSR1 gene to any of several structurally related transcription factor genes of the E26 transformation-specific family. These tumor-specific molecular rearrangements are useful for primary diagnosis, may provide prognostic information, and present potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, ways to rapidly and efficiently detect these defining genomic alterations are of clinical relevance. Within the past decade, liquid biopsies including extracellular vesicles (EVs), have emerged as a promising alternative and/or complimentary approach to standard tumor biopsies. It was recently reported that fusion mRNAs from tumor-specific chromosome translocations can be detected in Ewing sarcoma cell-derived exosomes. Within this review, we overview the current advances in Ewing sarcoma and the opportunities and challenges in exploiting circulating exosomes, primarily small bioactive EVs (30-180 nm), as developing sources of biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic response monitoring in children and young adult patients with ESFT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
| | - Glenson Samuel
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Jennifer Crow
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Andrew K Godwin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas; University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
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14
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Lu Q, Lu M, Li D, Zhang S. MicroRNA‑34b promotes proliferation, migration and invasion of Ewing's sarcoma cells by downregulating Notch1. Mol Med Rep 2018; 18:3577-3588. [PMID: 30106161 PMCID: PMC6131584 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma is the second most frequent bone and soft tissue sarcoma, which is commonly driven by the Ewing's sarcoma breakpoint region 1-friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor (EWS-FLI1) fusion gene. Since microRNAs (miRs) can act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in human cancer, and miR-34b has been reported to act as a tumor suppressor, the role of miR-34b in Ewing's sarcoma was investigated in the present study. The results demonstrated that miR-34b expression levels were higher in tumor samples compared within normal tissue samples. Notably, miR-34b expression levels were significantly higher in EWS-FLI1-positive samples compared within EWS-FLI1-negative samples. The effects of miR-34b expression on cell proliferation, migration and invasion were also examined. miR-34b expression was inhibited using small interfering (si)RNA targeting the fusion gene. Transfection of a miR-34b precursor sequence into siRNA-treated tumor cells resulted in a significant increase in cell growth, migration and invasion compared within the control group. In addition, the adhesive ability was increased in the Ewing's sarcoma cell line RD-ES, but not A673, following miR-34b upregulation. Conversely, downregulation of miR-34b expression led to a significant decrease in cell growth, migration and invasion. Notch has previously been reported to serve either oncogenic or tumor suppressive roles in human cancer. The results indicated that Notch1 and its target genes, Hes family BHLH transcription factor 1 and Hes-related family BHLH transcription factor with YRPW motif 1, were suppressed by miR-34b directly In conclusion, EWS-FLI1 may modulate miR-34b expression directly or indirectly, and miR-34b potentially has an oncogenic role in Ewing's sarcoma by downregulating Notch1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunshan Lu
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Mei Lu
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Dong Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
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15
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Grünewald TGP, Cidre-Aranaz F, Surdez D, Tomazou EM, de Álava E, Kovar H, Sorensen PH, Delattre O, Dirksen U. Ewing sarcoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2018; 4:5. [PMID: 29977059 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-018-0003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 396] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most frequent bone tumour of childhood and adolescence that can also arise in soft tissue. Ewing sarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer, with a survival of 70-80% for patients with standard-risk and localized disease and ~30% for those with metastatic disease. Treatment comprises local surgery, radiotherapy and polychemotherapy, which are associated with acute and chronic adverse effects that may compromise quality of life in survivors. Histologically, Ewing sarcomas are composed of small round cells expressing high levels of CD99. Genetically, they are characterized by balanced chromosomal translocations in which a member of the FET gene family is fused with an ETS transcription factor, with the most common fusion being EWSR1-FLI1 (85% of cases). Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 protein (EWSR1)-Friend leukaemia integration 1 transcription factor (FLI1) is a tumour-specific chimeric transcription factor (EWSR1-FLI1) with neomorphic effects that massively rewires the transcriptome. Additionally, EWSR1-FLI1 reprogrammes the epigenome by inducing de novo enhancers at GGAA microsatellites and by altering the state of gene regulatory elements, creating a unique epigenetic signature. Additional mutations at diagnosis are rare and mainly involve STAG2, TP53 and CDKN2A deletions. Emerging studies on the molecular mechanisms of Ewing sarcoma hold promise for improvements in early detection, disease monitoring, lower treatment-related toxicity, overall survival and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G P Grünewald
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium, partner site Munich, Munich, Germany. .,German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Florencia Cidre-Aranaz
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium, partner site Munich, Munich, Germany. .,German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Didier Surdez
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisé LNCC, PSL Université, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Eleni M Tomazou
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enrique de Álava
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Heinrich Kovar
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Pediatrics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Poul H Sorensen
- British Columbia Cancer Research Centre and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisé LNCC, PSL Université, SIREDO Oncology Centre, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Uta Dirksen
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study group, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium, partner site Essen, Essen, Germany
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16
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Aoki M, Koga K, Hamasaki M, Egawa N, Nabeshima K. Emmprin, released as a microvesicle in epithelioid sarcoma, interacts with fibroblasts. Int J Oncol 2017; 50:2229-2235. [PMID: 28498412 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.3986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Emmprin (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, CD147) is a glycosylated transmembrane protein, consisting of two immunoglobulin domains, that stimulates the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by tumor-associated fibroblasts. These effects play important roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the precise mechanisms by which emmprin acts on fibroblasts have not been fully elucidated, especially in sarcoma cells. Previously, we demonstrated that emmprin, expressed in conditioned medium collected from the epithelioid sarcoma cell line (FU-EPS-1), stimulates MMP-2 production via interactions with fibroblasts. In this study, we used microvesicles derived from sarcoma cells, and determined whether emmprin exists in the microvesicles, which enhance the production of MMP-2 via fibroblasts. Microvesicles released from FU-EPS-1 cells were shown to contain full-length emmprin, identified as a 45-kDa protein characterized by polylactosamine glycosylation. Microvesicles collected from FU-EPS-1 cells transfected with emmprin-specific siRNA or transduced with shRNA displayed significantly reduced MMP-2 production by fibroblasts compared with those from control-transfected cells. Our findings show that emmprin is released through microvesicle shedding in sarcoma cells, and emmprin in microvesicles regulates MMP-2 production by influencing the activity of fibroblasts located at sites distant from the tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikiko Aoki
- Department of Pathology, Fukuoka University Hospital and School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kaori Koga
- Department of Pathology, Fukuoka University Hospital and School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Makoto Hamasaki
- Department of Pathology, Fukuoka University Hospital and School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nagayasu Egawa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Kazuki Nabeshima
- Department of Pathology, Fukuoka University Hospital and School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
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17
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Nakamura K, Jinnin M, Harada M, Kudo H, Nakayama W, Inoue K, Ogata A, Kajihara I, Fukushima S, Ihn H. Altered expression of CD63 and exosomes in scleroderma dermal fibroblasts. J Dermatol Sci 2016; 84:30-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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18
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Villasante A, Marturano-Kruik A, Ambati SR, Liu Z, Godier-Furnemont A, Parsa H, Lee BW, Moore MA, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Recapitulating the Size and Cargo of Tumor Exosomes in a Tissue-Engineered Model. Theranostics 2016; 6:1119-30. [PMID: 27279906 PMCID: PMC4893640 DOI: 10.7150/thno.13944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the pivotal role of exosomes in cancer and in their use as biomarkers. However, despite the importance of the microenvironment for cancer initiation and progression, monolayer cultures of tumor cells still represent the main in vitro source of exosomes. As a result, their environmental regulation remains largely unknown. Here, we report a three-dimensional tumor model for studying exosomes, using Ewing's sarcoma type 1 as a clinically relevant example. The bioengineered model was designed based on the hypothesis that the 3-dimensionality, composition and stiffness of the tumor matrix are the critical determinants of the size and cargo of exosomes released by the cancer cells. We analyzed the effects of the tumor microenvironment on exosomes, and the effects of exosomes on the non-cancer cells from the bone niche. Exosomes from the tissue-engineered tumor had similar size distribution as those in the patients' plasma, and were markedly smaller than those in monolayer cultures. Bioengineered tumors and the patients' plasma contained high levels of the Polycomb histone methyltransferase EZH2 mRNA relatively to their monolayer counterparts. Notably, EZH2 mRNA, a potential tumor biomarker detectable in blood plasma, could be transferred to the surrounding mesenchymal stem cells. This study provides the first evidence that an in vitro culture environment can recapitulate some properties of tumor exosomes.
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19
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Clancy JW, Tricarico CJ, D'Souza-Schorey C. Tumor-derived microvesicles in the tumor microenvironment: How vesicle heterogeneity can shape the future of a rapidly expanding field. Bioessays 2015; 37:1309-16. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201500068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James W. Clancy
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Notre Dame; Notre Dame IN USA
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20
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Fusion FISH imaging: single-molecule detection of gene fusion transcripts in situ. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93488. [PMID: 24675777 PMCID: PMC3968151 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Double-stranded DNA breaks occur on a regular basis in the human genome as a consequence of genotoxic stress and errors during replication. Usually these breaks are rapidly and faithfully repaired, but occasionally different chromosomes, or different regions of the same chromosome, are fused to each other. Some of these aberrant chromosomal translocations yield functional recombinant genes, which have been implicated as the cause of a number of lymphomas, leukemias, sarcomas, and solid tumors. Reliable methods are needed for the in situ detection of the transcripts encoded by these recombinant genes. We have developed just such a method, utilizing single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (sm-FISH), in which approximately 50 short fluorescent probes bind to adjacent sites on the same mRNA molecule, rendering each target mRNA molecule visible as a diffraction-limited spot in a fluorescence microscope. Utilizing this method, gene fusion transcripts are detected with two differently colored probe sets, each specific for one of the two recombinant segments of a target mRNA; enabling the fusion transcripts to be seen in the microscope as distinct spots that fluoresce in both colors. We demonstrate this method by detecting the BCR-ABL fusion transcripts that occur in chronic myeloid leukemia cells, and by detecting the EWSR1-FLI1 fusion transcripts that occur in Ewing's sarcoma cells. This technology should pave the way for accurate in situ typing of many cancers that are associated with, or caused by, fusion transcripts.
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21
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Extracellular vesicles in prostate cancer: new future clinical strategies? BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:561571. [PMID: 24707491 PMCID: PMC3950949 DOI: 10.1155/2014/561571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer—excluding skin tumors—in men older than 50 years of age. Over time, the ability to diagnose PCa has improved considerably, mainly due to the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the clinical routine. However, it is important to take into account that although PSA is a highly organ-specific marker, it is not cancer-specific. This shortcoming suggests the need to find new and more specific molecular markers. Several emerging PCa biomarkers have been evaluated or are being assessed for their potential use. There is increasing interest in the prospective use of extracellular vesicles as specific markers; it is well known that the content of vesicles is dependent on their cellular origin and is strongly related to the stimulus that triggers the release of the vesicles. Consequently, the identification of a disease-specific molecule (protein, lipid or RNA) associated with vesicles could facilitate their use as novel biological markers. The present review describes several in vitro studies that demonstrate the role of vesicles in PCa progression and several in vivo studies that highlight the potential use of vesicles as PCa biomarkers.
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22
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Akao Y, Khoo F, Kumazaki M, Shinohara H, Miki K, Yamada N. Extracellular disposal of tumor-suppressor miRs-145 and -34a via microvesicles and 5-FU resistance of human colon cancer cells. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:1392-401. [PMID: 24447928 PMCID: PMC3907875 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15011392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression causes various kinds of diseases. Especially, alterations in miRNA expression levels are frequently observed in human tumor cells and are associated with cancer pathogenesis. Earlier we established Fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human colon cancer DLD-1 cells (DLD-1/5FU) from parental 5-FU- sensitive DLD-1 cells. In the present study, we examined the expression of miRNA in each cell line and in its extracellular microvesicles (MVs) before and after treatment with 5-FU. The nascent RNAs of anti-oncogenic miR-34a and -145 labeled with EU in both cells were proved to be transferred into MVs in both cell lines. The levels of miR-34a and -145 in the cells and in their MVs were not largely different in the two cell lines, and a substantial amount of both miRNAs was secreted by both cell lines even in the steady-state condition. The exposure of both cell lines to 5-FU significantly increased the intracellular levels of miR-145 and miR-34a in the 5-FU-sensitive DLD-1 cells, whereas the level of neither miR was elevated in the DLD-1/5FU cells. Interestingly, the amount of miR-145 detected in the small MVs shed into the medium of the parental cells was reduced after the treatment with 5-FU. On the other hand, the intracellular expression of miR-34a in the DLD-1/5FU cells was down-regulated compared with that in the parental DLD-1 cells even in the steady-state condition. As to the miR-34a secreted into MVs, the increase in the level in DLD-1/5FU cells was greater than that in the parental DLD-1 cells after the treatment with 5-FU. Thus, the intra- and extracellular miR-145 and -34a were closely associated with 5-FU resistance, and the resistance was in part due to the enhanced secretion of miR-145 and -34a via MVs, resulting in low intracellular levels of both miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Akao
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Fiona Khoo
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Minami Kumazaki
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Haruka Shinohara
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Kohei Miki
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Nami Yamada
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
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