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Orlacchio A, Muzyka S, Gonda TA. Epigenetic therapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 383:1-40. [PMID: 38359967 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal solid malignancies, characterized by its aggressiveness and metastatic potential, with a 5-year survival rate of only 8-11%. Despite significant improvements in PDAC treatment and management, therapeutic alternatives are still limited. One of the main reasons is its high degree of intra- and inter-individual tumor heterogeneity which is established and maintained through a complex network of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. Epigenetic drugs, have shown promising preclinical results in PDAC and are currently being evaluated in clinical trials both for their ability to sensitize cancer cells to cytotoxic drugs and to counteract the immunosuppressive characteristic of PDAC tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the current status of epigenetic treatment strategies to overcome molecular and cellular PDAC heterogeneity in order to improve response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Orlacchio
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stephen Muzyka
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tamas A Gonda
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, New York University, New York, NY, United States.
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2
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Mezawa Y, Wang T, Daigo Y, Takano A, Miyagi Y, Yokose T, Yamashita T, Yang L, Maruyama R, Seimiya H, Orimo A. Glutamine deficiency drives transforming growth factor-β signaling activation that gives rise to myofibroblastic carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:4376-4387. [PMID: 37706357 PMCID: PMC10637058 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15955] [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: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-promoting carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), abundant in the mammary tumor microenvironment (TME), maintain transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-Smad2/3 signaling activation and the myofibroblastic state, the hallmark of activated fibroblasts. How myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) arise in the TME and which epigenetic and metabolic alterations underlie activated fibroblastic phenotypes remain, however, poorly understood. We herein show global histone deacetylation in myCAFs present in tumors to be significantly associated with poorer outcomes in breast cancer patients. As the TME is subject to glutamine (Gln) deficiency, human mammary fibroblasts (HMFs) were cultured in Gln-starved medium. Global histone deacetylation and TGF-β-Smad2/3 signaling activation are induced in these cells, largely mediated by class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Additionally, mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling is attenuated in Gln-starved HMFs, and mTORC1 inhibition in Gln-supplemented HMFs with rapamycin treatment boosts TGF-β-Smad2/3 signaling activation. These data indicate that mTORC1 suppression mediates TGF-β-Smad2/3 signaling activation in Gln-starved HMFs. Global histone deacetylation, class I HDAC activation, and mTORC1 suppression are also observed in cultured human breast CAFs. Class I HDAC inhibition or mTORC1 activation by high-dose Gln supplementation significantly attenuates TGF-β-Smad2/3 signaling and the myofibroblastic state in these cells. These data indicate class I HDAC activation and mTORC1 suppression to be required for maintenance of myCAF traits. Taken together, these findings indicate that Gln starvation triggers TGF-β signaling activation in HMFs through class I HDAC activity and mTORC1 suppression, presumably inducing myCAF conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Mezawa
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Graduate School of MedicineJuntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Tingwei Wang
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Graduate School of MedicineJuntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Yataro Daigo
- Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, Research Hospital, Institute of Medical ScienceThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Center; Center for Advanced Medicine against CancerShiga University of Medical ScienceOtsuJapan
| | - Atsushi Takano
- Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, Research Hospital, Institute of Medical ScienceThe University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- Department of Medical Oncology and Cancer Center; Center for Advanced Medicine against CancerShiga University of Medical ScienceOtsuJapan
| | - Yohei Miyagi
- Molecular Pathology and Genetics DivisionKanagawa Cancer Center Research InstituteYokohamaJapan
| | | | - Toshinari Yamashita
- Department of Breast Surgery and OncologyKanagawa Cancer CenterYokohamaJapan
| | - Liying Yang
- Project for Cancer EpigenomicsCancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer ResearchTokyoJapan
| | - Reo Maruyama
- Project for Cancer EpigenomicsCancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer ResearchTokyoJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Seimiya
- Division of Molecular Biotherapy, Cancer Chemotherapy CenterJapanese Foundation for Cancer ResearchTokyoJapan
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Graduate School of MedicineJuntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
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3
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Silli EK, Li M, Shao Y, Zhang Y, Hou G, Du J, Liang J, Wang Y. Liposomal nanostructures for Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel delivery in pancreatic cancer. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2023; 192:13-24. [PMID: 37758121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2023.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an incurable disease with a high death rate in the world nowadays. Gemcitabine (GEM) and Paclitaxel (PTX) are considered as references of chemotherapeutic treatments and are commonly used in clinical applications. Factors related to the tumor microenvironment such as insufficient tumor penetration, toxicity, and drug resistance can limit the effectiveness of these therapeutic anticancer drugs. The use of different liposomal nanostructures is a way that can optimize the drug's effectiveness and reduce toxicity. Given the development of PC therapy, this review focuses on advances in Nano-formulation, characterization, and delivery systems of loaded GEM and PTX liposomes using chemotherapy, nucleic acid delivery, and stroma remodeling therapy. As a result, the review covers the literature dealing with the applications of liposomes in PC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Epiphane K Silli
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China.
| | - Mengfei Li
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China.
| | - Yuting Shao
- College of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Guilin Hou
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Jiaqian Du
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Jingdan Liang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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4
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Urbanova M, Cihova M, Buocikova V, Slopovsky J, Dubovan P, Pindak D, Tomas M, García-Bermejo L, Rodríguez-Garrote M, Earl J, Kohl Y, Kataki A, Dusinska M, Sainz B, Smolkova B, Gabelova A. Nanomedicine and epigenetics: New alliances to increase the odds in pancreatic cancer survival. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115179. [PMID: 37481927 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the deadliest cancers worldwide, primarily due to its robust desmoplastic stroma and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which facilitate tumor progression and metastasis. In addition, fibrous tissue leads to sparse vasculature, high interstitial fluid pressure, and hypoxia, thereby hindering effective systemic drug delivery and immune cell infiltration. Thus, remodeling the TME to enhance tumor perfusion, increase drug retention, and reverse immunosuppression has become a key therapeutic strategy. In recent years, targeting epigenetic pathways has emerged as a promising approach to overcome tumor immunosuppression and cancer progression. Moreover, the progress in nanotechnology has provided new opportunities for enhancing the efficacy of conventional and epigenetic drugs. Nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) offer several advantages, including improved drug pharmacokinetics, enhanced tumor penetration, and reduced systemic toxicity. Smart NDDSs enable precise targeting of stromal components and augment the effectiveness of immunotherapy through multiple drug delivery options. This review offers an overview of the latest nano-based approaches developed to achieve superior therapeutic efficacy and overcome drug resistance. We specifically focus on the TME and epigenetic-targeted therapies in the context of PDAC, discussing the advantages and limitations of current strategies while highlighting promising new developments. By emphasizing the immense potential of NDDSs in improving therapeutic outcomes in PDAC, our review paves the way for future research in this rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Urbanova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marina Cihova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Verona Buocikova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jan Slopovsky
- 2nd Department of Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Spitalska 24, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Dubovan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Surgical Oncology, National CancerInstitute in Bratislava, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová12, 833 03 Bratislava
| | - Daniel Pindak
- Department of Surgical Oncology, National CancerInstitute in Bratislava, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová12, 833 03 Bratislava
| | - Miroslav Tomas
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Surgical Oncology, National CancerInstitute in Bratislava, Klenova 1, 833 10 Bratislava, Slovakia; Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Limbová12, 833 03 Bratislava
| | - Laura García-Bermejo
- Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Group, Area4, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar Km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Rodríguez-Garrote
- Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Tumor Markers Group, Area 3, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar Km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julie Earl
- Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Tumor Markers Group, Area 3, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Carretera Colmenar Km 9100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yvonne Kohl
- Department Bioprocessing & Bioanalytics, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280 Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Agapi Kataki
- 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Vasilissis Sofias 114, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Dusinska
- Health Effects Laboratory, Department of Environmental Chemistry, NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Instituttveien 18, 2002 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Bruno Sainz
- CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas"Alberto Sols" (IIBM), CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Biomarkers and Personalized Approach to Cancer (BIOPAC) Group, Area 3, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alena Gabelova
- Department of Nanobiology, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia..
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Yuan S, Mu W, Liu S, Liu M, Xia Z, Liang S, Gao T, Fu S, Liu J, Huang X, Liu Y, Zhang N. Transforming Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Barrier into Drug Depots to Boost Chemo-Immunotherapy in "Shooting Fish in a Barrel" Pattern. ACS NANO 2023; 17:13611-13626. [PMID: 37326384 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c02272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) barrier in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) greatly restricts clinical outcomes. Major obstacles to PDAC treatment include restricted immune cell infiltration and drug penetration and the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we reported a "shooting fish in a barrel" strategy by preparing a lipid-polymer hybrid drug delivery system (PI/JGC/L-A) that could overcome the CAF barrier by turning it into a "barrel" with antitumor drug depot properties to alleviate the immunosuppressive microenvironment and increase immune cell infiltration. PI/JGC/L-A is composed of a pIL-12-loaded polymeric core (PI) and a JQ1 and gemcitabine elaidate coloaded liposomal shell (JGC/L-A) that has the ability to stimulate exosome secretion. By normalizing the CAF barrier to create a CAF "barrel" with JQ1, stimulating the secretion of gemcitabine-loaded exosomes from the CAF "barrel" to the deep tumor site, and leveraging the CAF "barrel" to secrete IL-12, PI/JGC/L-A realized effective drug delivery to the deep tumor site, activated antitumor immunity at the tumor site, and produced significant antitumor effects. In summary, our strategy of transforming the CAF barrier into antitumor drug depots represents a promising strategy against PDAC and might benefit the treatment of any tumors facing a drug delivery barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijun Yuan
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Weiwei Mu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Shujun Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Meichen Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Zhenxing Xia
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Shuang Liang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Tong Gao
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Shunli Fu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jinhu Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Xinyan Huang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yongjun Liu
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Na Zhang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products and Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
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6
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Kumar K, Kanojia D, Bentrem DJ, Hwang RF, Butchar JP, Tridandapani S, Munshi HG. Targeting BET Proteins Decreases Hyaluronidase-1 in Pancreatic Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:1490. [PMID: 37296612 PMCID: PMC10253193 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by the presence of dense stroma that is enriched in hyaluronan (HA), with increased HA levels associated with more aggressive disease. Increased levels of the HA-degrading enzymes hyaluronidases (HYALs) are also associated with tumor progression. In this study, we evaluate the regulation of HYALs in PDAC. METHODS Using siRNA and small molecule inhibitors, we evaluated the regulation of HYALs using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and ELISA. The binding of BRD2 protein on the HYAL1 promoter was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Proliferation was evaluated by WST-1 assay. Mice with xenograft tumors were treated with BET inhibitors. The expression of HYALs in tumors was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and by qRT-PCR. RESULTS We show that HYAL1, HYAL2, and HYAL3 are expressed in PDAC tumors and in PDAC and pancreatic stellate cell lines. We demonstrate that inhibitors targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins, which are readers of histone acetylation marks, primarily decrease HYAL1 expression. We show that the BET family protein BRD2 regulates HYAL1 expression by binding to its promoter region and that HYAL1 downregulation decreases proliferation and enhances apoptosis of PDAC and stellate cell lines. Notably, BET inhibitors decrease the levels of HYAL1 expression in vivo without affecting the levels of HYAL2 or HYAL3. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the pro-tumorigenic role of HYAL1 and identify the role of BRD2 in the regulation of HYAL1 in PDAC. Overall, these data enhance our understanding of the role and regulation of HYAL1 and provide the rationale for targeting HYAL1 in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishan Kumar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Deepak Kanojia
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - David J. Bentrem
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Rosa F. Hwang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Butchar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Susheela Tridandapani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hidayatullah G. Munshi
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Kehrberg RJ, Bhyravbhatla N, Batra SK, Kumar S. Epigenetic regulation of cancer-associated fibroblast heterogeneity. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188901. [PMID: 37120098 PMCID: PMC10375465 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a significant component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), contribute to cancer progression through the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors, and metabolites. It is now well recognized that CAFs are a heterogenous population with ablation experiments leading to reduced tumor growth and single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrating CAF subgroups. CAFs lack genetic mutations yet substantially differ from their normal stromal precursors. Here, we review epigenetic changes in CAF maturation, focusing on DNA methylation and histone modifications. DNA methylation changes in CAFs have been demonstrated globally, while roles of methylation at specific genes affect tumor growth. Further, loss of CAF histone methylation and gain of histone acetylation has been shown to promote CAF activation and tumor promotion. Many CAF activating factors, such as transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), lead to these epigenetic changes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as targets and orchestrators of epigenetic modifications that influence gene expression. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET), an epigenetic reader, recognizes histone acetylation and activates the transcription of genes leading to the pro-tumor phenotype of CAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J Kehrberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Namita Bhyravbhatla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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8
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Yamazaki M, Hino S, Usuki S, Miyazaki Y, Oda T, Nakao M, Ito T, Yamagata K. YAP/BRD4-controlled ROR1 promotes tumor-initiating cells and hyperproliferation in pancreatic cancer. EMBO J 2023:e112614. [PMID: 37096681 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-initiating cells are major drivers of chemoresistance and attractive targets for cancer therapy, however, their identity in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the key molecules underlying their traits remain poorly understood. Here, we show that a cellular subpopulation with partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like signature marked by high expression of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is the origin of heterogeneous tumor cells in PDAC. We demonstrate that ROR1 depletion suppresses tumor growth, recurrence after chemotherapy, and metastasis. Mechanistically, ROR1 induces the expression of Aurora kinase B (AURKB) by activating E2F through c-Myc to enhance PDAC proliferation. Furthermore, epigenomic analyses reveal that ROR1 is transcriptionally dependent on YAP/BRD4 binding at the enhancer region, and targeting this pathway reduces ROR1 expression and prevents PDAC growth. Collectively, our findings reveal a critical role for ROR1high cells as tumor-initiating cells and the functional importance of ROR1 in PDAC progression, thereby highlighting its therapeutic targetability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Yamazaki
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shinjiro Hino
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Miyazaki
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Oda
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Mitsuyoshi Nakao
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ito
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Science, Kumamoto Health Science University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kazuya Yamagata
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Raza F, Evans L, Motallebi M, Zafar H, Pereira-Silva M, Saleem K, Peixoto D, Rahdar A, Sharifi E, Veiga F, Hoskins C, Paiva-Santos AC. Liposome-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications for pancreatic cancer. Acta Biomater 2023; 157:1-23. [PMID: 36521673 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the harshest and most challenging cancers to treat, often labeled as incurable. Chemotherapy continues to be the most popular treatment yet yields a very poor prognosis. The main barriers such as inefficient drug penetration and drug resistance, have led to the development of drug carrier systems. The benefits, ease of fabrication and modification of liposomes render them as ideal future drug delivery systems. This review delves into the versatility of liposomes to achieve various mechanisms of treatment for pancreatic cancer. Not only are there benefits of loading chemotherapy drugs and targeting agents onto liposomes, as well as mRNA combined therapy, but liposomes have also been exploited for immunotherapy and can be programmed to respond to photothermal therapy. Multifunctional liposomal formulations have demonstrated significant pre-clinical success. Functionalising drug-encapsulated liposomes has resulted in triggered drug release, specific targeting, and remodeling of the tumor environment. Suppressing tumor progression has been achieved, due to their ability to more efficiently and precisely deliver chemotherapy. Currently, no multifunctional surface-modified liposomes are clinically approved for pancreatic cancer thus we aim to shed light on the trials and tribulations and progress so far, with the hope for liposomal therapy in the future and improved patient outcomes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Considering that conventional treatments for pancreatic cancer are highly associated with sub-optimal performance and systemic toxicity, the development of novel therapeutic strategies holds outmost relevance for pancreatic cancer management. Liposomes are being increasingly considered as promising nanocarriers for providing not only an early diagnosis but also effective, highly specific, and safer treatment, improving overall patient outcome. This manuscript is the first in the last 10 years that revises the advances in the application of liposome-based formulations in bioimaging, chemotherapy, phototherapy, immunotherapy, combination therapies, and emergent therapies for pancreatic cancer management. Prospective insights are provided regarding several advantages resulting from the use of liposome technology in precision strategies, fostering new ideas for next-generation diagnosis and targeted therapies of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Raza
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
| | - Lauren Evans
- Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD, UK
| | - Mahzad Motallebi
- Immunology Board for Transplantation And Cell-based Therapeutics (Immuno_TACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran 7616911319, Iran; Nanomedicine Research Association (NRA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hajra Zafar
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Miguel Pereira-Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kalsoom Saleem
- Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Diana Peixoto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Abbas Rahdar
- Department of Physics, University of Zabol, Zabol 98613-35856, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Sharifi
- Cancer Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Francisco Veiga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Clare Hoskins
- Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD, UK
| | - Ana Cláudia Paiva-Santos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga Sta. Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
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10
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Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020335. [PMID: 36672284 PMCID: PMC9856659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The most common lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with an overall 5-year survival rate of around 20% because NSCLC is a metastatic disease. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying lung cancer metastasis is therefore urgently needed. The tumor microenvironment involves different types of stromal cells and functions as key components in the progression of NSCLC. Through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and acquire mesenchymal potential, cancer cells acquire metastatic abilities, as well as cancer stem-cell-like potential. We previously reported that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) interact with lung cancer cells to allow for the acquisition of malignancy and treatment resistance by paracrine loops via EMT signals in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, CAFs regulate the cytotoxic activity of immune cells via various cytokines and chemokines, creating a microenvironment of immune tolerance. Regulation of CAFs can therefore affect immune responses. Recent research has shown several roles of CAFs in NSCLC tumorigenesis, owing to their heterogeneity, so molecular markers of CAFs should be elucidated to better classify tumor-promoting subtypes and facilitate the establishment of CAF-specific targeted therapies. CAF-targeted cancer treatments may suppress EMT and regulate the niche of cancer stem cells and the immunosuppressive network and thus may prove useful for NSCLC treatment through multiple mechanisms.
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11
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Owen JS, Clayton A, Pearson HB. Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity, Activation and Function: Implications for Prostate Cancer. Biomolecules 2022; 13:67. [PMID: 36671452 PMCID: PMC9856041 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuous remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) during prostate tumorigenesis is emerging as a critical event that facilitates cancer growth, progression and drug-resistance. Recent advances have identified extensive communication networks that enable tumor-stroma cross-talk, and emphasized the functional importance of diverse, heterogeneous stromal fibroblast populations during malignant growth. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a vital component of the TME, which mediate key oncogenic events including angiogenesis, immunosuppression, metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance, thus presenting an attractive therapeutic target. Nevertheless, how fibroblast heterogeneity, recruitment, cell-of-origin and differential functions contribute to prostate cancer remains to be fully delineated. Developing our molecular understanding of these processes is fundamental to developing new therapies and biomarkers that can ultimately improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we explore the current challenges surrounding fibroblast identification, discuss new mechanistic insights into fibroblast functions during normal prostate tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis, and illustrate the diverse nature of fibroblast recruitment and CAF generation. We also highlight the promise of CAF-targeted therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine S. Owen
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Aled Clayton
- Tissue Microenvironment Group, Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Helen B. Pearson
- The European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
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12
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Targeting the Metabolic Rewiring in Pancreatic Cancer and Its Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184351. [PMID: 36139512 PMCID: PMC9497173 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with only a few effective therapeutic options. A characteristic feature of PDAC is its unique tumor microenvironment (TME), termed desmoplasia, which shows extensive fibrosis and extracellular matrix deposition, generating highly hypoxic and nutrient-deprived conditions within the tumor. To thrive in this harsh TME, PDAC undergoes extensive metabolic rewiring that includes the altered use of glucose and glutamine, constitutive activation of autophagy-lysosomal pathways, and nutrient acquisition from host cells in the TME. Notably, these properties support PDAC metabolism and mediate therapeutic resistance, including immune suppression. A deeper understanding of the unique metabolic properties of PDAC and its TME may aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies against this deadly disease.
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13
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Han L, Seward C, Leone G, Ostrowski MC. Origin, activation and heterogeneity of fibroblasts associated with pancreas and breast cancers. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 154:169-201. [PMID: 35459469 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Pancreas and breast cancers both contain abundant stromal components within the tumor tissues. A prominent cell type within the stroma is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs play critical and complex roles establishing the tumor microenvironment to either promote or prevent tumor progression. Recently, complex genetic models and single cell-based techniques have provided emerging insights on the precise functions and cellular heterogeneity of CAFs. The transformation of normal fibroblasts into CAFs is a key event during tumor initiation and progression. Such coordination between tumor cells and fibroblasts plays an important role in cancer development. Reprograming fibroblasts is currently being explored for therapeutic benefits. In this review, we will discuss recent literature shedding light on the tissues of origin, activation mechanisms, and heterogeneity of CAFs comparing pancreas and breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
| | - Cara Seward
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Gustavo Leone
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Medical college of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Michael C Ostrowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
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14
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Kato H, Tateishi K, Fujiwara H, Nakatsuka T, Yamamoto K, Kudo Y, Hayakawa Y, Nakagawa H, Tanaka Y, Ijichi H, Otsuka M, Iwadate D, Oyama H, Kanai S, Noguchi K, Suzuki T, Sato T, Hakuta R, Ishigaki K, Saito K, Saito T, Takahara N, Kishikawa T, Hamada T, Takahashi R, Miyabayashi K, Mizuno S, Kogure H, Nakai Y, Hirata Y, Toyoda A, Ichikawa K, Qu W, Morishita S, Arita J, Tanaka M, Ushiku T, Hasegawa K, Fujishiro M, Koike K. MNX1-HNF1B Axis Is Indispensable for Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Lineages. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:1272-1287.e16. [PMID: 34953915 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.12.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Chromatin architecture governs cell lineages by regulating the specific gene expression; however, its role in the diversity of cancer development remains unknown. Among pancreatic cancers, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) with an associated invasive carcinoma (IPMNinv) arise from 2 distinct precursors, and their fundamental differences remain obscure. Here, we aimed to assess the difference of chromatin architecture regulating the transcriptional signatures or biological features in pancreatic cancers. METHODS We established 28 human organoids from distinct subtypes of pancreatic tumors, including IPMN, IPMNinv, and PDAC. We performed exome sequencing (seq), RNA-seq, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin-seq, chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq, high-throughput chromosome conformation capture, and phenotypic analyses with short hairpin RNA or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference. RESULTS Established organoids successfully reproduced the histology of primary tumors. IPMN and IPMNinv organoids harbored GNAS, RNF43, or KLF4 mutations and showed the distinct expression profiles compared with PDAC. Chromatin accessibility profiles revealed the gain of stomach-specific open regions in IPMN and the pattern of diverse gastrointestinal tissues in IPMNinv. In contrast, PDAC presented an impressive loss of accessible regions compared with normal pancreatic ducts. Transcription factor footprint analysis and functional assays identified that MNX1 and HNF1B were biologically indispensable for IPMN lineages. The upregulation of MNX1 was specifically marked in the human IPMN lineage tissues. The MNX1-HNF1B axis governed a set of genes, including MYC, SOX9, and OLFM4, which are known to be essential for gastrointestinal stem cells. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture analysis suggested the HNF1B target genes to be 3-dimensionally connected in the genome of IPMNinv. CONCLUSIONS Our organoid analyses identified the MNX1-HNF1B axis to be biologically significant in IPMN lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tateishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Gastroenterology, The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Nakatsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yotaro Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ijichi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Otsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Dosuke Iwadate
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Oyama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sachiko Kanai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensaku Noguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryunosuke Hakuta
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunaga Ishigaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomotaka Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naminatsu Takahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kishikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hamada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryota Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Miyabayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Suguru Mizuno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kogure
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yousuke Nakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hirata
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Ichikawa
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Wei Qu
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morishita
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Junichi Arita
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mariko Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Ushiku
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Fujishiro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Versemann L, Hessmann E, Ulisse M. Epigenetic Therapeutic Strategies to Target Molecular and Cellular Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Cancer. Visc Med 2022; 38:11-19. [PMID: 35291698 PMCID: PMC8874235 DOI: 10.1159/000519859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a major challenge in cancer medicine and is characterized by a 5-year survival rate of <10%. Compelling evidence suggests that the devastating disease outcome of PDAC patients is linked to a high degree of intra- and interindividual tumor heterogeneity, which is predominantly installed at the level of gene transcription. The cellular and molecular complexities of the disease explain the poor efficacy of "one-size-fits-all" therapeutic approaches in PDAC treatment and strongly argue for pursuing tailored therapeutic strategies to tackle PDAC. In a highly dynamic manner, a network of transcription factors and epigenetic regulatory proteins temporally and spatially control the diverse transcriptomic states determining PDAC heterogeneity. Given the reversibility of epigenetic processes, pharmacological intervention with key epigenetic drivers of PDAC heterogeneity appeals as a promising concept to shift the transcriptomic phenotype of PDAC toward a less aggressive and more chemosensible state. SUMMARY In this review, we discuss the chances and pitfalls of epigenetic treatment strategies in overcoming and shifting molecular and cellular PDAC heterogeneities in order to combat PDAC. To this end, we utilized the keywords "pancreatic cancer," "heterogeneity," and "epigenetics" to search for relevant articles on the database PubMed and selected interventional studies enrolling PDAC patients as displayed in clinicaltrails.gov to generate a synopsis of clinical trials involving epigenetic targeting. KEY MESSAGES Targeting epigenetic regulators in PDAC represents a promising concept to reprogram molecular and cellular tumor heterogeneities in the pancreas and hence to modulate the PDAC phenotype in favor of a less aggressive and more therapy susceptible disease course. However, we just start to understand the complex interactions of epigenetic regulators in controlling PDAC plasticity, and a clinical breakthrough utilizing epigenetic targeting in PDAC patients has not been achieved yet. Nevertheless, increasing translational efforts which consider the pleiotropic effects of targeting epigenetic regulation in different cellular compartments of the tumor and that focus on the utility and sequence of combinatory treatment approaches might pave the way toward novel epigenetic treatment strategies in PDAC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Versemann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Maria Ulisse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Clinical Research Unit KFO5002, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
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16
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Advances in glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) inhibitors for cancer therapy. Invest New Drugs 2021; 40:370-388. [PMID: 34837604 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-021-01187-2] [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: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The Hedgehog/Glioma-associated oncogene homolog (HH/GLI) signaling pathway regulates self-renewal of rare and highly malignant cancer stem cells, which have been shown to account for the initiation and maintenance of tumor growth as well as for drug resistance, metastatic spread and relapse. As an important component of the Hh signaling pathway, glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) acts as a key signal transmission hub for various signaling pathways in many tumors. Here, we review direct and indirect inhibitors of GLI; summarize the abundant active structurally diverse natural GLI inhibitors; and discuss how to better develop and utilize GLI inhibitors to solve the problem of drug resistance in tumors of interest. In summary, GLI inhibitors will be promising candidates for various cancer treatments.
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17
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Liu XY, Guo CH, Xi ZY, Xu XQ, Zhao QY, Li LS, Wang Y. Histone methylation in pancreatic cancer and its clinical implications. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:6004-6024. [PMID: 34629816 PMCID: PMC8476335 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i36.6004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive human cancer. Appropriate methods for the diagnosis and treatment of PC have not been found at the genetic level, thus making epigenetics a promising research path in studies of PC. Histone methylation is one of the most complicated types of epigenetic modifications and has proved crucial in the development of PC. Histone methylation is a reversible process regulated by readers, writers, and erasers. Some writers and erasers can be recognized as potential biomarkers and candidate therapeutic targets in PC because of their unusual expression in PC cells compared with normal pancreatic cells. Based on the impact that writers have on the development of PC, some inhibitors of writers have been developed. However, few inhibitors of erasers have been developed and put to clinical use. Meanwhile, there is not enough research on the reader domains. Therefore, the study of erasers and readers is still a promising area. This review focuses on the regulatory mechanism of histone methylation, and the diagnosis and chemotherapy of PC based on it. The future of epigenetic modification in PC research is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Liu
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Chuan-Hao Guo
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Zhi-Yuan Xi
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xin-Qi Xu
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Qing-Yang Zhao
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Li-Sha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
| | - Ying Wang
- The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China
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18
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CG223, a novel BET inhibitor, exerts TGF-β1-mediated antifibrotic effects in a murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Pulm Pharmacol Ther 2021; 70:102057. [PMID: 34425215 DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2021.102057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. In this study, we evaluated the potential therapeutic effects of CG223, a novel inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) proteins, on pulmonary fibrosis by focusing on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway. In a murine model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, CG223 attenuated fibrosis while reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lungs. Fibroblasts expressing BRD4, a member of the BET protein family, were enriched in the tissue regions corresponding to bleomycin-induced fibrotic lesions. Additionally, pulmonary fibroblasts isolated from bleomycin-instilled mice showed a significantly increased association of BRD4 with the promoters of two pro-fibrotic genes linked to the entry into the TGF-β1 autocrine/paracrine loop, thrombospondin 1 (Thbs1) and integrin β3 (Itgb3), as well as with the promoter of a myofibroblast marker gene, actin alpha 2 (Acta2). Subsequent in vitro studies with murine primary lung fibroblasts showed that the mRNA induction of Thbs1, Itgb3, and Acta2 by TGF-β1 can be inhibited by CG223 in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, CG223-induced BRD4 inhibition suppressed lung fibrogenesis by affecting multiple genes, including those involved in the triggering of the TGF-β1 autocrine/paracrine loop.
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19
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Yasukawa Y, Hattori N, Iida N, Takeshima H, Maeda M, Kiyono T, Sekine S, Seto Y, Ushijima T. SAA1 is upregulated in gastric cancer-associated fibroblasts possibly by its enhancer activation. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:180-189. [PMID: 33284950 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) tend to have tumor-promoting capacity, and can provide therapeutic targets. Even without cancer cells, CAF phenotypes are stably maintained, and DNA methylation and H3K27me3 changes have been shown to be involved. Here, we searched for a potential therapeutic target in primary CAFs from gastric cancer and a mechanism for its dysregulation. Expression microarray using eight CAFs and seven non-CAFs (NCAFs) revealed that serum amyloid A1 (SAA1), which encodes an acute phase secreted protein, was second most upregulated in CAFs, following IGF2. Conditioned medium (CM) derived from SAA1-overexpressing NCAFs was shown to increase migration of gastric cancer cells compared with that from control NCAFs, and its tumor-promoting effect was comparable to that of CM from CAFs. In addition, increased migration of cancer cells by CM from CAFs was mostly canceled with CM from CAFs with SAA1 knockdown. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-quantitative PCR showed that CAFs had higher levels of H3K27ac, an active enhancer mark, in the promoter and the two far upstream regions of SAA1 than NCAFs. Also, BET bromodomain inhibitors, JQ1 and mivebresib, decreased SAA1 expression and tumor-promoting effects in CAFs, suggesting SAA1 upregulation by enhancer activation in CAFs. Our present data showed that SAA1 is a candidate therapeutic target from gastric CAFs and indicated that increased enhancer acetylation is important for its overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimi Yasukawa
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko Hattori
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko Iida
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Takeshima
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Maeda
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tohru Kiyono
- Division of Cell Culture Technology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Sekine
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Laboratories, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Seto
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Ushijima
- Division of Epigenomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Mezawa Y, Orimo A. Phenotypic heterogeneity, stability and plasticity in tumor-promoting carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. FEBS J 2021; 289:2429-2447. [PMID: 33786982 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are essential for full-blown tumor development. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the TME together with a wide variety of stromal cell types including vascular, inflammatory, and immune cells in the extracellular matrix. CAFs not only promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, but also dampen the efficacy of various therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors. CAFs are composed of distinct fibroblast populations presumably with diverse activated fibroblastic states and tumor-promoting phenotypes in a tumor, indicating intratumor heterogeneity in these fibroblasts. Given that CAFs have been implicated in both disease progression and therapeutic responses, elucidating the functional roles of each fibroblast population in CAFs and the molecular mechanisms mediating their phenotypic stability and plasticity in the TME would be crucial for understanding tumor biology. We herein discuss how distinct fibroblast populations comprising CAFs establish their cell identities, in terms of cells-of-origin, stimuli from the TME, and the phenotypes characteristic of activated states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Mezawa
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Targeted Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer: Overview of Current Treatments and New Opportunities for Personalized Oncology. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040799. [PMID: 33672917 PMCID: PMC7918504 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for most pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients. Currently, the median overall survival of patients with advanced disease rarely exceeds 1 year. The complex network of pancreatic cancer composed of immune cells, endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts confers intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity with distinct proliferative and metastatic propensity. This heterogeneity can explain why tumors do not behave uniformly and are able to escape therapy. The advance in technology of whole-genome sequencing has now provided the possibility of identifying every somatic mutation, copy-number change, and structural variant in a given cancer, giving rise to personalized targeted therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of the current and emerging treatment strategies in pancreatic cancer. By highlighting new paradigms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment, we hope to stimulate new thoughts for clinical trials aimed at improving patient outcomes.
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22
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Nakatsuka T, Tateishi K, Kato H, Fujiwara H, Yamamoto K, Kudo Y, Nakagawa H, Tanaka Y, Ijichi H, Ikenoue T, Ishizawa T, Hasegawa K, Tachibana M, Shinkai Y, Koike K. Inhibition of histone methyltransferase G9a attenuates liver cancer initiation by sensitizing DNA-damaged hepatocytes to p53-induced apoptosis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:99. [PMID: 33468997 PMCID: PMC7815717 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03381-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
While the significance of acquired genetic abnormalities in the initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been established, the role of epigenetic modification remains unknown. Here we identified the pivotal role of histone methyltransferase G9a in the DNA damage-triggered initiation of HCC. Using liver-specific G9a-deficient (G9aΔHep) mice, we revealed that loss of G9a significantly attenuated liver tumor initiation caused by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). In addition, pharmacological inhibition of G9a attenuated the DEN-induced initiation of HCC. After treatment with DEN, while the induction of γH2AX and p53 were comparable in the G9aΔHep and wild-type livers, more apoptotic hepatocytes were detected in the G9aΔHep liver. Transcriptome analysis identified Bcl-G, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, to be markedly upregulated in the G9aΔHep liver. In human cultured hepatoma cells, a G9a inhibitor, UNC0638, upregulated BCL-G expression and enhanced the apoptotic response after treatment with hydrogen peroxide or irradiation, suggesting an essential role of the G9a-Bcl-G axis in DNA damage response in hepatocytes. The proposed mechanism was that DNA damage stimuli recruited G9a to the p53-responsive element of the Bcl-G gene, resulting in the impaired enrichment of p53 to the region and the attenuation of Bcl-G expression. G9a deletion allowed the recruitment of p53 and upregulated Bcl-G expression. These results demonstrate that G9a allows DNA-damaged hepatocytes to escape p53-induced apoptosis by silencing Bcl-G, which may contribute to the tumor initiation. Therefore, G9a inhibition can be a novel preventive strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Nakatsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tateishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology, The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, 2-2-6 Bakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0002, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yotaro Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yasuo Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ijichi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tsuneo Ikenoue
- Division of Clinical Genome Research, Advanced Clinical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Takeaki Ishizawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Makoto Tachibana
- Laboratory of Epigenome Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoichi Shinkai
- Cellular Memory Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
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23
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Hessmann E, Buchholz SM, Demir IE, Singh SK, Gress TM, Ellenrieder V, Neesse A. Microenvironmental Determinants of Pancreatic Cancer. Physiol Rev 2020; 100:1707-1751. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00042.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) belongs to the most lethal solid tumors in humans. A histological hallmark feature of PDAC is the pronounced tumor microenvironment (TME) that dynamically evolves during tumor progression. The TME consists of different non-neoplastic cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells, and neurons. Furthermore, abundant extracellular matrix components such as collagen and hyaluronic acid as well as matricellular proteins create a highly dynamic and hypovascular TME with multiple biochemical and physical interactions among the various cellular and acellular components that promote tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. In recent years, intensive research efforts have resulted in a significantly improved understanding of the biology and pathophysiology of the TME in PDAC, and novel stroma-targeted approaches are emerging that may help to improve the devastating prognosis of PDAC patients. However, none of anti-stromal therapies has been approved in patients so far, and there is still a large discrepancy between multiple successful preclinical results and subsequent failure in clinical trials. Furthermore, recent findings suggest that parts of the TME may also possess tumor-restraining properties rendering tailored therapies even more challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Soeren M. Buchholz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Ihsan Ekin Demir
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Shiv K. Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Thomas M. Gress
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology, and Endocrinology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Georg August University, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, School of Medicine Munich, Munich, Germany; Sonderforschungsbereich/Collaborative Research Centre 1321 Modeling and Targeting Pancreatic Cancer, Munich, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK) Munich Site, Munich, Germany; and
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24
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Zhuo J, Su R, Tan W, Lian Z, Lu D, Xu X. The ongoing trends of patient-derived xenograft models in oncology. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2020; 40:559-563. [PMID: 32954687 PMCID: PMC7668494 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Zhuo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Renyi Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Li Shui Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, P. R. China
| | - Winyen Tan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Zhengxing Lian
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Di Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China.,National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Institute of Organ Transplantation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
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25
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Honselmann KC, Finetti P, Birnbaum DJ, Monsalve CS, Wellner UF, Begg SKS, Nakagawa A, Hank T, Li A, Goldsworthy MA, Sharma H, Bertucci F, Birnbaum D, Tai E, Ligorio M, Ting DT, Schilling O, Biniossek ML, Bronsert P, Ferrone CR, Keck T, Mino-Kenudson M, Lillemoe KD, Warshaw AL, Fernández-Del Castillo C, Liss AS. Neoplastic-Stromal Cell Cross-talk Regulates Matrisome Expression in Pancreatic Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 18:1889-1902. [PMID: 32873625 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a highly desmoplastic reaction, warranting intense cancer-stroma communication. In this study, we interrogated the contribution of the BET family of chromatin adaptors to the cross-talk between PDAC cells and the tumor stroma. Short-term treatment of orthotopic xenograft tumors with CPI203, a small-molecule inhibitor of BET proteins, resulted in broad changes in the expression of genes encoding components of the extracellular matrix (matrisome) in both cancer and stromal cells. Remarkably, more than half of matrisome genes were expressed by cancer cells. In vitro cocultures of PDAC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) demonstrated that matrisome expression was regulated by BET-dependent cancer-CAF cross-talk. Disrupting this cross-talk in vivo resulted in diminished growth of orthotopic patient-derived xenograft tumors, reduced proliferation of cancer cells, and changes in collagen structure consistent with that of patients who experienced better survival. Examination of matrisome gene expression in publicly available data sets of 573 PDAC tumors identified a 65-gene signature that was able to distinguish long- and short-term PDAC survivors. Importantly, the expression of genes predictive of short-term survival was diminished in the cancer cells of orthotopic xenograft tumors of mice treated with CPI203. Taken together, these results demonstrate that inhibiting the activity BET proteins results in transcriptional and structural differences in the matrisome are associated with better patient survival. IMPLICATIONS: These studies highlight the biological relevance of the matrisome program in PDAC and suggest targeting of epigenetically driven tumor-stroma cross-talk as a potential therapeutic avenue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim C Honselmann
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pascal Finetti
- Laboratoire d'Oncologie Prédictive, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM UMR1068, CNRS UMR7258, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - David J Birnbaum
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Laboratoire d'Oncologie Prédictive, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM UMR1068, CNRS UMR7258, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Département de Chirurgie Générale et Viscérale, AP-HM, Marseille, France
| | - Christian S Monsalve
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ulrich F Wellner
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Sebastian K S Begg
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Akifumi Nakagawa
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thomas Hank
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Annie Li
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mathew A Goldsworthy
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Himanshu Sharma
- Partners Healthcare Personalized Medicine Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - François Bertucci
- Laboratoire d'Oncologie Prédictive, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM UMR1068, CNRS UMR7258, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Birnbaum
- Laboratoire d'Oncologie Prédictive, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, INSERM UMR1068, CNRS UMR7258, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Tai
- MGH Cancer Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Matteo Ligorio
- MGH Cancer Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David T Ting
- MGH Cancer Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Oliver Schilling
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin L Biniossek
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Bronsert
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cristina R Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tobias Keck
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Mari Mino-Kenudson
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keith D Lillemoe
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew L Warshaw
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Andrew S Liss
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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26
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Jena BC, Das CK, Bharadwaj D, Mandal M. Cancer associated fibroblast mediated chemoresistance: A paradigm shift in understanding the mechanism of tumor progression. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188416. [PMID: 32822826 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
One of the undeniable issues with cancer eradication is the evolution of chemoresistance in due course of treatment, and the mechanisms of chemoresistance have been the subject of extensive research for several years. The efficacy of chemotherapy is hindered by cancer epithelium, mostly in a cell-autonomous mechanism. However, recently the valid experimental evidence showed that the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME) is equivalently responsible for the induction of chemoresistance. Of the verities of cells in the tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major cellular component of TME and act as a key regulator in the acquisition of cancer chemoresistance by providing a protective niche to the cancer cells against the anti-cancer drugs. Moreover, the symbiotic relationship between the tumor and CAFs to obtain key resources such as growth factors and nutrients for optimal tumor growth and proliferation favors the chemoresistance phenotype. Here, in this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of our knowledge of the role of the CAFs in inducing chemoresistance and tumor progression. We also further delineated the emerging events leading to the CAF origins and activation of normal fibroblasts to CAFs. Along with this, we also discuss the novel area of research confined to the CAF targeted therapies of cancer. The identification of CAF-specific markers may allow unveiling new targets and avenues for blunting or reverting the detrimental pro-tumorigenic potential of CAFs in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash Chandra Jena
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Chandan Kanta Das
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Deblina Bharadwaj
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Mahitosh Mandal
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
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27
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Enhancing the Efficacy of CAR T Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061389. [PMID: 32481570 PMCID: PMC7353070 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has the worst prognosis and lowest survival rate among all types of cancers and thus, there exists a strong need for novel therapeutic strategies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells present a new potential option after successful FDA-approval in hematologic malignancies, however, current CAR T cell clinical trials in pancreatic cancer failed to improve survival and were unable to demonstrate any significant response. The physical and environmental barriers created by the distinct tumor microenvironment (TME) as a result of the desmoplastic reaction in pancreatic cancer present major hurdles for CAR T cells as a viable therapeutic option in this tumor entity. Cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts express extracellular matrix molecules, enzymes, and growth factors, which can attenuate CAR T cell infiltration and efficacy. Recent efforts demonstrate a niche shift where targeting the TME along CAR T cell therapy is believed or hoped to provide a substantial clinical added value to improve overall survival. This review summarizes therapeutic approaches targeting the TME and their effect on CAR T cells as well as their outcome in preclinical and clinical trials in pancreatic cancer.
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28
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Tschumperlin DJ, Lagares D. Mechano-therapeutics: Targeting Mechanical Signaling in Fibrosis and Tumor Stroma. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 212:107575. [PMID: 32437826 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pathological remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by activated myofibroblasts is a hallmark of fibrotic diseases and desmoplastic tumors. Activation of myofibroblasts occurs in response to fibrogenic tissue injury as well as in tumor-associated fibrotic reactions. The molecular determinants of myofibroblast activation in fibrosis and tumor stroma have traditionally been viewed to include biochemical agents, such as dysregulated growth factor and cytokine signaling, which profoundly alter the biology of fibroblasts, ultimately leading to overexuberant matrix deposition and fibrosis. More recently, compelling evidence has shown that altered mechanical properties of the ECM such as matrix stiffness are major drivers of tissue fibrogenesis by promoting mechano-activation of fibroblasts. In this Review, we discuss new insights into the role of the biophysical microenvironment in the amplified activation of fibrogenic myofibroblasts during the development and progression of fibrotic diseases and desmoplastic tumors. We also summarize novel therapeutic targets for anti-fibrotic therapy based on the mechanobiology of tissue fibrosis and tumor stroma, a class of drugs known as "mechano-therapeutics".
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Tschumperlin
- Tissue Repair and Mechanobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, 200 1(st) St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - David Lagares
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Fibrosis Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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29
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Mu J, Sun P, Ma Z, Sun P. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibitor enhances the antitumor effect of imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumours. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:2519-2530. [PMID: 31957165 PMCID: PMC7028844 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), the function of bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) remains underexplored. BRD4 mRNA abundance was quantified in GISTs. In the current study, we investigated the role of BRD4 in GISTs. Our results show a significant enhancement in BRD4 mRNA and a shift from very low-risk/low-risk to high-risk levels as per NCCN specifications. Overexpression of BRD4 correlated with unfavourable genotype, nongastric location, enhanced risk and decreased disease-free survival, which were predicted independently. Knockout of BRD4 in vitro suppressed KIT expression, which led to inactivation of the KIT/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, impeded migration and cell growth and made the resistant GIST cells sensitive to imatinib. The expression of KIT was repressed by a BRD4 inhibitor JQ1, which also induced myristoylated-AKT-suppressible caspases 3 and 9 activities, induced LC3-II, exhibited dose-dependent therapeutic synergy with imatinib and attenuated the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In comparison with their single therapy, the combination of JQ1/imatinib more efficiently suppressed the growth of xenografts and exhibited a reduction in KIT phosphorylation, a decrease in Ki-67 and in the levels of phosphorylated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and enhanced TUNEL staining. Thus, we characterized the biological, prognostic and therapeutic implications of overexpressed BRD4 in GIST and observed that JQ1 suppresses KIT transactivation and nullifies the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR, providing a potential strategy for treating imatinib-resistant GIST through dual blockade of KIT and BRD4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Mu
- Department of Gastric and Colorectal SurgeryThe First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Pengfei Sun
- Changchun Railway Medical Insurance Management OfficeChangchunChina
| | - Zhiming Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia SurgeryThe second hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Pengda Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia SurgeryThe second hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
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30
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Sylvestre M, Tarte K, Roulois D. Epigenetic mechanisms driving tumor supportive microenvironment differentiation and function: a role in cancer therapy? Epigenomics 2019; 12:157-169. [PMID: 31849241 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2019-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a central role in tumor development and drug resistance. Within TME, the stromal cell subset, called cancer-associated fibroblasts, is a heterogeneous population originating from poorly characterized precursors. Since cancer-associated fibroblasts do not acquire somatic mutations, other mechanisms like epigenetic regulation, could be involved in the development of these cells and in the acquisition of tumor supportive phenotypes. Moreover, such epigenetic modulations have been correlated to the emergence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment facilitating tumor evasion. These findings underline the need to deepen our knowledge on epigenetic mechanisms driving TME development and function, and to understand the impact of epigenetic drugs that could be used in future to target both tumor cells and their TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin Sylvestre
- UMR _S 1236, Université de Rennes 1, INSERM, Établissement français du sang (EFS) Bretagne, Rennes, France
| | - Karin Tarte
- UMR _S 1236, Université de Rennes 1, INSERM, Établissement français du sang (EFS) Bretagne, Rennes, France.,Laboratoire Suivi Immunologique des Thérapeutiques Innovantes (SITI), Centre Hospitalier Universitaires de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - David Roulois
- UMR _S 1236, Université de Rennes 1, INSERM, Établissement français du sang (EFS) Bretagne, Rennes, France.,Niches & Epigenetics of Tumors from Cancéropole Grand Ouest, France
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31
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Fujiwara H, Tateishi K, Misumi K, Hayashi A, Igarashi K, Kato H, Nakatsuka T, Suzuki N, Yamamoto K, Kudo Y, Hayakawa Y, Nakagawa H, Tanaka Y, Ijichi H, Kogure H, Nakai Y, Isayama H, Hasegawa K, Fukayama M, Soga T, Koike K. Mutant IDH1 confers resistance to energy stress in normal biliary cells through PFKP-induced aerobic glycolysis and AMPK activation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18859. [PMID: 31827136 PMCID: PMC6906335 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55211-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolism is a critical regulator of cell fate determination. Recently, the significance of metabolic reprogramming in environmental adaptation during tumorigenesis has attracted much attention in cancer research. Recurrent mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 or 2 genes have been identified in several cancers, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Mutant IDHs convert α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) to 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), which affects the activity of multiple α-KG-dependent dioxygenases including histone lysine demethylases. Although mutant IDH can be detected even in the early stages of neoplasia, how IDH mutations function as oncogenic drivers remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to address the biological effects of IDH1 mutation using intrahepatic biliary organoids (IBOs). We demonstrated that mutant IDH1 increased the formation of IBOs as well as accelerated glucose metabolism. Gene expression analysis and ChIP results revealed the upregulation of platelet isoform of phosphofructokinase-1 (PFKP), which is a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme, through the alteration of histone modification. Knockdown of the Pfkp gene alleviated the mutant IDH1-induced increase in IBO formation. Notably, the high expression of PFKP was observed more frequently in patients with IDH-mutant ICC compared to in those with wild-type IDH (p < 0.01, 80.9% vs. 42.5%, respectively). Furthermore, IBOs expressing mutant IDH1 survived the suppression of ATP production caused by growth factor depletion and matrix detachment by retaining high ATP levels through 5ʹ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Our findings provide a systematic understanding as to how mutant IDH induces tumorigenic preconditioning by metabolic rewiring in intrahepatic cholangiocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology, The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, 2-2-6 Bakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0002, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tateishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Kento Misumi
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Akimasa Hayashi
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Kaori Igarashi
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 246-2 Kakuganji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0052, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Takuma Nakatsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Nobumi Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yotaro Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yoku Hayakawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yasuo Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ijichi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kogure
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yosuke Nakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Isayama
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Masashi Fukayama
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Soga
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, 246-2 Kakuganji, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0052, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
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Martinez VG, Munera-Maravilla E, Bernardini A, Rubio C, Suarez-Cabrera C, Segovia C, Lodewijk I, Dueñas M, Martínez-Fernández M, Paramio JM. Epigenetics of Bladder Cancer: Where Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Meet. Front Genet 2019; 10:1125. [PMID: 31850055 PMCID: PMC6902278 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasia of the urothelial tract. Due to its high incidence, prevalence, recurrence and mortality, it remains an unsolved clinical and social problem. The treatment of BC is challenging and, although immunotherapies have revealed potential benefit in a percentage of patients, it remains mostly an incurable disease at its advanced state. Epigenetic alterations, including aberrant DNA methylation, altered chromatin remodeling and deregulated expression of non-coding RNAs are common events in BC and can be driver events in BC pathogenesis. Accordingly, these epigenetic alterations are now being used as potential biomarkers for these disorders and are being envisioned as potential therapeutic targets for the future management of BC. In this review, we summarize the recent findings in these emerging and exciting new aspects paving the way for future clinical treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor G. Martinez
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ester Munera-Maravilla
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandra Bernardini
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Rubio
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristian Suarez-Cabrera
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Segovia
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Iris Lodewijk
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Dueñas
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Martínez-Fernández
- Genomes & Disease Lab, CiMUS (Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jesus Maria Paramio
- Biomedical Research Institute I + 12, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
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33
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Oatmen KE, Cull E, Spinale FG. Heart failure as interstitial cancer: emergence of a malignant fibroblast phenotype. Nat Rev Cardiol 2019; 17:523-531. [DOI: 10.1038/s41569-019-0286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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34
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De Jaeghere EA, Denys HG, De Wever O. Fibroblasts Fuel Immune Escape in the Tumor Microenvironment. Trends Cancer 2019; 5:704-723. [PMID: 31735289 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Immune escape is central to the persistence of most, if not all, solid tumors and poses a critical obstacle to successful cancer (immuno)therapy. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) constitute the most prevalent, yet heterogeneous, component of the tumor stroma, where they 'cool down' the immune microenvironment. The central role played by CAFs, both as a physical barrier and source of immunosuppressive molecules, sets them as a target to enhance immunotherapy of cancer. We outline the current understanding of how CAFs fuel immune escape, as well as their potential clinical applications. Whether these therapeutics really have clinically significant activity remains to be seen, but the outlook is positive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiel A De Jaeghere
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Gynecologic Pelvic Oncology Network Ghent (GYPON), Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hannelore G Denys
- Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium; Gynecologic Pelvic Oncology Network Ghent (GYPON), Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Wever
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Gynecologic Pelvic Oncology Network Ghent (GYPON), Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
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35
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Chua V, Orloff M, Teh JL, Sugase T, Liao C, Purwin TJ, Lam BQ, Terai M, Ambrosini G, Carvajal RD, Schwartz G, Sato T, Aplin AE. Stromal fibroblast growth factor 2 reduces the efficacy of bromodomain inhibitors in uveal melanoma. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 11:emmm.201809081. [PMID: 30610113 PMCID: PMC6365926 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in transcriptional programs promote tumor development and progression and are targetable by bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein inhibitors. However, in a multi‐site clinical trial testing the novel BET inhibitor, PLX51107, in solid cancer patients, liver metastases of uveal melanoma (UM) patients progressed rapidly following treatment. Mechanisms of resistance to BET inhibitors in UM are unknown. We show that fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) rescued UM cells from growth inhibition by BET inhibitors, and FGF2 effects were reversible by FGF receptor (FGFR) inhibitors. BET inhibitors also increased FGFR protein expression in UM cell lines and in patient tumor samples. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) secrete FGF2, and HSC‐conditioned medium provided resistance of UM cells to BET inhibitors. PLX51107 was ineffective in vivo, but the combination of a FGFR inhibitor, AZD4547, and PLX51107 significantly suppressed the growth of xenograft UM tumors formed from subcutaneous inoculation of UM cells with HSCs and orthotopically in the liver. These results suggest that co‐targeting of FGFR signaling is required to increase the responses of metastatic UM to BET inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Chua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marlana Orloff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jessica Lf Teh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Takahito Sugase
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Connie Liao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bao Q Lam
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mizue Terai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Grazia Ambrosini
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard D Carvajal
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gary Schwartz
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Takami Sato
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA .,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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36
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Boesch M, Baty F, Rumpold H, Sopper S, Wolf D, Brutsche MH. Fibroblasts in cancer: Defining target structures for therapeutic intervention. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2019; 1872:111-121. [PMID: 31265878 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The functional importance of the tumor stroma for cancer growth and progression is increasingly recognized, but has not resulted in notable therapeutic developments yet. Within the mesenchymal tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts take the center stage and fuel tumor progression in various ways including malignant cell potentiation, immune regulation and fibrosis. However, recent studies have demonstrated pronounced heterogeneity of the fibroblastic tumor stroma, which comprises a plethora of individual cell subsets with varying phenotypes and functions, some of which suppress malignant growth through immune engagement or crosstalk with the tumor vasculature. This article summarizes the various levels at which the fibroblastic tumor stroma may impact cancer progression and highlights potential target structures for future therapeutic intervention(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Boesch
- Lung Center, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Florent Baty
- Lung Center, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Holger Rumpold
- Internal Medicine II (Medical Oncology, Hematology, Gastroenterology & Rheumatology), Academic Teaching Hospital Feldkirch, Carinagasse 47, 6807 Feldkirch, Austria
| | - Sieghart Sopper
- Internal Medicine V (Hematology & Oncology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Tyrolean Cancer Research Institute (TKFI), Innrain 66, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dominik Wolf
- Internal Medicine V (Hematology & Oncology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Medical Clinic 3, Oncology, Hematology, Immunoncology and Rheumatology, University Clinic Bonn (UKB), Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin H Brutsche
- Lung Center, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland
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Pietrobono S, Gagliardi S, Stecca B. Non-canonical Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Cancer: Activation of GLI Transcription Factors Beyond Smoothened. Front Genet 2019; 10:556. [PMID: 31244888 PMCID: PMC6581679 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) pathway is a highly conserved signaling that plays a critical role in controlling cell specification, cell–cell interaction and tissue patterning during embryonic development. Canonical activation of HH-GLI signaling occurs through binding of HH ligands to the twelve-pass transmembrane receptor Patched 1 (PTCH1), which derepresses the seven-pass transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor Smoothened (SMO). Thus, active SMO initiates a complex intracellular cascade that leads to the activation of the three GLI transcription factors, the final effectors of the HH-GLI pathway. Aberrant activation of this signaling has been implicated in a wide variety of tumors, such as those of the brain, skin, breast, gastrointestinal, lung, pancreas, prostate and ovary. In several of these cases, activation of HH-GLI signaling is mediated by overproduction of HH ligands (e.g., prostate cancer), loss-of-function mutations in PTCH1 or gain-of-function mutations in SMO, which occur in the majority of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), SHH-subtype medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Besides the classical canonical ligand-PTCH1-SMO route, mounting evidence points toward additional, non-canonical ways of GLI activation in cancer. By non-canonical we refer to all those mechanisms of activation of the GLI transcription factors occurring independently of SMO. Often, in a given cancer type canonical and non-canonical activation of HH-GLI signaling co-exist, and in some cancer types, more than one mechanism of non-canonical activation may occur. Tumors harboring non-canonical HH-GLI signaling are less sensitive to SMO inhibition, posing a threat for therapeutic efficacy of these antagonists. Here we will review the most recent findings on the involvement of alternative signaling pathways in inducing GLI activity in cancer and stem cells. We will also discuss the rationale of targeting these oncogenic pathways in combination with HH-GLI inhibitors as a promising anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pietrobono
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Sinforosa Gagliardi
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
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Yoshida GJ, Azuma A, Miura Y, Orimo A. Activated Fibroblast Program Orchestrates Tumor Initiation and Progression; Molecular Mechanisms and the Associated Therapeutic Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092256. [PMID: 31067787 PMCID: PMC6539414 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
: Neoplastic epithelial cells coexist in carcinomas with various non-neoplastic stromal cells, together creating the tumor microenvironment. There is a growing interest in the cross-talk between tumor cells and stromal fibroblasts referred to as carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are frequently present in human carcinomas. CAF populations extracted from different human carcinomas have been shown to possess the ability to influence the hallmarks of cancer. Indeed, several mechanisms underlying CAF-promoted tumorigenesis are elucidated. Activated fibroblasts in CAFs are characterized as alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts and actin-negative fibroblasts, both of which are competent to support tumor growth and progression. There are, however, heterogeneous CAF populations presumably due to the diverse sources of their progenitors in the tumor-associated stroma. Thus, molecular markers allowing identification of bona fide CAF populations with tumor-promoting traits remain under investigation. CAFs and myofibroblasts in wound healing and fibrosis share biological properties and support epithelial cell growth, not only by remodeling the extracellular matrix, but also by producing numerous growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Notably, accumulating evidence strongly suggests that anti-fibrosis agents suppress tumor development and progression. In this review, we highlight important tumor-promoting roles of CAFs based on their analogies with wound-derived myofibroblasts and discuss the potential therapeutic strategy targeting CAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Go J Yoshida
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Arata Azuma
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 1138603, Japan.
| | - Yukiko Miura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 1138603, Japan.
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Molecular Pathogenesis, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
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39
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Stress responses in stromal cells and tumor homeostasis. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 200:55-68. [PMID: 30998941 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In most (if not all) solid tumors, malignant cells are outnumbered by their non-malignant counterparts, including immune, endothelial and stromal cells. However, while the mechanisms whereby cancer cells adapt to microenvironmental perturbations have been studied in great detail, relatively little is known on stress responses in non-malignant compartments of the tumor microenvironment. Here, we discuss the mechanisms whereby cancer-associated fibroblasts and other cellular components of the tumor stroma react to stress in the context of an intimate crosstalk with malignant, endothelial and immune cells, and how such crosstalk influences disease progression and response to treatment.
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Galperin I, Dempwolff L, Diederich WE, Lauth M. Inhibiting Hedgehog: An Update on Pharmacological Compounds and Targeting Strategies. J Med Chem 2019; 62:8392-8411. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Galperin
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology (ZTI), Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Dempwolff
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Tumor and Immune Biology (ZTI), Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Wibke E. Diederich
- School of Pharmacy, Center for Tumor and Immune Biology (ZTI), Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Core Facility Medicinal Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Lauth
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology (ZTI), Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Chua V, Orloff M, Teh JL, Sugase T, Liao C, Purwin TJ, Lam BQ, Terai M, Ambrosini G, Carvajal RD, Schwartz G, Sato T, Aplin AE. Stromal fibroblast growth factor 2 reduces the efficacy of bromodomain inhibitors in uveal melanoma. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 11:emmm.201809081. [PMID: 30610113 DOI: 10.1525/emmm.201809081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in transcriptional programs promote tumor development and progression and are targetable by bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein inhibitors. However, in a multi-site clinical trial testing the novel BET inhibitor, PLX51107, in solid cancer patients, liver metastases of uveal melanoma (UM) patients progressed rapidly following treatment. Mechanisms of resistance to BET inhibitors in UM are unknown. We show that fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) rescued UM cells from growth inhibition by BET inhibitors, and FGF2 effects were reversible by FGF receptor (FGFR) inhibitors. BET inhibitors also increased FGFR protein expression in UM cell lines and in patient tumor samples. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) secrete FGF2, and HSC-conditioned medium provided resistance of UM cells to BET inhibitors. PLX51107 was ineffective in vivo, but the combination of a FGFR inhibitor, AZD4547, and PLX51107 significantly suppressed the growth of xenograft UM tumors formed from subcutaneous inoculation of UM cells with HSCs and orthotopically in the liver. These results suggest that co-targeting of FGFR signaling is required to increase the responses of metastatic UM to BET inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Chua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marlana Orloff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jessica Lf Teh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Takahito Sugase
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Connie Liao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bao Q Lam
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mizue Terai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Grazia Ambrosini
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard D Carvajal
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gary Schwartz
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Takami Sato
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Blocking CXCLs-CXCR2 axis in tumor-stromal interactions contributes to survival in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through reduced cell invasion/migration and a shift of immune-inflammatory microenvironment. Oncogenesis 2019; 8:8. [PMID: 30659170 PMCID: PMC6338726 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-018-0117-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by dense stromal reaction (desmoplasia). We have previously reported that mice with conditional KrasG12D mutation and knockout of TGF-β receptor type II (Tgfbr2), PKF mice, develop PDAC with desmoplasia modulated by CXC chemokines that are produced by PDAC cells through tumor–stromal interaction. In this study, we further discovered that PDAC and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) accelerated each other’s invasion and migration through the CXC chemokines-receptor (CXCLs–CXCR2) axis. Heterozygous knockout of Cxcr2 in PKF mice (PKF2h mice) prolonged survival and inhibited both tumor angiogenesis and PDAC microinvasion. Infiltration of neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and arginase-1+ M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) significantly decreased in the tumors of PKF2h mice, whereas inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)+ M1-like TAMs and apoptotic tumor cells markedly increased, which indicated that blockade of the CXCLs–CXCR2 axis resulted in a shift of immune-inflammatory microenvironment. These results suggest that blocking of the CXCLs–CXCR2 axis in tumor–stromal interactions could be a therapeutic approach against PDAC progression.
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Chandana S, Babiker HM, Mahadevan D. Therapeutic trends in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2018; 28:161-177. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1557145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sreenivasa Chandana
- Phase I program, START Midwest, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Hani M. Babiker
- Early Phase Therapeutics Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Daruka Mahadevan
- Early Phase Therapeutics Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Liu X, Wu H, Huang P, Zhang F. JQ1 and PI3K inhibition synergistically reduce salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma malignancy by targeting the c-Myc and EGFR signaling pathways. J Oral Pathol Med 2018; 48:43-51. [PMID: 30269363 DOI: 10.1111/jop.12784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Liu
- School of Stomatology; Shandong University; Jinan City China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration; Shandong university; Jinan City China
| | - Haitao Wu
- Department of Implantology Unit; Dongguan Dental Hospital; Dongguan City China
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Gynecology; Qilu Hospital; Jinan City China
| | - Fenghe Zhang
- School of Stomatology; Shandong University; Jinan City China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration; Shandong university; Jinan City China
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Henry KE, Dacek MM, Dilling TR, Caen JD, Fox IL, Evans MJ, Lewis JS. A PET Imaging Strategy for Interrogating Target Engagement and Oncogene Status in Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:166-176. [PMID: 30228208 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Physicians often rely on biopsy or CT to guide treatment decisions, but these techniques fail to reliably measure the actions of therapeutic agents in PDAC. KRAS mutations are present in >90% of PDAC and are connected to many signaling pathways through its oncogenic cascade, including extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and MYC. A key downstream event of MYC is transferrin receptor (TfR), which has been identified as a biomarker for cancer therapeutics and imaging. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we aimed to test whether zirconium-89 transferrin ([89Zr]Zr-Tf) could measure changes in MYC depending on KRAS status of PDAC, and assess target engagement of anti-MYC and anti-ERK-targeted therapies. RESULTS Mice bearing iKras*p53* tumors showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) uptake of [89Zr]Zr-Tf in mice withdrawn from inducible oncogenic KRAS. A therapy study with JQ1 showed a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) of [89Zr]Zr-Tf uptake in drug versus vehicle-treated mice bearing Capan-2 and Suit-2 xenografts. IHC analysis of resected PDAC tumors reflects the data observed via PET imaging and radiotracer biodistribution. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that [89Zr]Zr-Tf is a valuable tool to noninvasively assess oncogene status and target engagement of small-molecule inhibitors downstream of oncogenic KRAS, allowing a quantitative assessment of drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Henry
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Megan M Dacek
- Program of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Thomas R Dilling
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jonathan D Caen
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ian L Fox
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Michael J Evans
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. .,Program of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.,Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probes Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Fujiwara H, Tateishi K, Kato H, Nakatsuka T, Yamamoto K, Tanaka Y, Ijichi H, Takahara N, Mizuno S, Kogure H, Matsubara S, Nakai Y, Koike K. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutation sensitizes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma to the BET inhibitor JQ1. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:3602-3610. [PMID: 30156013 PMCID: PMC6215870 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is a life‐threatening disease with a poor prognosis. Although genome analysis unraveled some genetic mutation profiles in cholangiocarcinoma, it remains unknown whether such genetic abnormalities relate to the effects of anticancer drugs. Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1/2) are exclusively found in almost 20% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Recently, the anticancer effects of BET inhibitors including JQ1 have been shown in various tumors. In the present study, we report that the antigrowth effect of JQ1 differs among ICC cells and IDH1 mutation sensitizes ICC cells to JQ1. RBE cells harboring IDH1 mutation was more sensitive to JQ1 than HuCCT1 or HuH28 cells with wild‐type IDH1. JQ1 induced apoptosis only in RBE cells through the upregulation of proapoptotic genes BAX and BIM. We found that the antigrowth effect was not attributed to downregulation of the MYC gene as a well‐known target of JQ1 in various cancer cells. Notably, the forced expression of mutant IDH1 successfully sensitized HuCCT1 cells to JQ1. In addition, AGI‐5198, a selective inhibitor of mutant IDH1 partially reversed the decrease in viability after JQ1 treatment and also suppressed the JQ1‐induced apoptosis in RBE cells. These data suggest that IDH1 mutation contributed to the growth inhibitory effect of JQ1 in RBE cells. Furthermore, given that the effect of mutant IDH1 was not recapitulated in glioblastoma cells, the enhancement of JQ1 sensitivity by IDH1 mutation seems to be specific for ICC cells. Our findings propose a new stratified therapeutic strategy based on IDH1 mutation in ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tateishi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuma Nakatsuka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ijichi
- Department of Clinical Nutrition Therapy, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naminatsu Takahara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Suguru Mizuno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kogure
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saburo Matsubara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Japan
| | - Yousuke Nakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Recent Advances in Chromatin Mechanisms Controlling Pancreatic Carcinogenesis. EPIGENOMES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes2020011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Xie F, Huang M, Lin X, Liu C, Liu Z, Meng F, Wang C, Huang Q. The BET inhibitor I-BET762 inhibits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and enhances the therapeutic effect of gemcitabine. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8102. [PMID: 29802402 PMCID: PMC5970200 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26496-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As one of the most fatal malignancies, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has significant resistance to the currently available treatment approaches. Gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapeutic agent for locally advanced and metastatic PDAC, has limited efficacy, which is attributed to innate/acquired resistance and the activation of prosurvival pathways. Here, we investigated the in vitro efficacy of I-BET762, an inhibitor of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of proteins, in treating PDAC cell lines alone and in combination with gemcitabine (GEM). The effect of these two agents was also examined in xenograft PDAC tumors in mice. We found that I-BET762 induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and cell death and suppressed cell proliferation and metastatic stem cell factors in PDAC cells. In addition, the BH3-only protein Bim, which is related to chemotherapy resistance, was upregulated by I-BET762, which increased the cell death triggered by GEM in PDAC cells. Moreover, GEM and I-BET762 exerted a synergistic effect on cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Bim is necessary for I-BET762 activity and modulates the synergistic effect of GEM and I-BET762 in PDAC. In conclusion, we investigated the effect of I-BET762 on PDAC and suggest an innovative strategy for PDAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Xie
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, China
| | - Mei Huang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, China
| | - Xiansheng Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China
| | - Chenhai Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China
| | - Futao Meng
- Anhui Medical University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, No. 9, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, No. 17, Lujiang Road, Hefei, Anhui province, China.
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Paradise BD, Barham W, Fernandez-Zapico ME. Targeting Epigenetic Aberrations in Pancreatic Cancer, a New Path to Improve Patient Outcomes? Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10050128. [PMID: 29710783 PMCID: PMC5977101 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10050128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among all types of cancers. The disease is highly aggressive and typically diagnosed in late stage making it difficult to treat. Currently, the vast majority of therapeutic regimens have only modest curative effects, and most of them are in the surgical/neo-adjuvant setting. There is a great need for new and more effective treatment strategies in common clinical practice. Previously, pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer was attributed solely to genetic mutations; however, recent advancements in the field have demonstrated that aberrant activation of epigenetic pathways contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of the disease. The identification of these aberrant activated epigenetic pathways has revealed enticing targets for the use of epigenetic inhibitors to mitigate the phenotypic changes driven by these cascades. These pathways have been found to be responsible for overactivation of growth signaling pathways and silencing of tumor suppressors and other cell cycle checkpoints. Furthermore, new miRNA signatures have been uncovered in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients, further widening the window for therapeutic opportunity. There has been success in preclinical settings using both epigenetic inhibitors as well as miRNAs to slow disease progression and eliminate diseased tissues. In addition to their utility as anti-proliferative agents, the pharmacological inhibitors that target epigenetic regulators (referred to here as readers, writers, and erasers for their ability to recognize, deposit, and remove post-translational modifications) have the potential to reconfigure the epigenetic landscape of diseased cells and disrupt the cancerous phenotype. The potential to “reprogram” cancer cells to revert them to a healthy state presents great promise and merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke D Paradise
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Whitney Barham
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Martín E Fernandez-Zapico
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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