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Bansode AH, Damuka N, Bashetti N, Gollapelli KK, Krizan I, Bhoopal B, Miller M, Jv SK, Whitlow CT, McClain D, Ma T, Jorgensen MJ, Solingapuram Sai KK. First GPR119 PET Imaging Ligand: Synthesis, Radiochemistry, and Preliminary Evaluations. J Med Chem 2023; 66:9120-9129. [PMID: 37315328 PMCID: PMC10999001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptor 119 (GPR119) has emerged as a promising target for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Activating GPR119 improves glucose homeostasis, while suppressing appetite and weight gain. Measuring GPR119 levels in vivo could significantly advance GPR119-based drug development strategies including target engagement, occupancy, and distribution studies. To date, no positron emission tomography (PET) ligands are available to image GPR119. In this paper, we report the synthesis, radiolabeling, and preliminary biological evaluations of a novel PET radiotracer [18F]KSS3 to image GPR119. PET imaging will provide information on GPR119 changes with diabetic glycemic loads and the efficacy of GPR119 agonists as antidiabetic drugs. Our results demonstrate [18F]KSS3's high radiochemical purity, specific activity, cellular uptake, and in vivo and ex vivo uptake in pancreas, liver, and gut regions, with high GPR119 expression. Cell pretreatment with nonradioactive KSS3, rodent PET imaging, biodistribution, and autoradiography studies showed significant blocking in the pancreas showing [18F]KSS3's high specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash H Bansode
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Naresh Damuka
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Nagaraju Bashetti
- Department of Chemistry, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vijayawada, 522302 Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Krishna Kumar Gollapelli
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Ivan Krizan
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Bhuvanachandra Bhoopal
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Mack Miller
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Shanmukha Kumar Jv
- Department of Chemistry, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vijayawada, 522302 Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Christopher T Whitlow
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Donald McClain
- Department of Endocrinology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Tao Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
| | - Matthew J Jorgensen
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27157, United States
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Igarashi W, Takagi D, Okada D, Kobayashi D, Oka M, Io T, Ishii K, Ono K, Yamamoto H, Okamoto Y. Bioinformatic Identification of Potential RNA Alterations on the Atrial Fibrillation Remodeling from Human Pulmonary Veins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10501. [PMID: 37445678 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent persistent arrhythmia. Many genes have been reported as a genetic background for AF. However, most transcriptome analyses of AF are limited to the atrial samples and have not been evaluated by multiple cardiac regions. In this study, we analyzed the expression levels of protein-coding and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in six cardiac regions by RNA-seq. Samples were donated from six subjects with or without persistent AF for left atria, left atrial appendages, right atria, sinoatrial nodes, left ventricles, right ventricles, and pulmonary veins (PVs), and additional four right atrial appendages samples were collected from patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. In total, 23 AF samples were compared to 23 non-AF samples. Surprisingly, the most influenced heart region in gene expression by AF was the PV, not the atria. The ion channel-related gene set was significantly enriched upon analysis of these significant genes. In addition, some significant genes are cancer-related lncRNAs in PV in AF. A co-expression network analysis could detect the functional gene clusters. In particular, the cancer-related lncRNA, such as SAMMSON and FOXCUT, belong to the gene network with the cancer-related transcription factor FOXC1. Thus, they may also play an aggravating role in the pathogenesis of AF, similar to carcinogenesis. In the least, this study suggests that (1) RNA alteration is most intense in PVs and (2) post-transcriptional gene regulation by lncRNA may contribute to the progression of AF. Through the screening analysis across the six cardiac regions, the possibility that the PV region can play a role other than paroxysmal triggering in the pathogenesis of AF was demonstrated for the first time. Future research with an increase in the number of PV samples will lead to a novel understanding of the pathophysiology of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Igarashi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Daichi Takagi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Daigo Okada
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Shogoinkawahara-cho, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Daiki Kobayashi
- Department of Cell Physiology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Miho Oka
- Research Department, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyutaromachi, Osaka 541-0056, Japan
| | - Toshiro Io
- Research Department, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyutaromachi, Osaka 541-0056, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Ishii
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Ono
- Department of Cell Physiology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamamoto
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Yosuke Okamoto
- Department of Cell Physiology, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan
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Jannoo R, Walker W, Kanamarlapudi V. Targeting and Sensitization of Breast Cancer Cells to Killing with a Novel Interleukin-13 Receptor α2-Specific Hybrid Cytolytic Peptide. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2772. [PMID: 37345109 PMCID: PMC10216279 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly metastatic breast cancers, such as triple-negative subtypes (TNBC), require the most effective treatments. Since interleukin-13 receptor (IL-13R)α2 is reportedly over-expressed in some cancers, we investigated here its expression and the feasibility of therapeutically targeting this receptor in breast cancer using a novel hybrid cytolytic peptide (Pep-1-Phor21) consisting of IL-13Rα2-binding (Pep-1) and cytolytic (Phor21) domains. This study demonstrates that particularly TNBC tissues and cells display the prominent expression of IL-13Rα2. Furthermore, Pep-1-Phor21 induced the rapid necrosis of tumor cells expressing cell-surface IL-13Rα2. Notably, IL-13Rα2 expression was found to be epigenetically regulated in breast cancer cells in that the inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) or DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) upregulated IL-13Rα2 expression, thereby sensitizing them to Pep-1-Phor21. IL-13Rα2-negative non-malignant cells were refractory to these epigenetic effects. Consistent with its cytolytic activity, Pep-1-Phor21 readily destroyed IL-13Rα2-expressing breast cancer spheroids with HDAC or DNMT inhibition, further enhancing cytolytic activity. Therefore, the Pep-1-Phor21-mediated targeting of IL-13Rα2 is a potentially novel therapeutic strategy for TNBC. Given that tumor cells can be selectively sensitized to Pep-1-Phor21 via the epigenetic up-regulation of IL-13Rα2, a combined adjuvant approach involving Pep-1-Phor21 and epigenetic inhibitors may be an effective strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riaz Jannoo
- UCL ECMC GCLP Facility, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK;
| | - William Walker
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK;
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Liang R, Wu C, Liu S, Zhao W. Targeting interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) for glioblastoma therapy with surface functionalized nanocarriers. Drug Deliv 2022; 29:1620-1630. [PMID: 35612318 PMCID: PMC9135425 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2022.2075986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite surgical and therapeutic advances, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most fatal primary brain tumor that is aggressive in nature. Patients with GBM have a median lifespan of just 15 months when treated with the current standard of therapy, which includes surgical resection and concomitant chemo-radiotherapy. In recent years, nanotechnology has shown considerable promise in treating a variety of illnesses, and certain nanomaterials have been proven to pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and stay in glioblastoma tissues. Recent preclinical research suggests that the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumor is significantly explored through the intervention of nanomaterials that has showed enhanced effect. In order to elicit an antitumor response, it is necessary to retain the therapeutic candidates within glioblastoma tissues and this job is effectively carried out by nanocarrier particularly functionalized nanocarriers. In the arena of neoplastic diseases including GBM have achieved great attention in recent decades. Furthermore, interleukin-13 receptor α chain variant 2 (IL13Rα2) is a highly expressed and studied target in GBM that is lacked by the surrounding environment. The absence of IL13Rα2 in surrounding normal tissues has made it a suitable target in glioblastoma therapy. In this review article, we highlighted the role of IL13Rα2 as a potential target in GBM along with design and fabrication of efficient targeting strategies for IL13Rα2 through surface functionalized nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijia Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hangzhou Medical College Affiliated Lin’an People’s Hospital, The First People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Lin’an District, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, China
| | - Shiming Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenyan Zhao
- Department of General Practice Medicine, Center for General Practice Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital (Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, China
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5
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Damuka N, Bashetti N, Mintz A, Bansode AH, Miller M, Krizan I, Furdui C, Bhoopal B, Gollapelli KK, Shanmukha Kumar JV, Deep G, Dugan G, Cline M, Solingapuram Sai KK. [ 18F]KS1, a novel ascorbate-based ligand images ROS in tumor models of rodents and nonhuman primates. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 156:113937. [PMID: 36411624 PMCID: PMC11017304 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113937] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Over production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by altered redox regulation of signaling pathways is common in many types of cancers. While PET imaging is recognized as the standard tool for cancer imaging, there are no clinically-approved PET radiotracers for ROS-imaging in cancer diagnosis and treatment. An ascorbate-based radio ligand promises to meet this urgent need. Our laboratory recently synthesized [18F] KS1, a fluoroethoxy furanose ring-containing ascorbate derivative, to track ROS in prostate tumor-bearing mice. Here we report cell uptake assays of [18F]KS1 with different ROS-regulating agents, PET imaging in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) mice, and doxorubicin-induced rats; PET imaging in healthy and irradiated hepatic tumor-bearing rhesus to demonstrate its translational potential. Our preliminary evaluations demonstrated that KS1 do not generate ROS in tumor cells at tracer-level concentrations and tumor-killing properties at pharmacologic doses. [18F]KS1 uptake was low in HNSCC pretreated with ROS blockers, and high with ROS inducers. Tumors in high ROS-expressing SCC-61 took up significantly more [18F]KS1 than rSCC-61 (low-ROS expressing HNSCC); high uptake in doxorubicin-treated rats compared to saline-treated controls. Rodent biodistribution and PET imaging of [18F]KS1 in healthy rhesus monkeys demonstrated its favorable safety, pharmacokinetic properties with excellent washout profile, within 3.0 h of radiotracer administration. High uptake of [18F]KS1 in liver tumor tissues of the irradiated hepatic tumor-bearing monkey showed target selectivity. Our strong data in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo here supports the high translational utility of [18F]KS1 to image ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Damuka
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Nagaraju Bashetti
- Department of Chemistry, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Akiva Mintz
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Avinash H Bansode
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Mack Miller
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ivan Krizan
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Cristina Furdui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Bhuvanachandra Bhoopal
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | | | - J V Shanmukha Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Gagan Deep
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Greg Dugan
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Mark Cline
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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Capaccione KM, Doubrovin M, Braumuller B, Leibowitz D, Bhatt N, Momen-Heravi F, Molotkov A, Kissner M, Goldner K, Soffing M, Ali A, Mintz A. Evaluating the Combined Anticancer Response of Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy and FAP-Targeted Molecular Radiotherapy in Murine Models of Melanoma and Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194575. [PMID: 36230500 PMCID: PMC9559475 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although newer cancer medicines that help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells have improved responses to therapy, most patients ultimately have cancer recurrence. Additional therapies and therapy combinations are needed so that responses can last longer or indefinitely. Molecular targeted radiotherapy is another kind of therapy that targets radioactive particles directly to cancer in the hopes of killing cancer cells to stop tumor growth with limited side effects. Prior studies have shown that targeted radiotherapies activate the immune system and can work together with immunotherapy to improve response. Here, we tested a promising new therapy targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP) with a therapeutic radionuclide 177Lu alone and with immunotherapy in mouse models of melanoma and lung cancer. The FAP-targeted radiotherapy reduced tumor growth in both models and melanoma, resulting in tumor regression. We saw increased tumor cell death in dual-treated tumors. We also found that myeloid cells were affected by the combined therapy to a greater degree than the additive effect of either therapy. These results demonstrate that this is a promising new therapy regimen and requires further preclinical and clinical study to better understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning response. Abstract Immunotherapy has dramatically improved outcomes for some cancer patients; however, novel treatments are needed for more patients to achieve a long-lasting response. FAP-targeted molecular radiotherapy has shown efficacy in both preclinical and clinical models and has immunomodulatory effects. Here, we studied if combined immunotherapy and radiotherapy could increase antitumor efficacy in murine models of lung cancer and melanoma and interrogated the mechanisms by which these treatments attenuate tumor growth. Using LLC1 and B16F10 murine models of lung cancer and melanoma, respectively, we tested the efficacy of 177Lu-FAPI-04 alone and in combination with immunotherapy. Alone, 177Lu-FAPI-04 significantly reduced tumor growth in both models. In animals with melanoma, combined therapy resulted in tumor regression while lung tumor growth was attenuated, but tumors did not regress. Combined therapy significantly increased caspase-3 and decreased Ki67 compared with immunotherapy alone. Flow cytometry demonstrated that tumor-associated macrophages responded in a tumor-dependent manner which was distinct in animals treated with both therapies compared with either therapy alone. These data demonstrate that 177Lu-FAPI-04 is an effective anticancer therapy for melanoma and lung cancer which mediates effects at least partially through induction of apoptosis and modulation of the immune response. Translational studies with immunotherapy and 177Lu-FAPI-04 are needed to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of this combined regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M. Capaccione
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Mikhail Doubrovin
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Correspondence: (M.D.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-(212)-342-0555 (A.M.)
| | - Brian Braumuller
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dev Leibowitz
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nikunj Bhatt
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fatemeh Momen-Heravi
- College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Andrei Molotkov
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Michael Kissner
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kimberly Goldner
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Mark Soffing
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alessandra Ali
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Akiva Mintz
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Correspondence: (M.D.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-(212)-342-0555 (A.M.)
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Damuka N, Orr ME, Bansode AH, Krizan I, Miller M, Lee J, Macauley SL, Whitlow CT, Mintz A, Craft S, Solingapuram Sai KK. Preliminary mechanistic insights of a brain-penetrant microtubule imaging PET ligand in a tau-knockout mouse model. EJNMMI Res 2022; 12:41. [PMID: 35881263 PMCID: PMC9325934 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-022-00912-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microtubules (MTs) are critical for cell structure, function, and survival. MT instability may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis as evidenced by persistent negative regulation (phosphorylation) of the neuronal microtubule-associated protein tau. Hyperphosphorylated tau, not bound to MTs, forms intraneuronal pathology that correlates with dementia and can be tracked using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. The contribution of MT instability in AD remains unknown, though it may be more proximal to neuronal dysfunction than tau accumulation. Our lab reported the first brain-penetrant MT-based PET ligand, [11C]MPC-6827, and its PET imaging with this ligand in normal rodents and non-human primates demonstrated high brain uptake and excellent pharmacokinetics. Target engagement and mechanism of action using in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo methods were evaluated here. METHODS In vitro cell uptake assay was performed in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells with [11C]MPC-6827, with various MT stabilizing and destabilizing agents. To validate the in vitro results, wild type (WT) mice (n = 4) treated with a brain-penetrant MT stabilizing drug (EpoD) underwent microPET/CT brain imaging with [11C]MPC-6827. To determine the influence of tau protein on radiotracer binding in the absence of protein accumulation, we utilized tau knockout (KO) mice. In vivo microPET imaging, ex vivo biodistribution, and autoradiography studies were performed in tau KO and WT mice (n = 6/group) with [11C]MPC-6827. Additionally, α, β, and acetylated tubulin levels in both brain samples were determined using commercially available cytoskeleton-based MT kit and capillary electrophoresis immunoblotting assays. RESULTS Cell uptake demonstrated higher radioactive uptake with MT destabilizing agents and lower uptake with stabilizing agents compared to untreated cells. Similarly, acute treatment with EpoD in WT mice decreased [11C]MPC-6827 brain uptake, assessed with microPET/CT imaging. Compared to WT mice, tau KO mice expressed significantly lower β tubulin, which contains the MPC-6827 binding domain, and modestly lower levels of acetylated α tubulin, indicative of unstable MTs. In vivo imaging revealed significantly higher [11C]MPC-6827 uptake in tau KOs than WT, particularly in AD-relevant brain regions known to express high levels of tau. Ex vivo post-PET biodistribution and autoradiography confirmed the in vivo results. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our data indicate that [11C]MPC-6827 uptake inversely correlates with MT stability and may better reflect the absence of tau than total tubulin levels. Given the radiotracer binding does not require the presence of aggregated tau, we hypothesize that [11C]MPC-6827 may be particularly useful in preclinical stages of AD prior to tau deposition. Our study provides immediate clarity on high uptake of the MT-based radiotracer in AD brains, which directly informs clinical utility in MT/tau-based PET imaging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Damuka
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Miranda E. Orr
- Department of Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Avinash H. Bansode
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Ivan Krizan
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Mack Miller
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Jillian Lee
- Department of Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Shannon L. Macauley
- Department of Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | | | - Akiva Mintz
- Department of Radiology, Columbia Medical Center, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157 USA
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Knudson KM, Hwang S, McCann MS, Joshi BH, Husain SR, Puri RK. Recent Advances in IL-13Rα2-Directed Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:878365. [PMID: 35464460 PMCID: PMC9023787 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-13 receptor subunit alpha-2 (IL-13Rα2, CD213A), a high-affinity membrane receptor of the anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokine IL-13, is overexpressed in a variety of solid tumors and is correlated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. While initially hypothesized as a decoy receptor for IL-13-mediated signaling, recent evidence demonstrates IL-13 can signal through IL-13Rα2 in human cells. In addition, expression of IL-13Rα2 and IL-13Rα2-mediated signaling has been shown to promote tumor proliferation, cell survival, tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Given its differential expression in tumor versus normal tissue, IL-13Rα2 is an attractive immunotherapy target, as both a targetable receptor and an immunogenic antigen. Multiple promising strategies, including immunotoxins, cancer vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, have been developed to target IL-13Rα2. In this mini-review, we discuss recent developments surrounding IL-13Rα2-targeted therapies in pre-clinical and clinical study, including potential strategies to improve IL-13Rα2-directed cancer treatment efficacy.
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Damuka N, Martin TJ, Bansode AH, Krizan I, Martin CW, Miller M, Whitlow CT, Nader MA, Solingapuram Sai KK. Initial Evaluations of the Microtubule-Based PET Radiotracer, [11C]MPC-6827 in a Rodent Model of Cocaine Abuse. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:817274. [PMID: 35295607 PMCID: PMC8918945 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.817274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PurposeMicrotubules (MTs) are structural units made of α and β tubulin subunits in the cytoskeleton responsible for axonal transport, information processing, and signaling mechanisms—critical for healthy brain function. Chronic cocaine exposure affects the function, organization, and stability of MTs in the brain, thereby impairing overall neurochemical and cognitive processes. At present, we have no reliable, non-invasive methods to image MTs for cocaine use disorder (CUD). Recently we reported the effect of cocaine in patient-derived neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Here we report preliminary results of a potential imaging biomarker of CUD using the brain penetrant MT-based radiotracer, [11C]MPC-6827, in an established rodent model of cocaine self-administration (SA).MethodsCell uptake studies were performed with [11C]MPC-6827 in SH-SY5Y cells, treated with or without cocaine (n = 6/group) at 30 and 60 min incubations. MicroPET/CT brain scans were performed in rats at baseline and 35 days after cocaine self-administration and compared with saline-treated rats as controls (n = 4/sex). Whole-body post-PET biodistribution, plasma metabolite assay, and brain autoradiography were performed in the same rats from imaging.ResultsCocaine-treated SH-SY5Y cells demonstrated a ∼26(±4)% decrease in radioactive uptake compared to non-treated controls. Both microPET/CT imaging and biodistribution results showed lower (∼35 ± 3%) [11C]MPC-6827 brain uptake in rats that had a history of cocaine self-administration compared to the saline-treated controls. Plasma metabolite assays demonstrate the stability (≥95%) of the radiotracer in both groups. In vitro autoradiography also demonstrated lower radioactive uptake in cocaine rats compared to the control rats. [11C]MPC-6827’s in vitro SH-SY5Y neuronal cell uptake, in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, ex vivo biodistribution, and in vitro autoradiography results corroborated well with each other, demonstrating decreased radioactive brain uptake in cocaine self-administered rats versus controls. There were no significant differences either in cocaine intake or in [11C]MPC-6827 uptake between the male and female rats.ConclusionsThis project is the first to validate in vivo imaging of the MT-associations with CUD in a rodent model. Our initial observations suggest that [11C]MPC-6827 uptake decreases in cocaine self-administered rats and that it may selectively bind to destabilized tubulin units in the brain. Further longitudinal studies correlating cocaine intake with [11C]MPC-6827 PET brain measures could potentially establish the MT scaffold as an imaging biomarker for CUD, providing researchers and clinicians with a sensitive tool to better understand the biological underpinnings of CUD and tailor new treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Damuka
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Thomas J. Martin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Avinash H. Bansode
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ivan Krizan
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Conner W. Martin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Mack Miller
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Christopher T. Whitlow
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Michael A. Nader
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Kiran Kumar Solingapuram Sai
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Kiran Kumar Solingapuram Sai,
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10
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Du Y, Chen Z, Duan X, Yan P, Zhang C, Kang L, Wang R. 99mTc-labeled peptide targeting interleukin 13 receptor α 2 for tumor imaging in a cervical cancer mouse model. Ann Nucl Med 2022; 36:360-372. [PMID: 35032308 DOI: 10.1007/s12149-022-01715-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pep-1 (CGEMGWVRC) can potently bind to interleukin 13 receptor α 2 (IL-13Rα2), a tumor-restricted receptor found to be expressed in various malignancies. In this study, we intended to prepare a 99mTc-labeled probe and evaluate its in vivo tumor accumulation properties in a cervical cancer xenograft model. METHODS The Pep-1 was designed and radiolabeled with 99mTc by conjugation with mercaptoacetyl-triglycine (MAG3). The labeling yield, radiochemical purity and stability were characterized in vitro. Cell uptake assays and fluorescence imaging were conducted for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the specificity and affinity of Pep-1. Flow cytometry and tissue immunofluorescence were used to confirm the IL-13Rα2 expression in cervical cancer. Biodistribution and in vivo imaging were performed periodically to evaluate the imaging value of 99mTc-MAG3-Pep-1 in cervical cancer xenograft model. RESULTS 99mTc-MAG3-Pep-1 was successfully prepared with a high labeling yield and radiochemical purity (> 95%). Specific cell uptake was demonstrated by scramble control and unlabeled MAG3-Pep-1 blockade. Flow cytometry and tissue immunofluorescence also confirmed the mild IL-13Rα2 expression of HeLa. In the gamma imaging study and biodistribution, the tumors were imaged clearly at 2-6 h after injection of 99mTc-MAG3-Pep-1 and the accumulation of 99mTc-MAG3-Pep-1 in tumor was significantly higher than that in the blocking and scramble controls, demonstrating ligand-receptor binding specificity. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrated that 99mTc-MAG3-Pep-1 can bind to cervical cancer with high affinity and specificity. MAG3-Pep-1 may be a prospective precursor for IL-13Rα2-expressing cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Du
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Xiaojiang Duan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Ping Yan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Chunli Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Lei Kang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Rongfu Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, No.8, Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100034, China. .,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University International Hospital, 1 life Garden Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China.
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11
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Damuka N, Dodda M, Bansode AH, Sai KKS. PET Use in Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2413:23-35. [PMID: 35044651 PMCID: PMC9136679 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1896-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is a multistep process marked by variations in numerous metabolic pathways that affect cellular architectures and functions. Cancer cells reprogram their energy metabolism to enable several basic molecular functions, including membrane biosynthesis, receptor regulations, bioenergetics, and redox stress. In recent years, cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies have targeted these specific metabolic changes and the tumor's interactions with its microenvironment. Positron emission tomography (PET) captures all molecular alterations leading to abnormal function and cancer progression. As a result, the development of PET radiotracers increasingly focuses on irregular biological pathways or cells that overexpress receptors that have the potential to function as biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment measurements as well as research. This chapter reviews both established and evolving PET radiotracers used to image tumor biology. We have also included a few advantages and disadvantages of the routinely used PET radiotracers in cancer imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Damuka
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157
| | - Meghana Dodda
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157
| | - Avinash H Bansode
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157
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12
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Bolcaen J, Kleynhans J, Nair S, Verhoeven J, Goethals I, Sathekge M, Vandevoorde C, Ebenhan T. A perspective on the radiopharmaceutical requirements for imaging and therapy of glioblastoma. Theranostics 2021; 11:7911-7947. [PMID: 34335972 PMCID: PMC8315062 DOI: 10.7150/thno.56639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous clinical trials and pre-clinical developments, the treatment of glioblastoma (GB) remains a challenge. The current survival rate of GB averages one year, even with an optimal standard of care. However, the future promises efficient patient-tailored treatments, including targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT). Advances in radiopharmaceutical development have unlocked the possibility to assess disease at the molecular level allowing individual diagnosis. This leads to the possibility of choosing a tailored, targeted approach for therapeutic modalities. Therapeutic modalities based on radiopharmaceuticals are an exciting development with great potential to promote a personalised approach to medicine. However, an effective targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) for the treatment of GB entails caveats and requisites. This review provides an overview of existing nuclear imaging and TRT strategies for GB. A critical discussion of the optimal characteristics for new GB targeting therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and clinical indications are provided. Considerations for target selection are discussed, i.e. specific presence of the target, expression level and pharmacological access to the target, with particular attention to blood-brain barrier crossing. An overview of the most promising radionuclides is given along with a validation of the relevant radiopharmaceuticals and theranostic agents (based on small molecules, peptides and monoclonal antibodies). Moreover, toxicity issues and safety pharmacology aspects will be presented, both in general and for the brain in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bolcaen
- Radiobiology, Radiation Biophysics Division, Nuclear Medicine Department, iThemba LABS, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Janke Kleynhans
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure NPC, Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear Medicine Department, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Shankari Nair
- Radiobiology, Radiation Biophysics Division, Nuclear Medicine Department, iThemba LABS, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Ingeborg Goethals
- Ghent University Hospital, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mike Sathekge
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure NPC, Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear Medicine Department, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Charlot Vandevoorde
- Radiobiology, Radiation Biophysics Division, Nuclear Medicine Department, iThemba LABS, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Thomas Ebenhan
- Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure NPC, Pretoria, South Africa
- Nuclear Medicine Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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13
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IL-13Rα2 Is a Biomarker of Diagnosis and Therapeutic Response in Human Pancreatic Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11071140. [PMID: 34201539 PMCID: PMC8303581 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11071140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-13Rα2 is a high-affinity binding protein for its ligand IL-13 and a cancer-testis antigen as it is expressed in the testis. IL-13Rα2 is highly expressed in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer, and consists of three domains: extracellular, transmembrane, and cytoplasmic. The extracellular domain binds to the ligand to form a biologically active complex, which initiates signaling through AP-1 and other pathways. IL-13Rα2 is also expressed in diseased cells such as fibroblasts that are involved in various inflammatory diseases, including cancer. We have reported that IL-13Rα2 is a prognostic biomarker for malignant glioma, adrenocortical cancer, and pancreatic cancer. In pancreatic cancer, a small sample of tissue could be examined for the expression of IL-13Rα2 by using the endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration technique (EUS-FNA). In addition, a peptide-based targeted approach using Pep-1L peptide could be used to study the biodistribution and whole-body cancer imaging for the screening of pancreatic cancer in suspected subjects.
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14
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Phipps MD, Sanders VA, Deri MA. Current State of Targeted Radiometal-Based Constructs for the Detection and Treatment of Disease in the Brain. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:1331-1347. [PMID: 34015928 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The continual development of radiopharmaceutical agents for the field of nuclear medicine is integral to promoting the necessity of personalized medicine. One way to greatly expand the selection of radiopharmaceuticals available is to broaden the range of radionuclides employed in such agents. Widening the scope of development to include radiometals with their variety of physical decay characteristics and chemical properties opens up a myriad of possibilities for new actively targeted molecules and bioconjugates. This is especially true to further advance the imaging and treatment of disease in the brain. Over the past few decades, imaging of disease in the brain has heavily relied on agents which exploit metabolic uptake. However, through utilizing the broad range of physical characteristics that radiometals offer, the ability to target other processes has become more available. The varied chemistries of radiometals also allows for them to incorporated into specifically designed diverse constructs. A major limitation to efficient treatment of disease in the brain is the ability for relevant agents to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Thus, along with efficient disease targeting, there must be intentional thought put into overcoming this challenge. Here, we review the current field of radiometal-based agents aimed at either imaging or therapy of brain disease that have been evaluated through at least in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Phipps
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Lehman College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10468, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10065, United States.,Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Vanessa A Sanders
- Collider Accelerator Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Melissa A Deri
- Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Lehman College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10468, United States
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15
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Effect of ethanol and cocaine on [ 11C]MPC-6827 uptake in SH-SY5Y cells. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:3871-3876. [PMID: 33880672 PMCID: PMC8172511 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06336-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Microtubules (MTs) are structural units in the cytoskeleton. In brain cells they are responsible for axonal transport, information processing, and signaling mechanisms. Proper function of these processes is critical for healthy brain functions. Alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUDs) affects the function and organization of MTs in the brain, making them a potential neuroimaging marker to study the resulting impairment of overall neurobehavioral and cognitive processes. Our lab reported the first brain-penetrant MT-tracking Positron Emission Tomography (PET) ligand [11C]MPC-6827 and demonstrated its in vivo utility in rodents and non-human primates. To further explore the in vivo imaging potential of [11C]MPC-6827, we need to investigate its mechanism of action. Here, we report preliminary in vitro binding results in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to ethanol (EtOH) or cocaine in combination with multiple agents that alter MT stability. EtOH and cocaine treatments increased MT stability and decreased free tubulin monomers. Our initial cell-binding assay demonstrated that [11C]MPC-6827 may have high affinity to free/unbound tubulin units. Consistent with this mechanism of action, we observed lower [11C]MPC-6827 uptake in SH-SY5Y cells after EtOH and cocaine treatments (e.g., fewer free tubulin units). We are currently performing in vivo PET imaging and ex vivo biodistribution studies in rodent and nonhuman primate models of AUD and SUDs and Alzheimer's disease.
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16
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IL13Rα2 Is Involved in the Progress of Renal Cell Carcinoma through the JAK2/FOXO3 Pathway. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11040284. [PMID: 33917914 PMCID: PMC8068290 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11040284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported a close relationship between type II IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 complex and poor outcomes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In this study, we investigated the clinicopathologically significant oncogenic role of IL13Rα2, a kind of the independent receptor for IL13, in 229 RCC patients. The high expression of IL13Rα2 was closely related to relapse-free survival in specific cancers in univariate and multivariate analysis. Then, the oncogenic role of IL13Rα2 was evaluated by performing in vitro assays for cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in A498, ACHN, Caki1, and Caki2, four kinds of RCC cells after transfection of siRNA against IL13Rα2. Cell proliferation was suppressed, and apoptosis was induced in A498, ACHN, Caki1, and Caki2 cells by knockdown of IL13Rα2. Interestingly, the knockdown of IL13Rα2 decreased the phosphorylation of JAK2 and increased the expression of FOXO3. Furthermore, the knockdown of IL13Rα2 reduced the protein interaction among IL13Rα2, phosphorylated JAK2, and FOXO3. Since phosphorylation of JAK2 was regulated by IL13Rα2, we tried to screen a novel JAK2 inhibitor from the FDA-approved drug library and selected telmisartan, a clinically used medicine against hypertension, as one of the strongest candidates. Telmisartan treatment decreased the cell proliferation rate and increased apoptosis in A498, ACHN, Caki1, and Caki2 cells. Mechanistically, telmisartan treatment decreased the phosphorylation of JAK2 and increased the expression of FOXO3. Taken together, these results suggest that IL13Rα2 regulates the progression of RCC via the JAK2/FOXO3-signaling path pathway, which might be targeted as the novel therapeutic option for RCC patients.
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17
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Pasquali M, Martini P, Shahi A, Jalilian AR, Osso JA, Boschi A. Copper-64 based radiopharmaceuticals for brain tumors and hypoxia imaging. THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING : OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ITALIAN ASSOCIATION OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE (AIMN) [AND] THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RADIOPHARMACOLOGY (IAR), [AND] SECTION OF THE SOCIETY OF RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY 2020; 64:371-381. [PMID: 33026209 DOI: 10.23736/s1824-4785.20.03285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The most common and aggressive primary malignancy of the central nervous system is Glioblastoma that, as a wide range of malignant solid tumor, is characterized by extensive hypoxic regions. A great number of PET radiopharmaceuticals have been developed for the identification of hypoxia in solid tumors, among these, we find copper-based tracers. The aim of the current review paper was to provide an overview of radiocopper compounds applied for preclinical and clinical research in brain tumors and hypoxia imaging or therapy. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Copper offers a wide variety of isotopes, useful for nuclear medicine applications, but only 64Cu and 67Cu are under the spotlight of the scientific community since being good candidates for theranostic applications. Between the two, 64Cu availability and production cost have attracted more interest of the scientific community. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS In order to better understand the application of copper-bis thiosemicarbazones in hypoxia imaging, an overview of the role of hypoxia in cancer, existing non-imaging and imaging techniques for hypoxia identification and promising future avenues regarding hypoxia is necessary. Different proposed uptake mechanisms of [64Cu][Cu(ATSM)] inside the cell will be discussed and other 64Cu-based tracers for brain tumors described. CONCLUSIONS Among radio copper compounds [64Cu][Cu(ATSM)] is the most studied radiopharmaceutical for imaging and treatment of brain tumors. Experimental evidence suggested that [64Cu][Cu(ATSM)] could be more appropriately considered as a marker of over-reduced intracellular state rather than a pure hypoxia agent. Moreover, preliminary clinical data suggested that [64Cu]CuCl<inf>2</inf> can be a potentially useful diagnostic agent for malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Micol Pasquali
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics, National Laboratories of Legnaro, Padua, Italy
| | - Petra Martini
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics, National Laboratories of Legnaro, Padua, Italy.,Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arman Shahi
- Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Amir R Jalilian
- Department of Nuclear Science and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Joao A Osso
- Department of Nuclear Science and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Alessandra Boschi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy -
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18
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Sharma P, Roberts C, Herpai D, Fokt ID, Priebe W, Debinski W. Drug Conjugates for Targeting Eph Receptors in Glioblastoma. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:E77. [PMID: 32340173 PMCID: PMC7243104 DOI: 10.3390/ph13040077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a complex and heterogeneous tumor that warrants a comprehensive therapeutic approach for treatment. Tumor-associated antigens offer an opportunity to selectively target various components of the GBM microenvironment while sparing the normal cells within the central nervous system. In this study, we conjugated a multivalent vector protein, QUAD 3.0, that can target four receptors: EphA3, EphA2, EphB2, and also IL-13RA2, spanning virtually 100% of the GBM microenvironment, to doxorubicin derivatives. The conjugates effectively bound to all four receptors, although to varying degrees, and delivered cytotoxic loads to both established and patient-derived GBM cell lines, with IC50 values in the low nM range. The conjugates were also non-toxic to animals. We anticipate that the QUAD 3.0 Dox conjugates will be further used in preclinical models and possibly clinics in the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Sharma
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (P.S.); (C.R.); (D.H.)
| | - Callie Roberts
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (P.S.); (C.R.); (D.H.)
| | - Denise Herpai
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (P.S.); (C.R.); (D.H.)
| | - Izabela D. Fokt
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA; (I.D.F.); (W.P.)
| | - Waldemar Priebe
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA; (I.D.F.); (W.P.)
| | - Waldemar Debinski
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (P.S.); (C.R.); (D.H.)
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19
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Solingapuram Sai KK, Bashetti N, Chen X, Norman S, Hines JW, Meka O, Kumar JVS, Devanathan S, Deep G, Furdui CM, Mintz A. Initial biological evaluations of 18F-KS1, a novel ascorbate derivative to image oxidative stress in cancer. EJNMMI Res 2019; 9:43. [PMID: 31101996 PMCID: PMC6525227 DOI: 10.1186/s13550-019-0513-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress damages many cellular components such as fatty acids, DNA, and proteins. This damage is implicated in many disease pathologies including cancer and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Antioxidants like ascorbate (vitamin C, ascorbic acid) have been shown to protect against the deleterious effects of oxidative stress in patients with cancer. In contrast, other data indicate potential tumor-promoting activity of antioxidants, demonstrating a potential temporal benefit of ROS. However, quantifying real-time tumor ROS is currently not feasible, since there is no way to directly probe global tumor ROS. In order to study this ROS-induced damage and design novel therapeutics to prevent its sequelae, the quantitative nature of positron emission tomography (PET) can be harnessed to measure in vivo concentrations of ROS. Therefore, our goal is to develop a novel translational ascorbate-based probe to image ROS in cancer in vivo using noninvasive PET imaging of tumor tissue. The real-time evaluations of ROS state can prove critical in developing new therapies and stratifying patients to therapies that are affected by tumor ROS. Methods We designed, synthesized, and characterized a novel ascorbate derivative (E)-5-(2-chloroethylidene)-3-((4-(2-fluoroethoxy)benzyl)oxy)-4-hydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one (KS1). We used KS1 in an in vitro ROS MitoSOX-based assay in two different head and neck squamous cancer cells (HNSCC) that express different ROS levels, with ascorbate as reference standard. We radiolabeled 18F-KS1 following 18F-based nucleophilic substitution reactions and determined in vitro reactivity and specificity of 18F-KS1 in HNSCC and prostate cancer (PCa) cells. MicroPET imaging and standard biodistribution studies of 18F-KS1 were performed in mice bearing PCa cells. To further demonstrate specificity, we performed microPET blocking experiments using nonradioactive KS1 as a blocker. Results KS1 was synthesized and characterized using 1H NMR spectra. MitoSOX assay demonstrated good correlations between increasing concentrations of KS1 and ascorbate and increased reactivity in SCC-61 cells (with high ROS levels) versus rSCC-61cells (with low ROS levels). 18F-KS1 was radiolabeled with high radiochemical purity (> 94%) and specific activity (~ 100 GBq/μmol) at end of synthesis (EOS). Cell uptake of 18F-KS1 was high in both types of cancer cells, and the uptake was significantly blocked by nonradioactive KS1, and the ROS blocker, superoxide dismutase (SOD) demonstrating specificity. Furthermore, 18F-KS1 uptake was increased in PCa cells under hypoxic conditions, which have been shown to generate high ROS. Initial in vivo tumor uptake studies in PCa tumor-bearing mice demonstrated that 18F-KS1 specifically bound to tumor, which was significantly blocked (threefold) by pre-injecting unlabeled KS1. Furthermore, biodistribution studies in the same tumor-bearing mice showed high tumor to muscle (target to nontarget) ratios. Conclusion This work demonstrates the strong preliminary support of 18F-KS1, both in vitro and in vivo for imaging ROS in cancer. If successful, this work will provide a new paradigm to directly probe real-time oxidative stress levels in vivo. Our work could enhance precision medicine approaches to treat cancer, as well as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases affected by ROS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13550-019-0513-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nagaraju Bashetti
- Department of Chemistry, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, 522502, India
| | - Xiaofei Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Skylar Norman
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Justin W Hines
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Omsai Meka
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - J V Shanmukha Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, 522502, India
| | | | - Gagan Deep
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Cristina M Furdui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Akiva Mintz
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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20
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Raucher D. Tumor targeting peptides: novel therapeutic strategies in glioblastoma. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 47:14-19. [PMID: 30776641 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Peptides are a promising new therapeutic approach for glioblastoma with potential for more effective targeting and fewer devastating side effects compared to conventional cancer therapies. With the specificity to target receptors which are uniquely or overexpressed on cancer cells as well as accurately targeting dysregulated signaling pathways, peptides demonstrate a high potential for the treatment of even the most aggressive cancers. By binding to these targets, peptides can be used to deliver drugs, serve as antagonists to various ligands, or, given some inherent anticancer activity, provide additional treatment options alone or in combination therapy. The highly specific targeting capacity of peptides is critical to achieve effective cancer treatment with limited side effects, and in preclinical studies peptides have shown to have both cell and blood brain barrier penetrating capacity. As tumor targeting peptides move beyond the preclinical setting, identification of additional glioblastoma-specific peptide ligands becomes imperative to expand the potential of this encouraging treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drazen Raucher
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.
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21
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Sharma P, Debinski W. Receptor-Targeted Glial Brain Tumor Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3326. [PMID: 30366424 PMCID: PMC6274942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Among primary brain tumors, malignant gliomas are notably difficult to manage. The higher-grade tumors represent an unmet need in medicine. There have been extensive efforts to implement receptor-targeted therapeutic approaches directed against gliomas. These approaches include immunotherapies, such as vaccines, adoptive immunotherapy, and passive immunotherapy. Targeted cytotoxic radio energy and pro-drug activation have been designed specifically for brain tumors. The field of targeting through receptors progressed significantly with the discovery of an interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL-13RA2) as a tumor-associated receptor over-expressed in most patients with glioblastoma (GBM) but not in normal brain. IL-13RA2 has been exploited in novel experimental therapies with very encouraging clinical responses. Other receptors are specifically over-expressed in many patients with GBM, such as EphA2 and EphA3 receptors, among others. These findings are important in view of the heterogeneity of GBM tumors and multiple tumor compartments responsible for tumor progression and resistance to therapies. The combined targeting of multiple receptors in different tumor compartments should be a preferred way to design novel receptor-targeted therapeutic approaches in gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Sharma
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
| | - Waldemar Debinski
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
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22
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Zakeri K, Narayanan D, Evans G, Prasanna P, Buchsbaum JC, Vikram B, Capala J. Advancing Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Through the National Cancer Institute's Small Business Innovation Research Pathway. J Nucl Med 2018; 60:41-49. [PMID: 30030338 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.214684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are congressionally mandated set-aside programs that provide research funding to for-profit small businesses for the development of innovative technologies and treatments that serve the public good. These two programs have an annual budget of $159 million (in 2017) and serve as the NCI's main engine of innovation for developing and commercializing cancer technologies. In collaboration with the NCI's Radiation Research Program, the NCI SBIR Development Center published in 2015-2017 three separate requests for proposals from small businesses for the development of systemic targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) technologies to treat cancer. TRT combines a cytotoxic radioactive isotope with a molecularly targeted agent to produce an anticancer therapy capable of treating local or systemic disease. This article summarizes the NCI SBIR funding solicitations for the development of TRTs and the research proposals funded through them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaveh Zakeri
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland.,Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California; and
| | - Deepa Narayanan
- Small Business Innovation Research Development Center, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Greg Evans
- Small Business Innovation Research Development Center, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Pataje Prasanna
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Jeffrey C Buchsbaum
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Bhadrasain Vikram
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Jacek Capala
- Radiation Research Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
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23
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Sattiraju A, Solingapuram Sai KK, Xuan A, Pandya DN, Almaguel FG, Wadas TJ, Herpai DM, Debinski W, Mintz A. IL13RA2 targeted alpha particle therapy against glioblastomas. Oncotarget 2018; 8:42997-43007. [PMID: 28562337 PMCID: PMC5522122 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary malignant brain cancer that invariably results in a dismal prognosis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not been completely effective as standard treatment options for patients due to recurrent disease. We and others have therefore developed molecular strategies to specifically target interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL13RA2), a GBM restricted receptor expressed abundantly on over 75% of GBM patients. In this work, we evaluated the potential of Pep-1L, a novel IL13RA2 targeted peptide, as a platform to deliver targeted lethal therapies to GBM. To demonstrate GBM-specificity, we radiolabeled Pep-1L with Copper-64 and performed in vitro cell binding studies, which demonstrated specific binding that was blocked by unlabeled Pep-1L. Furthermore, we demonstrated real-time GBM localization of [64Cu]Pep-1L to orthotopic GBMs using small animal PET imaging. Based on these targeting data, we performed an initial in vivo safety and therapeutic study using Pep-1L conjugated to Actinium-225, an alpha particle emitter that has been shown to potently and irreversibly kill targeted cells. We infused [225Ac]Pep-1L into orthotopic GBMs using convection-enhanced delivery and found no significant adverse events at injected doses. Furthermore, our initial data also demonstrated significantly greater overall, median and mean survival in treated mice when compared to those in control groups (p < 0.05). GBM tissue extracted from mice treated with [225Ac]Pep-1L showed double stranded DNA breaks, lower Ki67 expression and greater propidium iodide internalization, indicating anti-GBM therapeutic effects of [225Ac]Pep-1L. Based on our results, Pep-1L warrants further investigation as a potential targeted platform to deliver anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirudh Sattiraju
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.,Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Kiran Kumar Solingapuram Sai
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.,Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ang Xuan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiology, The People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Darpan N Pandya
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Frankis G Almaguel
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Thaddeus J Wadas
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Denise M Herpai
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Waldemar Debinski
- Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Akiva Mintz
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.,Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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