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Faria J, Calcat-I-Cervera S, Skovronova R, Broeksma BC, Berends AJ, Zaal EA, Bussolati B, O'Brien T, Mihăilă SM, Masereeuw R. Mesenchymal stromal cells secretome restores bioenergetic and redox homeostasis in human proximal tubule cells after ischemic injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:353. [PMID: 38072933 PMCID: PMC10712181 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03563-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ischemia/reperfusion injury is the leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The current standard of care focuses on supporting kidney function, stating the need for more efficient and targeted therapies to enhance repair. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their secretome, either as conditioned medium (CM) or extracellular vesicles (EVs), have emerged as promising options for regenerative therapy; however, their full potential in treating AKI remains unknown. METHODS In this study, we employed an in vitro model of chemically induced ischemia using antimycin A combined with 2-deoxy-D-glucose to induce ischemic injury in proximal tubule epithelial cells. Afterwards we evaluated the effects of MSC secretome, CM or EVs obtained from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord, on ameliorating the detrimental effects of ischemia. To assess the damage and treatment outcomes, we analyzed cell morphology, mitochondrial health parameters (mitochondrial activity, ATP production, mass and membrane potential), and overall cell metabolism by metabolomics. RESULTS Our findings show that ischemic injury caused cytoskeletal changes confirmed by disruption of the F-actin network, energetic imbalance as revealed by a 50% decrease in the oxygen consumption rate, increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced cell metabolism. Upon treatment with MSC secretome, the morphological derangements were partly restored and ATP production increased by 40-50%, with umbilical cord-derived EVs being most effective. Furthermore, MSC treatment led to phenotype restoration as indicated by an increase in cell bioenergetics, including increased levels of glycolysis intermediates, as well as an accumulation of antioxidant metabolites. CONCLUSION Our in vitro model effectively replicated the in vivo-like morphological and molecular changes observed during ischemic injury. Additionally, treatment with MSC secretome ameliorated proximal tubule damage, highlighting its potential as a viable therapeutic option for targeting AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Faria
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Calcat-I-Cervera
- College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Renata Skovronova
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Alinda J Berends
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Esther A Zaal
- Division of Cell Biology, Metabolism and Cancer, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Benedetta Bussolati
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Silvia M Mihăilă
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalinde Masereeuw
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Karno B, Edwards DN, Chen J. Metabolic control of cancer metastasis: role of amino acids at secondary organ sites. Oncogene 2023; 42:3447-3456. [PMID: 37848626 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Most cancer-related deaths are caused by the metastases, which commonly develop at multiple organ sites including the brain, bone, and lungs. Despite longstanding observations that the spread of cancer is not random, our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie metastatic spread to specific organs remains limited. However, metabolism has recently emerged as an important contributor to metastasis. Amino acids are a significant nutrient source to cancer cells and their metabolism which can serve to fuel biosynthetic pathways capable of facilitating cell survival and tumor expansion while also defending against oxidative stress. Compared to the primary tumor, each of the common metastatic sites exhibit vastly different nutrient compositions and environmental stressors, necessitating the need of cancer cells to metabolically thrive in their new environment during colonization and outgrowth. This review seeks to summarize the current literature on amino acid metabolism pathways that support metastasis to common secondary sites, including impacts on immune responses. Understanding the role of amino acids in secondary organ sites may offer opportunities for therapeutic inhibition of cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breelyn Karno
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Deanna N Edwards
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jin Chen
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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3
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Rocca C, Soda T, De Francesco EM, Fiorillo M, Moccia F, Viglietto G, Angelone T, Amodio N. Mitochondrial dysfunction at the crossroad of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. J Transl Med 2023; 21:635. [PMID: 37726810 PMCID: PMC10507834 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04498-5] [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: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A large body of evidence indicates the existence of a complex pathophysiological relationship between cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Mitochondria are crucial organelles whose optimal activity is determined by quality control systems, which regulate critical cellular events, ranging from intermediary metabolism and calcium signaling to mitochondrial dynamics, cell death and mitophagy. Emerging data indicate that impaired mitochondrial quality control drives myocardial dysfunction occurring in several heart diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, ischaemia/reperfusion damage and metabolic cardiomyopathies. On the other hand, diverse human cancers also dysregulate mitochondrial quality control to promote their initiation and progression, suggesting that modulating mitochondrial homeostasis may represent a promising therapeutic strategy both in cardiology and oncology. In this review, first we briefly introduce the physiological mechanisms underlying the mitochondrial quality control system, and then summarize the current understanding about the impact of dysregulated mitochondrial functions in cardiovascular diseases and cancer. We also discuss key mitochondrial mechanisms underlying the increased risk of cardiovascular complications secondary to the main current anticancer strategies, highlighting the potential of strategies aimed at alleviating mitochondrial impairment-related cardiac dysfunction and tumorigenesis. It is hoped that this summary can provide novel insights into precision medicine approaches to reduce cardiovascular and cancer morbidities and mortalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Rocca
- Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, E and E.S. (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Teresa Soda
- Department of Health Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ernestina Marianna De Francesco
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Fiorillo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende, Italy
| | - Francesco Moccia
- Laboratory of General Physiology, Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Viglietto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Tommaso Angelone
- Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, E and E.S. (DiBEST), University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, 87036, Cosenza, Italy.
- National Institute of Cardiovascular Research (I.N.R.C.), 40126, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
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4
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Pouliquen DL, Ortone G, Rumiano L, Boissard A, Henry C, Blandin S, Guette C, Riganti C, Kopecka J. Long-Chain Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase, a Key Player in Metabolic Rewiring/Invasiveness in Experimental Tumors and Human Mesothelioma Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15113044. [PMID: 37297007 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113044] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-species investigations of cancer invasiveness are a new approach that has already identified new biomarkers which are potentially useful for improving tumor diagnosis and prognosis in clinical medicine and veterinary science. In this study, we combined proteomic analysis of four experimental rat malignant mesothelioma (MM) tumors with analysis of ten patient-derived cell lines to identify common features associated with mitochondrial proteome rewiring. A comparison of significant abundance changes between invasive and non-invasive rat tumors gave a list of 433 proteins, including 26 proteins reported to be exclusively located in mitochondria. Next, we analyzed the differential expression of genes encoding the mitochondrial proteins of interest in five primary epithelioid and five primary sarcomatoid human MM cell lines; the most impressive increase was observed in the expression of the long-chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (ACADL). To evaluate the role of this enzyme in migration/invasiveness, two epithelioid and two sarcomatoid human MM cell lines derived from patients with the highest and lowest overall survival were studied. Interestingly, sarcomatoid vs. epithelioid cell lines were characterized by higher migration and fatty oxidation rates, in agreement with ACADL findings. These results suggest that evaluating mitochondrial proteins in MM specimens might identify tumors with higher invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Pouliquen
- Université d'Angers, Inserm, CNRS, Nantes Université, CRCI2NA, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Giacomo Ortone
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Santena 5/bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Letizia Rumiano
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Santena 5/bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Alice Boissard
- Université d'Angers, ICO, Inserm, CNRS, Nantes Université, CRCI2NA, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Cécile Henry
- Université d'Angers, ICO, Inserm, CNRS, Nantes Université, CRCI2NA, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Stéphanie Blandin
- CHU Nantes, CNRS, Inserm, BioCore, US16, SFR Bonamy, Nantes Université, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Catherine Guette
- Université d'Angers, ICO, Inserm, CNRS, Nantes Université, CRCI2NA, F-49000 Angers, France
| | - Chiara Riganti
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Santena 5/bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Joanna Kopecka
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, via Santena 5/bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
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Czegle I, Huang C, Soria PG, Purkiss DW, Shields A, Wappler-Guzzetta EA. The Role of Genetic Mutations in Mitochondrial-Driven Cancer Growth in Selected Tumors: Breast and Gynecological Malignancies. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040996. [PMID: 37109525 PMCID: PMC10145875 DOI: 10.3390/life13040996] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing understanding of the molecular and cytogenetic background of various tumors that helps us better conceptualize the pathogenesis of specific diseases. Additionally, in many cases, these molecular and cytogenetic alterations have diagnostic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic applications that are heavily used in clinical practice. Given that there is always room for improvement in cancer treatments and in cancer patient management, it is important to discover new therapeutic targets for affected individuals. In this review, we discuss mitochondrial changes in breast and gynecological (endometrial and ovarian) cancers. In addition, we review how the frequently altered genes in these diseases (BRCA1/2, HER2, PTEN, PIK3CA, CTNNB1, RAS, CTNNB1, FGFR, TP53, ARID1A, and TERT) affect the mitochondria, highlighting the possible associated individual therapeutic targets. With this approach, drugs targeting mitochondrial glucose or fatty acid metabolism, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial biogenesis, mtDNA transcription, mitophagy, or cell death pathways could provide further tailored treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibolya Czegle
- Department of Internal Medicine and Haematology, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Chelsea Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Priscilla Geraldine Soria
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Dylan Wesley Purkiss
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Andrea Shields
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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Thielhelm TP, Nourbakhsh A, Welford SM, Mellon EA, Bracho O, Ivan ME, Telischi F, Fernandez-Valle C, Dinh CT. RAD51 Inhibitor and Radiation Toxicity in Vestibular Schwannoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2022; 167:860-868. [PMID: 35230908 PMCID: PMC9433467 DOI: 10.1177/01945998221083506] [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: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the RAD51 response (DNA repair) to radiation-induced DNA damage in patient-derived vestibular schwannoma (VS) cells and investigate the utility of RAD51 inhibitor (RI-1) in enhancing radiation toxicity. STUDY DESIGN Basic and translational science. SETTING Tertiary academic facility. METHODS VS tumors (n = 10) were cultured on 96-well plates and 16-well slides, exposed to radiation (0, 6, 12, or 18 Gy), and treated with RI-1 (0, 5, or 10 µM). Immunofluorescence was performed at 6 hours for γ-H2AX (DNA damage marker), RAD51 (DNA repair protein), and p21 (cell cycle arrest protein). Viability assays were performed at 96 hours, and capillary Western blotting was utilized to determine RAD51 expression in naïve VS tumors (n = 5). RESULTS VS tumors expressed RAD51. In cultured VS cells, radiation initiated dose-dependent increases in γ-H2AX and p21 expression. VS cells upregulated RAD51 to repair DNA damage following radiation. Addition of RI-1 reduced RAD51 expression in a dose-dependent manner and was associated with increased γ-H2AX levels and decreased viability in a majority of cultured VS tumors. CONCLUSION VS may evade radiation injury by entering cell cycle arrest and upregulating RAD51-dependent repair of radiation-induced double-stranded breaks in DNA. Although there was variability in responses among individual primary VS cells, RAD51 inhibition with RI-1 reduced RAD51-dependent DNA repair to enhance radiation toxicity in VS cells. Further investigations are warranted to understand the mechanisms of radiation resistance in VS and determine whether RI-1 is an effective radiosensitizer in patients with VS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torin P. Thielhelm
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Aida Nourbakhsh
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Scott M. Welford
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Eric A. Mellon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Olena Bracho
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Michael E. Ivan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Fred Telischi
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Valle
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Orlando, FL
| | - Christine T. Dinh
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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7
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Rise K, Tessem MB, Drabløs F, Rye MB. FunHoP analysis reveals upregulation of mitochondrial genes in prostate cancer. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275621. [PMID: 36282866 PMCID: PMC9595552 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial activity in cancer cells has been central to cancer research since Otto Warburg first published his thesis on the topic in 1956. Although Warburg proposed that oxidative phosphorylation in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was perturbed in cancer, later research has shown that oxidative phosphorylation is activated in most cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). However, more detailed knowledge on mitochondrial metabolism and metabolic pathways in cancers is still lacking. In this study we expand our previously developed method for analyzing functional homologous proteins (FunHoP), which can provide a more detailed view of metabolic pathways. FunHoP uses results from differential expression analysis of RNA-Seq data to improve pathway analysis. By adding information on subcellular localization based on experimental data and computational predictions we can use FunHoP to differentiate between mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial processes in cancerous and normal prostate cell lines. Our results show that mitochondrial pathways are upregulated in PCa and that splitting metabolic pathways into mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial counterparts using FunHoP adds to the interpretation of the metabolic properties of PCa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjersti Rise
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU–Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- * E-mail: (MBR); (KR)
| | - May-Britt Tessem
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU–Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Clinic of Surgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Finn Drabløs
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU–Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Morten Beck Rye
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU–Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Clinic of Surgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- BioCore—Bioinformatics Core Facility, NTNU–Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- * E-mail: (MBR); (KR)
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Beyond Genetics: Metastasis as an Adaptive Response in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116271. [PMID: 35682953 PMCID: PMC9181003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic disease represents the primary cause of breast cancer (BC) mortality, yet it is still one of the most enigmatic processes in the biology of this tumor. Metastatic progression includes distinct phases: invasion, intravasation, hematogenous dissemination, extravasation and seeding at distant sites, micro-metastasis formation and metastatic outgrowth. Whole-genome sequencing analyses of primary BC and metastases revealed that BC metastatization is a non-genetically selected trait, rather the result of transcriptional and metabolic adaptation to the unfavorable microenvironmental conditions which cancer cells are exposed to (e.g., hypoxia, low nutrients, endoplasmic reticulum stress and chemotherapy administration). In this regard, the latest multi-omics analyses unveiled intra-tumor phenotypic heterogeneity, which determines the polyclonal nature of breast tumors and constitutes a challenge for clinicians, correlating with patient poor prognosis. The present work reviews BC classification and epidemiology, focusing on the impact of metastatic disease on patient prognosis and survival, while describing general principles and current in vitro/in vivo models of the BC metastatic cascade. The authors address here both genetic and phenotypic intrinsic heterogeneity of breast tumors, reporting the latest studies that support the role of the latter in metastatic spreading. Finally, the review illustrates the mechanisms underlying adaptive stress responses during BC metastatic progression.
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Telomerase in Cancer: Function, Regulation, and Clinical Translation. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030808. [PMID: 35159075 PMCID: PMC8834434 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cells undergoing malignant transformation must circumvent replicative senescence and eventual cell death associated with progressive telomere shortening that occurs through successive cell division. To do so, malignant cells reactivate telomerase to extend their telomeres and achieve cellular immortality, which is a “Hallmark of Cancer”. Here we review the telomere-dependent and -independent functions of telomerase in cancer, as well as its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target to diagnose and treat cancer patients. Abstract During the process of malignant transformation, cells undergo a series of genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic alterations, including the acquisition and propagation of genomic aberrations that impart survival and proliferative advantages. These changes are mediated in part by the induction of replicative immortality that is accompanied by active telomere elongation. Indeed, telomeres undergo dynamic changes to their lengths and higher-order structures throughout tumor formation and progression, processes overseen in most cancers by telomerase. Telomerase is a multimeric enzyme whose function is exquisitely regulated through diverse transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms to facilitate telomere extension. In turn, telomerase function depends not only on its core components, but also on a suite of binding partners, transcription factors, and intra- and extracellular signaling effectors. Additionally, telomerase exhibits telomere-independent regulation of cancer cell growth by participating directly in cellular metabolism, signal transduction, and the regulation of gene expression in ways that are critical for tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the complex mechanisms underlying telomere maintenance, with a particular focus on both the telomeric and extratelomeric functions of telomerase. We also explore the clinical utility of telomeres and telomerase in the diagnosis, prognosis, and development of targeted therapies for primary, metastatic, and recurrent cancers.
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Kaur J, Bhattacharyya S. Cancer Stem Cells: Metabolic Characterization for Targeted Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:756888. [PMID: 34804950 PMCID: PMC8602811 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.756888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within tumor bulk are known for tumor recurrence and metastasis. CSCs show intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies and phenotypic plasticity within the tumor, which make these a difficult target for conventional therapies. CSCs have different metabolic phenotypes based on their needs as compared to the bulk cancer cells. CSCs show metabolic plasticity and constantly alter their metabolic state between glycolysis and oxidative metabolism (OXPHOS) to adapt to scarcity of nutrients and therapeutic stress. The metabolic characteristics of CSCs are distinct compared to non-CSCs and thus provide an opportunity to devise more effective strategies to target CSCs. Mechanism for metabolic switch in CSCs is still unravelled, however existing evidence suggests that tumor microenvironment affects the metabolic phenotype of cancer cells. Understanding CSCs metabolism may help in discovering new and effective clinical targets to prevent cancer relapse and metastasis. This review summarises the current knowledge of CSCs metabolism and highlights the potential targeted treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmeet Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Shalmoli Bhattacharyya
- Department of Biophysics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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11
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Fiorillo M, Ózsvári B, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. High ATP Production Fuels Cancer Drug Resistance and Metastasis: Implications for Mitochondrial ATP Depletion Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:740720. [PMID: 34722292 PMCID: PMC8554334 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.740720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we presented evidence that high mitochondrial ATP production is a new therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Using ATP as a biomarker, we isolated the “metabolically fittest” cancer cells from the total cell population. Importantly, ATP-high cancer cells were phenotypically the most aggressive, with enhanced stem-like properties, showing multi-drug resistance and an increased capacity for cell migration, invasion and spontaneous metastasis. In support of these observations, ATP-high cells demonstrated the up-regulation of both mitochondrial proteins and other protein biomarkers, specifically associated with stemness and metastasis. Therefore, we propose that the “energetically fittest” cancer cells would be better able to resist the selection pressure provided by i) a hostile micro-environment and/or ii) conventional chemotherapy, allowing them to be naturally-selected for survival, based on their high ATP content, ultimately driving tumor recurrence and distant metastasis. In accordance with this energetic hypothesis, ATP-high MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells showed a dramatic increase in their ability to metastasize in a pre-clinical model in vivo. Conversely, metastasis was largely prevented by treatment with an FDA-approved drug (Bedaquiline), which binds to and inhibits the mitochondrial ATP-synthase, leading to ATP depletion. Clinically, these new therapeutic approaches could have important implications for preventing treatment failure and avoiding cancer cell dormancy, by employing ATP-depletion therapy, to target even the fittest cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fiorillo
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.,The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Béla Ózsvári
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Sotgia
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
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12
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Sánchez-Alvarez R, De Francesco EM, Fiorillo M, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. Mitochondrial Fission Factor (MFF) Inhibits Mitochondrial Metabolism and Reduces Breast Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Activity. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1776. [PMID: 33194575 PMCID: PMC7642822 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism represent key features of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), whose propagation is conducive to disease onset and progression. Therefore, interfering with mitochondria biology and function may be regarded as a useful approach to eradicate CSCs. Here, we used the breast cancer cell line MCF7 as a model system to interrogate how mitochondrial fission contributes to the development of mitochondrial dysfunction toward the inhibition of metabolic flux and stemness. We generated an isogenic MCF7 cell line transduced with Mitochondrial Fission Factor (MCF7-MFF), which is primarily involved in mitochondrial fission. We evaluated the biochemical, molecular and functional properties of MCF7-MFF cells, as compared to control MCF7 cells transduced with the empty vector (MCF7-Control). We observed that MFF over-expression reduces both mitochondrial mass and activity, as evaluated using the mitochondrial probes MitroTracker Red and MitoTracker Orange, respectively. The analysis of metabolic flux using the Seahorse XFe96 revealed the inhibition of OXPHOS and glycolysis in MCF7-MFF cells, suggesting that increased mitochondrial fission may impair the biochemical properties of these organelles. Notably, CSCs activity, assessed by 3D-tumorsphere assays, was reduced in MCF7-MFF cells. A similar trend was observed for the activity of ALDH, a well-established marker of stemness. We conclude that enhanced mitochondrial fission may compromise CSCs propagation, through the impairment of mitochondrial function, possibly leading to a quiescent cell phenotype. Unbiased proteomic analysis revealed that proteins involved in mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress-response, fatty acid metabolism and hypoxia signaling are among the most highly up-regulated in MCF7-MFF cells. Of note, integrated analysis of top regulatory networks obtained from unbiased proteomics in MCF7-MFF cells predicts that this cell phenotype activates signaling systems and effectors involved in the inhibition of cell survival and adhesion, together with the activation of specific breast cancer cell death programs. Overall, our study shows that unbalanced and abnormal activation of mitochondrial fission may drive the impairment of mitochondrial metabolic function, leading to inhibition of CSC propagation, and the activation of quiescence programs. Exploiting the potential of mitochondria to control pivotal events in tumor biology may, therefore, represent a useful tool to prevent disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Sánchez-Alvarez
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ernestina Marianna De Francesco
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, and ARNAS Garibaldi, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Fiorillo
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Sotgia
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- Translational Medicine, School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SEE), Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
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13
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Sharaireh AM, Fitzpatrick LM, Ward CM, McKay TR, Unwin RD. Epithelial cadherin regulates transition between the naïve and primed pluripotent states in mouse embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells 2020; 38:1292-1306. [PMID: 32621788 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of E-cad in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) leads to a switch from LIF-BMP to Activin/Nodal-dependent pluripotency, consistent with transition from a naïve to primed pluripotent phenotype. We have used both genetic ablation and steric inhibition of E-cad function in mESCs to assess alterations to phenotype using quantitative mass spectrometry analysis, network models, and functional assays. Proteomic analyses revealed that one third of detected proteins were altered in E-cad null mESCs (Ecad-/- mESCs) compared to wild type (624 proteins were downregulated and 705 were proteins upregulated). Network pathway analysis and subsequent cellular flux assays confirmed a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to aerobic glycolysis, specifically through mitochondrial complex III downregulation and hypoxia inducible factor 1a target upregulation. Central to this was the transcriptional coactivator EP300. E-cad is a well-known tumor suppressor, its downregulation during cancer initiation and metastasis can be linked to the metabolic switch known as Warburg effect. This study highlights a phenomena found in both primed pluripotent state and cancer stemness and links it to loss of E-cad. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD012679.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aseel M Sharaireh
- Division of Dentistry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Stem Cell Group, Centre for Bioscience, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Lorna M Fitzpatrick
- Stem Cell Group, Centre for Bioscience, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Chris M Ward
- Division of Dentistry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Tristan R McKay
- Stem Cell Group, Centre for Bioscience, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard D Unwin
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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14
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Zhu X, Chen HH, Gao CY, Zhang XX, Jiang JX, Zhang Y, Fang J, Zhao F, Chen ZG. Energy metabolism in cancer stem cells. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:448-461. [PMID: 32742562 PMCID: PMC7360992 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i6.448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal cells mainly rely on oxidative phosphorylation as an effective energy source in the presence of oxygen. In contrast, most cancer cells use less efficient glycolysis to produce ATP and essential biomolecules. Cancer cells gain the characteristics of metabolic adaptation by reprogramming their metabolic mechanisms to meet the needs of rapid tumor growth. A subset of cancer cells with stem characteristics and the ability to regenerate exist throughout the tumor and are therefore called cancer stem cells (CSCs). New evidence indicates that CSCs have different metabolic phenotypes compared with differentiated cancer cells. CSCs can dynamically transform their metabolic state to favor glycolysis or oxidative metabolism. The mechanism of the metabolic plasticity of CSCs has not been fully elucidated, and existing evidence indicates that the metabolic phenotype of cancer cells is closely related to the tumor microenvironment. Targeting CSC metabolism may provide new and effective methods for the treatment of tumors. In this review, we summarize the metabolic characteristics of cancer cells and CSCs and the mechanisms of the metabolic interplay between the tumor microenvironment and CSCs, and discuss the clinical implications of targeting CSC metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Hui-Hui Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chen-Yi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xin-Xin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing-Xin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jun Fang
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
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15
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Telomerase-specific attenuated viruses, a definitive strategy or just one more in circulating tumor cells detection anthology? Cancer Lett 2020; 469:490-497. [PMID: 31738959 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The quantification and isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) is being the battleground during last years. There are many groups that are investing economic resources in trying to solve this jigsaw. Technological platforms based on different proofs of concept have been developed achieving in some cases excellent results despite not having been able to detect the total compute of the patient's CTC population. The handicap of this matter has been the lack of universal markers. Several years have gone so that in detection of CTC is take into account a basic characteristic that possesses the most of tumor cells, the loss of inactivation of the enzyme telomerase. Gene therapy has been combined with telomerase activity concept for develop a molecular tool that makes it possible to identify CTC: Telomerase-specific replication-selective viruses. This review includes for the first time all the scientific studies that have been published to date with this advanced technology. Furthermore, it describes the role in the diagnosis and prognosis that Telomerase-specific attenuated viruses have been playing in cancer patients study during this last decade.
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16
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Rihan M, Nalla LV, Dharavath A, Shard A, Kalia K, Khairnar A. Pyruvate Kinase M2: a Metabolic Bug in Re-Wiring the Tumor Microenvironment. CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT SOCIETY 2019; 12:149-167. [PMID: 31183810 PMCID: PMC6937361 DOI: 10.1007/s12307-019-00226-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a newly emerged hallmark of cancer attaining a recent consideration as an essential factor for the progression and endurance of cancer cells. A prime event of this altered metabolism is increased glucose uptake and discharge of lactate into the cells surrounding constructing a favorable tumor niche. Several oncogenic factors help in promoting this consequence including, pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis in tumor metabolism via exhibiting its low pyruvate kinase activity and nuclear moon-lightening functions to increase the synthesis of lactate and macromolecules for tumor proliferation. Not only its role in cancer cells but also its role in the tumor microenvironment cells has to be understood for developing the small molecules against it which is lacking with the literature till date. Therefore, in this present review, the role of PKM2 with respect to various tumor niche cells will be clarified. Further, it highlights the updated list of therapeutics targeting PKM2 pre-clinically and clinically with their added limitations. This upgraded understanding of PKM2 may provide a pace for the reader in developing chemotherapeutic strategies for better clinical survival with limited resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Rihan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, -382355, India
| | - Lakshmi Vineela Nalla
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, -382355, India
| | - Anil Dharavath
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, -382355, India
| | - Amit Shard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, -382355, India.
| | - Kiran Kalia
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Amit Khairnar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, -382355, India.
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17
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Sándor S, Kubinyi E. Genetic Pathways of Aging and Their Relevance in the Dog as a Natural Model of Human Aging. Front Genet 2019; 10:948. [PMID: 31681409 PMCID: PMC6813227 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging research has experienced a burst of scientific efforts in the last decades as the growing ratio of elderly people has begun to pose an increased burden on the healthcare and pension systems of developed countries. Although many breakthroughs have been reported in understanding the cellular mechanisms of aging, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to senescence on higher biological levels are still barely understood. The dog, Canis familiaris, has already served as a valuable model of human physiology and disease. The possible role the dog could play in aging research is still an open question, although utilization of dogs may hold great promises as they naturally develop age-related cognitive decline, with behavioral and histological characteristics very similar to those of humans. In this regard, family dogs may possess unmatched potentials as models for investigations on the complex interactions between environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors that determine the course of aging. In this review, we summarize the known genetic pathways in aging and their relevance in dogs, putting emphasis on the yet barely described nature of certain aging pathways in canines. Reasons for highlighting the dog as a future aging and gerontology model are also discussed, ranging from its unique evolutionary path shared with humans, its social skills, and the fact that family dogs live together with their owners, and are being exposed to the same environmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sára Sándor
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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18
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Ayuso JM, Virumbrales-Munoz M, McMinn PH, Rehman S, Gomez I, Karim MR, Trusttchel R, Wisinski KB, Beebe DJ, Skala MC. Tumor-on-a-chip: a microfluidic model to study cell response to environmental gradients. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:3461-3471. [PMID: 31506657 PMCID: PMC6785375 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00270g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Limited blood supply and rapid tumor metabolism within solid tumors leads to nutrient starvation, waste product accumulation and the generation of pH gradients across the tumor mass. These environmental conditions modify multiple cellular functions, including metabolism, proliferation, and drug response. However, capturing the spatial metabolic and phenotypic heterogeneity of the tumor with classic in vitro models remains challenging. Thus, in this work a microfluidic tumor slice model was developed to study cell behavior under metabolic starvation gradients. The presented microdevice comprises a central chamber where tumor cells were cultured in a 3D collagen hydrogel. A lumen on the flank of the chamber was used to perfuse media, mimicking the vasculature. Under these circumstances, tumor cell metabolism led to the generation of viability, proliferation and pH gradients. The model decoupled the influence of oxygen from other nutrients, revealing that cell necrosis at the core of the model could be explained by nutrient starvation. The microdevice can be disassembled to retrieve the cells from the desired locations to study molecular adaptions due to nutrient starvation. When exposed to these pH gradients and low nutrient conditions, cancer cells showed multiple changes in their gene expression profile depending on their distance from the lumen. Those cells located further from the lumen upregulated several genes related to stress and survival response, whereas genes related to proliferation and DNA repair were downregulated. This model may help to identify new therapeutic opportunities to target the metabolic heterogeneity observed in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M. Ayuso
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Maria Virumbrales-Munoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Patrick H. McMinn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Shujah Rehman
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ismael Gomez
- Allergy research group, IdISSC. San Carlos Clinic Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Materials department, Carlos III University. Leganes, Spain
| | - Mohammad R. Karim
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Regan Trusttchel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kari B. Wisinski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J. Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,USA
| | - Melissa C. Skala
- Morgridge Institute for Research, 330 N Orchard street, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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19
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Li Y, Giorgi EE, Beckman KB, Caberto C, Kazma R, Lum-Jones A, Haiman CA, Marchand LL, Stram DO, Saxena R, Cheng I. Association between mitochondrial genetic variation and breast cancer risk: The Multiethnic Cohort. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222284. [PMID: 31577800 PMCID: PMC6774509 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The mitochondrial genome encodes for thirty-seven proteins, among them thirteen are essential for the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. Inherited variation in mitochondrial genes may influence cancer development through changes in mitochondrial proteins, altering the OXPHOS process and promoting the production of reactive oxidative species. Methods To investigate the association between mitochondrial genetic variation and breast cancer risk, we tested 314 mitochondrial SNPs (mtSNPs), capturing four complexes of the mitochondrial OXPHOS pathway and mtSNP groupings for rRNA and tRNA, in 2,723 breast cancer cases and 3,260 controls from the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Results We examined the collective set of 314 mtSNPs as well as subsets of mtSNPs grouped by mitochondrial OXPHOS pathway, complexes, and genes, using the sequence kernel association test and adjusting for age, sex, and principal components of global ancestry. We also tested haplogroup associations using unconditional logistic regression and adjusting for the same covariates. Stratified analyses were conducted by self-reported maternal race/ethnicity. No significant mitochondrial OXPHOS pathway, gene, and haplogroup associations were observed in African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Hawaiians. In European Americans, a global test of all genetic variants of the mitochondrial genome identified an association with breast cancer risk (P = 0.017, q = 0.102). In mtSNP-subset analysis, the gene MT-CO2 (P = 0.001, q = 0.09) in Complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) and MT-ND2 (P = 0.004, q = 0.19) in Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone)) were significantly associated with breast cancer risk. Conclusions In summary, our findings suggest that collective mitochondrial genetic variation and particularly in the MT-CO2 and MT-ND2 may play a role in breast cancer risk among European Americans. Further replication is warranted in larger populations and future studies should evaluate the contribution of mitochondrial proteins encoded by both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes to breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Elena E. Giorgi
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
| | - Kenneth B. Beckman
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Christian Caberto
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Remi Kazma
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Switzerland
| | - Annette Lum-Jones
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Christopher A. Haiman
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Loïc Le Marchand
- Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Daniel O. Stram
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Richa Saxena
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program of Medical and Population Genetics, The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Iona Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Mitochondrial Metabolism in Cancer. A Tangled Topic. Which Role for Proteomics? ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1158:1-16. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-8367-0_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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21
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Sotgia F, Fiorillo M, Lisanti MP. Hallmarks of the cancer cell of origin: Comparisons with "energetic" cancer stem cells (e-CSCs). Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:1065-1068. [PMID: 30760648 PMCID: PMC6382415 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Here, we discuss the expected hallmark(s) of the cancer cell of origin and how this may be related to a new tumor cell phenotype, namely "energetic" cancer stem cells (e-CSCs). e-CSCs show many features that would be characteristic of the cancer cell of origin, including the over-expression of p21-WAF (CDKN1A), a key marker of senescence. It is tempting to speculate that the cancer cell of origin and e-CSCs are closely related entities. e-CSCs possess a hybrid phenotype, sharing key hallmarks of senescence, "stemness" and cancer. e-CSCs are hyper-proliferative and have elevated mitochondrial metabolism, with an NRF2-mediated anti-oxidant response signature, including glutaredoxin (GLRX) and ALDH3A1 over-expression, possibly related to their escape from senescence. Finally, in e-CSCs, BCAS1 (Breast carcinoma-amplified sequence-1) protein expression was up-regulated by >100-fold. BCAS1 is a candidate oncogene associated with "stemness" and aggressive oncogenic behavior, such as Tamoxifen resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Sotgia
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Fiorillo
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, United Kingdom
- The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Michael P. Lisanti
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, United Kingdom
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22
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Creed S, McKenzie M. Measurement of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential with the Fluorescent Dye Tetramethylrhodamine Methyl Ester (TMRM). Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1928:69-76. [PMID: 30725451 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9027-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) drives the generation of ATP by mitochondria. Interestingly, Δψm is higher in many cancer cells comparted to healthy noncancerous cell types, providing a unique metabolic marker. This feature has also been exploited for therapeutic use by utilizing drugs that specifically accumulate in the mitochondria of cancer cells with high Δψm. As such, the assessment of Δψm can provide very useful information as to the metabolic state of a cancer cell, as well as its potential for malignancy. In addition, the measurement of Δψm can also be used to test the ability of novel anticancer therapies to disrupt mitochondrial metabolism and cause cell death.Here, we outline two methods for assessing Δψm in cancer cells using confocal microscopy and the potentiometric fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM). In the first protocol, we describe a technique to quantitatively measure Δψm, which can be used to compare Δψm between different cell types. In the second protocol, we describe a technique for assessing changes to Δψm over time, which can be used to determine the effectiveness of different therapeutic compounds or drugs in modulating mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Creed
- Monash Micro Imaging, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthew McKenzie
- Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. .,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia.
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23
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Chien MN, Yang PS, Hsu YC, Liu TP, Lee JJ, Cheng SP. Transcriptome analysis of papillary thyroid cancer harboring telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation. Head Neck 2018; 40:2528-2537. [PMID: 30102829 DOI: 10.1002/hed.25385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations have recently been identified as an important prognostic factor in thyroid cancer. Studies suggest that TERT may have noncanonical functions beyond telomere maintenance. METHODS Clinicopathological information and transcriptome data for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for potential confounding variables between the TERT promoter wild-type group and the mutant group. Gene expression data of 36 patients in the mutant group were systemically compared to those of 72 patients in the wild-type group. RESULTS Tumors with TERT promoter mutations had a higher TERT expression. Pathways central to DNA damage responses and cell cycle regulation were significantly enriched among 888 upregulated genes. Transporter and metabolic activities were overrepresented among 799 downregulated genes. There was no difference in the expression of most of the thyroid differentiation genes. CONCLUSION The TERT promoter mutations were associated with proliferative and metabolic alterations in PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Nan Chien
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, MacKay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Sheng Yang
- Department of Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chiung Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tsang-Pai Liu
- Department of Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.,Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jie-Jen Lee
- Department of Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ping Cheng
- Department of Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital and Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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24
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Eremina L, Pashintseva N, Kovalev L, Kovaleva M, Shishkin S. Proteomics of mammalian mitochondria in health and malignancy: From protein identification to function. Anal Biochem 2018; 552:4-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2017.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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25
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Hannen R, Bartsch JW. Essential roles of telomerase reverse transcriptase hTERT in cancer stemness and metastasis. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:2023-2031. [PMID: 29749098 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance of chromosomal telomere length is a hallmark of cancer cells and a prerequisite for stemness. In 85-90% of all human cancers, telomere length maintenance is achieved by reactivation of telomerase, whereas in the remaining 10-15% cancers, alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is observed. Reactivation of telomerase occurs by various mechanisms, one of which is accumulation of point mutations in the promoter region of the gene encoding the protein subunit hTERT. There are numerous studies linking either hTERT overexpression or the presence of hTERT mutations to an aggressive phenotype of several human cancers. Recent findings demonstrate that hTERT expression is not only associated with replicative immortality, but also with cancer cell motility and stem cell phenotype. However, the mechanisms by which hTERT affects cancer cell migration, invasion, and distant metastasis on the one hand, and stemness and resistance on the other hand, are still poorly understood. Within this review, we aim to provide an overview on the functional involvement of hTERT in these cellular processes, focusing on metastasis formation and maintenance of stemness in different human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricarda Hannen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Philipps University Marburg, UKGM, Germany
| | - Jörg W Bartsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Philipps University Marburg, UKGM, Germany
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26
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Bonuccelli G, Peiris-Pages M, Ozsvari B, Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. Targeting cancer stem cell propagation with palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor: Telomerase drives tumor cell heterogeneity. Oncotarget 2018; 8:9868-9884. [PMID: 28039467 PMCID: PMC5354777 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In this report, we systematically examined the role of telomerase activity in lung and ovarian cancer stem cell (CSC) propagation. For this purpose, we indirectly gauged telomerase activity, by linking the hTERT-promoter to eGFP. Using lung (A549) and ovarian (SKOV3) cancer cells, transduced with the hTERT-GFP reporter, we then employed GFP-expression levels to fractionate these cell lines into GFP-high and GFP-low populations. We functionally compared the phenotype of these GFP-high and GFP-low populations. More specifically, we now show that the cancer cells with higher telomerase activity (GFP-high) are more energetically activated, with increased mitochondrial mass and function, as well as increased glycolytic activity. This was further validated and confirmed by unbiased proteomics analysis. Cells with high telomerase activity also showed an increased capacity for stem cell activity (as measured using the 3D-spheroid assay) and cell migration (as measured using a Boyden chamber approach). These enhanced biological phenotypes were effectively inhibited by classical modulators of energy metabolism, which target either i) mitochondrial metabolism (i.e., oligomycin) or ii) glycolysis (i.e., 2-deoxy-glucose), or iii) by using the FDA-approved antibiotic doxycycline, which inhibits mitochondrial biogenesis. Finally, the level of telomerase activity also determined the ability of hTERT-high cells to proliferate, as assessed by measuring DNA synthesis via EdU incorporation. Consistent with these observations, treatment with an FDA-approved CDK4/6 inhibitor (PD-0332991/palbociclib) specifically blocked the propagation of both lung and ovarian CSCs. Virtually identical results were obtained with breast CSCs, which were also highly sensitive to palbociclib at concentrations in the nanomolar range. In summary, CSCs with high telomerase activity are among the most energetically activated, migratory and proliferative cell sub-populations. These observations may provide a mechanistic explanation for tumor metabolic heterogeneity, based on telomerase activity. FDA-approved drugs, such as doxycycline and palbociclib, were both effective at curtailing CSC propagation. Thus, these FDA-approved drugs could be used to target telomerase-high proliferative CSCs, in multiple cancer types. Finally, our experiments also allowed us to distinguish two different cellular populations of hTERT-high cells, one that was proliferative (i.e., replicative immortality) and the other that was non-proliferative (i.e., quiescent). We speculate that the non-proliferative population of hTERT-high cells that we identified could be mechanistically involved in tumor dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Bonuccelli
- Paterson Building, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Peiris-Pages
- Paterson Building, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | - Bela Ozsvari
- Paterson Building, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, United Kingdom
| | | | - Federica Sotgia
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), University of Salford, Greater Manchester, M5 4WT, United Kingdom
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27
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Cuyàs E, Fernández-Arroyo S, Alarcón T, Lupu R, Joven J, Menendez JA. Germline BRCA1 mutation reprograms breast epithelial cell metabolism towards mitochondrial-dependent biosynthesis: evidence for metformin-based "starvation" strategies in BRCA1 carriers. Oncotarget 2018; 7:52974-52992. [PMID: 27259235 PMCID: PMC5288162 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We hypothesized that women inheriting one germline mutation of the BRCA1 gene (“one-hit”) undergo cell-type-specific metabolic reprogramming that supports the high biosynthetic requirements of breast epithelial cells to progress to a fully malignant phenotype. Targeted metabolomic analysis was performed in isogenic pairs of nontumorigenic human breast epithelial cells in which the knock-in of 185delAG mutation in a single BRCA1 allele leads to genomic instability. Mutant BRCA1 one-hit epithelial cells displayed constitutively enhanced activation of biosynthetic nodes within mitochondria. This metabolic rewiring involved the increased incorporation of glutamine- and glucose-dependent carbon into tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolite pools to ultimately generate elevated levels of acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, the major building blocks for lipid biosynthesis. The significant increase of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) including the anabolic trigger leucine, which can not only promote protein translation via mTOR but also feed into the TCA cycle via succinyl-CoA, further underscored the anabolic reprogramming of BRCA1 haploinsufficient cells. The anti-diabetic biguanide metformin “reversed” the metabolomic signature and anabolic phenotype of BRCA1 one-hit cells by shutting down mitochondria-driven generation of precursors for lipogenic pathways and reducing the BCAA pool for protein synthesis and TCA fueling. Metformin-induced restriction of mitochondrial biosynthetic capacity was sufficient to impair the tumor-initiating capacity of BRCA1 one-hit cells in mammosphere assays. Metabolic rewiring of the breast epithelium towards increased anabolism might constitute an unanticipated and inherited form of metabolic reprogramming linked to increased risk of oncogenesis in women bearing pathogenic germline BRCA1 mutations. The ability of metformin to constrain the production of mitochondrial-dependent biosynthetic intermediates might open a new avenue for “starvation” chemopreventive strategies in BRCA1 carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Cuyàs
- ProCURE (Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Salvador Fernández-Arroyo
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Reus, Spain
| | - Tomás Alarcón
- Institució Catalana d'Estudis i Recerca Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.,Computational and Mathematical Biology Research Group, Centre de Recerca Matemàtic (CRM), Barcelona, Spain.,Departament de Matemàtiques, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics (BGSMath), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ruth Lupu
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Experimental Pathology, Rochester, MN, USA.,Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jorge Joven
- Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus of International Excellence Southern Catalonia, Reus, Spain
| | - Javier A Menendez
- ProCURE (Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance), Metabolism and Cancer Group, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.,Molecular Oncology Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), Girona, Catalonia, Spain
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28
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Mitochondrial mRNA transcripts predict overall survival, tumor recurrence and progression in serous ovarian cancer: Companion diagnostics for cancer therapy. Oncotarget 2017; 8:66925-66939. [PMID: 28978006 PMCID: PMC5620146 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we performed a systematic analysis to discover new biomarkers of overall survival and tumor progression in ovarian cancer patients. More specifically, we determined whether nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis and function are effective in predicting clinical outcome in ovarian cancer. As a consequence, we are able to provide in silico validation of the prognostic value of these mitochondrial markers, in a well-defined population of ovarian cancer patients. Towards this end, we used a group of N=111 ovarian cancer patients (serous type; stage III), with optimal de-bulking. Importantly, in this group of cancer patients, CA125 and PCNA (conventional markers) were associated with poor overall survival, as would be expected. Using this approach, we identified >100 new individual mitochondrial gene probes that effectively predicted significantly reduced overall survival, with hazard-ratios (HR) of up to 3.68 (p < 9.8e-05). These mitochondrial mRNA transcripts included membrane proteins, chaperones, anti-oxidant enzymes, as well as mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) and key members of the OXPHOS (I-V) complexes. Based on this bioinformatics analysis and in silico validation, we conclude that mitochondrial biogenesis and OXPHOS should both be considered as new therapeutic targets, for the more effective treatment of human ovarian cancers. The mitochondrial biomarkers that we have identified could also be employed as new companion diagnostics to assist oncologists in: i) more accurately predicting clinical outcomes and ii) improving the response to therapy, in ovarian cancer patients.
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29
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Mitochondrial markers predict survival and progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients: Use as companion diagnostics. Oncotarget 2017; 8:68095-68107. [PMID: 28978099 PMCID: PMC5620239 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we used an informatics-based approach to identify novel biomarkers of overall survival and tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We determined whether nuclear-encoded genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and function can be used to effectively predict clinical outcome in lung cancer. This strategy allowed us to directly provide in silico validation of the prognostic value of these mitochondrial components in large, clinically-relevant, lung cancer patient populations. Towards this end, we used a group of 726 lung cancer patients, with negative surgical margins. Importantly, in this group of cancer patients, markers of cell proliferation (Ki67 and PCNA) were associated with poor overall survival, as would be expected. Similarly, key markers of inflammation (CD163 and CD68) also predicted poor clinical outcome in this patient population. Using this approach, we identified >180 new individual mitochondrial gene probes that effectively predicted significantly reduced overall survival, with hazard-ratios (HR) of up to 4.89 (p<1.0e-16). These nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes included chaperones, membrane proteins as well as ribosomal proteins (MRPs) and components of the OXPHOS (I-V) complexes. In this analysis, HSPD1, a key marker of mitochondrial biogenesis, had the highest predictive value and was also effective in predicting tumor progression in both smokers and non-smokers alike. In fact, it had even higher predictive value in non-smokers (HR=5.9; p=3.9e-07). Based on this analysis, we conclude that mitochondrial biogenesis should be considered as a new therapeutic target, for the more effective treatment of human lung cancers. The mitochondrial biomarkers that we have identified could serve as new companion diagnostics to assist clinicians in more accurately predicting clinical outcomes in lung cancer patients, driving more personalized cancer therapy.
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30
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Ozsvari B, Fiorillo M, Bonuccelli G, Cappello AR, Frattaruolo L, Sotgia F, Trowbridge R, Foster R, Lisanti MP. Mitoriboscins: Mitochondrial-based therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), bacteria and pathogenic yeast. Oncotarget 2017; 8:67457-67472. [PMID: 28978045 PMCID: PMC5620185 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The "endo-symbiotic theory of mitochondrial evolution" states that mitochondrial organelles evolved from engulfed aerobic bacteria, after millions of years of symbiosis and adaptation. Here, we have exploited this premise to design new antibiotics and novel anti-cancer therapies, using a convergent approach. First, virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) and computational chemistry were used to identify novel compounds binding to the 3D structure of the mammalian mitochondrial ribosome. The resulting library of ∼880 compounds was then subjected to phenotypic drug screening on human cancer cells, to identify which compounds functionally induce ATP-depletion, which is characteristic of mitochondrial inhibition. Notably, the top ten "hit" compounds define four new classes of mitochondrial inhibitors. Next, we further validated that these novel mitochondrial inhibitors metabolically target mitochondrial respiration in cancer cells and effectively inhibit the propagation of cancer stem-like cells in vitro. Finally, we show that these mitochondrial inhibitors possess broad-spectrum antibiotic activity, preventing the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as C. albicans - a pathogenic yeast. Remarkably, these novel antibiotics also were effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Thus, this simple, yet systematic, approach to the discovery of mitochondrial ribosome inhibitors could provide a plethora of anti-microbials and anti-cancer therapies, to target drug-resistance that is characteristic of both i) tumor recurrence and ii) infectious disease. In summary, we have successfully used vHTS combined with phenotypic drug screening of human cancer cells to identify several new classes of broad-spectrum antibiotics that target both bacteria and pathogenic yeast. We propose the new term "mitoriboscins" to describe these novel mitochondrial-related antibiotics. Thus far, we have identified four different classes of mitoriboscins, such as: 1) mitoribocyclines, 2) mitoribomycins, 3) mitoribosporins and 4) mitoribofloxins. However, we broadly define mitoriboscins as any small molecule(s) or peptide(s) that bind to the mitoribosome (large or small subunits) and, as a consequence, inhibit mitochondrial function, i.e., mitoribosome inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bela Ozsvari
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.,The Paterson Institute, University of Manchester, Withington, UK
| | - Marco Fiorillo
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.,The Paterson Institute, University of Manchester, Withington, UK.,The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Gloria Bonuccelli
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.,The Paterson Institute, University of Manchester, Withington, UK
| | - Anna Rita Cappello
- The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Luca Frattaruolo
- The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Federica Sotgia
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.,The Paterson Institute, University of Manchester, Withington, UK
| | - Rachel Trowbridge
- School of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Richard Foster
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.,School of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- Translational Medicine, School of Environment & Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.,The Paterson Institute, University of Manchester, Withington, UK
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31
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Tamura M, Sugiura S, Takagi T, Satoh T, Sumaru K, Kanamori T, Okada T, Matsui H. Morphology-based optical separation of subpopulations from a heterogeneous murine breast cancer cell line. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179372. [PMID: 28665963 PMCID: PMC5493304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding tumor heterogeneity is an urgent and unmet need in cancer research. In this study, we used a morphology-based optical cell separation process to classify a heterogeneous cancer cell population into characteristic subpopulations. To classify the cell subpopulations, we assessed their morphology in hydrogel, a three-dimensional culture environment that induces morphological changes according to the characteristics of the cells (i.e., growth, migration, and invasion). We encapsulated the murine breast cancer cell line 4T1E, as a heterogeneous population that includes highly metastatic cells, in click-crosslinkable and photodegradable gelatin hydrogels, which we developed previously. We observed morphological changes within 3 days of encapsulating the cells in the hydrogel. We separated the 4T1E cell population into colony- and granular-type cells by optical separation, in which local UV-induced degradation of the photodegradable hydrogel around the target cells enabled us to collect those cells. The obtained colony- and granular-type cells were evaluated in vitro by using a spheroid assay and in vivo by means of a tumor growth and metastasis assay. The spheroid assay showed that the colony-type cells formed compact spheroids in 2 days, whereas the granular-type cells did not form spheroids. The tumor growth assay in mice revealed that the granular-type cells exhibited lower tumor growth and a different metastasis behavior compared with the colony-type cells. These results suggest that morphology-based optical cell separation is a useful technique to classify a heterogeneous cancer cell population according to its cellular characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Tamura
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Sugiura
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Takagi
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Taku Satoh
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kimio Sumaru
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Kanamori
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tomoko Okada
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Matsui
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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32
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Monti D, Sotgia F, Whitaker-Menezes D, Tuluc M, Birbe R, Berger A, Lazar M, Cotzia P, Draganova-Tacheva R, Lin Z, Domingo-Vidal M, Newberg A, Lisanti MP, Martinez-Outschoorn U. Pilot study demonstrating metabolic and anti-proliferative effects of in vivo anti-oxidant supplementation with N-Acetylcysteine in Breast Cancer. Semin Oncol 2017; 44:226-232. [PMID: 29248134 PMCID: PMC5737796 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High oxidative stress as defined by hydroxyl and peroxyl activity is often found in the stroma of human breast cancers. Oxidative stress induces stromal catabolism, which promotes cancer aggressiveness. Stromal cells exposed to oxidative stress release catabolites such as lactate, which are up-taken by cancer cells to support mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The transfer of catabolites between stromal and cancer cells leads to metabolic heterogeneity between these cells and increased cancer cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis in preclinical models. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress and reverses stromal catabolism and stromal-carcinoma cell metabolic heterogeneity, resulting in reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of cancer cells in experimental models of breast cancer. The purpose of this clinical trial was to determine if NAC could reduce markers of stromal-cancer metabolic heterogeneity and markers of cancer cell aggressiveness in human breast cancer. METHODS Subjects with newly diagnosed stage 0 and I breast cancer who were not going to receive neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgical resection were treated with NAC before definitive surgery to assess intra-tumoral metabolic markers. NAC was administered once a week intravenously at a dose of 150 mg/kg and 600 mg twice daily orally on the days not receiving intravenous NAC. Histochemistry for the stromal metabolic markers monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) and caveolin-1 (CAV1) and the Ki67 proliferation assay and TUNEL apoptosis assay in carcinoma cells were performed in pre- and post-NAC specimens. RESULTS The range of days on NAC was 14-27 and the mean was 19 days. Post-treatment biopsies showed significant decrease in stromal MCT4 and reduced Ki67 in carcinoma cells. NAC did not significantly change stromal CAV1 and carcinoma TUNEL staining. NAC was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS NAC as a single agent reduces MCT4 stromal expression, which is a marker of glycolysis in breast cancer with reduced carcinoma cell proliferation. This study suggests that modulating metabolism in the tumor microenvironment has the potential to impact breast cancer proliferation.
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MESH Headings
- Acetylcysteine/therapeutic use
- Adult
- Apoptosis
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating/pathology
- Carcinoma, Papillary/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Papillary/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Papillary/pathology
- Caveolin 1/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation
- Female
- Free Radical Scavengers/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- In Situ Nick-End Labeling
- Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism
- Mastectomy
- Middle Aged
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters/metabolism
- Muscle Proteins/metabolism
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Neoplasm Staging
- Pilot Projects
- Stromal Cells/metabolism
- Treatment Outcome
- Tumor Microenvironment
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Monti
- Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Federica Sotgia
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Madalina Tuluc
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ruth Birbe
- Department of Pathology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ
| | - Adam Berger
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Melissa Lazar
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Paolo Cotzia
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | | | - Zhao Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Andrew Newberg
- Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
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33
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Robinson NJ, Schiemann WP. Means to the ends: The role of telomeres and telomere processing machinery in metastasis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2016; 1866:320-329. [PMID: 27768860 PMCID: PMC5138103 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant clinical advancements, cancer remains a leading cause of mortality throughout the world due largely to the process of metastasis and the dissemination of cancer cells from their primary tumor of origin to distant secondary sites. The clinical burden imposed by metastasis is further compounded by a paucity of information regarding the factors that mediate metastatic progression. Linear chromosomes are capped by structures known as telomeres, which dictate cellular lifespan in humans by shortening progressively during successive cell divisions. Although telomere shortening occurs in nearly all somatic cells, telomeres may be elongated via two seemingly disjoint pathways: (i) telomerase-mediated extension, and (ii) homologous recombination-based alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Both telomerase and ALT are activated in various human cancers, with more recent evidence implicating both pathways as potential mediators of metastasis. Here we review the known roles of telomere homeostasis in metastasis and posit a mechanism whereby metastatic activity is determined by a dynamic fluctuation between ALT and telomerase, as opposed to the mere activation of a generic telomere elongation program. Additionally, the pleiotropic nature of the telomere processing machinery makes it an attractive therapeutic target for metastasis, and as such, we also explore the therapeutic implications of our proposed mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Robinson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - William P Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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34
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Chiarugi P, Dello Sbarba P. Cancer stemness and progression: mitochondria on the stage. Oncotarget 2016; 6:36924-5. [PMID: 26517525 PMCID: PMC4741904 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Chiarugi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Persio Dello Sbarba
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
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Lamb R, Bonuccelli G, Ozsvári B, Peiris-Pagès M, Fiorillo M, Smith DL, Bevilacqua G, Mazzanti CM, McDonnell LA, Naccarato AG, Chiu M, Wynne L, Martinez-Outschoorn UE, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. Mitochondrial mass, a new metabolic biomarker for stem-like cancer cells: Understanding WNT/FGF-driven anabolic signaling. Oncotarget 2016; 6:30453-71. [PMID: 26421711 PMCID: PMC4741544 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we developed an isogenic cell model of "stemness" to facilitate protein biomarker discovery in breast cancer. For this purpose, we used knowledge gained previously from the study of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). MMTV initiates mammary tumorigenesis in mice by promoter insertion adjacent to two main integration sites, namely Int-1 (Wnt1) and Int-2 (Fgf3), which ultimately activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling, driving the propagation of mammary cancer stem cells (CSCs). Thus, to develop a humanized model of MMTV signaling, we over-expressed WNT1 and FGF3 in MCF7 cells, an ER(+) human breast cancer cell line. We then validated that MCF7 cells over-expressing both WNT1 and FGF3 show a 3.5-fold increase in mammosphere formation, and that conditioned media from these cells is also sufficient to promote stem cell activity in untransfected parental MCF7 and T47D cells, as WNT1 and FGF3 are secreted factors. Proteomic analysis of this model system revealed the induction of i) EMT markers, ii) mitochondrial proteins, iii) glycolytic enzymes and iv) protein synthesis machinery, consistent with an anabolic CSC phenotype. MitoTracker staining validated the expected WNT1/FGF3-induced increase in mitochondrial mass and activity, which presumably reflects increased mitochondrial biogenesis. Importantly, many of the proteins that were up-regulated by WNT/FGF-signaling in MCF7 cells, were also transcriptionally over-expressed in human breast cancer cells in vivo, based on the bioinformatic analysis of public gene expression datasets of laser-captured patient samples. As such, this isogenic cell model should accelerate the discovery of new biomarkers to predict clinical outcome in breast cancer, facilitating the development of personalized medicine.Finally, we used mitochondrial mass as a surrogate marker for increased mitochondrial biogenesis in untransfected MCF7 cells. As predicted, metabolic fractionation of parental MCF7 cells, via MitoTracker staining, indicated that high mitochondrial mass is a new metabolic biomarker for the enrichment of anabolic CSCs, as functionally assessed by mammosphere-forming activity. This observation has broad implications for understanding the role of mitochondrial biogenesis in the propagation of stem-like cancer cells. Technically, this general metabolic approach could be applied to any cancer type, to identify and target the mitochondrial-rich CSC population.The implications of our work for understanding the role of mitochondrial metabolism in viral oncogenesis driven by random promoter insertions are also discussed, in the context of MMTV and ALV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lamb
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Gloria Bonuccelli
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Béla Ozsvári
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Maria Peiris-Pagès
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Marco Fiorillo
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Calabria, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Duncan L Smith
- The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Generoso Bevilacqua
- FPS - The Pisa Science Foundation, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Pathology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Maybo Chiu
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Luke Wynne
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Federica Sotgia
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Michael P Lisanti
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,The Manchester Centre for Cellular Metabolism (MCCM), Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Abstract
Awareness that the metabolic phenotype of cells within tumours is heterogeneous - and distinct from that of their normal counterparts - is growing. In general, tumour cells metabolize glucose, lactate, pyruvate, hydroxybutyrate, acetate, glutamine, and fatty acids at much higher rates than their nontumour equivalents; however, the metabolic ecology of tumours is complex because they contain multiple metabolic compartments, which are linked by the transfer of these catabolites. This metabolic variability and flexibility enables tumour cells to generate ATP as an energy source, while maintaining the reduction-oxidation (redox) balance and committing resources to biosynthesis - processes that are essential for cell survival, growth, and proliferation. Importantly, experimental evidence indicates that metabolic coupling between cell populations with different, complementary metabolic profiles can induce cancer progression. Thus, targeting the metabolic differences between tumour and normal cells holds promise as a novel anticancer strategy. In this Review, we discuss how cancer cells reprogramme their metabolism and that of other cells within the tumour microenvironment in order to survive and propagate, thus driving disease progression; in particular, we highlight potential metabolic vulnerabilities that might be targeted therapeutically.
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Yan B, Dong L, Neuzil J. Mitochondria: An intriguing target for killing tumour-initiating cells. Mitochondrion 2016; 26:86-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2015.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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De Francesco EM, Ózsvári B, Sotgia F, Lisanti MP. [Pollution of the environment with lead]. Front Oncol 1984; 9:615. [PMID: 31440463 PMCID: PMC6692486 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated mitochondrial biogenesis and/or metabolism are distinguishing features of cancer cells, as well as Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), which are involved in tumor initiation, metastatic dissemination, and therapy resistance. In fact, mitochondria-impairing agents can be used to hamper CSCs maintenance and propagation, toward better control of neoplastic disease. Tri-Phenyl-Phosphonium (TPP)-based mitochondrially-targeted compounds are small non-toxic and biologically active molecules that are delivered to and accumulated within the mitochondria of living cells. Therefore, TPP-derivatives may represent potentially “powerful” candidates to block CSCs. Here, we evaluate the metabolic and biological effects induced by the TPP-derivative, termed Dodecyl-TPP (d-TPP) on breast cancer cells. By employing the 3D mammosphere assay in MCF-7 cells, we demonstrate that treatment with d-TPP dose-dependently inhibits the propagation of breast CSCs in suspension. Also, d-TPP targets adherent “bulk” cancer cells, by decreasing MCF-7 cell viability. The analysis of metabolic flux using Seahorse Xfe96 revealed that d-TPP potently inhibits the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), while simultaneously shifting cell metabolism toward glycolysis. Thereafter, we exploited this ATP depletion phenotype and strict metabolic dependency on glycolysis to eradicate the residual glycolytic CSC population, by using additional metabolic stressors. More specifically, we applied a combination strategy based on treatment with d-TPP, in the presence of a selected panel of natural and synthetic compounds, some of which are FDA-approved, that are known to behave as glycolysis (Vitamin C, 2-Deoxy-Glucose) and OXPHOS (Doxycyline, Niclosamide, Berberine) inhibitors. This two-hit scheme effectively decreased CSC propagation, at concentrations of d-TPP toxic only for cancer cells, but not for normal cells, as evidenced using normal human fibroblasts (hTERT-BJ1) as a reference point. Taken together, d-TPP halts CSCs propagation and targets “bulk” cancer cells, without eliciting the relevant undesirable off-target effects in normal cells. These observations pave the way for further exploring the potential of TPP-based derivatives in cancer therapy. Moreover, TPP-based compounds should be investigated for their potential to discriminate between “normal” and “malignant” mitochondria, suggesting that distinct biochemical, and metabolic changes in these organelles could precede specific normal or pathological phenotypes. Lastly, our data validate the manipulation of the energetic machinery as useful tool to eradicate CSCs.
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