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Raju R R, AlSawaftah NM, Husseini GA. Modeling of brain tumors using in vitro, in vivo, and microfluidic models: A review of the current developments. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31402. [PMID: 38807869 PMCID: PMC11130649 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain cancers are some of the most complex diseases to treat, despite the numerous advances science has made in cancer chemotherapy and research. One of the key obstacles to identifying potential cures for this disease is the difficulty in emulating the complexity of the brain and the surrounding microenvironment to understand potential therapeutic approaches. This paper discusses some of the most important in vitro, in vivo, and microfluidic brain tumor models that aim to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richu Raju R
- Biosciences and Bioengineering PhD Program at the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nour M. AlSawaftah
- Material Science and Engineering Program at the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ghaleb A. Husseini
- Biosciences and Bioengineering PhD Program at the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Material Science and Engineering Program at the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Isazadeh H, Oruji F, Shabani S, Behroozi J, Nasiri H, Isazadeh A, Akbari M. Advances in siRNA delivery approaches in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:9529-9543. [PMID: 37741808 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08749-y] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Advancements in the clinical applications of small interfering RNA (siRNA) in cancer therapy have opened up new possibilities for precision medicine. siRNAs, as powerful genetic tools, have shown potential in targeting and suppressing the expression of specific genes associated with cancer progression. Their effectiveness has been further enhanced by incorporating them into nanoparticles, which protect siRNAs from degradation and enable targeted delivery. However, despite these promising developments, several challenges persist in the clinical translation of siRNA-based cancer therapy. This comprehensive review explores the progress and challenges associated with the clinical applications of siRNA in cancer therapy. This review highlights the use of siRNA-loaded nanoparticles as an effective delivery system for optimizing siRNA efficacy in various types of carcinomas and the potential of siRNA-based therapy as a genetic approach to overcome limitations associated with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, including severe drug toxicities and organ damage. Moreover, it emphasizes on the key challenges, including off-target effects, enzymatic degradation of siRNAs in serum, low tumor localization, stability issues, and rapid clearance from circulation that need to be addressed for successful clinical development of siRNA-based cancer therapy. Despite these challenges, the review identifies significant avenues for advancing siRNA technology from the laboratory to clinical settings. The ongoing progress in siRNA-loaded nanoparticles for cancer treatment demonstrates potential antitumor activities and safety profiles. By understanding the current state of siRNA-based therapy and addressing the existing challenges, we aim to pave the way for translating siRNA technology into effective oncologic clinics as an improved treatment options for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houman Isazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshghah Ave, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farshid Oruji
- College of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Shima Shabani
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Javad Behroozi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hadi Nasiri
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshghah Ave, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Isazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshghah Ave, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Morteza Akbari
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshghah Ave, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Kim H, Lee K, Shim YM, Kim EE, Kim SK, Phi JH, Park CK, Choi SH, Park SH. Epigenetic Alteration of H3K27me3 as a Possible Oncogenic Mechanism of Central Neurocytoma. J Transl Med 2023; 103:100159. [PMID: 37088465 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2023.100159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Central neurocytoma (CN) is a low-grade neuronal tumor that mainly arises from the lateral ventricle (LV). This tumor remains poorly understood in the sense that no driver gene aberrations have been identified thus far. We investigated immunomarkers in fetal and adult brains and 45 supratentorial periventricular tumors to characterize the biomarkers, cell of origin, and tumorigenesis of CN. All CNs occurred in the LV. A minority involved the third ventricle, but none involved the fourth ventricle. As expected, next-generation sequencing performed using a brain-tumor-targeted gene panel in 7 CNs and whole exome sequencing in 5 CNs showed no driver mutations. Immunohistochemically, CNs were robustly positive for FGFR3 (100%), SSTR2 (92%), TTF-1 (Nkx2.1) (88%), GLUT-1 (84%), and L1CAM (76%), in addition to the well-known markers of CN, synaptophysin (100%) and NeuN (96%). TTF-1 was also positive in subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (100%, 5/5) and the pituicyte tumor family, including pituicytoma and spindle cell oncocytoma (100%, 5/5). Interestingly, 1 case of LV subependymoma (20%, 1/5) was positive for TTF-1, but all LV ependymomas were negative (0/5 positive). Because TTF-1-positive cells were detected in the medial ganglionic eminence around the foramen of Monro of the fetal brain and in the subventricular zone of the LV of the adult brain, CN may arise from subventricular TTF-1-positive cells undergoing neuronal differentiation. H3K27me3 loss was observed in all CNs and one case (20%) of LV subependymoma, suggesting that chromatin remodeling complexes or epigenetic alterations may be involved in the tumorigenesis of all CNs and some ST-subependymomas. Further studies are required to determine the exact tumorigenic mechanism of CN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunhee Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwanghoon Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Mi Shim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eric Eunshik Kim
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Phi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Kee Park
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hong Choi
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hye Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Complex Elucidation of Cells-of-Origin in Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma: From Concepts to Real Life, Hide-and-Seek through Epigenetic and Transcriptional Reprogramming. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116310. [PMID: 35682989 PMCID: PMC9181261 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) comprise a large group of mesenchymal malignant tumors with heterogeneous cellular morphology, proliferative index, genetic lesions and, more importantly, clinical features. Full elucidation of this wide diversity remains a central question to improve their therapeutic management and the identity of cell(s)-of-origin from which these tumors arise is part of this enigma. Cellular reprogramming allows transitions of a mature cell between phenotypes, or identities, and represents one key driver of tumoral heterogeneity. Here, we discuss how cellular reprogramming mediated by driver genes in STS can profoundly reshape the molecular and morphological features of a transformed cell and lead to erroneous interpretation of its cell-of-origin. This review questions the fact that the epigenetic context in which a genetic alteration arises has to be taken into account as a key determinant of STS tumor initiation and progression. Retracing the cancer-initiating cell and its clonal evolution, notably via epigenetic approach, appears as a key lever for understanding the origin of these tumors and improving their clinical management.
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Da-Veiga MA, Rogister B, Lombard A, Neirinckx V, Piette C. Glioma Stem Cells in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas: From Current Knowledge to Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092296. [PMID: 35565425 PMCID: PMC9099564 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) has a dismal prognosis in which the younger the patient, the more restricted the treatments are, in regard to the incurred risks. Current therapies destroy many tumor cells but fail to target the highly malignant glioma stem cells (GSCs) that adapt quickly to give rise to recurring, treatment-resistant cancers. Despite a lack of consensus around an efficient detection, GSCs are well described in adult brain tumors but remain poorly investigated in pediatric cases, mostly due to their rarity. An improved knowledge about GSC roles in pediatric tumors would provide a key leverage towards the elimination of this sub-population, based on targeted treatments. The aim of this review is to sum up the state of art about GSCs in pHGG. Abstract In children, high-grade gliomas (HGG) and diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) account for a high proportion of death due to cancer. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are tumor cells in a specific state defined by a tumor-initiating capacity following serial transplantation, self-renewal, and an ability to recapitulate tumor heterogeneity. Their presence was demonstrated several decades ago in adult glioblastoma (GBM), and more recently in pediatric HGG and DMG. In adults, we and others have previously suggested that GSCs nest into the subventricular zone (SVZ), a neurogenic niche, where, among others, they find shelter from therapy. Both bench and bedside evidence strongly indicate a role for the GSCs and the SVZ in GBM progression, fostering the development of innovative targeting treatments. Such new therapeutic approaches are of particular interest in infants, in whom standard therapies are often limited due to the risk of late effects. The aim of this review is to describe current knowledge about GSCs in pediatric HGG and DMG, i.e., their characterization, the models that apply to their development and maintenance, the specific signaling pathways that may underlie their activity, and their specific interactions with neurogenic niches. Finally, we will discuss the clinical relevance of these observations and the therapeutic advantages of targeting the SVZ and/or the GSCs in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Da-Veiga
- Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Therapy, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.-A.D.-V.); (B.R.); (A.L.); (V.N.)
| | - Bernard Rogister
- Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Therapy, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.-A.D.-V.); (B.R.); (A.L.); (V.N.)
- Department of Neurology, CHU of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Arnaud Lombard
- Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Therapy, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.-A.D.-V.); (B.R.); (A.L.); (V.N.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, CHU of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Virginie Neirinckx
- Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Therapy, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.-A.D.-V.); (B.R.); (A.L.); (V.N.)
| | - Caroline Piette
- Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Therapy, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.-A.D.-V.); (B.R.); (A.L.); (V.N.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, CHU Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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