1
|
Ghoneum A, Almousa S, Warren B, Abdulfattah AY, Shu J, Abouelfadl H, Gonzalez D, Livingston C, Said N. Exploring the clinical value of tumor microenvironment in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 77:83-98. [PMID: 33476723 PMCID: PMC8286277 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Platinum resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer (OvCa) is rising at an alarming rate, with recurrence of chemo-resistant high grade serous OvCa (HGSC) in roughly 75 % of all patients. Additionally, HGSC has an abysmal five-year survival rate, standing at 39 % and 17 % for FIGO stages III and IV, respectively. Herein we review the crucial cellular interactions between HGSC cells and the cellular and non-cellular components of the unique peritoneal tumor microenvironment (TME). We highlight the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM), ascitic fluid as well as the mesothelial cells, tumor associated macrophages, neutrophils, adipocytes and fibroblasts in platinum-resistance. Moreover, we underscore the importance of other immune-cell players in conferring resistance, including natural killer cells, myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) and T-regulatory cells. We show the clinical relevance of the key platinum-resistant markers and their correlation with the major pathways perturbed in OvCa. In parallel, we discuss the effect of immunotherapies in re-sensitizing platinum-resistant patients to platinum-based drugs. Through detailed analysis of platinum-resistance in HGSC, we hope to advance the development of more effective therapy options for this aggressive disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alia Ghoneum
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Sameh Almousa
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Bailey Warren
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Alexandria University School of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Junjun Shu
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Hebatullah Abouelfadl
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Department of Genetics, Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki, Egypt
| | - Daniela Gonzalez
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Christopher Livingston
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Neveen Said
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Departments of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Afify H, Ghoneum A, Almousa S, Abdulfattah AY, Warren B, Langsten K, Gonzalez D, Casals R, Bharadwaj M, Kridel S, Said N. Metabolomic credentialing of murine carcinogen-induced urothelial cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22085. [PMID: 34764423 PMCID: PMC8585868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99746-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BCa) is the most common malignancy of the urinary system with increasing incidence, mortality, and limited treatment options. Therefore, it is imperative to validate preclinical models that faithfully represent BCa cellular, molecular, and metabolic heterogeneity to develop new therapeutics. We performed metabolomic profiling of premalignant and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that ensued in the chemical carcinogenesis N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN) mouse model. We identified the enriched metabolic signatures that associate with premalignant and NMIBC. We found that enrichment of lipid metabolism is the forerunner of carcinogen-induced premalignant and NMIBC lesions. Cross-species analysis revealed the prognostic value of the enzymes associated with carcinogen-induced enriched metabolic in human disease. To date, this is the first study describing the global metabolomic profiles associated with early premalignant and NMIBC and provide evidence that these metabolomic signatures can be used for prognostication of human disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hesham Afify
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Alia Ghoneum
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Sameh Almousa
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Bailey Warren
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Kendall Langsten
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Daniela Gonzalez
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Randy Casals
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Manish Bharadwaj
- Cell Analysis Division, Agilent Technologies, Inc, Santa Clara, CA, 95051, USA
| | - Steven Kridel
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Neveen Said
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
- Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ghoneum A, Gonzalez D, Abdulfattah AY, Said N. Metabolic Plasticity in Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1267. [PMID: 32429566 PMCID: PMC7281273 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian Cancer is the fifth most common cancer in females and remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy as most patients are diagnosed at late stages of the disease. Despite initial responses to therapy, recurrence of chemo-resistant disease is common. The presence of residual cancer stem cells (CSCs) with the unique ability to adapt to several metabolic and signaling pathways represents a major challenge in developing novel targeted therapies. The objective of this study is to investigate the transcripts of putative ovarian cancer stem cell (OCSC) markers in correlation with transcripts of receptors, transporters, and enzymes of the energy generating metabolic pathways involved in high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). We conducted correlative analysis in data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), studies of experimental OCSCs and their parental lines from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). We found positive correlations between the transcripts of OCSC markers, specifically CD44, and glycolytic markers. TCGA datasets revealed that NOTCH1, CD133, CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1, positively and significantly correlated with tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) enzymes. OVCAR3-OCSCs (cancer stem cells derived from a well-established epithelial ovarian cancer cell line) exhibited enrichment of the electron transport chain (ETC) mainly in complexes I, III, IV, and V, further supporting reliance on the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) phenotype. OVCAR3-OCSCs also exhibited significant increase in CD36, ACACA, SCD, and CPT1A, with CD44, CD133, and ALDH1A1 exhibiting positive correlations with lipid metabolic enzymes. TCGA data show positive correlations between OCSC markers and glutamine metabolism enzymes, whereas in OCSC experimental models of GSE64999, GSE28799, and CCLE, the number of positive and negative correlations observed was significantly lower and was different between model systems. Appropriate integration and validation of data model systems with those in patients' specimens is needed not only to bridge our knowledge gap of metabolic programing of OCSCs, but also in designing novel strategies to target the metabolic plasticity of dormant, resistant, and CSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alia Ghoneum
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (A.G.); (D.G.); (A.Y.A.)
| | - Daniela Gonzalez
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (A.G.); (D.G.); (A.Y.A.)
| | - Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (A.G.); (D.G.); (A.Y.A.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria 21131, Egypt
| | - Neveen Said
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA; (A.G.); (D.G.); (A.Y.A.)
- Departments of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Departments of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest Baptist Health Sciences, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ghoneum A, Abdulfattah AY, Warren BO, Shu J, Said N. Redox Homeostasis and Metabolism in Cancer: A Complex Mechanism and Potential Targeted Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3100. [PMID: 32354000 PMCID: PMC7247161 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive Oxygen Species or "ROS" encompass several molecules derived from oxygen that can oxidize other molecules and subsequently transition rapidly between species. The key roles of ROS in biological processes are cell signaling, biosynthetic processes, and host defense. In cancer cells, increased ROS production and oxidative stress are instigated by carcinogens, oncogenic mutations, and importantly, metabolic reprograming of the rapidly proliferating cancer cells. Increased ROS production activates myriad downstream survival pathways that further cancer progression and metastasis. In this review, we highlight the relation between ROS, the metabolic programing of cancer, and stromal and immune cells with emphasis on and the transcription machinery involved in redox homeostasis, metabolic programing and malignant phenotype. We also shed light on the therapeutic targeting of metabolic pathways generating ROS as we investigate: Orlistat, Biguandes, AICAR, 2 Deoxyglucose, CPI-613, and Etomoxir.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alia Ghoneum
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Bailey Olivia Warren
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Junjun Shu
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Neveen Said
- Departments of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Departments of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Ovarian cancer stands as the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and remains the fifth most common gynecologic cancer. Poor prognosis and low five-year survival rate are attributed to nonspecific symptoms at early phases along with a lack of effective treatment at advanced stages. It is thus paramount, that ovarian carcinoma be viewed through several lenses in order to gain a thorough comprehension of its molecular pathogenesis, epidemiology, histological subtypes, hereditary factors, diagnostic approaches, and methods of treatment. Above all, it is crucial to dissect the role that the unique peritoneal tumor microenvironment plays in ovarian cancer progression and metastasis. This short communication seeks to underscore several important aspects of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/NFκB pathway in the context of ovarian cancer and discuss recent advances in targeting this pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alia Ghoneum
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Ammar Yasser Abdulfattah
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Neveen Said
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Wake Forest Baptist Health Sciences, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| |
Collapse
|