1
|
Thomas JA, Gireesh Moly AG, Xavier H, Suboj P, Ladha A, Gupta G, Singh SK, Palit P, Babykutty S. Enhancement of immune surveillance in breast cancer by targeting hypoxic tumor endothelium: Can it be an immunological switch point? Front Oncol 2023; 13:1063051. [PMID: 37056346 PMCID: PMC10088512 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1063051] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer ranks second among the causes of cancer-related deaths in women. In spite of the recent advances achieved in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, further study is required to overcome the risk of cancer resistance to treatment and thereby improve the prognosis of individuals with advanced-stage breast cancer. The existence of a hypoxic microenvironment is a well-known event in the development of mutagenesis and rapid proliferation of cancer cells. Tumor cells, purposefully cause local hypoxia in order to induce angiogenesis and growth factors that promote tumor growth and metastatic characteristics, while healthy tissue surrounding the tumor suffers damage or mutate. It has been found that these settings with low oxygen levels cause immunosuppression and a lack of immune surveillance by reducing the activation and recruitment of tumor infiltrating leukocytes (TILs). The immune system is further suppressed by hypoxic tumor endothelium through a variety of ways, which creates an immunosuppressive milieu in the tumor microenvironment. Non responsiveness of tumor endothelium to inflammatory signals or endothelial anergy exclude effector T cells from the tumor milieu. Expression of endothelial specific antigens and immunoinhibitory molecules like Programmed death ligand 1,2 (PDL-1, 2) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) by tumor endothelium adds fuel to the fire by inhibiting T lymphocytes while promoting regulatory T cells. The hypoxic microenvironment in turn recruits Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs), Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs) and T regulatory cells (Treg). The structure and function of newly generated blood vessels within tumors, on the other hand, are aberrant, lacking the specific organization of normal tissue vasculature. Vascular normalisation may work for a variety of tumour types and show to be an advantageous complement to immunotherapy for improving tumour access. By enhancing immune response in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, via immune-herbal therapeutic and immune-nutraceuticals based approaches that leverage immunological evasion of tumor, will be briefly reviewed in this article. Whether these tactics may be the game changer for emerging immunological switch point to attenuate the breast cancer growth and prevent metastatic cell division, is the key concern of the current study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juvin Ann Thomas
- Centre for Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment, Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Athira Gireesh Gireesh Moly
- Centre for Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment, Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Hima Xavier
- Centre for Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment, Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Priya Suboj
- Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xaviers College, Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Amit Ladha
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West-Midlands, United Kingdom
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Santosh Kumar Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Partha Palit
- Drug Discovery Research Laboratory, Assam University, Silchar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Assam, India
| | - Suboj Babykutty
- Centre for Tumor Immunology and Microenvironment, Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Incio J, Ligibel JA, McManus DT, Suboj P, Jung K, Kawaguchi K, Pinter M, Babykutty S, Chin SM, Vardam TD, Huang Y, Rahbari NN, Roberge S, Wang D, Gomes-Santos IL, Puchner SB, Schlett CL, Hoffmman U, Ancukiewicz M, Tolaney SM, Krop IE, Duda DG, Boucher Y, Fukumura D, Jain RK. Obesity promotes resistance to anti-VEGF therapy in breast cancer by up-regulating IL-6 and potentially FGF-2. Sci Transl Med 2019. [PMID: 29540614 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aag0945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy has failed to improve survival in patients with breast cancer (BC). Potential mechanisms of resistance to anti-VEGF therapy include the up-regulation of alternative angiogenic and proinflammatory factors. Obesity is associated with hypoxic adipose tissues, including those in the breast, resulting in increased production of some of the aforementioned factors. Hence, we hypothesized that obesity could contribute to anti-VEGF therapy's lack of efficacy. We found that BC patients with obesity harbored increased systemic concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and/or fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), and their tumor vasculature was less sensitive to anti-VEGF treatment. Mouse models revealed that obesity impairs the effects of anti-VEGF on angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. In one murine BC model, obesity was associated with increased IL-6 production from adipocytes and myeloid cells within tumors. IL-6 blockade abrogated the obesity-induced resistance to anti-VEGF therapy in primary and metastatic sites by directly affecting tumor cell proliferation, normalizing tumor vasculature, alleviating hypoxia, and reducing immunosuppression. Similarly, in a second mouse model, where obesity was associated with increased FGF-2, normalization of FGF-2 expression by metformin or specific FGF receptor inhibition decreased vessel density and restored tumor sensitivity to anti-VEGF therapy in obese mice. Collectively, our data indicate that obesity fuels BC resistance to anti-VEGF therapy via the production of inflammatory and angiogenic factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joao Incio
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,I3S, Institute for Innovation and Research in Health, Metabolism, Nutrition, and Endocrinology Group, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto 4200-135, Portugal.,Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital S. João, Porto 4200-319, Portugal
| | - Jennifer A Ligibel
- Dana-Farber Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel T McManus
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Priya Suboj
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College, Thumba, Trivandrum, Kerala 695586, India
| | - Keehoon Jung
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kosuke Kawaguchi
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Suboj Babykutty
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Trivandrum, Kerala 695015, India
| | - Shan M Chin
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Trupti D Vardam
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yuhui Huang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Nuh N Rahbari
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sylvie Roberge
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Dannie Wang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Igor L Gomes-Santos
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Heart Institute (Instituto do Coração-Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo), University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo 05403-900, Brazil
| | - Stefan B Puchner
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Christopher L Schlett
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Udo Hoffmman
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marek Ancukiewicz
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Dana-Farber Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ian E Krop
- Dana-Farber Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dan G Duda
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yves Boucher
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Incio J, Liu H, Suboj P, Min S, Chen I, Ng M, Nia H, Grahovac J, Kao S, Babykutty S, Huang Y, Jung K, Rahbari N, Han X, Chauhan V, Martin J, Kahn J, Huang P, Deshpande V, Michaelson J, Ferrone C, Soares R, Boucher Y, Fukumura D, Jain R. Abstract A45: Obesity-induced inflammation and desmoplasia promote pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.epso16-a45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: With the current epidemic of obesity, the majority of pancreatic cancer patients are overweight or obese at diagnosis. Importantly, obesity worsens treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that underlie the poorer prognosis of obese cancer patients is of paramount importance. Obesity causes inflammation and fibrosis in the normal pancreas due to the accumulation of dysfunctional hypertrophic adipocytes. Importantly, desmoplasia—a fibro-inflammatory microenvironment—is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and we have shown that activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) via angiotensin-II type 1 receptor (AT1) pathway is a major contribution to tumor desmoplasia. Whether obesity affects inflammation, PSCs and desmoplasia in PDACs, and interferes with delivery and response of chemotherapeutics is currently unknown.
Experimental Design: Using mouse models of PDAC—multiple syngeneic models of PDAC: PAN02, AK4.4, KPC, iKRAS in diet-induced and genetic obese mouse models—we determined the effects of obesity on desmoplasia and inflammation, tumor growth and delivery and response to chemotherapy. We further evaluated whether the obesity-induced effects were mediated by AT1 signaling as well as via immune cell recruitment, and dissected the crosstalk between PSCs, cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), and tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). In addition, we determined if an anti-diabetic drug metformin could counter these effects in vivo, and further dissected the mechanism of action in vitro.
Results: We found that obesity aggravates desmoplasia in PDACs in multiple mouse models. In addition, tumors in obese mice presented with elevated levels of activated PSCs and fibrosis, as well as inflammatory cytokines and TANs. These alterations in the tumor microenvironment in obesity associated with accelerated tumor growth, reduced tumor blood perfusion and increased hypoxia, and impaired delivery and efficacy of chemotherapeutics. Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition (losartan) of AT1 signaling reversed obesity-augmented desmoplasia and tumor growth, and improved the response to chemotherapy to the level observed in lean mice. We further discovered the underlying mechanisms: 1) obesity increases intra-tumor adipocytes and IL-1ß secretion by these cells; 2) increased IL-1ß induces TAN recruitment; 3) recruited TANs activate PSCs; and 4) activated PSCs enhance desmoplasia. Conversely, activated PSCs also secrete IL-1ß that recruits further TANs. Hence, inactivation of PSCs through AT1 blockade resulted in not only decreased fibrosis but also reduced IL-1ß level and TAN recruitment. Furthermore, reduction of either TANs, IL-1ß, or PSC activation reduced tumor growth in obese mice. These findings suggest that crosstalk between adipocytes, immune cells, and PSCs exacerbates desmoplasia and promotes tumor progression during obesity. Of clinical relevance, we found that metformin not only normalizes the abnormal systemic metabolism, but also alleviates the fibro-inflammatory microenvironment in pancreatic cancer in obesity/diabetes. This occurred via direct reprogramming of PSCs and immune cells by metformin. Importantly, the strategies described above were not effective in the normal weight setting.
Conclusion: Here we successfully demonstrated that targeting desmoplasia, including immunomodulation with anti-IL-1ß, or treatment with generic drugs such as losartan and metformin are potential strategies to potentiate treatments in PDAC patients with excess weight. With a better understanding of the mechanisms by which obesity promotes tumor progression and therapy resistance, we will be able to improve the current standard of care in pancreatic cancer.
Citation Format: Joao Incio, Hao Liu, Priya Suboj, Shan Min, Ivy Chen, Mei Ng, Hadi Nia, Jelena Grahovac, Shannon Kao, Suboj Babykutty, Yuhui Huang, Keehoon Jung, Nuh Rahbari, Xiaoxing Han, Vikash Chauhan, John Martin, Julia Kahn, Peigen Huang, Vikram Deshpande, James Michaelson, Cristina Ferrone, Raquel Soares, Yves Boucher, Dai Fukumura, Rakesh Jain. Obesity-induced inflammation and desmoplasia promote pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Engineering and Physical Sciences in Oncology; 2016 Jun 25-28; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(2 Suppl):Abstract nr A45.
Collapse
|
4
|
Incio J, Liu H, Suboj P, Chin SM, Chen IX, Pinter M, Ng MR, Nia HT, Grahovac J, Kao S, Babykutty S, Huang Y, Jung K, Rahbari NN, Han X, Chauhan VP, Martin JD, Kahn J, Huang P, Desphande V, Michaelson J, Michelakos TP, Ferrone CR, Soares R, Boucher Y, Fukumura D, Jain RK. Obesity-Induced Inflammation and Desmoplasia Promote Pancreatic Cancer Progression and Resistance to Chemotherapy. Cancer Discov 2016; 6:852-69. [PMID: 27246539 PMCID: PMC4972679 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-15-1177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.6] [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: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED It remains unclear how obesity worsens treatment outcomes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In normal pancreas, obesity promotes inflammation and fibrosis. We found in mouse models of PDAC that obesity also promotes desmoplasia associated with accelerated tumor growth and impaired delivery/efficacy of chemotherapeutics through reduced perfusion. Genetic and pharmacologic inhibition of angiotensin-II type-1 receptor reverses obesity-augmented desmoplasia and tumor growth and improves response to chemotherapy. Augmented activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) in obesity is induced by tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN) recruited by adipocyte-secreted IL1β. PSCs further secrete IL1β, and inactivation of PSCs reduces IL1β expression and TAN recruitment. Furthermore, depletion of TANs, IL1β inhibition, or inactivation of PSCs prevents obesity-accelerated tumor growth. In patients with pancreatic cancer, we confirmed that obesity is associated with increased desmoplasia and reduced response to chemotherapy. We conclude that cross-talk between adipocytes, TANs, and PSCs exacerbates desmoplasia and promotes tumor progression in obesity. SIGNIFICANCE Considering the current obesity pandemic, unraveling the mechanisms underlying obesity-induced cancer progression is an urgent need. We found that the aggravation of desmoplasia is a key mechanism of obesity-promoted PDAC progression. Importantly, we discovered that clinically available antifibrotic/inflammatory agents can improve the treatment response of PDAC in obese hosts. Cancer Discov; 6(8); 852-69. ©2016 AACR.See related commentary by Bronte and Tortora, p. 821This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 803.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joao Incio
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital S. Joao, Porto, Portugal. I3S, Institute for Innovation and Research in Heath, Metabolism, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hao Liu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Priya Suboj
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xaviers College, Thumba, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Shan M Chin
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ivy X Chen
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mei R Ng
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hadi T Nia
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jelena Grahovac
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shannon Kao
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suboj Babykutty
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Yuhui Huang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keehoon Jung
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nuh N Rahbari
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xiaoxing Han
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vikash P Chauhan
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John D Martin
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julia Kahn
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Peigen Huang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vikram Desphande
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - James Michaelson
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Laboratory for Quantitative Medicine, and Division of Surgical Oncology, Gillette Center for Women's Cancers, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Theodoros P Michelakos
- Departments of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Cristina R Ferrone
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Departments of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Raquel Soares
- I3S, Institute for Innovation and Research in Heath, Metabolism, Nutrition and Endocrinology Group, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Yves Boucher
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Incio J, Suboj P, Chin SM, Ivy C, Ng M, Nia H, Grahovac J, Liu H, Kao S, Babykutty S, Huang Y, Jung K, Rahbari N, Han X, Chauhan V, Martin J, Kahn J, Huang P, Soares R, Boucher Y, Fukumura D, Jain R. Abstract 898: Obesity-induced inflammation and desmoplasia promote pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: With the current epidemic of obesity, the majority of pancreatic cancer patients are overweight or obese at diagnosis. Importantly, obesity worsens treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer patients. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that underlie the poorer prognosis of obese cancer patients is of paramount importance. Obesity causes inflammation and fibrosis in the normal pancreas due to the accumulation of dysfunctional hypertrophic adipocytes. Importantly, desmoplasia - a fibroinflammatory microenvironment - is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and we have shown that activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) via angiotensin-II type 1 receptor (AT1) pathway is a major contribution to tumor desmoplasia. Whether obesity affects desmoplasia in PDACs, and interferes with delivery and response of chemotherapeutics is currently unknown.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Using both human samples and mouse models of PDAC - multiple syngeneic models of PDAC: PAN02, AK4.4, KPC, iKRAS in diet-induced and genetic obese mouse models -, we determined the effects of obesity on desmoplasia and inflammation/immune cell infiltration, tumor growth and delivery and response to chemotherapy.
RESULTS: We found that obesity aggravates desmoplasia in PDACs in both patient samples and multiple mouse models. In addition, tumors in obese mice presented with elevated levels of activated PSCs and fibrosis, as well as inflammatory cytokines and TANs,. These alterations in the tumor microenvironment in obesity associated with accelerated tumor growth, reduced tumor blood perfusion and increased hypoxia, and impaired delivery and efficacy of chemotherapeutics. Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition (losartan) of AT1 signaling reversed obesity-augmented desmoplasia and tumor growth, and improved the response to chemotherapy to the level observed in lean mice. We further discovered the underlying mechanisms: 1) obesity increases intra-tumor adipocytes and IL-1ß secretion by these cells; 2) increased IL-1ß induces TAN recruitment; 3) recruited TANs activate PSCs; and 4) activated PSCs enhance desmoplasia. Conversely, activated PSCs also secrete IL-1ß that recruits further TANs. Of clinical relevance, we found that metformin not only normalizes the abnormal systemic metabolism, but also reprogramms PSCs and immune cells and alleviates the fibroinflammatory microenvironment in pancreatic cancer in obesity/diabetes.. Importantly, the strategies described above were not effective in the normal weight setting.
CONCLUSION: Here we successfully demonstrated that targeting desmoplasia, including immunomodulation with anti-IL-1ß, or treatment with generic drugs such as losartan and metformin are potential strategies to potentiate treatments in PDAC patients with excess weight.
Citation Format: Joao Incio, Priya Suboj, Shan M. Chin, Chen Ivy, Mei Ng, Hadi Nia, Jelena Grahovac, Hao Liu, Shannon Kao, Suboj Babykutty, Yuhui Huang, Keehoon Jung, Nuh Rahbari, Xiaoxing Han, Vikash Chauhan, John Martin, Julia Kahn, Peigen Huang, Raquel Soares, Yves Boucher, Dai Fukumura, Rakesh Jain. Obesity-induced inflammation and desmoplasia promote pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 898.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Chen Ivy
- 1Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA
| | - Mei Ng
- 1Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA
| | - Hadi Nia
- 1Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA
| | | | - Hao Liu
- 1Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Incio J, Suboj P, Chin S, Liu H, Soares R, Boucher Y, Fukumura D, Jain R. Proffered Paper: Obesity-induced inflammation and desmoplasia promote pancreatic cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. Eur J Cancer 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(16)61017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
7
|
Incio J, Tam J, Rahbari NN, Suboj P, McManus DT, Chin SM, Vardam TD, Batista A, Babykutty S, Jung K, Khachatryan A, Hato T, Ligibel JA, Krop IE, Puchner SB, Schlett CL, Hoffmman U, Ancukiewicz M, Shibuya M, Carmeliet P, Soares R, Duda DG, Jain RK, Fukumura D. PlGF/VEGFR-1 Signaling Promotes Macrophage Polarization and Accelerated Tumor Progression in Obesity. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 22:2993-3004. [PMID: 26861455 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-1839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Obesity promotes pancreatic and breast cancer progression via mechanisms that are poorly understood. Although obesity is associated with increased systemic levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), the role of PlGF in obesity-induced tumor progression is not known. PlGF and its receptor VEGFR-1 have been shown to modulate tumor angiogenesis and promote tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and activity. Here, we hypothesized that increased activity of PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling mediates obesity-induced tumor progression by augmenting tumor angiogenesis and TAM recruitment/activity. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We established diet-induced obese mouse models of wild-type C57BL/6, VEGFR-1 tyrosine kinase (TK)-null, or PlGF-null mice, and evaluated the role of PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling in pancreatic and breast cancer mouse models and in human samples. RESULTS We found that obesity increased TAM infiltration, tumor growth, and metastasis in pancreatic cancers, without affecting vessel density. Ablation of VEGFR-1 signaling prevented obesity-induced tumor progression and shifted the tumor immune environment toward an antitumor phenotype. Similar findings were observed in a breast cancer model. Obesity was associated with increased systemic PlGF, but not VEGF-A or VEGF-B, in pancreatic and breast cancer patients and in various mouse models of these cancers. Ablation of PlGF phenocopied the effects of VEGFR-1-TK deletion on tumors in obese mice. PlGF/VEGFR-1-TK deletion prevented weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet, but exacerbated hyperinsulinemia. Addition of metformin not only normalized insulin levels but also enhanced antitumor immunity. CONCLUSIONS Targeting PlGF/VEGFR-1 signaling reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment and inhibits obesity-induced acceleration of tumor progression. Clin Cancer Res; 22(12); 2993-3004. ©2016 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joao Incio
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. I3S, Institute for Innovation and Research in Heath, Metabolism, Nutrition and Endocrinology group, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Josh Tam
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nuh N Rahbari
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Surgery, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Priya Suboj
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xaviers College, Thumba, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Dan T McManus
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shan M Chin
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Trupti D Vardam
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona
| | - Ana Batista
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suboj Babykutty
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Keehoon Jung
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anna Khachatryan
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tai Hato
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Surgery, KeioUniversity School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jennifer A Ligibel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ian E Krop
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stefan B Puchner
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher L Schlett
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Udo Hoffmman
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marek Ancukiewicz
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. PAREXEL International, Billerica, Massachusetts
| | - Masabumi Shibuya
- Institute of Physiology and Medicine, Jobu University, Takasaki, Gunma, Japan
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular link, Vesalius Research Center, Department of Oncology, K.U. Leuven and VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raquel Soares
- I3S, Institute for Innovation and Research in Heath, Metabolism, Nutrition and Endocrinology group, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Dan G Duda
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Incio J, Suboj P, Chin SM, Vardam-Kaur T, Liu H, Hato T, Babykutty S, Chen I, Deshpande V, Jain RK, Fukumura D. Metformin Reduces Desmoplasia in Pancreatic Cancer by Reprogramming Stellate Cells and Tumor-Associated Macrophages. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141392. [PMID: 26641266 PMCID: PMC4671732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly desmoplastic tumor with a dismal prognosis for most patients. Fibrosis and inflammation are hallmarks of tumor desmoplasia. We have previously demonstrated that preventing the activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and alleviating desmoplasia are beneficial strategies in treating PDAC. Metformin is a widely used glucose-lowering drug. It is also frequently prescribed to diabetic pancreatic cancer patients and has been shown to associate with a better outcome. However, the underlying mechanisms of this benefit remain unclear. Metformin has been found to modulate the activity of stellate cells in other disease settings. In this study, we examine the effect of metformin on PSC activity, fibrosis and inflammation in PDACs. Methods/Results In overweight, diabetic PDAC patients and pre-clinical mouse models, treatment with metformin reduced levels of tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) components, in particular hyaluronan (HA). In vitro, we found that metformin reduced TGF-ß signaling and the production of HA and collagen-I in cultured PSCs. Furthermore, we found that metformin alleviates tumor inflammation by reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β as well as infiltration and M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in vitro and in vivo. These effects on macrophages in vitro appear to be associated with a modulation of the AMPK/STAT3 pathway by metformin. Finally, we found in our preclinical models that the alleviation of desmoplasia by metformin was associated with a reduction in ECM remodeling, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ultimately systemic metastasis. Conclusion Metformin alleviates the fibro-inflammatory microenvironment in obese/diabetic individuals with pancreatic cancer by reprogramming PSCs and TAMs, which correlates with reduced disease progression. Metformin should be tested/explored as part of the treatment strategy in overweight diabetic PDAC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joao Incio
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital S. Joao, Porto, Portugal
- I3S, Institute for Innovation and Research in Heath, Metabolism, Nutrition and Endocrinology group, Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Priya Suboj
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xaviers College, Thumba, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Shan M. Chin
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Trupti Vardam-Kaur
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hao Liu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Program of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tai Hato
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Suboj Babykutty
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Ivy Chen
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vikram Deshpande
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rakesh K. Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RKJ); (DF)
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RKJ); (DF)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Incio J, Tam J, Rahbari N, Suboj P, McManus D, Chin S, Vardan-Kaur T, Batista A, Babycutty S, Jung K, Khachatryan A, Shibuya M, Soares R, Duda D, Jain RK, Fukumura D. Abstract LB-267: Role of VEGFR-1 signaling in obesity-induced tumor progression. Cancer Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2015-lb-267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Obesity associates with angiogenesis and increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissues during weight gain. Whether these effects also occur in cancer to promote tumor progression in obese condition remains unclear. We have shown that the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) pathway can modulate tumor angiogenesis and recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Here, we tested the emerging hypothesis that obesity enhances tumor progression and metastasis by augmenting angiogenesis and TAM recruitment via activation of the VEGFR-1 pathway.
Methods: We used a high-fat diet-induced obesity model in either wild type (WT) or VEGFR-1 tyrosine kinase null (Flt1TK-/-) C57BL/6 mice. Then, we implanted orthotopically syngeneic pancreatic (PAN02) or breast (E0771) carcinomas. We evaluated the role of VEGFR-1 activity on systemic metabolism, tumor angiogenesis and immune environment, and tumor growth and metastasis.
Results: Obesity increased p38-MAPK activation and TAM infiltration, tumor growth (p = 0.001) and metastasis (p = 0.035) in PAN02 tumors. VEGFR-1 inhibition reduced tumor growth (p = 0.007) and metastasis (p = 0.017) in obese but not lean mice. This was associated with a decreased p38-MAPK activity and a shift in TAM polarization towards the M1 phenotype with reduced secretion of pro-tumor cytokines, but no change in vascular density or number of TAMs. In the E0771 model, VEGFR-1 inhibition reduced MMP-9 expression and decreased lung metastatic burden (p = 0.026) in obese mice. In addition to these tumor effects, VEGFR-1 inhibition reduced weight gain, but caused metabolic disorder-hyperinsulinemia-during obesity. Combining metformin with VEGFR-1 inhibition not only prevented this metabolic alteration, but also by recruiting cytotoxic cells further decreased tumor growth in the PAN02 model (p = 0.047).
Conclusion: Inactivation of VEGFR-1 signaling prevents weight gain and obesity-induced acceleration of tumor progression in pancreatic and breast cancer models. Targeting VEGFR-1 signaling axis in combination with an anti-diabetic drug such as metformin might be a considerable cancer therapeutic option in the obese setting.
Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting.
Citation Format: Joao Incio, Joshua Tam, Nuh Rahbari, Priya Suboj, Daniel McManus, Shan Chin, Trupti Vardan-Kaur, Ana Batista, Suboj Babycutty, Keehoon Jung, Anna Khachatryan, Masabumi Shibuya, Raquel Soares, Dan Duda, Rakesh K. Jain, Dai Fukumura. Role of VEGFR-1 signaling in obesity-induced tumor progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-267. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-LB-267
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nuh Rahbari
- 2Department of Surgery, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | - Shan Chin
- 1Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Masabumi Shibuya
- 3Institute of Physiology and Medicine, Jobu University, Takasaki, Gunma, Japan
| | - Raquel Soares
- 4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Dan Duda
- 1Harvard Medical School/MGH, Boston, MA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Babykutty S, Suboj P, Srinivas P, Nair AS, Chandramohan K, Gopala S. Insidious role of nitric oxide in migration/invasion of colon cancer cells by upregulating MMP-2/9 via activation of cGMP-PKG-ERK signaling pathways. Clin Exp Metastasis 2012; 29:471-92. [PMID: 22419013 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-012-9464-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO), an uncharged free radical is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. The present study is an investigation on the effect of NO on proliferation, apoptosis and migration of colon cancer cells. Colon adenocarcinoma cells, WiDr, were used for the in vitro experiments. Tissues from colon adenocarcinoma, adjacent normal and inflammatory tissue and lymph node with metastasis were evaluated for iNOS, MMP-2/9 and Fra-1/Fra-2. NO increases the proliferation of cancer cells and simultaneously prevents apoptosis. Expression of MMP-2/9, RhoB and Rac-1 was enhanced by NO in a time dependent manner. Further, NO increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and induced nuclear translocation of Fra-1 and Fra-2. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis and use of deletion mutant promoter constructs identified role of AP-1 in NO-mediated regulation of MMP-2/9. iNOS, MMP-2/9, Fra-1 and Fra-2 in normal and colon adenocarcinoma tissues were analyzed and it was found that increased expression of these proteins in cancer when compared to normal provides support to our in vitro findings. The study showed that the NO-cGMP-PKG promotes MMP-2/9 expression by activating ERK-1/2 and AP-1. This study reveals the insidious role of NO in imparting tumor aggressiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suboj Babykutty
- Department of Biochemistry, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, 695011, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Suboj P, Babykutty S, Srinivas P, Gopala S. Aloe emodin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via activation of caspase-6 in human colon cancer cells. Pharmacology 2012; 89:91-8. [PMID: 22343391 DOI: 10.1159/000335659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aloe emodin (AE), a natural anthraquinone, is reported to have antiproliferative activity in various cancer cell lines. In this study, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms involved in the growth-inhibitory activity of this hydroxyanthraquinone in colon cancer cell, WiDr. In our observation AE inhibited cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and inhibiting cyclin B1. AE appreciably induced cell death specifically through the induction of apoptosis and by activating caspases 9/6. Apoptotic execution was found to be solely dependent on caspase-6 rather than caspase-3 or caspase-7. This is the first study indicating that the AE induces apoptosis specifically through the activation of caspase-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Suboj
- Department of Biochemistry, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|