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Pettersen S, Øy GF, Egeland EV, Juell S, Engebråten O, Mælandsmo GM, Prasmickaite L. Breast cancer patient-derived explant cultures recapitulate in vivo drug responses. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1040665. [PMID: 36910663 PMCID: PMC9992973 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1040665] [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: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Assessment of drug sensitivity in tumor tissue ex vivo may significantly contribute to functional diagnostics to guide personalized treatment of cancer. Tumor organoid- and explant-cultures have become attractive tools towards this goal, although culturing conditions for breast cancer (BC) tissue have been among the most challenging to develop. Validation of possibilities to detect concordant responses in individual tumors and their respective cultures ex vivo is still needed. Here we employed BC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) with distinct drug sensitivity, to evaluate different conditions for tissue dissociation, culturing and monitoring of treatment efficacy ex vivo, aiming to recapitulate the in vivo drug responses. The common challenge of discriminating between tumor and normal cells in the cultured tissue was also addressed. Following conventional enzymatic dissociation of BC tissue, the tumor cells stayed within the non-disrupted tissue fragments, while the single cells represented mostly normal host cells. By culturing such fragments as explants, viable tumor tissue could be maintained and treated ex vivo, providing representative indications on efficacy of the tested treatment. Thus, drug sensitivity profiles, including acquired chemoresistance seen in the PDXs, were recapitulated in the respective explants. To detect the concordant responses, however, the effect monitoring had to be harmonized with the characteristics of the cultured tissue. In conclusion, we present the feasibility of BC explants ex vivo to capture differences in drug sensitivity of individual tumors. The established protocols will aid in setting up an analogous platform for BC patient biopsies with the aim to facilitate functional precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solveig Pettersen
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir Frode Øy
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Valen Egeland
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siri Juell
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav Engebråten
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Insitute for Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunhild Mari Mælandsmo
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø/the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lina Prasmickaite
- Department of Tumor Biology, Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Koch MK, Ravichandran A, Murekatete B, Clegg J, Joseph MT, Hampson M, Jenkinson M, Bauer HS, Snell C, Liu C, Gough M, Thompson EW, Werner C, Hutmacher DW, Haupt LM, Bray LJ. Exploring the Potential of PEG-Heparin Hydrogels to Support Long-Term Ex Vivo Culture of Patient-Derived Breast Explant Tissues. Adv Healthc Mater 2022:e2202202. [PMID: 36527735 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202202] [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: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a complex, highly heterogenous, and dynamic disease and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Evaluation of the heterogeneity of breast cancer and its various subtypes is crucial to identify novel treatment strategies that can overcome the limitations of currently available options. Explant cultures of human mammary tissue have been known to provide important insights for the study of breast cancer structure and phenotype as they include the context of the surrounding microenvironment, allowing for the comprehensive exploration of patient heterogeneity. However, the major limitation of currently available techniques remains the short-term viability of the tissue owing to loss of structural integrity. Here, an ex vivo culture model using star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) and maleimide-functionalized heparin (PEG-HM) hydrogels to provide structural support to the explant cultures is presented. The mechanical support allows the culture of the human mammary tissue for up to 3 weeks and prevent disintegration of the cellular structures including the epithelium and surrounding stromal tissue. Further, maintenance of epithelial phenotype and hormonal receptors is observed for up to 2 weeks of culture which makes them relevant for testing therapeutic interventions. Through this study, the importance of donor-to-donor variability and intra-patient tissue heterogeneity is reiterated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Koch
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Akhilandeshwari Ravichandran
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Berline Murekatete
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Julien Clegg
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.,Centre for the Personalised Analysis of Cancers, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Mary Teresa Joseph
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Madison Hampson
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Mitchell Jenkinson
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Hannah S Bauer
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Cameron Snell
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Mater Pathology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Cheng Liu
- Mater Pathology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Madeline Gough
- Mater Pathology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.,Cancer Pathology Research Group, Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Centre for the Personalised Analysis of Cancers, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dietmar W Hutmacher
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.,Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling, and Manufacturing (M3D Innovation), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Center for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
| | - Larisa M Haupt
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Center for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Genomics Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia
| | - Laura J Bray
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia.,Centre for the Personalised Analysis of Cancers, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.,Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.,Max Planck Queensland Center for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
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Nunes M, Henriques Abreu M, Bartosch C, Ricardo S. Recycling the Purpose of Old Drugs to Treat Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207768. [PMID: 33092251 PMCID: PMC7656306 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The main challenge in ovarian cancer treatment is the management of recurrences. Facing this scenario, therapy selection is based on multiple factors to define the best treatment sequence. Target therapies, such as bevacizumab and polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, improved patient survival. However, despite their achievements, ovarian cancer survival remains poor; these therapeutic options are highly costly and can be associated with potential side effects. Recently, it has been shown that the combination of repurposed, conventional, chemotherapeutic drugs could be an alternative, presenting good patient outcomes with few side effects and low costs for healthcare institutions. The main aim of this review is to strengthen the importance of repurposed drugs as therapeutic alternatives, and to propose an in vitro model to assess the therapeutic value. Herein, we compiled the current knowledge on the most promising non-oncological drugs for ovarian cancer treatment, focusing on statins, metformin, bisphosphonates, ivermectin, itraconazole, and ritonavir. We discuss the primary drug use, anticancer mechanisms, and applicability in ovarian cancer. Finally, we propose the use of these therapies to perform drug efficacy tests in ovarian cancer ex vivo cultures. This personalized testing approach could be crucial to validate the existing evidences supporting the use of repurposed drugs for ovarian cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Nunes
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto/Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
| | - Miguel Henriques Abreu
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Bartosch
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPOP), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center—Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (CI-IPOP), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Ricardo
- Differentiation and Cancer Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) of the University of Porto/Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (PCCC), 4200-162 Porto, Portugal; (M.H.A.); (C.B.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-225-570-700
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