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Ghofrani J, Bowen A, Chen J, Balakrishnan PB, Powell AB, Cherukula K, Cruz CRY, Jones RB, Lynch RM, Sweeney EE, Fernandes R. Nanodepots Encapsulating a Latency Reversing Agent and Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Enhance Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity Against an in vitro Model of Latent HIV. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:4055-4066. [PMID: 37520301 PMCID: PMC10386837 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s401304] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Current antiretroviral therapies (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are not curative, as the virus persists in latent reservoirs, requiring lifelong adherence to ART and increasing the risk of co-morbidities. "Shock and kill" approaches to reactivate HIV from latent reservoirs followed by administration of anti-HIV drugs represent a promising strategy for eradicating latent HIV. To achieve effective shock and kill, we describe a strategy to eradicate the HIV reservoir that combines latency reversing agents (LRAs), broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), and natural killer (NK) cells. This strategy utilizes a polymer nanodepot (ND) that co-encapsulates the LRA and bnAb to reactivate latent infection and elicit enhanced cytotoxicity from co-administered NK cells. Methods Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NDs were synthesized using the nanoprecipitation method to co-encapsulate an LRA (TNF-α) and a bnAb (3BNC117) (TNF-α-3BNC117-NDs). ACH-2 cells were used as a cellular model of latent HIV infection. An NK92 subline, genetically modified to constitutively express the Fc receptor CD16, was administered to ACH-2 cells in combination with TNF-α-3BNC117-NDs. ACH-2 cell death and extracellular p24 were measured via flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Results Stable PLGA NDs co-encapsulated TNF-α and 3BNC117 with high efficiencies and released these agents in physiological conditions. NK92 phenotype remained similar in the presence of TNF-α-3BNC117-NDs. TNF-α released from NDs efficiently reactivated HIV in ACH-2 cells, as measured by a 3.0-fold increase in the frequency of intracellular p24 positive cells. Released 3BNC117 neutralized and bound reactivated virus, targeting 57.5% of total ACH-2 cells. Critically, TNF-α-3BNC117-NDs significantly enhanced NK92 cell-mediated killing of ACH-2 cells (1.9-fold) and reduced extracellular levels of p24 to baseline. Conclusion These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of our novel ND-based tripartite strategy to reactivate HIV from latently infected cells, generate an HIV-specific site for bnAb binding, and enhance the killing of reactivated HIV-infected target cells by NK92 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Ghofrani
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Allan Bowen
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Allison B Powell
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kondareddy Cherukula
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Conrad Russell Y Cruz
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - R Brad Jones
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca M Lynch
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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2
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Sweeney EE, Sekhri P, Telaraja D, Chen J, Chin SJ, Chiappinelli KB, Sanchez CE, Bollard CM, Cruz CRY, Fernandes R. Engineered tumor-specific T cells using immunostimulatory photothermal nanoparticles. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:S1465-3249(23)00094-4. [PMID: 37278683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.03.014] [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: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adoptive T cell therapy (ATCT) has been successful in treating hematological malignancies and is currently under investigation for solid-tumor therapy. In contrast to existing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell and/or antigen-specific T cell approaches, which require known targets, and responsive to the need for targeting a broad repertoire of antigens in solid tumors, we describe the first use of immunostimulatory photothermal nanoparticles to generate tumor-specific T cells. METHODS Specifically, we subject whole tumor cells to Prussian blue nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy (PBNP-PTT) before culturing with dendritic cells (DCs), and subsequent stimulation of T cells. This strategy differs from previous approaches using tumor cell lysates because we use nanoparticles to mediate thermal and immunogenic cell death in tumor cells, rendering them enhanced antigen sources. RESULTS In proof-of-concept studies using two glioblastoma (GBM) tumor cell lines, we first demonstrated that when PBNP-PTT was administered at a "thermal dose" targeted to induce the immunogenicity of U87 GBM cells, we effectively expanded U87-specific T cells. Further, we found that DCs cultured ex vivo with PBNP-PTT-treated U87 cells enabled 9- to 30-fold expansion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Upon co-culture with target U87 cells, these T cells secreted interferon-ɣ in a tumor-specific and dose-dependent manner (up to 647-fold over controls). Furthermore, T cells manufactured using PBNP-PTT ex vivo expansion elicited specific cytolytic activity against target U87 cells (donor-dependent 32-93% killing at an effector to target cell (E:T) ratio of 20:1) while sparing normal human astrocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the same donors. In contrast, T cells generated using U87 cell lysates expanded only 6- to 24-fold and killed 2- to 3-fold less U87 target cells at matched E:T ratios compared with T cell products expanded using the PBNP-PTT approach. These results were reproducible even when a different GBM cell line (SNB19) was used, wherein the PBNP-PTT-mediated approach resulted in a 7- to 39-fold expansion of T cells, which elicited 25-66% killing of the SNB19 cells at an E:T ratio of 20:1, depending on the donor. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide proof-of-concept data supporting the use of PBNP-PTT to stimulate and expand tumor-specific T cells ex vivo for potential use as an adoptive T cell therapy approach for the treatment of patients with solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Sweeney
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Palak Sekhri
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Deepti Telaraja
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Samantha J Chin
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Katherine B Chiappinelli
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Carlos E Sanchez
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - C Russell Y Cruz
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- George Washington Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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Balakrishnan PB, Ledezma DK, Cano-Mejia J, Andricovich J, Palmer E, Patel VA, Latham PS, Yvon ES, Villagra A, Fernandes R, Sweeney EE. CD137 agonist potentiates the abscopal efficacy of nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy for melanoma. Nano Res 2022; 15:2300-2314. [PMID: 36089987 PMCID: PMC9455608 DOI: 10.1007/s12274-021-3813-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the promise of immunotherapy such as the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 for advanced melanoma, only 26%-52% of patients respond, and many experience grade III/IV immune-related adverse events. Motivated by the need for an effective therapy for patients non-responsive to clinically approved ICIs, we have developed a novel nanoimmunotherapy that combines locally administered Prussian blue nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy (PBNP-PTT) with systemically administered agonistic anti-CD137 monoclonal antibody therapy (aCD137). PBNP-PTT was administered at various thermal doses to melanoma cells in vitro, and was combined with aCD137 in vivo to test treatment effects on melanoma tumor progression, animal survival, immunological protection against tumor rechallenge, and hepatotoxicity. When administered at a melanoma-specific thermal dose, PBNP-PTT elicits immunogenic cell death (ICD) in melanoma cells and upregulates markers associated with antigen presentation and immune cell co-stimulation in vitro. Consequently, PBNP-PTT eliminates primary melanoma tumors in vivo, yielding long-term tumor-free survival. However, the antitumor immune effects generated by PBNP-PTT cannot eliminate secondary tumors, despite significantly slowing their growth. The addition of aCD137 enables significant abscopal efficacy and improvement of survival, functioning through activated dendritic cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells, and generates CD4+ and CD8+ T cell memory that manifests in the rejection of tumor rechallenge, with no long-term hepatotoxicity. This study describes for the first time a novel and effective nanoimmunotherapy combination of PBNP-PTT with aCD137 mAb therapy for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethi Bala Balakrishnan
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Debbie K. Ledezma
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Juliana Cano-Mejia
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jaclyn Andricovich
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Erica Palmer
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Vishal A. Patel
- Department of Dermatology & Oncology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Patricia S. Latham
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Eric S. Yvon
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Alejandro Villagra
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- ImmunoBlue, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Elizabeth E. Sweeney
- GW Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- ImmunoBlue, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
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Shukla A, Cano-Mejia J, Andricovich J, Burga RA, Sweeney EE, Fernandes R. An Engineered Prussian Blue Nanoparticles-based Nanoimmunotherapy Elicits Robust and Persistent Immunological Memory in a TH-MYCN Neuroblastoma Model. Adv Nanobiomed Res 2021; 1. [PMID: 34435194 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202100021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A combination therapy using Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNP) as photothermal therapy (PTT) agents coated with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, an immunologic adjuvant, as a nanoimmunotherapy (CpG-PBNP-PTT) for neuroblastoma (NB) is described. NB driven by MYCN amplification confers high risk and correlates with a dismal prognosis, accounting for the majority of NB-related mortality. The efficacy of the CpG-PBNP-PTT nanoimmunotherapy in a clinically relevant, TH-MYCN murine NB model (9464D) overexpressing MYCN is tested. When administered to 9464D NB cells in vitro, CpG-PBNP-PTT triggers thermal dose-dependent immunogenic cell death and tumor cell priming for immune recognition in vitro, measured by the expression of specific costimulatory and antigen-presenting molecules. In vivo, intratumorally administered CpG-PBNP-PTT generates complete tumor regression and significantly higher long-term survival compared to controls. Furthermore, CpG-PBNP-PTT-treated mice reject tumor rechallenge. Ex vivo studies confirm these therapeutic responses result from the generation of robust T cell-mediated immunological memory. Consequently, in a synchronous 9464D tumor model, CpG-PBNP-PTT induces complete tumor regression on the treated flank and significantly slows tumor progression on the untreated flank, improving animal survival. These findings demonstrate that localized administration of the CpG-PBNP-PTT nanoimmunotherapy drives potent systemic T cell responses in solid tumors such as NB and therefore has therapeutic implications for NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshi Shukla
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Science and Engineering Hall 8 Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Juliana Cano-Mejia
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Science and Engineering Hall 8 Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Jaclyn Andricovich
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Science and Engineering Hall 8 Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA.,The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University,2300 Eye Street NW, Ross Hall Room 561, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Rachel A Burga
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Science and Engineering Hall 8 Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA.,The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University,2300 Eye Street NW, Ross Hall Room 561, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Science and Engineering Hall 8 Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Science and Engineering Hall 8 Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) comprising monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against immune 'checkpoints', such as CTLA-4 and the PD1/PDL1 axis have dramatically improved clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. However, ICB by itself has failed to provide benefit in a wide range of solid tumors, where recurrence still occurs with high incidence. These poor response rates may be due to the therapeutic shortcomings of ICB; namely, a lack of cancer-specific cytotoxicity and ability to debulk tumors. To overcome these limitations, effective ICB therapy may require the combination with other complementary therapeutic platforms. Here, we propose that photothermal therapy (PTT) is an ideal therapeutic modality for combination with ICB because it can generate both tumor-specific cytotoxicity and immunogenicity. PTT elicits these specific effects because it is a localized thermal ablation technique that utilizes light-responsive nanoparticles activated by a wavelength-matched laser. While ICB immunotherapy alone improves cancer immunogenicity but does not generate robust antitumor cytotoxicity, nanoparticle-based PTT elicits targeted and controlled cytotoxicity but sub-optimal long-term immunogenicity. Thus, the two platforms offer complementary and potentially synergistic antitumor effects, which will be detailed in this review. We highlight three classes of nanoparticles used as agents of PTT (i.e., metallic inorganic nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles and organic dyes), and illustrate the potential for nanoparticle-based PTT to potentiate the effects of ICB in preclinical models. Through this discussion, we aim to present PTT combined with ICB as a potent synergistic combination treatment for diverse cancer types currently refractory to ICB as well as PTT monotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethi B Balakrishnan
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Anvitha S Ramanujam
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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Balakrishnan PB, Sweeney EE. Nanoparticles for Enhanced Adoptive T Cell Therapies and Future Perspectives for CNS Tumors. Front Immunol 2021; 12:600659. [PMID: 33833751 PMCID: PMC8021848 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.600659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy has emerged as a revolutionary immunotherapy for treating cancer. Despite immense promise and clinical success in some hematologic malignancies, limitations remain that thwart its efficacy in solid tumors. Particularly in tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), T cell therapy is often restricted by the difficulty in intratumoral delivery across anatomical niches, suboptimal T cell specificity or activation, and intratumoral T cell dysfunction due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Nanoparticles may offer several advantages to overcome these limitations of T cell therapy, as they can be designed to robustly and specifically activate T cells ex vivo prior to adoptive transfer, to encapsulate T cell stimulating agents for co-localized stimulation, and to be conjugated onto T cells for added functionality. This perspective highlights recent preclinical advances in using nanoparticles to enhance T cell therapy, and discusses the potential applicability and constraints of nanoparticle-enhanced T cells as a new platform for treating CNS tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethi Bala Balakrishnan
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) serves as an effective strategy to combat HIV infections by suppressing viral replication in patients with HIV/AIDS. However, HAART does not provide HIV/AIDS patients with a sterilizing or functional cure, and introduces several deleterious comorbidities. Moreover, the virus is able to persist within latent reservoirs, both undetected by the immune system and unaffected by HAART, increasing the risk of a viral rebound. The field of immunoengineering, which utilizes varied bioengineering approaches to interact with the immune system and potentiate its therapeutic effects against HIV, is being increasingly investigated in HIV cure research. In particular, nanoparticle-based immunoengineered approaches are especially attractive because they offer advantages including the improved delivery and functionality of classical HIV drugs such as antiretrovirals and experimental drugs such as latency-reversing agents (LRAs), among others. Here, we present and discuss the current state of the field in nanoparticle-based immunoengineering approaches for an HIV cure. Specifically, we discuss nanoparticle-based methods for improving HAART as well as latency reversal, developing vaccines, targeting viral fusion, enhancing gene editing approaches, improving adoptively transferred immune-cell mediated reservoir clearance, and other therapeutic and prevention approaches. Although nanoparticle-based immunoengineered approaches are currently at the stage of preclinical testing, the promising findings obtained in these studies demonstrate the potential of this emerging field for developing an HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Bowen
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Elizabeth E. Sweeney
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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8
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Sweeney EE, Balakrishnan PB, Powell AB, Bowen A, Sarabia I, Burga RA, Jones RB, Bosque A, Cruz CRY, Fernandes R. PLGA nanodepots co-encapsulating prostratin and anti-CD25 enhance primary natural killer cell antiviral and antitumor function. Nano Res 2020; 13:736-744. [PMID: 34079616 PMCID: PMC8168447 DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-2684-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are attractive effector cells of the innate immune system against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer. However, NK cell therapies are limited by the fact that target cells evade NK cells, for example, in latent reservoirs (in HIV) or through upregulation of inhibitory signals (in cancer). To address this limitation, we describe a biodegradable nanoparticle-based "priming" approach to enhance the cytotoxic efficacy of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived NK cells. We present poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanodepots (NDs) that co-encapsulate prostratin, a latency-reversing agent, and anti-CD25 (aCD25), a cell surface binding antibody, to enhance primary NK cell function against HIV and cancer. We utilize a nanoemulsion synthesis scheme to encapsulate both prostratin and aCD25 within the PLGA NDs (termed Pro-aCD25-NDs). Physicochemical characterization studies of the NDs demonstrated that our synthesis scheme resulted in stable and monodisperse Pro-aCD25-NDs. The NDs successfully released both active prostratin and anti-CD25, and with controllable release kinetics. When Pro-aCD25-NDs were administered in an in vitro model of latent HIV and acute T cell leukemia using J-Lat 10.6 cells, the NDs were observed to prime J-Lat cells resulting in significantly increased NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity compared to free prostratin plus anti-CD25, and other controls. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using our Pro-aCD25-NDs to prime target cells for enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells as antiviral or antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Preethi B Balakrishnan
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Allison B Powell
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Allan Bowen
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Indra Sarabia
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Rachel A Burga
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - R Brad Jones
- Infectious Disease Division, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alberto Bosque
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - C Russell Y Cruz
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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9
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Cano-Mejia J, Bookstaver ML, Sweeney EE, Jewell CM, Fernandes R. Prussian blue nanoparticle-based antigenicity and adjuvanticity trigger robust antitumor immune responses against neuroblastoma. Biomater Sci 2019; 7:1875-1887. [PMID: 30789175 DOI: 10.1039/c8bm01553h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We describe the synthesis of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles (CpG-PBNPs) that function as a nanoimmunotherapy for neuroblastoma, a common childhood cancer. These CpG-PBNPs increase the antigenicity and adjuvanticity of the treated tumors, ultimately driving robust antitumor immunity through a multi-pronged mechanism. CpG-PBNPs are synthesized using a facile layer-by-layer coating scheme resulting in nanoparticles that exhibit monodisperse size distributions and multiday stability without cytotoxicity. The strong intrinsic absorption of PBNPs in the CpG-PBNPs enables ablative photothermal therapy (CpG-PBNP-PTT) that triggers tumor cell death, as well as the release of tumor antigens to increase antigenicity. Simultaneously, the CpG coating functions as an exogenous molecular adjuvant that complements the endogenous adjuvants released by the CpG-PBNP-PTT (e.g. ATP, calreticulin, and HMGB1). In cell culture, coating NPs with CpG increases immunogenicity while maintaining the photothermal activity of PBNPs. When administered in a syngeneic, Neuro2a-based, murine model of neuroblastoma, CpG-PBNP-PTT results in complete tumor regression in a significantly higher proportion (70% at 60 days) of treated animals relative to controls. Furthermore, the long-term surviving, CpG-PBNP-PTT-treated animals reject Neuro2a rechallenge, suggesting that this therapy generates immunological memory. Our findings point to the importance of simultaneous cytotoxicity, antigenicity, and adjuvanticity to generate robust and persistent antitumor immune responses against neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Cano-Mejia
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
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10
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Sweeney EE, Cano-Mejia J, Fernandes R. Photothermal Therapy Generates a Thermal Window of Immunogenic Cell Death in Neuroblastoma. Small 2018; 14:e1800678. [PMID: 29665282 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201800678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A thermal "window" of immunogenic cell death (ICD) elicited by nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy (PTT) in an animal model of neuroblastoma is described. In studies using Prussian blue nanoparticles to administer photothermal therapy (PBNP-PTT) to established localized tumors in the neuroblastoma model, it is observed that PBNP-PTT conforms to the "more is better" paradigm, wherein higher doses of PBNP-PTT generates higher cell/local heating and thereby more cell death, and consequently improved animal survival. However, in vitro analysis of the biochemical correlates of ICD (ATP, high-motility group box 1, and calreticulin) elicited by PBNP-PTT demonstrates that PBNP-PTT triggers a thermal window of ICD. ICD markers are highly expressed within an optimal temperature (thermal dose) window of PBNP-PTT (63.3-66.4 °C) as compared with higher (83.0-83.5 °C) and lower PBNP-PTT (50.7-52.7 °C) temperatures, which both yield lower expression. Subsequent vaccination studies in the neuroblastoma model confirm the in vitro findings, wherein PBNP-PTT administered within the optimal temperature window results in long-term survival (33.3% at 100 d) compared with PBNP-PTT administered within the higher (0%) and lower (20%) temperature ranges, and controls (0%). The findings demonstrate a tunable immune response to heat generated by PBNP-PTT, which should be critically engaged in the administration of PTT for maximizing its therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Washington, 8th Floor Science and Engineering Hall, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave NW, 6th Floor Main Hospital, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Juliana Cano-Mejia
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Washington, 8th Floor Science and Engineering Hall, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave NW, 6th Floor Main Hospital, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, Room 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The George Washington Cancer Center, The George Washington University, 800 22nd St NW, Washington, 8th Floor Science and Engineering Hall, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave NW, 6th Floor Main Hospital, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, Room 2330 Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Department of Medicine, The George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 8-416, Washington, DC, 20037, USA
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11
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Kale SS, Burga RA, Sweeney EE, Zun Z, Sze RW, Tuesca A, Subramony JA, Fernandes R. Composite iron oxide-Prussian blue nanoparticles for magnetically guided T 1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and photothermal therapy of tumors. Int J Nanomedicine 2017; 12:6413-6424. [PMID: 28919744 PMCID: PMC5592912 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s144515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Theranostic nanoparticles offer the potential for mixing and matching disparate diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities within a single nanoparticle for the personalized treatment of diseases. In this article, we present composite iron oxide-gadolinium-containing Prussian blue nanoparticles (Fe3O4@GdPB) as a novel theranostic agent for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. These particles combine the well-described properties and safety profiles of the constituent Fe3O4 nanoparticles and gadolinium-containing Prussian blue nanoparticles. The Fe3O4@GdPB nanoparticles function both as effective MRI contrast agents and PTT agents as determined by characterizing studies performed in vitro and retain their properties in the presence of cells. Importantly, the Fe3O4@GdPB nanoparticles function as effective MRI contrast agents in vivo by increasing signal:noise ratios in T1-weighted scans of tumors and as effective PTT agents in vivo by decreasing tumor growth rates and increasing survival in an animal model of neuroblastoma. These findings demonstrate the potential of the Fe3O4@GdPB nanoparticles to function as effective theranostic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha S Kale
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rachel A Burga
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zungho Zun
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Radiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Raymond W Sze
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Radiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Rohan Fernandes
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
- The Institute for Biomedical Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Radiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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12
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Cano-Mejia J, Burga RA, Sweeney EE, Fisher JP, Bollard CM, Sandler AD, Cruz CRY, Fernandes R. Prussian blue nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy combined with checkpoint inhibition for photothermal immunotherapy of neuroblastoma. Nanomedicine 2017; 13:771-781. [PMID: 27826115 PMCID: PMC10568650 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2016.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 10/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We describe "photothermal immunotherapy," which combines Prussian blue nanoparticle (PBNP)-based photothermal therapy (PTT) with anti-CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibition for treating neuroblastoma, a common, hard-to-treat pediatric cancer. PBNPs exhibit pH-dependent stability, which makes them suitable for intratumorally-administered PTT. PBNP-based PTT is able to lower tumor burden and prime an immune response, specifically an increased infiltration of lymphocytes and T cells to the tumor area, which is complemented by the antitumor effects of anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, providing a more durable treatment against neuroblastoma in an animal model. We observe 55.5% survival in photothermal immunotherapy-treated mice at 100days compared to 12.5%, 0%, 0%, and 0% survival in mice receiving: anti-CTLA-4 alone, PBNPs alone, PTT alone, and no treatment, respectively. Additionally, long-term surviving, photothermal immunotherapy-treated mice exhibit protection against neuroblastoma rechallenge, suggesting the development of immunity against these tumors. Our findings suggest the potential of photothermal immunotherapy in improving treatments for neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Cano-Mejia
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Rachel A Burga
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, DC, USA.
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - John P Fisher
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Catherine M Bollard
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, DC, USA; Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University, DC, USA.
| | - Anthony D Sandler
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University, DC, USA; The Joseph E. Robert Jr. Center for Surgical Care, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Conrad Russell Y Cruz
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, DC, USA; Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University, DC, USA.
| | - Rohan Fernandes
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Washington, DC, USA; Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Institute for Biomedical Sciences, The George Washington University, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University, DC, USA; Department of Radiology, The George Washington University, DC, USA.
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13
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Sweeney EE, Fan P, Jordan VC. Molecular modulation of estrogen-induced apoptosis by synthetic progestins in hormone replacement therapy: an insight into the women's health initiative study. Cancer Res 2014; 74:7060-8. [PMID: 25304262 PMCID: PMC4254051 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-1784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used to manage menopausal symptoms in women and can be comprised of an estrogen alone or an estrogen combined with a progestin. The Women's Health Initiative demonstrated in their randomized trials that estrogen alone HRT decreases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, whereas combined estrogen plus a progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA) HRT increases this risk. Long-term estrogen-deprived MCF-7:5C cells were used to model the postmenopausal breast cancer cell environment. MPA is able to modify E2-induced apoptosis in MCF-7:5C cells. MPA, similar to dexamethasone, increases glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcriptional activity, increases SGK1, a GR target gene, and can be blocked by RU486 (an antiglucocorticoid), suggesting that it functions through the GR. Norethindrone acetate (NETA), another progestin used in HRT, acts like an estrogen at high doses, upregulating estrogen receptor target genes and generating apoptosis in MCF-7:5C cells. The data suggest that women taking HRT comprising an estrogen plus MPA may have an increased risk of breast cancer due to MPA acting as a glucocorticoid and blunting E2-induced apoptosis in this environment. Therefore, perhaps other approved progestins (e.g., NETA) should be considered as alternatives to MPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Sweeney
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Ping Fan
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - V Craig Jordan
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.
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Sweeney EE, Fan P, Jordan VC. Mechanisms underlying differential response to estrogen-induced apoptosis in long-term estrogen-deprived breast cancer cells. Int J Oncol 2014; 44:1529-38. [PMID: 24604139 PMCID: PMC4144033 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2014.2329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Models of long-term estrogen-deprived breast cancer cells are utilized in the laboratory to mimic clinical aromatase inhibitor-resistant breast cancer and serve as a tool to discover new therapeutic strategies. The MCF-7:5C and MCF-7:2A subclones were generated through long-term estrogen deprivation of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 cells, and represent anti-hormone-resistant breast cancer. MCF-7:5C cells paradoxically undergo estrogen-induced apoptosis within seven days of estrogen (estradiol, E2) treatment; MCF-7:2A cells also experience E2-induced apoptosis but evade dramatic cell death until approximately 14 days of treatment. To discover and define the mechanisms by which MCF-7:2A cells survive two weeks of E2 treatment, systematic experiments were performed in this study. The data suggest that MCF-7:2A cells employ stronger antioxidant defense mechanisms than do MCF-7:5C cells, and that oxidative stress is ultimately required for MCF-7:2A cells to die in response to E2 treatment. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member activation is also essential for E2-induced apoptosis to occur in MCF-7:2A cells; upregulation of TNFα occurs simultaneously with oxidative stress activation. Although the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pattern is similar to that in MCF-7:5C cells, it is not sufficient to cause cell death in MCF-7:2A cells. Additionally, increased insulin-like growth factor receptor β (IGF-1Rβ) confers a mechanism of growth and anti-apoptotic advantage in MCF-7:2A cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Sweeney
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ping Fan
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - V Craig Jordan
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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Fan P, Agboke FA, McDaniel RE, Sweeney EE, Zou X, Creswell K, Jordan VC. Inhibition of c-Src blocks oestrogen-induced apoptosis and restores oestrogen-stimulated growth in long-term oestrogen-deprived breast cancer cells. Eur J Cancer 2013; 50:457-68. [PMID: 24183378 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 05/31/2013] [Revised: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Our publications demonstrate that physiological concentrations of oestrogen (E2) induce endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress which finally result in apoptosis in E2-deprived breast cancer cells, MCF-7:5C. c-Src is involved in the process of E2-induced stress. To mimic the clinical administration of c-Src inhibitors, we treated cells with either E2, a c-Src inhibitor PP2, or the combination for 8 weeks to further explore the apoptotic potential of the c-Src inhibitor and E2 on MCF-7:5C cells. METHODS Protein levels of receptors and signalling pathways were examined by immunoblotting. Expression of mRNA was detected through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cell cycles were analysed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Long-term treatment with PP2 alone or E2 alone decreased cell growth. In contrast, a combination of PP2 and E2 blocked apoptosis and the resulting cell line (MCF-7:PF) was unique, as they grew vigorously in culture with physiological levels of E2, which could be blocked by the pure antioestrogen ICI182,780. One major change was that PP2 collaborated with E2 to increase the level of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor beta (IGF-1Rβ). Blockade of IGF-1Rβ completely abolished E2-stimulated growth in MCF-7:PF cells. Furthermore, combination treatment up-regulated transcription factors, Twist1 and Snail, and repressed E-cadherin expression which made MCF-7:PF cells display a characteristic phenotype of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CONCLUSIONS These data illustrate the role of the c-Src inhibitor to block E2-induced apoptosis and enhance E2-stimulated growth. Caution must be exercised when considering c-Src inhibitors in clinical trials following the development of acquired resistance to aromatase inhibitors, especially in the presence of the patient's own oestrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Fan
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Fadeke A Agboke
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Russell E McDaniel
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Sweeney
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Xiaojun Zou
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Karen Creswell
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - V Craig Jordan
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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Sweeney EE, McDaniel RE, Maximov PY, Fan P, Jordan VC. Models and Mechanisms of Acquired Antihormone Resistance in Breast Cancer: Significant Clinical Progress Despite Limitations. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2012; 9:143-163. [PMID: 23308083 PMCID: PMC3539798 DOI: 10.1515/hmbci-2011-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Translational research for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer depends upon the four Ms: models, molecules, and mechanisms in order to create medicines. The process, to target the estrogen receptor (ER) in estrogen-dependent breast cancer, has yielded significant advances in patient survivorship and the first approved medicines (tamoxifen and raloxifene) to reduce the incidence of any cancer in high- or low-risk women. This review focuses on the critical role of the few ER-positive cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, BT474, ZR-75) that continue to advance our understanding of the estrogen-regulated biology of breast cancer. More importantly, the model cell lines have provided an opportunity to document the development and evolution of acquired antihormone resistance. The description of this evolutionary process that occurs in micrometastatic disease during up to a decade of adjuvant therapy would not be possible in the patient. The use of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in particular has been instrumental in discovering a vulnerability of ER-positive breast cancer exhaustively treated with antihormone therapy. Physiologic estradiol acts as an apoptotic trigger to cause tumor regression. These unanticipated findings in the laboratory have translated to clinical advances in our knowledge of the paradoxical role of estrogen in the life and death of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Sweeney
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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