Low-dose anti-inflammatory combinatorial therapy reduced cancer stem cell formation in patient-derived preclinical models for tumour relapse prevention.
Br J Cancer 2019;
120:407-423. [PMID:
30713340 PMCID:
PMC6461953 DOI:
10.1038/s41416-018-0301-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Emergence of drug-resistant cancer phenotypes is a challenge for anti-cancer therapy. Cancer stem cells are identified as one of the ways by which chemoresistance develops.
Method
We investigated the anti-inflammatory combinatorial treatment (DA) of doxorubicin and aspirin using a preclinical microfluidic model on cancer cell lines and patient-derived circulating tumour cell clusters. The model had been previously demonstrated to predict patient overall prognosis.
Results
We demonstrated that low-dose aspirin with a sub-optimal dose of doxorubicin for 72 h could generate higher killing efficacy and enhanced apoptosis. Seven days of DA treatment significantly reduced the proportion of cancer stem cells and colony-forming ability. DA treatment delayed the inhibition of interleukin-6 secretion, which is mediated by both COX-dependent and independent pathways. The response of patients varied due to clinical heterogeneity, with 62.5% and 64.7% of samples demonstrating higher killing efficacy or reduction in cancer stem cell (CSC) proportions after DA treatment, respectively. These results highlight the importance of using patient-derived models for drug discovery.
Conclusions
This preclinical proof of concept seeks to reduce the onset of CSCs generated post treatment by stressful stimuli. Our study will promote a better understanding of anti-inflammatory treatments for cancer and reduce the risk of relapse in patients.
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