Tumors In Athymic Mice Research Articles

A single-chain fab derived drug conjugate for HER2 specific delivery

Despite the development of antibody-drug conjugates, the fragment Fab-based drug conjugates offer some unique capabilities in terms of safety, clearance, penetration and others. Current methods for preparing Fab drug conjugates are limited by the availability and stability of Fab proteins, leaving reports on this rare. Here, we found that a single-chain scaffold of Fab enables stabilization of the paired structure and supports high-yield expression in bacteria cytoplasm. Furthermore, we conjugated anti-neoplastic agent SN38 to the C-terminus by sortase A ligation and generated a homogenous Fab conjugate with the drug-to-Fab ratio of 1. The resulting anti-HER2 Fab-SN38 conjugate demonstrated potent and antigen-dependent cell-killing ability with the aid of its special cathepsin-triggered cyclization-promoted release mechanism. In vivo, Fab-SN38 can prevent growths of HER2-positive tumors in athymic mice and be well tolerated to the treatment at 7 mg/kg per dose. Anti-tumor activity, high dose tolerance and penetration advantage observed in this study would merit Fab conjugate investigation in target chemotherapy.

Abstract 5170: STING inflames NF1 malignancies for immunotherapy

Abstract Introduction: Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene that encodes neurofibromin, a RAS GTPase-Activating Protein. Inactivating NF1 mutations result in hyperactivation of RAS-mediated signaling. NF1 patients develop benign tumors on the skin and along nerves in the spinal cord and brain, and ~10% of these progress to Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNST). Attempts to inhibit RAS-signaling to treat MPNST have not worked in clinical trials. Surgical removal is the only cure for MPNST, which is challenging due to large tumor size and/or proximity to nerves. MPNSTs often recur, metastasize, and respond poorly to chemo- and radiotherapy. As a result, MPNSTs are the leading cause of death in NF1 patients. Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) is an approach to treat inoperable, undruggable cancers. Immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs) terminate normal immune responses to prevent collateral tissue damage. Cancer cells hijack this mechanism and express ICPs to avoid immune detection. ICB disrupts this process, enhancing antitumor immunity. Monoclonal antibodies (mABs) that disrupt the interaction between Programmed Cell Death Receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) are a widely used ICB therapy. Having a T cell-enriched hot tumor microenvironment (TME) is required for successful ICB. However, MPNSTs lack a T cell-inflamed TME and respond poorly to ICB therapy. Activation of the protein “stimulator of interferon genes” (STING) enhances anti-tumor immunity via induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus increasing T cell infiltration into the TME. We hypothesized that reprogramming the MPNST TME by STING pathway activation would turn cold MPNSTs into hot tumors amenable to ICB. Methods: We treated mouse MPNSTs with STING agonist or STING agonist + anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 mAb. Tumor size was measured throughout treatment. The mice were sacrificed and tumor tissue was analyzed for STING pathway activation, T cell infiltration, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. MPNST allograft tumors in athymic mice were controls. Results: STING pathway activation and increased T cell presence was observed in STING agonist-treated MPNSTs compared to vehicle-treated. MPNSTs treated with STING agonist alone or STING agonist + PD-1/PD-L1 mAbs showed less tumor growth relative to vehicle. Importantly, STING agonist + PD-1/PD-L1 mAb-treated tumors showed significant cell death increase while cell proliferation remained unchanged. Interestingly, tumors in athymic mice continued to grow despite treatment suggesting the antitumor effects seen in immunocompetent mice were mediated by T cells. Conclusions: Our data show that MPNSTs can become T cell-rich tumors by activating STING signaling. Reprogramming the TME made MPNSTs susceptible to immune destruction by ICB therapy. Our studies support this novel treatment strategy for MPNST, an aggressive, deadly tumor for which no molecular therapy currently exists. Citation Format: Nipunika Somatilaka, Laasya Madana, Ali Sadek, Renee M. McKay, Lu Q. Le. STING inflames NF1 malignancies for immunotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5170.

Ribonuclease 4 is associated with aggressiveness and progression of prostate cancer

Prostate specific antigen screening has resulted in a decrease in prostate cancer-related deaths. However, it also has led to over-treatment affecting the quality of life of many patients. New biomarkers are needed to distinguish prostate cancer from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and to predict aggressiveness of the disease. Here, we report that ribonuclease 4 (RNASE4) serves as such a biomarker as well as a therapeutic target. RNASE4 protein level in the plasma is elevated in prostate cancer patients and is positively correlated with disease stage, grade, and Gleason score. Plasma RNASE4 level can be used to predict biopsy outcome and to enhance diagnosis accuracy. RNASE4 protein in prostate cancer tissues is enhanced and can differentiate prostate cancer and BPH. RNASE4 stimulates prostate cancer cell proliferation, induces tumor angiogenesis, and activates receptor tyrosine kinase AXL as well as AKT and S6K. An RNASE4-specific monoclonal antibody inhibits the growth of xenograft human prostate cancer cell tumors in athymic mice.

Efficacy and safety of a third-generation oncolytic herpes virus G47Δ in models of human esophageal carcinoma

Treatment options are limited for esophageal carcinoma (EC). G47Δ, a triple-mutated, conditionally replicating herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), exhibits enhanced killing of tumor cells with high safety features. Here, we studied the efficacy of G47Δ using preclinical models of human EC. In vitro, G47Δ showed efficient cytopathic effects and replication capabilities in all eight human esophageal cancer cell lines tested. In athymic mice harboring subcutaneous tumors of human EC (KYSE180, TE8, and OE19), two intratumoral injections with G47Δ significantly inhibited the tumor growth. To mimic the clinical treatment situations, we established an orthotopic EC model using luciferase-expressing TE8 cells (TE8-luc). An intratumoral injection with G47Δ markedly inhibited the growth of orthotopic TE8-luc tumors in athymic mice. Furthermore, we evaluated the safety of applying G47Δ to the esophagus in mice. A/J mice inoculated intraesophageally or administered orally with G47Δ (107 plaque-forming units [pfu]) survived for more than 2 months without remarkable symptoms, whereas the majority with wild-type HSV-1 (106 pfu) deteriorated within 10 days. PCR analyses showed that the G47Δ DNA was confined to the esophagus after intraesophageal inoculation and was not detected in major organs after oral administration. Our results provide a rationale for the clinical use of G47Δ for treating EC.

Gemcitabine-loaded microbubble system for ultrasound imaging and therapy

Ultrasound imaging presents many positive attributes, including safety, real-time imaging, universal accessibility, and cost. However, inherent difficulties in discrimination between soft tissues and tumors prompted development of stabilized microbubble contrast agents. This presents the opportunity to develop agents in which drug is entrapped in the microbubble shell. We describe preparation and characterization of theranostic poly(lactide) (PLA) and pegylated PLA (PEG-PLA) shelled microbubbles that entrap gemcitabine, a commonly used drug for pancreatic cancer (PDAC). Entrapping 6 wt% gemcitabine did not significantly affect drug activity, microbubble morphology, or ultrasound contrast activity compared with unmodified microbubbles. In vitro microbubble concentrations yielding ≥ 500nM entrapped gemcitabine were needed for complete cell death in MIA PaCa-2 PDAC drug sensitivity assays, compared with 62.5 nM free gemcitabine. In vivo administration of gemcitabine-loaded microbubbles to xenograft MIA PaCa-2 PDAC tumors in athymic mice was well tolerated and provided substantial tumoral image enhancement before and after destructive ultrasound pulses. However, no significant differences in tumor growth were observed among treatment groups, in keeping with the in vitro observation that much higher doses of gemcitabine are required to mirror free gemcitabine activity. Statement of significanceThe preliminary results shown here are encouraging and support further investigation into increased gemcitabine loading. Encapsulation of gemcitabine within polylactic acid (PLA) microbubbles does not damage its activity towards pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC) cells. Excellent imaging and evidence of penetration into the highly desmoplastic PDAC tumors is demonstrated. Microbubble destruction was confirmed in vivo, showing that elevated mechanical index shatters the microbubbles for enhanced delivery. The potential to slow PDAC growth in vivo is shown, but higher gemcitabine concentrations are required. Current efforts are directed at increasing drug loading by inclusion of drug-carrying nanoparticles for effective in vivo treatment.

Effectiveness and normal tissue toxicity of Auger electron (AE) radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab in mice with triple-negative or trastuzumab-resistant human breast cancer xenografts that overexpress EGFR

IntroductionOur objective was to evaluate the effectiveness and normal tissue toxicity of nimotuzumab labeled with the Auger electron (AE)-emitter, 111In ([111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab) for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) or trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive BC tumors overexpressing epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in athymic mice. MethodsNormal tissue toxicity was studied in non-tumor-bearing Balb/c mice i.v. administered 9.0 or 28.6 MBq (3 mg/kg) of [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab, unlabeled nimotuzumab (3 mg/kg) or normal saline. A complete blood cell count (CBC) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatinine (Cr) were measured at 14 days. Body weight was monitored. RIT studies were performed in CD-1 athymic mice engrafted s.c. with MDA-MB-468 human TNBC tumors or TrR1 HER2-positive but trastuzumab-resistant BC tumors. Mice were i.v. administered two amounts (15.5 MBq; 3 mg/kg) of [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab separated by 14 days. Control mice received unlabeled Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab (3 mg/kg) or anti-HER2 [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-trastuzumab or normal saline. Tumor growth and body weight were measured for 6 weeks. A tumor growth index (TGI) and body weight index (BWI) were calculated to compare the tumor size and body weight post-treatment with the pre-treatment values. A tumor doubling ratio (TDR) was calculated for each treatment group compared to control mice receiving normal saline. ResultsThere was no loss of body weight or decreased red blood cells (RBC) or platelets (PLT) or increased serum ALT or Cr in Balb/c mice administered 9.0 or 28.6 MBq (3 mg/kg) of [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab compared to mice treated with unlabeled Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab (3 mg/kg) or normal saline. There was a significant decrease in white blood cell (WBC) counts in Balb/c mice receiving 28.6 MBq but not 9.0 MBq of [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab. Based on these results, an administered amount of 15.5 MBq (3 mg/kg) was selected for RIT studies. Administration of two amounts (15.5 MBq; 3 mg/kg) separated by 14 days to CD-1 athymic mice with s.c. MDA-MB-468 xenografts strongly inhibited tumor growth. The TDR for mice treated with [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab was 2.15 compared to control mice receiving normal saline. In contrast, treatment with unlabeled Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab or [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-trastuzumab had no significant effect on tumor growth (TDR = 0.96 and 1.08, respectively). RIT with [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab also strongly inhibited the growth of TrR1 tumors in athymic mice (TDR = 2.13) compared to unlabeled Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab (TDR = 0.91). There were no losses in body weight over 6 weeks in tumor bearing mice receiving [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab, unlabeled Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab, [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-trastuzumab or normal saline. Conclusions[111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab was effective for treatment of TNBC or trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive human BC tumors in mice that overexpress EGFR at administered amounts that caused no decrease in body weight or normal tissue toxicity in non-tumor-bearing Balb/c mice. Advances in knowledge and implications for patient careOur results suggest that Auger electron RIT with [111In]In-Bn-DTPA-nimotuzumab may provide a novel therapeutic option for patients with TNBC or trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive BC that overexpresses EGFR. The low normal tissue toxicity of this approach may allow combination with other targeted therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

Nanovesicle-mediated delivery of anticancer agents effectively induced cell death and regressed intrahepatic tumors in athymic mice

Hepatocellular carcinoma is highly resistant to chemotherapy. Here we evaluated the use and efficacy of milk-derived nanovesicles (MNV) as an approach to improve delivery of anticancer agents into HCC cells and intrahepatic tumors. We developed a protocol for isolation of MNVs from skim milk using ultracentrifugation, and characterized using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and electron microscopy. MNVs were loaded with doxorubicin (dox-MNV) or miR221 antisense oligonucleotides (anti-miR221-MNV), and further evaluated using spectrophotometry, NTA, and zeta potential measurements. HepG2, Hep3B, and PLC/PRF/5 HCC cells in culture were treated with dox-MNV and anti-miR221-MNV and evaluated with drug delivery and anticancer activity. The efficacy of dox-MNV and anti-miR221-MNV to arrest tumor growth in vivo was assessed on intrahepatic tumors induced in nude mice. Cellular uptake studies showed plain and dox-MNV attained saturation within 4 h of treatment. Cytotoxicity studies on HepG2, Hep3B, and PLC/PRF/5 HCC cells with dox-MNV at 1 µM resulted in 20% cell death at 24 h, 50% at 48 h, and 80% at 72 h. HepG2 cells treated with dox-MNV and anti-miR221-MNV exhibited nuclear disintegration, and apoptosis within 24 h. Combination treatment of intrahepatic tumors with dox-MNV and anti-miR221-MNV resulted in marked reduction of tumor size and increased survival rate in nude mice. Our studies demonstrated that MNVs can be effectively used for successful delivery of anticancer agents into HCC cells and intrahepatic tumors. MNV-mediated targeted delivery of anticancer agents could be an efficient modality for the treatment of malignant HCC and might produce a great impact on anticancer therapy.

Su1462 - Targeted Delivery of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Antimir221 Regressed Intrahepatic Tumors in Athymic Mice

Su1462 - Targeted Delivery of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Antimir221 Regressed Intrahepatic Tumors in Athymic Mice

Lung carcinoma progression and survival versus amino- and carboxyl-parathyroid hormone-related protein expression.

Expression of the carboxyl PTHrP region of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a positive prognostic indicator in women with lung cancer, but amino PTHrP is a negative indicator in other lung cancer patients. This project investigated whether PTHrP could be expressed as predominantly amino PTHrP or carboxyl PTHrP in individual lung carcinomas. It also assessed domain-specific effects on cancer progression and patient survival. PTHrP immunoreactivities were analyzed versus survival in a human lung cancer tissue microarray (TMA). Growth was compared in athymic mice for isogenic lung carcinoma xenografts differing in expression of amino and carboxyl PTHrP domains. In the TMA, 33 of 99 patient tumors expressed only one PTHrP domain, while 54 expressed both. By Cox regression, the hazard ratio for cancer-specific mortality (95% confidence interval) was 2.6 (1.28-5.44) for amino PTHrP (P = 0.008) and 0.6 (0-2.58) for carboxyl PTHrP (P = 0.092). Xenografts of H358 lung adenocarcinoma cells that overexpressed amino PTHrP grew twice as fast as isogenic low PTHrP tumors in athymic mice, but growth of tumors expressing amino plus carboxyl PTHrP was not significantly different than growth of the control tumors. In summary, the presence of amino PTHrP signifies worse prognosis in lung cancer patients. In mouse xenografts, this effect was abrogated if carboxyl PTHrP was also present. Amino PTHrP and carboxyl PTHrP can vary independently in different lung carcinomas. Carboxyl PTHrP may temper the stimulatory effect of amino PTHrP on cancer progression.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFICACY OF L-LYSINE-A-OXIDASE TRICHODERMA CF. AUREOVIRIDE RIFAI ON MODELS OF XENOGRAFTS OF HUMAN TUMORS IN ATHYMIC MICE AND EVALUATION OF SYNERGISM WITH CISPLATIN OR TOPOISOMERASE INHIBITORS

The effectiveness of L-lysine-alpha oxidase Trichoderma cf. Aureoviride Rifai BKMF-4268D (LO) on models of subcutaneous xenografts of human tumors in athymic mice as well as the effectiveness of combination therapy with known antitumor drugs: cisplatin, irinotecan, etoposide on models of P388 lymphocytic leukemia, Lewis lung (LLC) and B16 melanoma was evaluated. The intraperitoneal injection of LO in a discrete regime at doses of 150-75-75-75-75 E/kg demonstrated inhibition of growth of all studied xenografts of human tumors in athymic mice. The combination of irinotecan+LO on the LLC model gave a significant summative therapeutic benefit with an increase in mouse life expectancy up to 35%. Cisplatin and LO realized a significant (p

CLDN1 expression in cervical cancer cells is related to tumor invasion and metastasis.

Even though infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) is very important, it is not the sole cause of cervical cancer. Because it is known that genetic variations that result from HPV infection are probably the most important causes of cervical cancer, we used human whole genome array comparative genomic hybridization to detect the copy number variations of genes in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. The results of the array were validated by PCR, FISH and immunohistochemistry. We find that the copy number and protein expression of claudin-1 (CLDN1) increase with the progression of cervical cancer. The strong positive staining of CLDN1 in the cervical lymph node metastasis group received a significantly higher score than the staining in the group with no lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer tissues. The overexpression of CLDN1 in SiHa cells can increase anti-apoptosis ability and promote invasive ability of these cells accompanied by a decrease in expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin as well as an increase in the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin. CLDN1 induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through its interaction with SNAI1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CLDN1 overexpression has significant effects on the growth and metastasis of xenografted tumors in athymic mice. These data suggest that CLDN1 promotes invasion and metastasis in cervical cancer cells via the expression of EMT/invasion-related genes. Therefore, CLDN1 could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

CM363, a novel naphthoquinone derivative which acts as multikinase modulator and overcomes imatinib resistance in chronic myelogenous leukemia

Human Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is a hematological stem cell disorder which is associated with activation of Bcr-Abl-Stat5 oncogenic pathway. Direct Bcr-Abl inhibitors are initially successful for the treatment of CML but over time many patients develop drug resistance. In the present study, the effects of CM363, a novel naphthoquinone (NPQ) derivative, were evaluated on human CML-derived K562 cells. CM363 revealed an effective cell growth inhibition (IC50 = 0.7 ± 0.5 μM) by inducing cancer cells to undergo cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. CM363 caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction of cells in G0/G1 and G2/M phases. This cell cycle arrest was associated with increased levels of cyclin E, pChk1 and pChk2 whereas CM363 downregulated cyclin B, cyclin D3, p27, pRB, Wee1, and BUBR1. CM363 increased the double-strand DNA break marker γH2AX. CM363 caused a time-dependent increase of annexin V-positive cells, DNA fragmentation and increased number of apoptotic nuclei. CM363 triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway as reflected by a release of cytochrome C from mitochondria and induction of the cleavage of caspase-3 and -9, and PARP. CM363 showed multikinase modulatory effects through an early increased JNK phosphorylation followed by inhibition of pY-Bcrl-Abl and pY-Stat5. CM363 worked synergistically with imatinib to inhibit cell viability and maintained its activity in imatinib-resistant cells. Finally, CM363 (10 mg/Kg) suppressed the growth of K562 xenograft tumors in athymic mice. In summary, CM363 is a novel multikinase modulator that offers advantages to circumvent imanitib resistance and might be therapeutically effective in Bcrl-Abl-Stat5 related malignancies.

Delphinidin-3-glucoside suppresses breast carcinogenesis by inactivating the Akt/HOTAIR signaling pathway.

BackgroundThe long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) plays a crucial role in cancer progression, which is regulated by the interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) and up-streaming Akt activation. The present study evaluated the chemopreventive effects of delphinidin-3-glucoside (Dp), a major anthocyanin present in pigmented fruits and vegetables, on breast carcinogenesis, and investigate the role of the Akt/HOTAIR signaling pathway.MethodsHuman breast epithelial cells MCF10A were treated with carcinogens (NNK and B[a]P) or co-treated with carcinogens plus Dp for 30 days. Then, the cancer-associated properties of the treated cells were evaluated to assess the carcinogenesis and the effects of Dp. HOTAIR levels were detected by qRT-PCR. The proteins expression was measured by western blots, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Xenografted tumors were made by implanting breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231-Luc-GFP in athymic mice. ChIP-qPCR analysis was used to detect the IRF1 binding to the HOTAIR promoter.ResultsCarcinogens treatment induces apparent carcinogenic transformation in MCF10A cells including reduced dependence on growth factors, anchorage-independent cell growth and aberrant wound-healing ability, which is effectively suppressed by Dp co-treatment. The level of HOTAIR significantly increases in a time-dependent manner during chronic breast carcinogenesis. Dp treatment down-regulates HOTAIR expression in breast carcinogenesis and breast cancer cells. Furthermore, Dp administration inhibits the growth of xenografted breast tumors in athymic mice, and decreases HOTAIR in vivo. Further studies showed that Dp represses Akt activation, promotes IRF1 expression and increases IRF1 binding to the HOTAIR promoter. Silence of IRF1 expression via transfecting cells with IRF1 siRNAs significantly reduced the effects of Dp on HOTAIR, resulting in decreased cytotoxic effects of Dp on breast cancer cells.ConclusionsThese data suggest the effective chemopreventive effect of Dp on breast carcinogenesis, in which down-regulation of HOTAIR plays a critical role.

MP92-11 TKI INDUCES GLUT1 EXPRESSION THROUGH IL-6 SECRETION ON RENAL CELL CARCINOMA CELLS

You have accessJournal of UrologyKidney Cancer: Basic Research & Pathophysiology III1 Apr 2016MP92-11 TKI INDUCES GLUT1 EXPRESSION THROUGH IL-6 SECRETION ON RENAL CELL CARCINOMA CELLS Kei Ishibashi, Michihiro Yabe, Seiji Hoshi, Junya Hata, Hidenori Akaihata, Yuichi Sato, Soichiro Ogawa, Nobuhiro Haga, Nobuhiro Kushinda, Tomohiko Yanagida, Ken Aikawa, Joachim W Thüroff, Walburgis Brenner, and Yoshiyuki Kojima Kei IshibashiKei Ishibashi More articles by this author , Michihiro YabeMichihiro Yabe More articles by this author , Seiji HoshiSeiji Hoshi More articles by this author , Junya HataJunya Hata More articles by this author , Hidenori AkaihataHidenori Akaihata More articles by this author , Yuichi SatoYuichi Sato More articles by this author , Soichiro OgawaSoichiro Ogawa More articles by this author , Nobuhiro HagaNobuhiro Haga More articles by this author , Nobuhiro KushindaNobuhiro Kushinda More articles by this author , Tomohiko YanagidaTomohiko Yanagida More articles by this author , Ken AikawaKen Aikawa More articles by this author , Joachim W ThüroffJoachim W Thüroff More articles by this author , Walburgis BrennerWalburgis Brenner More articles by this author , and Yoshiyuki KojimaYoshiyuki Kojima More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.2644AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) treatment targeted at the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways represents the standard of care in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The TKI treatment has promising effect against RCC, however, the development of resistance to TKIs should be solved. We show that the autocrine secretion of IL-6 induced by TKIs-stimulation causes activation of AKT- mTOR pathway, and also show that combination therapy with IL-6 receptor antibody and TKI reduces angiogenesis and GLUT1 expression. METHODS Human renal cell carcinoma cell line 786-O was used for this study. Sorafenib, sunitinib and pazopanib were used as TKIs. GLUT1 expreiion and VEGF secretions from 786-O cells cultured with TKIs were measured by real time PCR and ELISA. Western blot analyses were applied for detection of GLUT1 as well as activated Akt, mTOR proteins. The growth of tumors in athymic mice receiving combination therapy with tocilizumab and sorafenib were compared with those in the sorafenib treated mice. The effects of the combination therapy were evaluated by FDG-PET and immunohistochemical examinations for CD31 and GLUT1. RESULTS The 786-O RCC cell line secreted IL-6 and VEGF when they were cultured with TKIs. Western blot analysis revealed that Akt and mTOR were phosphorylated by TKI treatment. Tocilizumab treatment in combination with TKIs reduced activation of IL-6 signaling pathway and also suppressed cell proliferation and GLUT1 expression. The mean SUV max was decreased on day 3 in athymic mice receiving combination therapy with tocilizumab and sorafenib in comparison with those in the sorafenib alone (9.8±1.6 vs. 11.5±0.8 respectively. p-0.04). No histopathological differences were found on day 3 despite decreased CD31 positive cells. On the day 21, the CD31 positive cells increased again in the tumors of sorafenib monotherapy. In contrast, when tocilizumab was given with sorafenib the tumor showed extensive central necrosis with absence of CD31 positive cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that TKI treatment induces GLUT1 expression on RCC cells. IL-6 antibody in combination with TIK would restrain angiogenesis and GLUT1 expression on RCC. © 2016FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 195Issue 4SApril 2016Page: e1165-e1166 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016MetricsAuthor Information Kei Ishibashi More articles by this author Michihiro Yabe More articles by this author Seiji Hoshi More articles by this author Junya Hata More articles by this author Hidenori Akaihata More articles by this author Yuichi Sato More articles by this author Soichiro Ogawa More articles by this author Nobuhiro Haga More articles by this author Nobuhiro Kushinda More articles by this author Tomohiko Yanagida More articles by this author Ken Aikawa More articles by this author Joachim W Thüroff More articles by this author Walburgis Brenner More articles by this author Yoshiyuki Kojima More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Biological Properties of a 3',3″-Bis-Peptide-siRNA Conjugate in Vitro and in Vivo.

This study proposes an effective melanoma small interfering RNA (siRNA), named siMB3, which targets the mRNA of mutant BRAF protein. We found that Bis-pep-siMB3, with peptide KALLAL-conjugated siMB3 at the 3'-termini of both strands, inhibited translation of the target genes and expression of the related protein as effectively as siMB3, but for substantially longer, and the conjugates could alleviate off-target effects. Further studies on the mechanisms of action showed that the stability of Bis-pep-siMB3 in fetal bovine serum improved and the half-life period of Bis-pep-siMB3 was increased 21-fold over that of siMB3. Peptide conjugation could improve the combination of siRNA and cationic lipid vectors. Bis-pep-siMB3 is likely to reach the lysosome earlier and stay longer, and appears to increase the release of siRNA from the endosome. At the animal level, application of Bis-pep-siMB3 showed good therapeutic potential, inhibiting the growth of xenograft tumors in athymic mice slightly better than siMB3 and greatly prolonging the circulating time in vivo. Moreover, it distributed widely in mice. These results show the promising potential of Bis-pep-siRNA conjugates as therapeutic siRNAs for cancer treatment.

The cyclic GMP/protein kinase G pathway as a therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is an aggressive disease with high mortality. Treatments, which can result in significant morbidity, have not substantially changed in three decades. The second messenger cyclic GMP (cGMP), which targets protein kinase G (PKG), is generated by guanylate cyclases (GCs), and is rapidly hydrolyzed by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Activation of the cGMP/PKG pathway is antineoplastic in several cancer types, but its impact on HNSCC has not been fully exploited. We found differential expression of critical components of this pathway in four HNSCC cell lines. Several activators of soluble GC (sGC), as well as inhibitors of PDE5, increased intracellular cGMP, reduced cell viability, and induced apoptosis in HNSCC cells. The apoptotic effects of the sGC activator BAY 41-2272 and the PDE5 inhibitor Tadalafil (Cialis) were mediated by PKG. Furthermore, Tadalafil substantially reduced the growth of CAL27-derived tumors in athymic mice. Several drugs which either activate sGC or inhibit PDE5 are approved for treatment of nonmalignant conditions. These drugs could be repurposed as novel and effective therapeutics in patients with head and neck cancer.

Induction of KIAA1199/CEMIP is associated with colon cancer phenotype and poor patient survival

Genes induced in colon cancer provide novel candidate biomarkers of tumor phenotype and aggressiveness. We originally identified KIAA1199 (now officially called CEMIP) as a transcript highly induced in colon cancer: initially designating the transcript as Colon Cancer Secreted Protein 1. We molecularly characterized CEMIP expression both at the mRNA and protein level and found it is a secreted protein induced an average of 54-fold in colon cancer. Knockout of CEMIPreduced the ability of human colon cancer cells to form xenograft tumors in athymic mice. Tumors that did grow had increased deposition of hyaluronan, linking CEMIP participation in hyaluronan degradation to the modulation of tumor phenotype. We find CEMIP mRNA overexpression correlates with poorer patient survival. In stage III only (n = 31) or in combined stage II plus stage III colon cancer cases (n = 73), 5-year overall survival was significantly better (p = 0.004 and p = 0.0003, respectively) among patients with low CEMIP expressing tumors than those with high CEMIP expressing tumors. These results demonstrate that CEMIP directly facilitates colon tumor growth, and high CEMIP expression correlates with poor outcome in stage III and in stages II+III combined cohorts. We present CEMIP as a candidate prognostic marker for colon cancer and a potential therapeutic target.

An evaluation of the safety of adipose-derived stem cells

The adipose tissue contains a large numbers of stem cells; adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can be em- ployed in regenerative medicine. This study was aimed at isolating ADSCs and evaluating the safety of ADSCs in mouse models. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) was collected from the adipose tissue using collagenase. ADSCs were then isolated from SVFs by in vitro culture. The stemness of the ADSCs was evaluated in vitro based on their self-renewal potential, po- tential to differentiate into osteoblasts, and adipocytes, and the expression of specific markers. Finally, the tumor forma- tion ability of ADSCs was evaluated in vivo in athymic mice. Results showed that 100% of the ADSC samples developed well and maintained homogeneity up to passage 10. The ADSCs were completely sterilized and could not form tumors in athymic mice. These initial results showed that ADSCs were safe for use in stem cell therapy.

Claudin-4 SPECT Imaging Allows Detection of Aplastic Lesions in a Mouse Model of Breast Cancer.

The expression of claudin-4, a protein involved in tight junction complexes, is widely dysregulated in epithelial malignancies. Claudin-4 is overexpressed in several premalignant precursor lesions, including those of cancers of the breast, pancreas, and prostate, and is associated with poor survival. A noncytotoxic C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (cCPE) is a natural ligand for claudin-4. Here, we demonstrate whole-body quantitative SPECT imaging of preneoplastic breast cancer tissue using (111)In-labeled cCPE. cCPE.GST or GST (GST is glutathione S-transferase) was conjugated to the metal ion chelator benzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid to allow (111)In radiolabeling. The affinity of radiolabeled cCPE.GST for claudin-4 was confirmed using claudin-4-expressing MDA-MB-468 and SQ20b cells, compared with claudin-4-negative HT1080 cells. In vivo SPECT imaging was performed using athymic mice bearing MDA-MB-468 or HT1080 xenografts and using genetically modified BALB/neuT mice, which spontaneously develop claudin-4-expressing breast cancer lesions. The uptake of (111)In-cCPE.GST in claudin-4-positive MDA-MB-468 xenograft tumors in athymic mice was significantly higher than in (111)In-GST or claudin-4-negative HT1080 tumors (6.72 ± 0.18 vs. 3.88 ± 1.00 vs. 2.36 ± 1.25 percentage injected dose per gram [%ID/g]; P < 0.0001). No other significant differences were observed in any of the examined organs. BALB/neuT mice, expressing rat neuT under mmtv promotor control, spontaneously developed tumorous lesions within their mammary fat pads over the course of 130 d. Overt mammary tumors were claudin-4-positive, and (111)In-cCPE.GST uptake was 3.2 ± 0.70 %ID/g, significantly higher than (111)In-GST (1.00 ± 0.60 %ID/g; P < 0.05). Mammary fat pads in mice aged 80 d bore claudin-4-positive aplastic lesions and accumulated (111)In-cCPE.GST (3.17 ± 0.51 %ID/g) but not (111)In-GST (0.99 ± 0.39 %ID/g; P < 0.001). Taken together, (111)In-cCPE.GST targets claudin-4 expression in frank tumors and preneoplastic tissue, and cCPE imaging may be used as an early detection tool for breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.

Histone methyltransferase MMSET/NSD2 alters EZH2 binding and reprograms the myeloma epigenome through global and focal changes in H3K36 and H3K27 methylation.

Overexpression of the histone methyltransferase MMSET in t(4;14)+ multiple myeloma patients is believed to be the driving factor in the pathogenesis of this subtype of myeloma. MMSET catalyzes dimethylation of lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me2), and its overexpression causes a global increase in H3K36me2, redistributing this mark in a broad, elevated level across the genome. Here, we demonstrate that an increased level of MMSET also induces a global reduction of lysine 27 trimethylation on histone H3 (H3K27me3). Despite the net decrease in H3K27 methylation, specific genomic loci exhibit enhanced recruitment of the EZH2 histone methyltransferase and become hypermethylated on this residue. These effects likely contribute to the myeloma phenotype since MMSET-overexpressing cells displayed increased sensitivity to EZH2 inhibition. Furthermore, we demonstrate that such MMSET-mediated epigenetic changes require a number of functional domains within the protein, including PHD domains that mediate MMSET recruitment to chromatin. In vivo, targeting of MMSET by an inducible shRNA reversed histone methylation changes and led to regression of established tumors in athymic mice. Together, our work elucidates previously unrecognized interplay between MMSET and EZH2 in myeloma oncogenesis and identifies domains to be considered when designing inhibitors of MMSET function.