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16 pages, 4266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PRMT-1 and p120-Catenin as EMT Mediators in Osimertinib Resistance in NSCLC

by Kavya Sri Racherla, Katrina Dovalovsky, Meet Patel, Emma Harper, Jacob Barnard, S M Nasifuzzaman, Mason Smith, Riya Sikand, Eva Drinka and Neelu Puri

Cancers 2023, 15(13), 3461; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15133461 - 1 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2604

Abstract

Osimertinib, an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a first-line therapy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients. Prolonged treatment with Osimertinib leads to resistance due to an acquired C797S mutation in the EGFR domain and other mechanisms, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we [...] Read more.

Osimertinib, an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is a first-line therapy in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients. Prolonged treatment with Osimertinib leads to resistance due to an acquired C797S mutation in the EGFR domain and other mechanisms, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we investigated the role of PRMT-1 and p120-catenin in mediating Osimertinib resistance (OR) through EMT. These studies found upregulation of gene and protein expression of PRMT-1, p120-catenin and Kaiso factor. Knockdown of p120-catenin using siRNA increased OR efficacy by 45% as compared to cells treated with mock siRNA and OR. After 24 h of transfection, the percentage wound closure in cells transfected with p120-catenin siRNA was 26.2%. However, in mock siRNA-treated cells the wound closure was 7.4%, showing its involvement in EMT. We also found high levels of p120-catenin expressed in 30% of smokers as compared to 5.5% and 0% of non-smokers and quit-smokers (respectively) suggesting that smoking may influence p120-catenin expression in NSCLC patients. These results suggest that biomarkers such as PRMT-1 may mediate EMT by methylating Twist-1 and increasing p120-catenin expression, which causes transcriptional activation of genes associated with Kaiso factor to promote EMT in Osimertinib-resistant cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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13 pages, 2779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ex Vivo Model of Neuroblastoma Plasticity

by Paula Schäfer, Stefanie Muhs, Lucas Turnbull, Palwasha Garwal, Hanna Maar, Timur A. Yorgan, Eva Tolosa, Tobias Lange and Sabine Windhorst

Cancers 2023, 15(4), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15041274 - 17 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1831

Abstract

Tumor plasticity is essential for adaptation to changing environmental conditions, in particular during the process of metastasis. In this study, we compared morphological and biochemical differences between LAN-1 neuroblastoma (NB) cells recovered from a subcutaneous xenograft primary tumor (PT) and the corresponding three [...] Read more.

Tumor plasticity is essential for adaptation to changing environmental conditions, in particular during the process of metastasis. In this study, we compared morphological and biochemical differences between LAN-1 neuroblastoma (NB) cells recovered from a subcutaneous xenograft primary tumor (PT) and the corresponding three generations of bone metastasis (BM I–III). Moreover, growth behavior, as well as the response to chemotherapy and immune cells were assessed. For this purpose, F-actin was stained, mRNA and protein expression assessed, and lactate secretion analyzed. Further, we measured adhesion to collagen I, the growth rate of spheroids in the presence and absence of vincristine, and the production of IL-6 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-incubated with PT or BM I–III. Analysis of PT and the three BM generations revealed that their growth rate decreased from PT to BM III, and accordingly, PT cells reacted most sensitively to vincristine. In addition, morphology, adaption to hypoxic conditions, as well as transcriptomes showed strong differences between the cell lines. Moreover, BM I and BM II cells exhibited a significantly different ability to stimulate human immune cells compared to PT and BM III cells. Interestingly, the differences in immune cell stimulation corresponded to the expression level of the cancer-testis antigen MAGE-A3. In conclusion, our ex vivo model allows to analyze the adaption of tumor populations to different microenvironments and clearly demonstrates the strong alteration of tumor cell populations during this process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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24 pages, 3757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ABL1/2 and DDR1 Drive MEKi Resistance in NRAS-Mutant Melanomas by Stabilizing RAF/MYC/ETS1 and Promoting RAF Homodimerization

by Anastasia Lyon, Rakshamani Tripathi, Christina Meeks, Daheng He, Yuanyuan Wu, Jinpeng Liu, Chi Wang, Jing Chen, Haining Zhu, Sujata Mukherjee, Saptadwipa Ganguly and Rina Plattner

Cancers 2023, 15(3), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15030954 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2785

Abstract

Melanomas harboring NRAS mutations are a particularly aggressive and deadly subtype. If patients cannot tolerate or the melanomas are insensitive to immune checkpoint blockade, there are no effective 2nd-line treatment options. Drugs targeting the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, which are used for BRAF-mutant melanomas, [...] Read more.

Melanomas harboring NRAS mutations are a particularly aggressive and deadly subtype. If patients cannot tolerate or the melanomas are insensitive to immune checkpoint blockade, there are no effective 2nd-line treatment options. Drugs targeting the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, which are used for BRAF-mutant melanomas, do little to increase progression-free survival (PFS). Here, using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, we show that ABL1/2 and DDR1 are critical nodes during NRAS-mutant melanoma intrinsic and acquired MEK inhibitor (MEKi) resistance. In some acquired resistance cells, ABL1/2 and DDR1 cooperate to stabilize RAF proteins, activate ERK cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling, repress p27/KIP1 expression, and drive RAF homodimerization. In contrast, other acquired resistance cells depend solely on ABL1/2 for their survival, and are sensitive to highly specific allosteric ABL1/2 inhibitors, which prevent β-catenin nuclear localization and destabilize MYC and ETS1 in an ERK-independent manner. Significantly, targeting ABL1/2 and DDR1 with an FDA-approved anti-leukemic drug, reverses intrinsic MEKi resistance, delays acquisition of acquired resistance, and doubles the survival time in a NRAS-mutant mouse model. These data indicate that repurposing FDA-approved drugs targeting ABL1/2 and DDR1 may be a novel and effective strategy for treating patients with treatment-refractory NRAS-driven melanomas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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10 pages, 1890 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Activation of cGAS-STING Pathway Is Associated with MSI-H Stage IV Colorectal Cancer

by Nenad Kunac, Marina Degoricija, Jelena Viculin, Jasminka Omerović, Janoš Terzić, Katarina Vilović and Jelena Korac-Prlic

Cancers 2023, 15(1), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15010221 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2801

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in adults. Understanding colorectal tumorigenesis at both the cellular and molecular levels is crucial for developing effective treatment options. Forty-one biopsy samples from patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) were collected at Split [...] Read more.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality in adults. Understanding colorectal tumorigenesis at both the cellular and molecular levels is crucial for developing effective treatment options. Forty-one biopsy samples from patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) were collected at Split University Hospital in Croatia. A total of 41 patients (21 with microsatellite unstable tumours and 20 with microsatellite stable tumours) were randomly included in the study. Immunolabelling of cGAS and STING in metastatic CRC was performed and further complemented by histological classification, tumour grade, and KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutational status of mCRC. In bivariate analysis, elevated expression of cGAS and STING was positively associated with MSI-H colon cancer (Fisher’s exact test, both p = 0.0203). Combined expression analysis of cGAS and STING showed a significantly higher percentage of patients with mCRC MSI-H with a fully or partially activated cGAS-STING signalling pathway (chi-square test, p = 0.0050). After adjusting for age, sex, and STING expression, increased cGAS expression remained significantly associated with MSI-H colon cancer in a multiple logistic regression model (β = 1.588, SE = ±0.799, p = 0.047). The cGAS-STING signalling axis represents a compelling new target for optimization of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapeutic approaches in patients with MSI-H stage IV CRC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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12 pages, 607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reproductive and Endocrine Outcomes in a Cohort of Danish Women following Auto-Transplantation of Frozen/Thawed Ovarian Tissue from a Single Center

by Lotte B. Colmorn, Anette T. Pedersen, Elisabeth C. Larsen, Alexandra S. Hansen, Mikkel Rosendahl, Claus Yding Andersen, Stine G. Kristensen and Kirsten T. Macklon

Cancers 2022, 14(23), 5873; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14235873 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1801

Abstract

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is a method of fertility preservation in girls and young women prior to gonadotoxic treatment. It is a safe and promising method to restore fertility. The initial recovery of endocrine function is high, but the longevity of the grafted [...] Read more.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is a method of fertility preservation in girls and young women prior to gonadotoxic treatment. It is a safe and promising method to restore fertility. The initial recovery of endocrine function is high, but the longevity of the grafted tissue varies. In this single-center, combined retro- and prospective cohort study, we report the reproductive outcome and hormonal recovery following ovarian tissue transplantation (OTT) and evaluate possible predictors of the chance of pregnancy. The study includes 40 women from eastern Denmark undergoing 53 OTTs between 2003 and 2021. Permission to obtain retrospective data was given by the Danish Patient Safety Authorities and prospective data-collection by informed consent. Initial recovery of endocrine function was seen in 18/19 women with POI, and ongoing function of the grafted tissue in 7/14 two years from OTT. Live birth rate (LBR) was 41%, with 20 children to 39 women trying to conceive. Women who conceived had higher AFC at the time of OTC than women who did not (p ± 0.04). Repeated transplantations were not successful in terms of delivery. Half of all pregnancies were achieved by ART, but PRs were lower after ART than by spontaneous conception. LBRs after OTT are encouraging. Chance of pregnancy after OTT is correlated to ovarian reserve at OTC. Repeated transplantations were not successful in terms of unfulfilled pregnancy wish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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11 pages, 1295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antitumor Activity of Simvastatin in Preclinical Models of Mantle Cell Lymphoma

by Juliana Carvalho Santos, Núria Profitós-Pelejà, Marcelo Lima Ribeiro and Gaël Roué

Cancers 2022, 14(22), 5601; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225601 - 15 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2528

Abstract

Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare and aggressive subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that remains incurable with standard therapy. Statins are well-tolerated, inexpensive, and widely prescribed as cholesterol-lowering agents to treat hyperlipidemia and to prevent cardiovascular diseases through the blockage of [...] Read more.

Background: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare and aggressive subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that remains incurable with standard therapy. Statins are well-tolerated, inexpensive, and widely prescribed as cholesterol-lowering agents to treat hyperlipidemia and to prevent cardiovascular diseases through the blockage of the mevalonate metabolic pathway. These drugs have also shown promising anti-cancer activity through pleiotropic effects including the induction of lymphoma cell death. However, their potential use as anti-MCL agents has not been evaluated so far. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the activity of simvastatin on MCL cells. Methods: We evaluated the cytotoxicity of simvastatin in MCL cell lines by CellTiter-Glo and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays. Cell proliferation and mitotic index were assessed by direct cell recounting and histone H3-pSer10 immunostaining. Apoptosis induction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were evaluated by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion properties were determined by transwell assay. The antitumoral effect of simvastatin in vivo was evaluated in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) MCL xenograft model. Results: We show that treatment with simvastatin induced a 2 to 6-fold LDH release, inhibited more than 50% of cell proliferation, and enhanced the caspase-independent ROS-mediated death of MCL cells. The effective impairment of MCL cell survival was accompanied by the inhibition of AKT and mTOR phosphorylation. Moreover, simvastatin strongly decreased MCL cell migration and invasion ability, leading to a 55% tumor growth inhibition and a consistent diminution of bone marrow and spleen metastasis in vivo. Conclusion: Altogether, these data provide the first preclinical insight into the effect of simvastatin against MCL cells, suggesting that this agent might be considered for repurpose as a precise MCL therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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19 pages, 3801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ATP128 Clinical Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Activates NF-κB and IRF3 Pathways through TLR4 and TLR2 in Human Monocytes and Dendritic Cells

by Roberta Pascolutti, Lakshmi Yeturu, Géraldine Philippin, Stéphane Costa Borges, Magali Dejob, Marie-Laure Santiago-Raber and Madiha Derouazi

Cancers 2022, 14(20), 5134; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14205134 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2547

Abstract

The use of cancer vaccines is a promising therapeutic strategy able to stimulate anti-tumor immunity by inducing both humoral and cellular immunity. In this study, antigen presenting cells play a key role by inducing a strong activation of the T cell-mediated adaptive immune [...] Read more.

The use of cancer vaccines is a promising therapeutic strategy able to stimulate anti-tumor immunity by inducing both humoral and cellular immunity. In this study, antigen presenting cells play a key role by inducing a strong activation of the T cell-mediated adaptive immune response, essential for the anti-tumor potential of cancer vaccines. The first human candidate vaccine created from the KISIMA platform, ATP128, bears three tumor-associated antigens highly expressed in colorectal cancer tissues. At the N-terminus, the cell-penetrating peptide allows the antigen delivery inside the cell and, together with the TLR agonist-derived peptide at the C-terminus, ensures the activation of the monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Here, we show that ATP128 leads to both NF-κB and IRF3 pathway activation, with subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokines and type I Interferon release, as well as an increase in the expression of costimulatory molecules, alongside an upregulation of MHC class I molecules. This cellular immune response involves TLR2 and TLR4, for both membrane and intracellular signaling. We demonstrated an endocytic component in ATP128’s activity by combining the use of a variant of ATP128 lacking the cell-penetrating peptide with endocytosis inhibitors. Importantly, this internalization step is detemined essential for the activation of the IRF3 pathway. This study validates the design of the self-adjuvanting ATP128 vaccine for cancer immunotherapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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27 pages, 9141 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pitavastatin and Ivermectin Enhance the Efficacy of Paclitaxel in Chemoresistant High-Grade Serous Carcinoma

by Mariana Nunes, Diana Duarte, Nuno Vale and Sara Ricardo

Cancers 2022, 14(18), 4357; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14184357 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5746

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a hallmark in high-grade serous carcinoma management; however, chemoresistance and side effects lead to therapeutic interruption. Combining repurposed drugs with chemotherapy has the potential to improve antineoplastic efficacy, since drugs can have independent mechanisms of action and suppress different pathways simultaneously. [...] Read more.

Chemotherapy is a hallmark in high-grade serous carcinoma management; however, chemoresistance and side effects lead to therapeutic interruption. Combining repurposed drugs with chemotherapy has the potential to improve antineoplastic efficacy, since drugs can have independent mechanisms of action and suppress different pathways simultaneously. This study aimed to explore whether the combination of Paclitaxel with repurposed drugs led to a therapeutic benefit. Thus, we evaluated the cytotoxic effects of Paclitaxel alone and in combination with several repurposed drugs (Pitavastatin, Metformin, Ivermectin, Itraconazole and Alendronate) in two tumor chemoresistant (OVCAR8 and OVCAR8 PTX R P) and a non-tumoral (HOSE6.3) cell lines. Cellular viability was assessed using Presto Blue assay, and the synergistic interactions were evaluated using Chou–Talalay, Bliss Independence and Highest Single Agent reference models. The combination of Paclitaxel with Pitavastatin or Ivermectin showed the highest cytotoxic effect and the strongest synergism among all combinations for both chemoresistant cell lines, resulting in a chemotherapeutic effect superior to both drugs alone. Almost all the repurposed drugs in combination with Paclitaxel presented a safe pharmacological profile in non-tumoral cells. Overall, we suggest that Pitavastatin and Ivermectin could act synergistically in combination with Paclitaxel, being promising two-drug combinations for high-grade serous carcinoma management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Oncology)

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