Abstract
Background: Cancers are complex organs which encompass not only the tumor cells but also cells within the surrounding stroma. Such cells, mainly cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune infiltrating cells, facilitate many aspects of cancer development providing a structural and supportive framework rich of bioactive compounds. So far, there are emerging studies proposing the combination of conventional anti-cancer therapy, directed against neoplastic cells, to molecules targeting tumor microenviroment. Methods: The study was designed to evaluated the pharmacological properties of the anti-tumor agent paclitaxel conjugated to hyaluronic acid (HA) on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and on the surronding dermal fibroblasts. This molecule, named Oncofid-P20 (Onco-P20), targets preferentially cells expressing high level of CD44, the natural ligand of HA.Results: Consistent with paclitaxel’s mechanism of action involving interferences with the normal breackdown of microtubules during cell division, highly sensible carcinoma cells underwent rapidly to apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, less sensible cells such as dermal fibroblasts resisted to the Onco-P20 treatment and experirenced a senescent-like status characterized by morphological change, decreaded proliferation, and significant modification of the gene espression profile. Onco-P20-treated fibroblasts lowered growth factors production, down-modulate Wnt signal pathway and acquired a pro-inflammatory profile. Independently to the direct exposure to taxol, in presence of Onco-P20-treated fibroblasts or their conditioned medium, carcinoma cells reduced the proliferation rate. Similar to NHF, fibroblasts isolated from skin cancer tumor lesion or from tissue adjacent to the tumor acquired an anti-neoplastic activity under Oncofid-P20 treatment.Conclusion: Collectively, our data demonstrated that Onco-P20, exerting both a direct and a NHF-mediated indirect paracrine effect on carcinoma cells, is a good candidate for an innovative therapy alternative to surgery for treatment of NMSC.
Simultaneous Targeting Tumor Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts with a Paclitaxel–Hyaluronan Bioconjugate: In Vitro Evaluation in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
