scholarly journals DDRE-33. MELATONIN AS A MASTER METABOLIC SWITCH FOR GLIOBLASTOMA

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i13-i14
Author(s):  
Beatriz Irene Fernandez-Gil ◽  
Carla Vazquez-Ramos ◽  
Alexandra Bechtle ◽  
Paola Suarez-Meade ◽  
Neda Qosja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Brain Cancer ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Metabolic Switch ◽  
Powerful Approach ◽  
Internal Ph ◽  
Brain Tumor Initiating Cells

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common form of malignant primary brain cancer in adults with a median survival of only 15 months. Therefore, new therapies to suppress malignant brain cancer are needed. Brain Tumor Initiating Cells (BTICs) are a GBM subpopulation of cells with a highly glycolytic profile that are thought to be responsible of the resistance of GBM to treatments. Metabolic reprogramming allows tumor cells to survive in unsupportive microenvironments. Manipulating tumor metabolism to counteract GBM resistance arises as a powerful approach with minimum effects in normal counterparts. At pharmacological concentrations, melatonin displays oncostatic properties. This is thought to be due to an increase in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation through the effects of melatonin in mitochondria, key organelle in metabolic homeostasis. We hypothesize that melatonin could alter BTIC metabolism, by inducing an anti-Warburg effect and as consequence, melatonin will decrease the viability of GBM cells and tumor growth. We found that treatment of GBM cell lines with 3mM melatonin significantly altered tumor cell metabolism. We observed that melatonin downregulated the lactate symporter MCT4 (p<0.002), inducing a significant intracellular accumulation of lactate (p<0.002) while decreasing it in the extracellular media (p<0.001). This was followed by a decrease in the internal pH (p<0.002). These effects were compensated by an increase in the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) followed by decay that leaded to an increase in ROS production (p<0.001). All these changes result in a depletion of cellular ATP (p<0.001) and eventually drove to a decrease in the proliferation (p<0.001) and cell death (p<0.001). When applied in vivo we observed a significant reduction in the tumor growth (p<0.001), volume (p<0.002) and weight (p<0.002), as well as a drop in the proliferation marker ki67 (p<0.001) and a fibrosis increase in treated tumors. These results position melatonin as a strong therapeutic candidate for GBM therapy.

scholarly journals Multiplexed RNAi therapy against brain tumor-initiating cells via lipopolymeric nanoparticle infusion delays glioblastoma progression

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (30) ◽  
pp. E6147-E6156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dou Yu ◽  
Omar F. Khan ◽  
Mario L. Suvà ◽  
Biqin Dong ◽  
Wojciech K. Panek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Therapy Resistance ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Convection Enhanced Delivery ◽  
Individual Gene ◽  
Brain Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs) have been identified as key contributors to therapy resistance, recurrence, and progression of diffuse gliomas, particularly glioblastoma (GBM). BTICs are elusive therapeutic targets that reside across the blood–brain barrier, underscoring the urgent need to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Additionally, intratumoral heterogeneity and adaptations to therapeutic pressure by BTICs impede the discovery of effective anti-BTIC therapies and limit the efficacy of individual gene targeting. Recent discoveries in the genetic and epigenetic determinants of BTIC tumorigenesis offer novel opportunities for RNAi-mediated targeting of BTICs. Here we show that BTIC growth arrest in vitro and in vivo is accomplished via concurrent siRNA knockdown of four transcription factors (SOX2, OLIG2, SALL2, and POU3F2) that drive the proneural BTIC phenotype delivered by multiplexed siRNA encapsulation in the lipopolymeric nanoparticle 7C1. Importantly, we demonstrate that 7C1 nano-encapsulation of multiplexed RNAi is a viable BTIC-targeting strategy when delivered directly in vivo in an established mouse brain tumor. Therapeutic potential was most evident via a convection-enhanced delivery method, which shows significant extension of median survival in two patient-derived BTIC xenograft mouse models of GBM. Our study suggests that there is potential advantage in multiplexed targeting strategies for BTICs and establishes a flexible nonviral gene therapy platform with the capacity to channel multiplexed RNAi schemes to address the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity.

scholarly journals Dual mTORC1/2 Blockade Inhibits Glioblastoma Brain Tumor Initiating Cells In Vitro and In Vivo and Synergizes with Temozolomide to Increase Orthotopic Xenograft Survival

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (22) ◽  
pp. 5756-5767 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Artee Luchman ◽  
Owen D.M. Stechishin ◽  
Stephanie A. Nguyen ◽  
Xueqing Q. Lun ◽  
J. Gregory Cairncross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Orthotopic Xenograft ◽  
Brain Tumor Initiating Cells

scholarly journals Functional Characterization of Brain Tumor-Initiating Cells: Implications for Preclinical Models and Drug Development

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar A Garcia ◽  
Adip Guruprasad Bhargav ◽  
Sujan K Mondal ◽  
Karim ReFaey ◽  
Natanael Zarco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Retroviral Transduction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Brain Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Functional Features

Abstract INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest and most common primary brain cancer in adults. Brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs) are a heterogeneous subset of stem-like, invasive cells that play a critical role in treatment failure and recurrence. METHODS Here, we propose a system to functionally characterize patient-derived BTICs to identify features that will guide assessment of therapeutics in a BTIC subpopulation-specific manner. We established and evaluated 5 BTIC populations based on (1) proliferation, (2) stemness, (3) migration, (4) tumorigenesis, (5) clinical characteristics, and (6) therapeutic sensitivity. RESULTS Overall, in Vitro growth trends reflected in Vivo growth rates. However, a significant difference was found between tumor growth in male versus female mice in 3 BTIC lines (QNS108 P = .0011; QNS120 P < .0001; QNS 140 P < .0001). Differences in survival were observed, where BTICs derived from male and female patients produced faster morbidity in mice of the opposite sex (male derived QNS108 male vs female P = .0039; female derived QNS203 male vs female P = .029). QNS203, which was isolated from a tumor in contact with the anterior subventricular zone, decreased survival at a faster rate compared to other cell lines (n = 10 per line, 5 males/5 females, P < .0001). Stem-like properties of BTICs were assessed via differentiation marker expression, sphere-forming capacity, and detection of canonical marker CD133. Higher CD133 expression correlated with faster in Vitro doubling time and greater tumor burden. Histology reflected similar patient tumor features such as migration across the corpus callosum and cystic formation. BTICs revealed varying responses to therapies (TMZ, Radiation, TRAIL, BMP4) and varied competence to retroviral transduction. CONCLUSION By studying the functional features of BTICs within our model of GBM heterogeneity, it was shown that several factors influenced tumorigenesis and survival. These included original tumor location, stemness, variation in therapeutic sensitivity, and a critical finding for the role of sex, an unexplored area for creating next-generation, sex-specific, and BTIC-specific therapeutics.

scholarly journals Dynamic regulation of mitochondrial pyruvate metabolism Is necessary for orthotopic pancreatic tumor growth

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy P Echeverri Ruiz ◽  
Vijay Mohan ◽  
Jinghai Wu ◽  
Sabina Scott ◽  
McKenzie Kreamer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tca Cycle ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Flux Analysis ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Substitution Mutations ◽  
Deficient Mice

Abstract BackgroundPyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) plays a central role in carbohydrate metabolism, linking cytoplasmic glycolysis to the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. PDC is a conserved E1-E2-E3 dehydrogenase with a PDHA1 and PDHB heterotetramer functioning as the E1 subunit. PDHA1 contains three serine residues that can be reversibly phosphorylated by a dedicated family of four inhibitory pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDHK1-4) and two reactivating phosphatases (PDP1,2). Hypoxia induces the expression of PDHK1 and PDHK3 and hyperphosphorylates PDHA1. The role of PDC in metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression appears to be for the integration of oncogenic and environmental signals which supports tumor growth. MethodsTo isolate the function of the serine-dependent regulation pf PDC, we engineered MiaPaca2 cells to express PDHA1 protein with either intact serines at positions 232, 293 and 300, or all the combinations of non-phosphorylatable alanine substitution mutations. These lines were compared in vitro for biochemical response to hypoxia by western blot, metabolic activity by biochemical assay and Seahorse XF flux analysis, and growth in media with reduced exogenous metabolites. The lines were also tested for growth in vivo after orthotopic injection into the pancreata of immune-deficient mice. ResultsIn this family of cells with non-phosphorylatable PDHA1 we found reduced hypoxic phosphorylation of PDHA1, decreased PDH enzymatic activity in normoxia and hypoxia, decreased mitochondrial function by Seahorse flux assay, reduced in vitro growth of cells in media depleted of lipids, and reduced growth of tumors after orthotopic transplantation of cells into the pancreata of immune-deficient mice. ConclusionsWe found that any substitution of alanine for serine at regulatory sites generated a hypomorphic PDC. However, the reduced PDC activity was insensitive to further reduction in hypoxia. These cells had very modest reduction of growth in vitro, but were significantly compromised in their growth as tumors, indicating that dynamic PDC adaptation to microenvironmental conditions is necessary for optimal pancreatic cancer growth in vivo.

scholarly journals Methylglyoxal, a glycolysis side-product, induces Hsp90 glycation and YAP-mediated tumor growth and metastasis

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Julie Nokin ◽  
Florence Durieux ◽  
Paul Peixoto ◽  
Barbara Chiavarina ◽  
Olivier Peulen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Aerobic Glycolysis ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Metastatic Potential ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Carbonyl Stress ◽  
Tumor Growth And Metastasis ◽  
The Impact

Metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis unavoidably induces methylglyoxal (MG) formation in cancer cells. MG mediates the glycation of proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGEs). We have recently demonstrated that MG-induced AGEs are a common feature of breast cancer. Little is known regarding the impact of MG-mediated carbonyl stress on tumor progression. Breast tumors with MG stress presented with high nuclear YAP, a key transcriptional co-activator regulating tumor growth and invasion. Elevated MG levels resulted in sustained YAP nuclear localization/activity that could be reverted using Carnosine, a scavenger for MG. MG treatment affected Hsp90 chaperone activity and decreased its binding to LATS1, a key kinase of the Hippo pathway. Cancer cells with high MG stress showed enhanced growth and metastatic potential in vivo. These findings reinforce the cumulative evidence pointing to hyperglycemia as a risk factor for cancer incidence and bring renewed interest in MG scavengers for cancer treatment.

Control of brain tumor growth by reactivating myeloid cells with niacin

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (537) ◽  
pp. eaay9924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susobhan Sarkar ◽  
Runze Yang ◽  
Reza Mirzaei ◽  
Khalil Rawji ◽  
Candice Poon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Combination Treatment ◽  
Tumor Size ◽  
Myeloid Cells ◽  
Interferon Α ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Vitamin B3 ◽  
Therapeutic Outcomes ◽  
Brain Tumor Initiating Cells

Glioblastomas are generally incurable partly because monocytes, macrophages, and microglia in afflicted patients do not function in an antitumor capacity. Medications that reactivate these macrophages/microglia, as well as circulating monocytes that become macrophages, could thus be useful to treat glioblastoma. We have discovered that niacin (vitamin B3) is a potential stimulator of these inefficient myeloid cells. Niacin-exposed monocytes attenuated the growth of brain tumor–initiating cells (BTICs) derived from glioblastoma patients by producing anti-proliferative interferon-α14. Niacin treatment of mice bearing intracranial BTICs increased macrophage/microglia representation within the tumor, reduced tumor size, and prolonged survival. These therapeutic outcomes were negated in mice depleted of circulating monocytes or harboring interferon-α receptor–deleted BTICs. Combination treatment with temozolomide enhanced niacin-promoted survival. Monocytes from glioblastoma patients had increased interferon-α14 upon niacin exposure and were reactivated to reduce BTIC growth in culture. We highlight niacin, a common vitamin that can be quickly translated into clinical application, as an immune stimulator against glioblastomas.

scholarly journals Jak2-mediated phosphorylation of Atoh1 is critical for medulloblastoma growth

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiemo J Klisch ◽  
Anna Vainshtein ◽  
Akash J Patel ◽  
Huda Y Zoghbi
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Surgical Resection ◽  
Sonic Hedgehog ◽  
Transcriptional Activity ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Term Survival

Treatment for medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, remains limited to surgical resection, radiation, and traditional chemotherapy; with long-term survival as low as 50–60% for Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)-type medulloblastoma. We have shown that the transcription factor Atonal homologue 1 (Atoh1) is required for Shh-type medulloblastoma development in mice. To determine whether reducing either Atoh1 levels or activity in tumors after their development is beneficial, we studied Atoh1 dosage and modifications in Shh-type medulloblastoma. Heterozygosity of Atoh1 reduced tumor occurrence and prolonged survival. We discovered tyrosine 78 of Atoh1 is phosphorylated by a Jak2-mediated pathway only in tumor-initiating cells and in human SHH-type medulloblastoma. Phosphorylation of tyrosine 78 stabilizes Atoh1, increases Atoh1’s transcriptional activity, and is independent of canonical Jak2 signaling. Importantly, inhibition of Jak2 impairs tyrosine 78 phosphorylation and tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, inhibiting Jak2-mediated tyrosine 78 phosphorylation could provide a viable therapy for medulloblastoma.

scholarly journals Expression of Nutrient Transporters on NK Cells During Murine Cytomegalovirus Infection Is MyD88-Dependent

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abrar Ul Haq Khan ◽  
Saeedah Musaed Almutairi ◽  
Alaa Kassim Ali ◽  
Rosalba Salcedo ◽  
C. Andrew Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Interleukin 1 ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Murine Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Nutrient Transporters ◽  
Mcmv Infection

Natural killer (NK) cells are the predominant innate lymphocytes that provide early defense against infections. In the inflammatory milieu, NK cells modify their metabolism to support high energy demands required for their proliferation, activation, and functional plasticity. This metabolic reprogramming is usually accompanied by the upregulation of nutrient transporter expression on the cell surface, leading to increased nutrient uptake required for intense proliferation. The interleukin-1 family members of inflammatory cytokines are critical in activating NK cells during infection; however, their underlying mechanism in NK cell metabolism is not fully elucidated. Previously, we have shown that IL-18 upregulates the expression of solute carrier transmembrane proteins and thereby induces a robust metabolic boost in NK cells. Unexpectedly, we found that IL-18 signaling is dispensable during viral infection in vivo, while the upregulation of nutrient transporters is primarily MyD88-dependent. NK cells from Myd88-/- mice displayed significantly reduced surface expression of nutrient receptors and mTOR activity during MCMV infection. We also identified that IL-33, another cytokine employing MyD88 signaling, induces the expression of nutrient transporters but requires a pre-exposure to IL-12. Moreover, signaling through the NK cell activating receptor, Ly49H, can also promote the expression of nutrient transporters. Collectively, our findings revealed multiple pathways that can induce the expression of nutrient transporters on NK cells while highlighting the imperative role of MyD88 in NK cell metabolism during infection.

scholarly journals Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Phytochemicals on miRNA Regulating Breast Cancer Progression

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Varghese ◽  
Alena Liskova ◽  
Peter Kubatka ◽  
Samson Mathews Samuel ◽  
Dietrich Büsselberg
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Tumor Angiogenesis ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Breast Cancers ◽  
Oncogenic Signaling ◽  
Metabolic Switch

Several phytochemicals have been identified for their role in modifying miRNA regulating tumor progression. miRNAs modulate the expression of several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes including the genes that regulate tumor angiogenesis. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) signaling is a central axis that activates oncogenic signaling and acts as a metabolic switch in endothelial cell (EC) driven tumor angiogenesis. Tumor angiogenesis driven by metabolic reprogramming of EC is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis in many different cancers, including breast cancers, and has been linked to aberrant miRNA expression profiles. In the current article, we identify different miRNAs that regulate tumor angiogenesis in the context of oncogenic signaling and metabolic reprogramming in ECs and review how selected phytochemicals could modulate miRNA levels to induce an anti-angiogenic action in breast cancer. Studies involving genistein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and resveratrol demonstrate the regulation of miRNA-21, miRNA-221/222 and miRNA-27, which are prognostic markers in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Modulating the metabolic pathway is a novel strategy for controlling tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. Cardamonin, curcumin and resveratrol exhibit their anti-angiogenic property by targeting the miRNAs that regulate EC metabolism. Here we suggest that using phytochemicals to target miRNAs, which in turn suppresses tumor angiogenesis, should have the potential to inhibit tumor growth, progression, invasion and metastasis and may be developed into an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many different cancers where tumor angiogenesis plays a significant role in tumor growth and progression.

STEM-26. BLOOD-TUMOR BARRIER IS COMPOSED OF MECHANOSENSING TUMOR CELLS THAT MASK THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi26-vi26
Author(s):  
Ali Momin ◽  
Xin Chen ◽  
Gousiyi Wang ◽  
Xian Wang ◽  
Hyun-Kee Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Cancer ◽  
Single Cell Analysis ◽  
Quiescent State ◽  
Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Epithelial Homeostasis ◽  
Response To Chemotherapy ◽  
Lymphatic Development ◽  
Brain Tumor Initiating Cells ◽  
Mechanochemical Signaling

Abstract Two major obstacles in brain cancer treatment are the blood-tumor barrier (BTB), which restricts delivery of most therapeutic agents, and the quiescent brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs), which evade cell cycle-targeting chemotherapy. Mechanosensation, the transduction of mechanical cues into cellular signaling, underlies physiological processes such as touch, pain, proprioception, hearing, respiration, epithelial homeostasis, and vascular and lymphatic development. We report that medulloblastoma (MB) BTICs are mechanosensing, a property conferred by force-activated ion channel Piezo2. In contrast to the prevailing view that astrocytes function as a physical barrier in BTB, BTICs project endfeet to ensheathe capillaries. MB develops a tissue stiffness gradient as a function of distance to capillaries. Piezo2 senses substrate stiffness to sustain local intracellular calcium, actomyosin tension, and adhesion at BTIC growth cones, which allow BTICs to mechanically interact with their substrate and sequester β-Catenin to prevent WNT/β-Catenin signaling in BTICs. Our single cell analysis uncovers a two-branched BTIC trajectory that progresses from a deep quiescent state to two cycling states. Tumor cell-specific Piezo2 knockout reverses the off-on WNT/β-Catenin signaling states in BTICs and endothelial cells, collapses the BTB, reduces quiescence depth of BTICs, and markedly enhances MB response to chemotherapy. Our study reveals that BTICs co-opt astrocytic mechanism to contribute to the BTB and provides the first evidence that BTB depends on mechanochemical signaling to mask tumor chemosensitivity. Targeting Piezo2 addresses BTB and BTIC properties that underlie therapy failures in brain cancer.

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