scholarly journals Irradiation-Modulated Murine Brain Microenvironment Enhances GL261-Tumor Growth and Inhibits Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel R. Garbow ◽  
Tanner M. Johanns ◽  
Xia Ge ◽  
John A. Engelbach ◽  
Liya Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Primary Brain Tumor ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Separate Experiment ◽  
Lesion Volume ◽  
Activated Microglia ◽  
Significant Difference

PurposeClinical evidence suggests radiation induces changes in the brain microenvironment that affect subsequent response to treatment. This study investigates the effect of previous radiation, delivered six weeks prior to orthotopic tumor implantation, on subsequent tumor growth and therapeutic response to anti-PD-L1 therapy in an intracranial mouse model, termed the Radiation Induced Immunosuppressive Microenvironment (RI2M) model.Method and MaterialsC57Bl/6 mice received focal (hemispheric) single-fraction, 30-Gy radiation using the Leksell GammaKnife® Perfexion™, a dose that does not produce frank/gross radiation necrosis. Non-irradiated GL261 glioblastoma tumor cells were implanted six weeks later into the irradiated hemisphere. Lesion volume was measured longitudinally by in vivo MRI. In a separate experiment, tumors were implanted into either previously irradiated (30 Gy) or non-irradiated mouse brain, mice were treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed. Mouse brains were assessed by conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, IBA-1 staining, which detects activated microglia and macrophages, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis.ResultsTumors in previously irradiated brain display aggressive, invasive growth, characterized by viable tumor and large regions of hemorrhage and necrosis. Mice challenged intracranially with GL261 six weeks after prior intracranial irradiation are unresponsive to anti-PD-L1 therapy. K-M curves demonstrate a statistically significant difference in survival for tumor-bearing mice treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody between RI2M vs. non-irradiated mice. The most prominent immunologic change in the post-irradiated brain parenchyma is an increased frequency of activated microglia.ConclusionsThe RI2M model focuses on the persisting (weeks-to-months) impact of radiation applied to normal, control-state brain on the growth characteristics and immunotherapy response of subsequently implanted tumor. GL261 tumors growing in the RI2M grew markedly more aggressively, with tumor cells admixed with regions of hemorrhage and necrosis, and showed a dramatic loss of response to anti-PD-L1 therapy compared to tumors in non-irradiated brain. IHC and FACS analyses demonstrate increased frequency of activated microglia, which correlates with loss of sensitivity to checkpoint immunotherapy. Given that standard-of-care for primary brain tumor following resection includes concurrent radiation and chemotherapy, these striking observations strongly motivate detailed assessment of the late effects of the RI2M on tumor growth and therapeutic efficacy.

Melatonin modifies tumor hypoxia and metabolism by inhibiting HIF-1α and energy metabolic pathway in the in vitro and in vivo models of breast cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
André De Lima Mota ◽  
Bruna Vitorasso Jardim-Perassi ◽  
Tialfi Bergamin De Castro ◽  
Jucimara Colombo ◽  
Nathália Martins Sonehara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Carbonic Anhydrases ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Ca Ix ◽  
Gene And Protein Expression

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and has a high mortality rate. Adverse conditions in the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia and acidosis, may exert selective pressure on the tumor, selecting subpopulations of tumor cells with advantages for survival in this environment. In this context, therapeutic agents that can modify these conditions, and consequently the intratumoral heterogeneity need to be explored. Melatonin, in addition to its physiological effects, exhibits important anti-tumor actions which may associate with modification of hypoxia and Warburg effect. In this study, we have evaluated the action of melatonin on tumor growth and tumor metabolism by different markers of hypoxia and glucose metabolism (HIF-1α, glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3 and carbonic anhydrases CA-IX and CA-XII) in triple negative breast cancer model. In an in vitro study, gene and protein expressions of these markers were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. The effects of melatonin were also tested in a MDA-MB-231 xenograft animal model. Results showed that melatonin treatment reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells and tumor growth in Balb/c nude mice (p <0.05). The treatment significantly decreased HIF-1α gene and protein expression concomitantly with the expression of GLUT1, GLUT3, CA-IX and CA-XII (p <0.05). These results strongly suggest that melatonin down-regulates HIF-1α expression and regulates glucose metabolism in breast tumor cells, therefore, controlling hypoxia and tumor progression. 

ANTITUMOR EFFECT OF COLLOIDAL SILVER BISILICATE IN EXPERIMENTAL IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 760-765
Author(s):  
Margarita Tyndyk ◽  
Irina Popovich ◽  
A. Malek ◽  
R. Samsonov ◽  
N. Germanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antitumor Activity ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Human Tumor ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Ehrlich Carcinoma ◽  
In Vivo Experiments

The paper presents the results of the research on the antitumor activity of a new drug - atomic clusters of silver (ACS), the colloidal solution of nanostructured silver bisilicate Ag6Si2O7 with particles size of 1-2 nm in deionized water. In vitro studies to evaluate the effect of various ACS concentrations in human tumor cells cultures (breast cancer, colon carcinoma and prostate cancer) were conducted. The highest antitumor activity of ACS was observed in dilutions from 2.7 mg/l to 5.1 mg/l, resulting in the death of tumor cells in all studied cell cultures. In vivo experiments on transplanted Ehrlich carcinoma model in mice consuming 0.75 mg/kg ACS with drinking water revealed significant inhibition of tumor growth since the 14th day of experiment (maximally by 52% on the 28th day, p < 0.05) in comparison with control. Subcutaneous injections of 2.5 mg/kg ACS inhibited Ehrlich's tumor growth on the 7th and 10th days of the experiment (p < 0.05) as compared to control.

Celecoxib and radioresistant glioblastoma-derived CD133+ cells: improvement in radiotherapeutic effects

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-I Ma ◽  
Shih-Hwa Chiou ◽  
Dueng-Yuan Hueng ◽  
Lung-Kuo Tai ◽  
Pin-I Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Primary Brain Tumor ◽  
Scid Mice ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Glioblastoma Cells ◽  
Source Case ◽  
Cox 2

Object Glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumor, has a poor prognosis, even with aggressive resection and chemoradiotherapy. Recent studies indicate that CD133+ cells play a key role in radioresistance and recurrence of glioblastoma. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, is over-expressed in a variety of tumors, including CD133+ glioblastomas. The COX-2–derived prostaglandins promote neovascularization during tumor development, and conventional radiotherapy increases the proportion of CD133+ cells rather than eradicating them. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, in enhancing the therapeutic effects of radiation on CD133+ glioblastomas. Methods Cells positive for CD133 were isolated from glioblastoma specimens and characterized by flow cytometry, then treated with celecoxib and/or ionizing radiation (IR). Clonogenic assay, cell irradiation, cell cycle analysis, Western blot, and xenotransplantation were used to assess the effects of celecoxib alone, IR alone, and IR with celecoxib on CD133+ and CD133− glioblastoma cells. Three separate xenotransplantation experiments were carried out using 310 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice: 1) an initial tumorigenicity evaluation in which 3 different quantities of untreated CD133– cells or untreated or pretreated CD133+ cells (5 treatment conditions) from 7 different tumors were injected into the striatum of 2 mice (210 mice total); 2) a tumor growth study (50 mice); and 3) a survival study (50 mice). For these last 2 studies the same 5 categories of cells were used as in the tumorigenicity (untreated CD133– cells, untreated or pretreated CD133+ cells, with pretreatment consisting of celecoxib alone, IR alone, or IR and celecoxib), but only 1 cell source (Case 2) and quantity (5 × 104 cells) were used. Results High levels of COX-2 protein were detected in the CD133+ but not the CD133− glioblastoma cells. The authors further demonstrated that 30 μM celecoxib was able to effectively enhance the IR effect in inhibiting colony formation and increasing IR-mediated apoptosis in celecoxib-treated CD133+ glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, reduction in radioresistance was correlated with the induction of G2/M arrest, which was partially mediated through the increase in the level of phosphorylated-cdc2. In vivo xenotransplant analysis further confirmed that CD133+-associated tumorigenicity was significantly suppressed by celecoxib treatment. Importantly, pretreatment of CD133+ glioblastoma cells with a combination of celecoxib and IR before injection into the striatum of SCID mice resulted in a statistically significant reduction in tumor growth and a statistically significant increase in the mean survival rate of the mice. Conclusions Celecoxib combined with radiation plays a critical role in the suppression of growth of CD133+ glioblastoma stemlike cells. Celecoxib is therefore a radiosensitizing drug for clinical application in glioblastoma.

scholarly journals Promising potential of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate to enhance tumor response to immunotherapy—a preclinical study using a syngeneic breast cancer model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrycja Guzik ◽  
Klaudia Siwowska ◽  
Hsin-Yu Fang ◽  
Susan Cohrs ◽  
Peter Bernhardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Survival Time ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Median Survival ◽  
Breast Tumor ◽  
Median Survival Time ◽  
Therapy Outcome ◽  
Minor Effect

Abstract Purpose It was previously demonstrated that radiation effects can enhance the therapy outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this study, a syngeneic breast tumor mouse model was used to investigate the effect of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate as an immune stimulus to enhance anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy. Methods In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to characterize NF9006 breast tumor cells with regard to folate receptor (FR) expression and the possibility of tumor targeting using [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate. A preclinical therapy study was performed over 70 days with NF9006 tumor-bearing mice that received vehicle only (group A); [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate (5 MBq; 3.5 Gy absorbed tumor dose; group B); anti-CTLA-4 antibody (3 × 200 μg; group C), or both agents (group D). The mice were monitored regarding tumor growth over time and signs indicating adverse events of the treatment. Results [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate bound specifically to NF9006 tumor cells and tissue in vitro and accumulated in NF9006 tumors in vivo. The treatment with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate or an anti-CTLA-4 antibody had only a minor effect on NF9006 tumor growth and did not substantially increase the median survival time of mice (23 day and 19 days, respectively) as compared with untreated controls (12 days). [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate sensitized, however, the tumors to anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy, which became obvious by reduced tumor growth and, hence, a significantly improved median survival time of mice (> 70 days). No obvious signs of adverse effects were observed in treated mice as compared with untreated controls. Conclusion Application of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-folate had a positive effect on the therapy outcome of anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy. The results of this study may open new perspectives for future clinical translation of folate radioconjugates.

scholarly journals Highly Differentiated Anti-CD47 Antibody, AO-176, Potently Inhibits Hematologic Malignancies Alone and in Combination

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1844-1844
Author(s):  
John Richards ◽  
Myriam N Bouchlaka ◽  
Robyn J Puro ◽  
Ben J Capoccia ◽  
Ronald R Hiebsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Tumor Growth Inhibition ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Equity Ownership

AO-176 is a highly differentiated, humanized anti-CD47 IgG2 antibody that is unique among agents in this class of checkpoint inhibitors. AO-176 works by blocking the "don't eat me" signal, the standard mechanism of anti-CD47 antibodies, but also by directly killing tumor cells. Importantly, AO-176 binds preferentially to tumor cells, compared to normal cells, and binds even more potently to tumors in their acidic microenvironment (low pH). Hematological neoplasms are the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancers in both men and women and account for approximately 10% of all cancers. Here we describe AO-176, a highly differentiated anti-CD47 antibody that potently targets hematologic cancers in vitro and in vivo. As a single agent, AO-176 not only promotes phagocytosis (15-45%, EC50 = 0.33-4.1 µg/ml) of hematologic tumor cell lines (acute myeloid leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and T cell leukemia) but also directly targets and kills tumor cells (18-46% Annexin V positivity, EC50 = 0.63-10 µg/ml) in a non-ADCC manner. In combination with agents targeting CD20 (rituximab) or CD38 (daratumumab), AO-176 mediates enhanced phagocytosis of lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell lines, respectively. In vivo, AO-176 mediates potent monotherapy tumor growth inhibition of hematologic tumors including Raji B cell lymphoma and RPMI-8226 multiple myeloma xenograft models in a dose-dependent manner. Concomitant with tumor growth inhibition, immune cell infiltrates were observed with elevated numbers of macrophage and dendritic cells, along with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in AO-176 treated animals. When combined with bortezomib, AO-176 was able to elicit complete tumor regression (100% CR in 10/10 animals treated with either 10 or 25 mg/kg AO-176 + 1 mg/kg bortezomib) with no detectable tumor out to 100 days at study termination. Overall survival was also greatly improved following combination therapy compared to animals treated with bortezomib or AO-176 alone. These data show that AO-176 exhibits promising monotherapy and combination therapy activity, both in vitro and in vivo, against hematologic cancers. These findings also add to the previously reported anti-tumor efficacy exhibited by AO-176 in solid tumor xenografts representing ovarian, gastric and breast cancer. With AO-176's highly differentiated MOA and binding characteristics, it may have the potential to improve upon the safety and efficacy profiles relative to other agents in this class. AO-176 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03834948) for the treatment of patients with select solid tumors. Disclosures Richards: Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Salary. Bouchlaka:Arch Oncology Inc.: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Puro:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Capoccia:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hiebsch:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Donio:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wilson:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Chakraborty:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sung:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Pereira:Arch Oncology Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

scholarly journals Tumor quiescence: elevating SOX2 in diverse tumor cell types downregulates a broad spectrum of the cell cycle machinery and inhibits tumor growth

BMC Cancer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan P. Metz ◽  
Erin L. Wuebben ◽  
Phillip J. Wilder ◽  
Jesse L. Cox ◽  
Kaustubh Datta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Cycle Machinery

Abstract Background Quiescent tumor cells pose a major clinical challenge due to their ability to resist conventional chemotherapies and to drive tumor recurrence. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that promote quiescence of tumor cells could help identify therapies to eliminate these cells. Significantly, recent studies have determined that the function of SOX2 in cancer cells is highly dose dependent. Specifically, SOX2 levels in tumor cells are optimized to promote tumor growth: knocking down or elevating SOX2 inhibits proliferation. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that quiescent tumor cells express higher levels of SOX2 compared to adjacent proliferating cells. Currently, the mechanisms through which elevated levels of SOX2 restrict tumor cell proliferation have not been characterized. Methods To understand how elevated levels of SOX2 restrict the proliferation of tumor cells, we engineered diverse types of tumor cells for inducible overexpression of SOX2. Using these cells, we examined the effects of elevating SOX2 on their proliferation, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we examined how elevating SOX2 influences their expression of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and p27Kip1. Results Elevating SOX2 in diverse tumor cell types led to growth inhibition in vitro. Significantly, elevating SOX2 in vivo in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, medulloblastoma, and prostate cancer cells induced a reversible state of tumor growth arrest. In all three tumor types, elevation of SOX2 in vivo quickly halted tumor growth. Remarkably, tumor growth resumed rapidly when SOX2 returned to endogenous levels. We also determined that elevation of SOX2 in six tumor cell lines decreased the levels of cyclins and CDKs that control each phase of the cell cycle, while upregulating p27Kip1. Conclusions Our findings indicate that elevating SOX2 above endogenous levels in a diverse set of tumor cell types leads to growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, our findings indicate that SOX2 can function as a master regulator by controlling the expression of a broad spectrum of cell cycle machinery. Importantly, our SOX2-inducible tumor studies provide a novel model system for investigating the molecular mechanisms by which elevated levels of SOX2 restrict cell proliferation and tumor growth.

scholarly journals Mesenchymal stem cells inhibit proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells: impact on in vivo tumor growth

Leukemia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Ramasamy ◽  
E W-F Lam ◽  
I Soeiro ◽  
V Tisato ◽  
D Bonnet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Proliferation And Apoptosis

scholarly journals Micro-MRI at 11.7 T of a Murine Brain Tumor Model Using Delayed Contrast Enhancement

2003 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 153535002003031
Author(s):  
Rex A. Moats ◽  
Sendhil Velan-Mullan ◽  
Russell Jacobs ◽  
Ignacio Gonzalez-Gomez ◽  
David J. Dubowitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Intraperitoneal Administration ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tumor Model ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Serial Measurement

In vivo imaging methodologies allow for serial measurement of tumor size, circumventing the need for sacrificing mice at given time points. In orthotopically transplanted murine models of brain tumors, cross-section micro-MRI allows for visualization and measurement of the physically inaccessible tumors. To allow for long resident times of a contrast agent in the tumor, intraperitoneal administration was used as a route of injection for contrast-enhanced micro-MRI, and a simple method for relative tumor volume measurements was examined. A strategy for visualizing the variability of the delayed tumor enhancement was developed. These strategies were applied to monitor the growth of brain tumors xenotransplanted into nude mice and either treated with the antiangiogenic peptide EMD 121974 or an inactive control peptide. Each mouse was used as its own control. Serial imaging was done weekly, beginning at Day 7 after tumor cell implantation and continued for 7 weeks. Images obtained were reconstructed on the MRI instrument. The image files were transferred off line to be postprocessed to assess tumor growth (volume) and variability in enhancement (three-dimensional [3-D] intensity models). In a small study, tumor growth and response to treatment were followed using this methodology and the high-resolution images displayed in 3-D allowed for straightforward qualitative assessment of variable enhancement related to vascular factors and tumor age.

Reduced local recurrence of a single brain metastasis through microscopic total resection

2009 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 730-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heon Yoo ◽  
Young Zoon Kim ◽  
Byung Ho Nam ◽  
Sang Hoon Shin ◽  
Hee Seok Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Recurrence ◽  
Brain Metastasis ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
Tumor Control ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Single Brain Metastasis ◽  
Adjacent Brain

Object The goal of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic impact of the resection of metastatic brain tumor cells infiltrating adjacent brain parenchyma. Methods Between July 2001 and February 2007, 94 patients (67 males and 27 females, with a mean age of 55.0 ±12.0 years) underwent resection of a single brain metastasis, followed by systemic chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. In 43 patients with tumors located in noneloquent areas, the authors performed microscopic total resections (MTRs) that included tumor cells infiltrating adjacent brain parenchyma, and they pathologically confirmed during surgery that the resection margins were free of tumor cells (MTR group). In 51 patients with lesions in eloquent locations, gross-total resections (GTRs) were performed without the removal of neighboring brain parenchyma (GTR group). The 2 groups were then compared for local recurrence and survival. Results The MTR group had better local control of the tumor than did the GTR group; 10 (23.3%) of 43 patients in the MTR group and 22 (43.1%) of 51 patients in the GTR group had a local recurrence (p = 0.04). The median time to tumor progression in the MTR group could not be calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, whereas it was 11.4 months in the GTR group. The 1- and 2-year respective local recurrence rates were 29.1 and 29.1% in the MTR group and 58.6 and 63.2% in the GTR group (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that the MTR procedure was associated with a decreased risk of local recurrence (p = 0.003). A Cox regression analysis revealed that the hazard ratio for a local recurrence in the MTR group versus the GTR group was 3.14 (95% CI 1.47–6.72, p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the local recurrence rate between the MTR group without radiotherapy (10 [30.3%] of 33) and the GTR group with postoperative radiotherapy (5 [26.3%] of 19). Conclusions The results in this study suggest that MTRs including tumor cells infiltrating adjacent brain parenchyma for a single brain metastasis provide better local tumor control.

In Vitro and In Vivo Sensitization of Malignant Cells to Autologous Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity Following Exposure to Bortezomib.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 925-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Lundqvist ◽  
Kristy Greeneltch ◽  
Maria Berg ◽  
Shivani Srivastava ◽  
Nanae Harashima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Cytotoxicity ◽  
Malignant Cells ◽  
Nk Cell Cytotoxicity ◽  
Tumor Death

Abstract Killer IgG like receptor (KIR) inactivation of NK cells by self HLA molecules has been proposed as a mechanism through which malignant cells evade host NK cell-mediated immunity. To overcome this limitation, we sought to develop a method to sensitize the patient’s tumor to autologous NK cell cytotoxicity. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib has recently been shown to enhance the activity of tumor death receptors. We found that exposure of a variety of different leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor cancer cell lines to sub-apoptotic doses of bortezomib sensitized tumor cells in vitro to lysis by allogeneic NK cells. Importantly, this sensitizing effect also occurs with autologous NK cells normally rendered inactive via tumor KIR ligands; NK cells expanded from patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were significantly more cytotoxic against the patient’s own autologous tumor cells when pretreated with bortezomib compared to untreated tumors. This sensitization to autologous NK cell killing was also observed in vivo in two different murine tumor models. A significant delay in tumor growth in C57BL/6 mice bearing LLC1 tumors (figure) and a delay in tumor growth and a significant prolongation (p&lt;0.01) in survival were observed in RENCA tumor bearing Balb/c mice treated with bortezomib and syngeneic NK cell infusions compared to untreated mice or animals treated with bortezomib alone or NK cells alone. An investigation into the mechanism through which NK cell cytotoxicity was potentiated revealed bortezomib enhanced the activity of tumor death receptor-dependent and -independent apoptotic pathways. More specifically, bortezomib sensitized human and murine tumor cells to TRAIL and perforin/granzyme mediated NK cell cytotoxicity respectively. These observations suggest that pretreatment of malignant cells with bortezomib could be used as a strategy to override NK cell inhibition via tumor KIR ligands, thus potentiating the activity of adoptively infused autologous NK cells. A clinical trial evaluating the safety and anti-tumor efficacy of adoptively infused autologous NK cells in patients with advanced malignancies with and without tumor sensitization using bortezomib is currently being explored. Figure: Tumor growth in LLC1 bearing C57BL/6 mice. Fourteen days following s.c. injection of 3x105 LLC1 tumor cells, mice received 15μg (i.p) bortezomib and/or an adoptive infusion of 1x106 NK cells from C57BL/6 mice (i.v) given on day 15. Each dot represents the tumor volume of individual mice measured on day 28 post tumor injection. Tumors were significantly smaller in mice treated with bortezomib followed by NK cells compared to controls or mice that received either NK cells alone or bortezomib alone (p&lt;0.04 for all groups). Figure:. Tumor growth in LLC1 bearing C57BL/6 mice. . / Fourteen days following s.c. injection of 3x105 LLC1 tumor cells, mice received 15μg (i.p) bortezomib and/or an adoptive infusion of 1x106 NK cells from C57BL/6 mice (i.v) given on day 15. Each dot represents the tumor volume of individual mice measured on day 28 post tumor injection. Tumors were significantly smaller in mice treated with bortezomib followed by NK cells compared to controls or mice that received either NK cells alone or bortezomib alone (p&lt;0.04 for all groups).

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