scholarly journals TGFα Promotes Chemoresistance of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1484
Author(s):  
Bernard Staumont ◽  
Majeed Jamakhani ◽  
Chrisostome Costa ◽  
Fabian Vandermeers ◽  
Sathya Neelature Sriramareddy ◽  
...  

Background: There is no standard chemotherapy for refractory or relapsing malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Our previous reports nevertheless indicated that a combination of an anthracycline (doxorubicin) and a lysine deacetylase inhibitor (valproic acid, VPA) synergize to induce the apoptosis of MPM cells and reduce tumor growth in mouse models. A Phase I/II clinical trial indicated that this regimen is a promising therapeutic option for a proportion of MPM patients. Methods: The transcriptomes of mesothelioma cells were compared after Illumina HiSeq 4000 sequencing. The expression of differentially expressed genes was inhibited by RNA interference. Apoptosis was determined by cell cycle analysis and Annexin V/7-AAD labeling. Protein expression was assessed by immunoblotting. Preclinical efficacy was evaluated in BALB/c and NOD-SCID mice. Results: To understand the mechanisms involved in chemoresistance, the transcriptomes of two MPM cell lines displaying different responses to VPA-doxorubicin were compared. Among the differentially expressed genes, transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα) was associated with resistance to this regimen. The silencing of TGFα by RNA interference correlated with a significant increase in apoptosis, whereas the overexpression of TGFα desensitized MPM cells to the apoptosis induced by VPA and doxorubicin. The multi-targeted inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC), HER2 and TGFα receptor (epidermal growth factor receptor/EGFR) improved treatment efficacy in vitro and reduced tumor growth in two MPM mouse models. Finally, TGFα expression but not EGFR correlated with patient survival. Conclusions: Our data show that TGFα but not its receptor EGFR is a key factor in resistance to MPM chemotherapy. This observation may contribute to casting light on the promising but still controversial role of EGFR signaling in MPM therapy.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Khudhair ◽  
Pervaiz Dar ◽  
Shahnawaz Imam ◽  
Khuder SA ◽  
Juan C. Jaume

Abstract Background Checkpoint inhibitor, anti-Programmed cell death protein1/Ligand (PD1 / PDL1) immunotherapy achieved great success in modulating the immune system to reinvigorate targeted immune fight against several types of cancer. However, patients’ clinical response to this cancer immunotherapy varies widely. Biomarkers that can predict the greatest response to the anti-PD1 immunotherapy could help to personalize the maximum benefit for the right patient.Results This study explored transcriptomic biomarkers that were associated with the response (or no-response) to the anti-PD1/PDL1 immunotherapy in seven types of cancer [Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (n=8), Head and Neck cancer (n=3), Lung Non-Squamous cancer (n=15), Squamous Lung cancer (n=8), Melanoma (n=23), Melanoma Skin Metastasis (n=10), and Renal Cell Carcinoma (n=11)]. The most common differentially expressed genes (105 genes) were between melanoma skin metastasis and renal cell carcinoma; followed by malignant pleural mesothelioma and renal cell carcinoma, which had 79 common differentially expressed genes; then malignant pleural mesothelioma and melanoma skin metastasis, which had 46 differentially expressed genes in common. Many similar (parallel) and dissimilar (anti-parallel) gene expression signatures were identified in this study. Parallel signature Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) are genes up-regulated together in either response or no-response group of different types of cancer, while the anti-parallel DEGs show up-regulation in the response group of one type of cancer while same genes are up-regulated in the no-response group of another different type of cancers. Target of Myb1 like 1 Membrane Trafficking Protein gene (TOM1L1) was found to be common among malignant pleural mesothelioma, melanoma skin metastasis, and renal cell carcinoma and was up-regulated in the cancer patients’ samples that did not respond to the anti-PD1/PDL1 immunotherapy. This study also found that differentially expressed Plasminogen Activator, Urokinase Receptor gene (PLAUR), was common among squamous lung cancer, melanoma and melanoma skin metastasis, and was up-regulated in the patients’ samples that responded to the anti-PD1/PDL1 immunotherapy.Conclusion In summary, this study identified DEGs biomarkers that can predict the response or no-response to the anti-PD1 immunotherapy across seven types of cancer. It also affirms the attention to important genes like TOM1L1 and PLAUR for their potential function in the cancer dissemination and metastasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meilin Chan ◽  
Licun Wu ◽  
Zhihong Yun ◽  
Trevor D. McKee ◽  
Michael Cabanero ◽  
...  

AbstractMalignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive neoplasm originating from the pleura. Non-epithelioid (biphasic and sarcomatoid) MPM are particularly resistant to therapy. We investigated the role of the GITR-GITRL pathway in mediating the resistance to therapy. We found that GITR and GITRL expressions were higher in the sarcomatoid cell line (CRL5946) than in non-sarcomatoid cell lines (CRL5915 and CRL5820), and that cisplatin and Cs-137 irradiation increased GITR and GITRL expressions on tumor cells. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the GITR-GITRL pathway was promoting tumor growth and inhibiting cell apoptosis. Furthermore, GITR+ and GITRL+ cells demonstrated increased spheroid formation in vitro and in vivo. Using patient derived xenografts (PDXs), we demonstrated that anti-GITR neutralizing antibodies attenuated tumor growth in sarcomatoid PDX mice. Tumor immunostaining demonstrated higher levels of GITR and GITRL expressions in non-epithelioid compared to epithelioid tumors. Among 73 patients uniformly treated with accelerated radiation therapy followed by surgery, the intensity of GITR expression after radiation negatively correlated with survival in non-epithelioid MPM patients. In conclusion, the GITR-GITRL pathway is an important mechanism of autocrine proliferation in sarcomatoid mesothelioma, associated with tumor stemness and resistance to therapy. Blocking the GITR-GITRL pathway could be a new therapeutic target for non-epithelioid mesothelioma.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Emanuela Di Gregorio ◽  
Gianmaria Miolo ◽  
Asia Saorin ◽  
Elena Muraro ◽  
Michela Cangemi ◽  
...  

Radical hemithoracic radiotherapy (RHRT) represents an advanced therapeutic option able to improve overall survival of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. This study aims to investigate the systemic effects of this radiotherapy modality on the serum metabolome and their potential implications in determining the individual clinical outcome. Nineteen patients undergoing RHRT at the dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions were enrolled. Serum targeted metabolomics profiles were investigated at baseline and the end of radiotherapy by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate OPLS-DA analyses were applied to study the serum metabolomics changes induced by RHRT while PLS regression analysis to evaluate the association between such changes and overall survival. RHRT was found to affect almost all investigated metabolites classes, in particular, the amino acids citrulline and taurine, the C14, C18:1 and C18:2 acyl-carnitines as well as the unsaturated long chain phosphatidylcholines PC ae 42:5, PC ae 44:5 and PC ae 44:6 were significantly decreased. The enrichment analysis showed arginine metabolism and the polyamine biosynthesis as the most perturbed pathways. Moreover, specific metabolic changes encompassing the amino acids and acyl-carnitines resulted in association with the clinical outcome accounting for about 60% of the interpatients overall survival variability. This study highlighted that RHRT can induce profound systemic metabolic effects some of which may have a significant prognostic value. The integration of metabolomics in the clinical assessment of the malignant pleural mesothelioma could be useful to better identify the patients who can achieve the best benefit from the RHRT treatment.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4683
Author(s):  
Geng-Ruei Chang ◽  
Chan-Yen Kuo ◽  
Ming-Yang Tsai ◽  
Wei-Li Lin ◽  
Tzu-Chun Lin ◽  
...  

Zotarolimus is a semi-synthetic derivative of rapamycin and an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Currently, zotarolimus is used to prolong the survival time of organ grafts, but it is also a novel immunosuppressive agent with potent anti-proliferative activity. Here, we examine the anti-tumor effect of zotarolimus, alone and in combination with 5-fluorouracil, on HCT-116 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells implanted in BALB/c nude mice. Compared with the control mice, mice treated with zotarolimus or zotarolimus combined with 5-FU showed retarded tumor growth; increased tumor apoptosis through the enhanced expression of cleaved caspase 3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation; reduced inflammation-related factors such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein; and inhibited metastasis-related factors such as CD44, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Notably, mice treated with a combination of zotarolimus and 5-FU showed significantly retarded tumor growth, reduced tumor size, and increased tumor inhibition compared with mice treated with 5-FU or zotarolimus alone, indicating a strong synergistic effect. This in vivo study confirms that zotarolimus or zotarolimus combined with 5-FU can be used to retard colorectal adenocarcinoma growth and inhibit tumorigenesis. Our results suggest that zotarolimus may increase the chemo-sensitization of tumor cells. Therefore, zotarolimus alone and zotarolimus combined with 5-FU may be potential anti-tumor agents in the treatment of human colon adenocarcinoma. Future research on zotarolimus may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4562
Author(s):  
Ching-Feng Wu ◽  
Ching-Yang Wu ◽  
Robin Y.-Y. Chiou ◽  
Wei-Cheng Yang ◽  
Chuen-Fu Lin ◽  
...  

Zotarolimus is a semi-synthetic derivative of rapamycin and a novel immunosuppressive agent used to prevent graft rejection. The pharmacological pathway of zotarolimus restricts the kinase activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which potentially leads to reductions in cell division, cell growth, cell proliferation, and inflammation. These pathways have a critical influence on tumorigenesis. This study aims to examine the anti-tumor effect of zotarolimus or zotarolimus combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line implanted in BALB/c nude mice by estimating tumor growth, apoptosis expression, inflammation, and metastasis. We established A549 xenografts in nude mice, following which we randomly divided the mice into four groups: control, 5-FU (100 mg/kg/week), zotarolimus (2 mg/kg/day), and zotarolimus combined with 5-FU. Compared the results with those for control mice, we found that mice treated with zotarolimus or zotarolimus combined with 5-FU retarded tumor growth; increased tumor apoptosis through the enhanced expression of cleaved caspase 3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation; decreased inflammation cytokines levels (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6); reduced inflammation-related factors such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) mRNA; enhanced anti-inflammation-related factors including IL-10 and inhibitor of NF-κB kinase α (IκBα) mRNA; and inhibited metastasis-related factors such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), CD44, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Notably, mice treated with zotarolimus combined with 5-FU had significantly retarded tumor growth, reduced tumor size, and increased tumor inhibition compared with the groups of mice treated with 5-FU or zotarolimus alone. The in vivo study confirmed that zotarolimus or zotarolimus combined with 5-FU could retard lung adenocarcinoma growth and inhibit tumorigenesis. Zotarolimus and 5-FU were found to have an obvious synergistic tumor-inhibiting effect on lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, both zotarolimus alone and zotarolimus combined with 5-FU may be potential anti-tumor agents for treatment of human lung adenocarcinoma.


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