Hybrid Formation and Fusion of Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

The generation of cancer hybrid cells by intra-tumoral cell fusion opens new avenues for tumor plasticity to develop cancer stem cells with altered properties, to escape from immune surveillance, to change metastatic behavior, and to broaden drug responsiveness/resistance. Genomic instability and chromosomal rearrangements in bi- or multinucleated aneuploid cancer hybrid cells contribute to these new functions. However, the significance of cell fusion in tumorigenesis is controversial with respect to the low frequency of cancer cell fusion events and a clonal advantage of surviving cancer hybrid cells following a post-hybrid selection process. This review highlights alternative processes of cancer hybrid cell development such as entosis, emperipolesis, cannibalism, therapy-induced polyploidization/endoreduplication, horizontal or lateral gene transfer, and focusses on the predominant mechanisms of cell fusion. Based upon new properties of cancer hybrid cells the arising clinical consequences of the subsequent tumor heterogeneity after cancer cell fusion represent a major therapeutic challenge.

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Altered Tumor Plasticity after Different Cancer Cell Fusions with MSC

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21218347 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (21) ◽

pp. 8347 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Catharina Melzer ◽

Juliane von der Ohe ◽

Ralf Hass

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Fusion ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Human Cancer ◽

Selection Process ◽

Hybrid Cell ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Cellular Interactions ◽

Tumor Plasticity

While cell fusion demonstrates an important pathway during tissue development and regeneration of distinct organs, this process can also contribute to pathophysiological phenotypes during tumor progression. Hybrid cell formation after heterofusion between cancer cells and various other cell types within the tumor microenvironment is observed in vitro and in vivo. In particular, mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) perform diverse levels of communication with cancer cells by exhibiting anti- and pro-tumorigenic effects. During these cellular interactions, MSC can eventually fuse with cancer cells. Thereby, the newly generated disparate hybrid populations display aneuploidy associated with chromosomal instability. Based upon a subsequent post-hybrid selection process (PHSP), fused cancer cells can undergo apoptosis/necroptosis, senescence, dormancy, or a proliferative state by acquisition of new properties. Consequently, PHSP-surviving hybrid cancer cells demonstrate altered functionalities within the tumor tissue. This is accompanied by changes in therapeutic responsiveness and a different metastatic behavior. Accordingly, enhanced tumor plasticity interferes with successful therapeutic interventions and aggravates patient prognoses. The present review article focusses on fusion of MSC with different human cancer cells, in particular breast cancer populations and resulting characteristics of various cancer hybrid cells. Moreover, some mechanisms of cancer cell fusion are discussed together with multiple PHSP pathways.

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Spontaneous fusion of MSC with breast cancer cells can generate tumor dormancy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-321562/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Catharina Melzer ◽

Juliane von der Ohe ◽

Tianjiao Luo ◽

Ralf Hass

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Fusion ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Tumor Heterogeneity ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Tumor Development ◽

Cell Populations ◽

Hybrid Cells

Abstract Background: A variety of different tumors including breast cancer cells can closely interact with mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) in the tumor microenvironment eventually resulting in cell fusion and formation of new hybrid cancer cell populations displaying altered properties. Methods: Lentiviral-transduced MDA-MB-231 cherry breast cancer cells and MSC GFP were co-cultured and a resulting hybrid cancer cell population (MDA-MSC-hyb5) was isolated. Characterization was performed for marker expression and short tandem repeat (STR) fragment analysis compared to the parental cells. Moreover, in vivo tumor development and metastatic capacity of MDA-MSC-hyb5 was studied and unique properties were analyzed by RNA microarray expression analyses compared to other breast cancer hybrid populations. Potential chemotherapeutic sensitivity was carried out in tumor explant cultures of MDA-MSC-hyb5 cells. Results: Direct cellular interactions of MDA-MB-231 cherry breast cancer cells with human MSC GFP in a co-culture model resulted in spontaneous cell fusion by generation of MDA-MSC-hyb5 cherry GFP breast cancer hybrid cells. Proliferative capacity of MDA-MSC-hyb5 cells was about 1.8-fold enhanced when compared to the parental MDA-MB-231 cherry breast cancer cells. In contrast to a spontaneous MDA-MB-231 cherry -induced tumor development in vivo within 18.8 days MDA-MSC-hyb5 cells initially remained quiescent in a dormancy-like state. At distinct time points up to about a half year later after injection NODscid mice started to develop MDA-MSC-hyb5 cell-induced tumors. Following tumor initiation, formation of metastases in various different organs occurred rapidly within about 10.5 days. Changes in gene expression levels were evaluated by RNA-microarray analysis and revealed certain increase in dormancy-associated transcripts in MDA-MSC-hyb5. Chemotherapeutic responsiveness of MDA-MSC-hyb5 cells was partially enhanced as compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, however, some resistance e.g. for taxol was detectable in cancer hybrid cells. Moreover, drug response partially changed during tumor development of MDA-MSC-hyb5 cells suggesting unstable in vivo phenotypes of MDA-hyb5 cells with increased tumor heterogeneity. Conclusions: The spontaneous formation of cancer hybrid cell populations like MDA-MSC-hyb5 by cell fusion contributes to tumorigenic diversification by acquisition of new properties such as altered chemotherapeutic responsiveness. The unique tumor dormancy of MDA-MSC-hyb5 cells not observed in other breast cancer hybrid cells so far markedly increases tumor heterogeneity.

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Cancer cell-autonomous cGAS-STING response confers drug resistance

10.1101/2021.10.23.465546 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Qian-Ming Lv ◽

Shi-Yi Wang ◽

Hui-Min Lei ◽

Ke-Ren Zhang ◽

Ya-Bin Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Immune Surveillance ◽

Conventional Chemotherapy ◽

Promoting Effect ◽

Chemotherapy Drug ◽

Evolutionarily Conserved

As an evolutionarily conserved DNA-sensing machinery in innate immunity, the cGAS-STING pathway has been reported to play an important role in immune surveillance and tumor suppression. Recent evidence suggests an intriguing tumor- and metastasis-promoting effect of this signaling pathway, either in a cancer cell-autonomous or a cancer cell-nonautonomous, bystander cell-mediated manner. Here, we show a new face of cGAS-STING signaling whose activation in a cancer-cell-autonomous response manner confers drug resistance. Targeted or conventional chemotherapy drug treatment induced cancer cell cytosolic DNA accumulation and triggered subsequent cGAS-STING signaling activation in cancer cell lines and the human cell-derived xenograft tumors. This activation promoted an acquisition and maintenance of drug resistance which was prevented and overcome in vitro and in vivo by blockade of STING signaling. This finding highlights a new face of cGAS-STING signaling and an ability of cancer cells to hijack the evolutionarily conserved inflammatory signaling to counteract drug stress and warrants a caution in combining STING agonist with targeted or conventional chemotherapy drug treatment, a strategy prevailing in current clinical trials.

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In Vivo Cell Fusion between Mesenchymal Stroma/Stem-Like Cells and Breast Cancer Cells

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11020185 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 185 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Catharina Melzer ◽

Juliane von der Ohe ◽

Ralf Hass

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Fusion ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Rare Event ◽

Tumor Formation ◽

Hybrid Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stroma

Cellular communication within the tumor microenvironment enables important interactions between cancer cells and recruited adjacent populations including mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC). These interactions were monitored in vivo following co-injection of GFP-labeled human MSC together with mcherry-labeled MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in NODscid mice. Within 14 days of tumor development the number of initially co-injected MSC had significantly declined and spontaneous formation of breast cancer/MSC hybrid cells was observed by the appearance of double fluorescing cells. This in vivo fusion displayed a rare event and occurred in less than 0.5% of the tumor cell population. Similar findings were observed in a parallel in vitro co-culture. Characterization of the new cell fusion products obtained after two consecutive flow cytometry cell sorting and single cell cloning revealed two populations, termed MDA-hyb3 and MDA-hyb4. The breast cancer fusion cells expressed both, GFP and mcherry and displayed more characteristics of the MDA-MB-231 cells than of the parental MSC. While little if any differences were determined in the proliferative capacity, a significant delay of MDA-hyb3 cells in tumor formation was observed when compared to the parental MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, MDA-hyb3 cells developed an altered pattern of distant organ metastases. These findings demonstrated dynamic tumor changes by in vivo and in vitro fusion with the development of new breast cancer hybrid cells carrying altered tumorigenic properties. Consequently, cancer cell fusion contributes to progressively increasing tumor heterogeneity which complicates a therapeutic regimen.

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Cancer Cell Fusion and Post-Hybrid Selection Process (PHSP)

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13184636 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (18) ◽

pp. 4636

Author(s):

Ralf Hass ◽

Juliane von der Ohe ◽

Thomas Dittmar

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Fusion ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Selection Process ◽

Rare Event ◽

Cell Types ◽

Hybrid Cells ◽

Hybrid Selection ◽

Clinical Consequences ◽

After Cancer

Fusion of cancer cells either with other cancer cells (homotypic fusion) in local vicinity of the tumor tissue or with other cell types (e.g., macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), mesenchymal stromal-/stem-like cells (MSC)) (heterotypic fusion) represents a rare event. Accordingly, the clinical relevance of cancer-cell fusion events appears questionable. However, enhanced tumor growth and/or development of certain metastases can originate from cancer-cell fusion. Formation of hybrid cells after cancer-cell fusion requires a post-hybrid selection process (PHSP) to cope with genomic instability of the parental nuclei and reorganize survival and metabolic functionality. The present review dissects mechanisms that contribute to a PHSP and resulting functional alterations of the cancer hybrids. Based upon new properties of cancer hybrid cells, the arising clinical consequences of the subsequent tumor heterogeneity after cancer-cell fusion represent a major therapeutic challenge. However, cellular partners during cancer-cell fusion such as MSC within the tumor microenvironment or MSC-derived exosomes may provide a suitable vehicle to specifically address and deliver anti-tumor cargo to cancer cells.

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794: Valproic Acid Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Growth in Vitro and in Vivo

The Journal of Urology ◽

10.1016/s0022-5347(18)33030-1 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 175 (4S) ◽

pp. 257-257

Author(s):

Jennifer Sung ◽

Qinghua Xia ◽

Wasim Chowdhury ◽

Shabana Shabbeer ◽

Michael Carducci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Valproic Acid ◽

Cell Growth ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Prostate Cancer Cell ◽

Cancer Cell Growth

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A Novel Triazole Derivative Drug Presenting In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Properties

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1568026618666180917100640 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (17) ◽

pp. 1483-1493

Author(s):

Ricardo Imbroisi Filho ◽

Daniel T.G. Gonzaga ◽

Thainá M. Demaria ◽

João G.B. Leandro ◽

Dora C.S. Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Line ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Cancer Cell Line ◽

Hepatic Function ◽

Anticancer Properties ◽

Mcf 7

Background: Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, despite many different drugs available to treat the disease. This high mortality rate is largely due to the complexity of the disease, which results from several genetic and epigenetic changes. Therefore, researchers are constantly searching for novel drugs that can target different and multiple aspects of cancer. Experimental: After a screening, we selected one novel molecule, out of ninety-four triazole derivatives, that strongly affects the viability and proliferation of the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, with minimal effects on non-cancer cells. The drug, named DAN94, induced a dose-dependent decrease in MCF-7 cells viability, with an IC50 of 3.2 ± 0.2 µM. Additionally, DAN94 interfered with mitochondria metabolism promoting reactive oxygen species production, triggering apoptosis and arresting the cancer cells on G1/G0 phase of cell cycle, inhibiting cell proliferation. These effects are not observed when the drug was tested in the non-cancer cell line MCF10A. Using a mouse model with xenograft tumor implants, the drug preventing tumor growth presented no toxicity for the animal and without altering biochemical markers of hepatic function. Results and Conclusion: The novel drug DAN94 is selective for cancer cells, targeting the mitochondrial metabolism, which culminates in the cancer cell death. In the end, DAN94 has been shown to be a promising drug for controlling breast cancer with minimal undesirable effects.

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Triptolide suppresses oral cancer cell PD-L1 expression in the interferon-γ-modulated microenvironment in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical patients

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111057 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 133 ◽

pp. 111057

Author(s):

Chin-Shan Kuo ◽

Cheng-Yu Yang ◽

Chih-Kung Lin ◽

Gu-Jiun Lin ◽

Huey-Kang Sytwu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oral Cancer ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Interferon Γ ◽

Oral Cancer Cell

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Circular RNA FLNA acts as a sponge of miR-486-3p in promoting lung cancer progression via regulating XRCC1 and CYP1A1

Cancer Gene Therapy ◽

10.1038/s41417-021-00293-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jiongwei Pan ◽

Gang Huang ◽

Zhangyong Yin ◽

Xiaoping Cai ◽

Enhui Gong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Lung Cancer Cells ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Related Factors

AbstractSignificantly high-expressed circFLNA has been found in various cancer cell lines, but not in lung cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the role of circFLNA in the progression of lung cancer. The target gene of circFLNA was determined by bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assay. Viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of the transfected cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, wound-healing, and transwell assays, respectively. A mouse subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model was established, and the expressions of circFLNA, miR-486-3p, XRCC1, CYP1A1, and related genes in the cancer cells and tissues were detected by RT-qPCR, Western blot, or immunohistochemistry. The current study found that miR-486-3p was low-expressed in lung cancer. MiR-486-3p, which has been found to target XRCC1 and CYP1A1, was regulated by circFLNA. CircFLNA was located in the cytoplasm and had a high expression in lung cancer cells. Cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were promoted by overexpressed circFLNA, XRCC1, and CYP1A1 but inhibited by miR-486-3p mimic and circFLNA knockdown. The weight of the xenotransplanted tumor was increased by circFLNA overexpression yet reduced by miR-486-3p mimic. Furthermore, miR-486-3p mimic reversed the effect of circFLNA overexpression on promoting lung cancer cells and tumors and regulating the expressions of miR-486-3p, XRCC1, CYP1A1, and metastasis/apoptosis/proliferation-related factors. However, overexpressed XRCC1 and CYP1A1 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-486-3p mimic on cancer cells and tumors. In conclusion, circFLNA acted as a sponge of miR-486-3p to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by regulating XRCC1 and CYP1A1.

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Design, Synthesis, Molecular Modeling and Antitumor Evaluation of Novel Indolyl-Pyrimidine Derivatives with EGFR Inhibitory Activity

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26071838 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (7) ◽

pp. 1838

Author(s):

Naglaa M. Ahmed ◽

Mahmoud M. Youns ◽

Moustafa K. Soltan ◽

Ahmed M. Said

Keyword(s):

Molecular Modeling ◽

Antitumor Activity ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Antiproliferative Activity ◽

Antitumor Agents ◽

Cancer Cell Lines ◽

Normal Cells

Scaffolds hybridization is a well-known drug design strategy for antitumor agents. Herein, series of novel indolyl-pyrimidine hybrids were synthesized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo for their antitumor activity. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of all compounds was obtained against MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cancer cell lines, as well as against WI38 normal cells using the resazurin assay. Compounds 1–4 showed broad spectrum cytotoxic activity against all these cancer cell lines compared to normal cells. Compound 4g showed potent antiproliferative activity against these cell lines (IC50 = 5.1, 5.02, and 6.6 μM, respectively) comparable to the standard treatment (5-FU and erlotinib). In addition, the most promising group of compounds was further evaluated for their in vivo antitumor efficacy against EAC tumor bearing mice. Notably, compound 4g showed the most potent in vivo antitumor activity. The most active compounds were evaluated for their EGFR inhibitory (range 53–79 %) activity. Compound 4g was found to be the most active compound against EGFR (IC50 = 0.25 µM) showing equipotency as the reference treatment (erlotinib). Molecular modeling study was performed on compound 4g revealed a proper binding of this compound inside the EGFR active site comparable to erlotinib. The data suggest that compound 4g could be used as a potential anticancer agent.

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