scholarly journals Towards a Framework for Better Understanding of Quiescent Cancer Cells

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 562
Author(s):  
Wan Najbah Nik Nabil ◽  
Zhichao Xi ◽  
Zejia Song ◽  
Lei Jin ◽  
Xu Dong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Pharmacological Interventions ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
G0 Phase ◽  
Key Questions

Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) are cancer cells that are reversibly suspended in G0 phase with the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and initiate tumor growth, and, ultimately, cancer recurrence and metastasis. QCCs are also therapeutically challenging due to their resistance to most conventional cancer treatments that selectively act on proliferating cells. Considering the significant impact of QCCs on cancer progression and treatment, better understanding of appropriate experimental models, and the evaluation of QCCs are key questions in the field that have direct influence on potential pharmacological interventions. Here, this review focuses on existing and emerging preclinical models and detection methods for QCCs and discusses their respective features and scope for application. By providing a framework for selecting appropriate experimental models and investigative methods, the identification of the key players that regulate the survival and activation of QCCs and the development of more effective QCC-targeting therapeutic agents may mitigate the consequences of QCCs.

scholarly journals Mitotic quiescence in hepatic cancer stem cells: An incognito mode

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kandasamy Ashokachakkaravarthy ◽  
Biju Pottakkat
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Immune Surveillance ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Tumor Formation ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Recurrence Rates

Hepatocellular carcinoma represents one of the most aggressive cancers with high recurrence rates. The high recurrence is a major problem in the management of this disease. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are often regarded as the basis of cancer recurrence. The anti-proliferative therapy kills the proliferating cells but induces mitotic quiescence in CSCs which remain as residual dormant CSCs. Later on, withdrawal of treatment reactivates the residual CSCs from dormancy to produce new cancer cells. The proliferation of these newly formed cancer cells initiates new tumor formation in the liver leading to tumor recurrence. HCC cells evade the immune surveillance via modulating the key immune cells by alpha feto-protein (AFP) secreted from CSCs or hepatic progenitor cells. This AFP mediated immune evasion assists in establishing new tumors by cancer cells in the liver. In this review, we will summarise the CSC mechanisms of recurrence, mitotic quiescence, dormancy and reactivation of CSCs, metastasis and immune evasion of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Is metronomic vinorelbine (mVRL) able to inhibit both HUVEC and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells? The proof-of-concept VICTOR-0 study.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14014-e14014
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Cerrito ◽  
Davide Pelizzoni ◽  
Marco De Giorgi ◽  
Nunzio Digiacomo ◽  
Marialuisa Lavitrano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Metastatic Breast ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Drug Concentrations

e14014 Background: TNBC represents an important clinical challenge because of poor prognosis. One of the emerging strategy to achieve disease control while reducing toxicity is metronomic chemotherapy (mCHT) which targets the endothelial cells (ECs) and inhibits the tumor growth. mVRL is a promising option in patients (pts) with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), resulting in a median PFS of 7.7 months and median OS of 15.9. To better explain the effect of mVRL we studied the effects of metronomic doses of VRL in in vitro models and compared them with standard doses of the same drug. Methods: Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays were performed on TNBC cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC). Cell lines were exposed to different concentration (0,01nM-1mM) of VRL for 4 and 96 h. To simulate the metronomic dosing schedule, we replaced the drug-enriched medium every 24h, while to simulate the conventional administration protocol (sCHT) cells were exposed to VRL for 4h, then the medium was changed and replaced with fresh medium without drug every 24 h. The IC50was calculated by non-linear regression fit of the mean values of data obtained in triplicate experiments. Results: A significant anti-proliferative activity was observed on both HUVEC and MDA cells treated with VRL in mCHT as compared to sCHT protocol (see Table). These lower drug concentrations did not have remarkable effects on cell death. Conversely, the higher dose utilized in sCHT produced important cell death in MDA as well as in HUVEC, even if in vivo, the higher dose of drug inducing the largest apoptosis of cancer cells also affectd healthy proliferating cells causing toxicity. Our findings suggest that mCHT inhibited the proliferation of both endothelial and tumour cells and can block cancer progression with minor side effects. Conclusions: This study provides the proof-of-concept that metronomic doses of VRL, but not the standard ones, are able to inhibit, at the same concentration, both the ECs and the TNBC cells. The clinical trial TEMPO-BREAST, which compares metronomic vs standard VRL, is ongoing in MBC pts. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals HIF1-alpha expressing cells induce a hypoxic-like response in neighbouring cancer cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Harrison ◽  
Henry J Pegg ◽  
Jamie Thompson ◽  
Christian Bates ◽  
Paul Shore
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Metastatic Progression ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Hypoxic Response ◽  
Oxygen Levels ◽  
Mammosphere Formation ◽  
Cellular Environment

AbstractHypoxia stimulates metastasis in cancer and is linked to poor patient prognosis. In tumours, oxygen levels vary and hypoxic regions exist within a generally well-oxygenated tumour. However, whilst the heterogeneous environment is known to contribute to metastatic progression, little is known about the mechanism by which heterogeneic hypoxia contributes to cancer progression. This is largely because existing experimental models do not recapitulate the heterogeneous nature of hypoxia. The primary effector of the hypoxic response is the transcription factor Hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1-alpha). HIF1-alpha is stabilised in response to low oxygen levels in the cellular environment and its expression is seen in hypoxic regions throughout the tumour.We have developed a model system in which HIF1-alpha can be induced within a sub-population of cancer cells, thus enabling us to mimic the effects of heterogeneic HIF1-alpha expression.We show that induction of HIF1-alpha not only recapitulates elements of the hypoxic response in the induced cells but also results in significant changes in proliferation, gene expression and mammosphere formation within the HIF1-alpha negative population.These findings suggest that the HIF1-alpha expressing cells found within hypoxic regions are likely to contribute to the subsequent progression of a tumour by modifying the behaviour of cells in the non-hypoxic regions of the local micro-environment.

scholarly journals Characterization of Uptake and Internalization of Exosomes by Bladder Cancer Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie A. Franzen ◽  
Patricia E. Simms ◽  
Adam F. Van Huis ◽  
Kimberly E. Foreman ◽  
Paul C. Kuo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bladder Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Internal Standard ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
High Recurrence Rate ◽  
Bladder Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell Survival

Bladder tumors represent a special therapeutic challenge as they have a high recurrence rate requiring repeated interventions and may progress to invasive or metastatic disease. Exosomes carry proteins implicated in bladder cancer progression and have been implicated in bladder cancer cell survival. Here, we characterized exosome uptake and internalization by human bladder cancer cells using Amnis ImageStreamX, an image cytometer. Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation from bladder cancer culture conditioned supernatant, labeled with PKH-26, and analyzed on the ImageStreamX with an internal standard added to determine concentration. Exosomes were cocultured with bladder cancer cells and analyzed for internalization. Using the IDEAS software, we determined exosome uptake based on the number of PKH-26+ spots and overall PKH-26 fluorescence intensity. Using unlabeled beads of a known concentration and size, we were able to determine concentrations of exosomes isolated from bladder cancer cells. We measured exosome uptake by recipient bladder cancer cells, and we demonstrated that uptake is dose and time dependent. Finally, we found that uptake is active and specific, which can be partially blocked by heparin treatment. The characterization of cellular uptake and internalization by bladder cancer cells may shed light on the role of exosomes on bladder cancer recurrence and progression.

scholarly journals Magnetic Compression of Tumor Spheroids Increases Cell Proliferation In Vitro and Cancer Progression In Vivo

Cancers ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Gaëtan Mary ◽  
Brice Malgras ◽  
Jose Efrain Perez ◽  
Irène Nagle ◽  
Nathalie Luciani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Peritoneal Cancer Index ◽  
Colon Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
The Impact

A growing tumor is submitted to ever-evolving mechanical stress. Endoscopic procedures add additional constraints. However, the impact of mechanical forces on cancer progression is still debated. Herein, a set of magnetic methods is proposed to form tumor spheroids and to subject them to remote deformation, mimicking stent-imposed compression. Upon application of a permanent magnet, the magnetic tumor spheroids (formed from colon cancer cells or from glioblastoma cells) are compressed by 50% of their initial diameters. Such significant deformation triggers an increase in the spheroid proliferation for both cell lines, correlated with an increase in the number of proliferating cells toward its center and associated with an overexpression of the matrix metalloproteinase−9 (MMP−9). In vivo peritoneal injection of the spheroids made from colon cancer cells confirmed the increased aggressiveness of the compressed spheroids, with almost a doubling of the peritoneal cancer index (PCI), as compared with non-stimulated spheroids. Moreover, liver metastasis of labeled cells was observed only in animals grafted with stimulated spheroids. Altogether, these results demonstrate that a large compression of tumor spheroids enhances cancer proliferation and metastatic process and could have implications in clinical procedures where tumor compression plays a role.

Research Progress in Flavonoids as Potential Anticancer Drug Including Synergy with Other Approaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 1791-1809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf Hussain ◽  
Suaib Luqman ◽  
Abha Meena
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Oncology Research

Background: In chemotherapy for cancer, conventional drugs aim to target the rapidly growing and dividing cells at the early stages. However, at an advanced stage, cancer cells become less susceptible because of the multidrug resistance and the recruitment of alternative salvage pathways for their survival. Besides, owing to target non-selectivity, healthy proliferating cells also become vulnerable to the damage. The combination therapies offered using flavonoids to cure cancer not only exert an additive effect against cancer cells by targetting supplementary cell carnage pathways but also hampers the drug resistance mechanisms. Thus, the review aims to discuss the potential and pharmacokinetic limitations of flavonoids in cancer treatment. Further successful synergistic studies reported using flavonoids to treat cancer has been described along with potential drug delivery systems. Methods: A literature search was done by exploring various online databases like Pubmed, Scopus, and Google Scholar with the specific keywords like “Anticancer drugs”, “flavonoids”, “oncology research”, and “pharmacokinetics”. Results: Dietary phytochemicals, mainly flavonoids, hinder cell signalling responsible for multidrug resistance and cancer progression, primarily targeting cancer cells sparing normal cells. Such properties establish flavonoids as a potential candidate for synergistic therapy. However, due to low absorption and high metabolism rates, the bioavailability of flavonoids becomes a challenge. Such challenges may be overcome using novel approaches like derivatization, and single or co-delivery nano-complexes of flavonoids with conventional drugs. These new approaches may improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic of flavonoids. Conclusion: This review highlights the application of flavonoids as a potential anticancer phytochemical class in combination with known anti-cancer drugs/nanoparticles. It also discusses flavonoid’s pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics issues and ways to overcome such issues. Moreover, it covers successful methodologies employed to establish flavonoids as a safe and effective phytochemical class for cancer treatment.

scholarly journals An unusual nicotinamide derivative, 4-pyridone-3-carboxamide ribonucleoside (4PYR), is a novel endothelial toxin and oncometabolite

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Mierzejewska ◽  
Michal Kunc ◽  
Magdalena Agnieszka Zabielska-Kaczorowska ◽  
Barbara Kutryb-Zajac ◽  
Iwona Pelikant-Malecka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Lung Metastases ◽  
Endothelial Activation ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Metabolic Disturbances ◽  
Endothelial Homeostasis ◽  
And Control ◽  
Estrogen And Progesterone Receptor

AbstractOur recent studies identified a novel pathway of nicotinamide metabolism that involves 4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribonucleoside (4PYR) and demonstrated its endothelial cytotoxic effect. This study tested the effects of 4PYR and its metabolites in experimental models of breast cancer. Mice were divided into groups: 4T1 (injected with mammary 4T1 cancer cells), 4T1 + 4PYR (4PYR-treated 4T1 mice), and control, maintained for 2 or 21 days. Lung metastasis and endothelial function were analyzed together with blood nucleotides (including 4PYR), plasma amino acids, nicotinamide metabolites, and vascular ectoenzymes of nucleotide catabolism. 4PYR metabolism was also evaluated in cultured 4T1, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and T47D cells. An increase in blood 4PYR in 4T1 mice was observed at 2 days. 4PYR and its metabolites were noticed after 21 days in 4T1 only. Higher blood 4PYR was linked with more lung metastases in 4T1 + 4PYR vs. 4T1. Decreased L-arginine, higher asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine, and higher vascular ecto-adenosine deaminase were observed in 4T1 + 4PYR vs. 4T1 and control. Vascular relaxation caused by flow-dependent endothelial activation in 4PYR-treated mice was significantly lower than in control. The permeability of 4PYR-treated endothelial cells was increased. Decreased nicotinamide but enhanced nicotinamide metabolites were noticed in 4T1 vs. control. Reduced N-methylnicotinamide and a further increase in Met2PY were observed in 4T1 + 4PYR vs. 4T1 and control. In cultured breast cancer cells, estrogen and progesterone receptor antagonists inhibited the production of 4PYR metabolites. 4PYR formation is accelerated in cancer and induces metabolic disturbances that may affect cancer progression and, especially, metastasis, probably through impaired endothelial homeostasis. 4PYR may be considered a new oncometabolite.

scholarly journals Anesthesia Techniques and Long-Term Oncological Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria F. Ramirez ◽  
Juan P. Cata
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Cancer Recurrence ◽  
Oncologic Outcomes ◽  
Long Term Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Anesthesia Technique ◽  
Accelerated Growth ◽  
After Cancer

Despite advances in cancer treatments, surgery remains one of the most important therapies for solid tumors. Unfortunately, surgery promotes angiogenesis, shedding of cancer cells into the circulation and suppresses anti-tumor immunity. Together this increases the risk of tumor metastasis, accelerated growth of pre-existing micro-metastasis and cancer recurrence. It was theorized that regional anesthesia could influence long-term outcomes after cancer surgery, however new clinical evidence demonstrates that the anesthesia technique has little influence in oncologic outcomes. Several randomized controlled trials are in progress and may provide a better understanding on how volatile and intravenous hypnotics impact cancer progression. The purpose of this review is to summarize the effect of the anesthesia techniques on the immune system and tumor microenvironment (TME) as well as to summarize the clinical evidence of anesthesia techniques on cancer outcomes.

Therapeutic integration of signal transduction targeting agents and conventional anti-cancer treatments.

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Melisi ◽  
T Troiani ◽  
V Damiano ◽  
G Tortora ◽  
F Ciardiello
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cytotoxic Drugs ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Proliferating Cells ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Cellular Targets ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Approach

The currently available treatment of cancer patients is based on the use of cytotoxic drugs and/or of ionizing radiations, which have potent antitumor activity, but also cause clinically relevant side effects, since they affect cellular targets that are common to both cancer cells and normal proliferating cells. In the past 20 years, the discoveries on the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and progression have prompted the search for agents which are more selective for cancer cell molecular targets. The possibility of combining conventional cytotoxic drugs with novel agents that specifically interfere with key pathways controlling cancer cell survival, proliferation, invasion and/or metastatic spreading has generated a wide interest. This could be a promising therapeutic approach for several reasons. First, since the cellular targets for these agents and their mechanism(s) of action are different from those of cytotoxic drugs, it is possible for their combination with chemotherapy without cross-resistance. Second, alterations in the expression and/or the activity of genes that regulate mitogenic signals not only can directly cause perturbation of cell growth, but also may affect the sensitivity of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this review, we will discuss the biologic bases of the combination of molecular targeted drugs with conventional medical cancer treatments and the available results of the first series of clinical trials in cancer patients.

Untangling the Metabolic Reprogramming in Brain Cancer: Discovering Key Molecular Players Using Mass Spectrometry

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 1521-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoly Sorokin ◽  
Vsevolod Shurkhay ◽  
Stanislav Pekov ◽  
Evgeny Zhvansky ◽  
Daniil Ivanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Brain Cancer ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Aerobic Glycolysis ◽  
Lipid Production ◽  
Dietary Fatty Acids ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Malignant Cells ◽  
Proliferating Cells

Cells metabolism alteration is the new hallmark of cancer, as well as an important method for carcinogenesis investigation. It is well known that the malignant cells switch to aerobic glycolysis pathway occurring also in healthy proliferating cells. Recently, it was shown that in malignant cells de novo synthesis of the intracellular fatty acid replaces dietary fatty acids which change the lipid composition of cancer cells noticeably. These alterations in energy metabolism and structural lipid production explain the high proliferation rate of malignant tissues. However, metabolic reprogramming affects not only lipid metabolism but many of the metabolic pathways in the cell. 2-hydroxyglutarate was considered as cancer cell biomarker and its presence is associated with oxidative stress influencing the mitochondria functions. Among the variety of metabolite detection methods, mass spectrometry stands out as the most effective method for simultaneous identification and quantification of the metabolites. As the metabolic reprogramming is tightly connected with epigenetics and signaling modifications, the evaluation of metabolite alterations in cells is a promising approach to investigate the carcinogenesis which is necessary for improving current diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic capabilities. In this paper, we overview recent studies on metabolic alteration and oncometabolites, especially concerning brain cancer and mass spectrometry approaches which are now in use for the investigation of the metabolic pathway.

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