scholarly journals Targeting Aberrant Sialylation to Treat Cancer

Medicines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Munkley ◽  
Emma Scott
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Sialic Acid ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Metastatic Cascade ◽  
Cancer Hallmarks ◽  
Therapeutic Value ◽  
Surface Carbohydrates

Cell surface carbohydrates (known as glycans) are often aberrantly expressed or found at atypical levels in cancer. Glycans can impact all steps in tumour progression, from malignant transformation to metastasis, and have roles in all the cancer hallmarks. An increased understanding of glycans in the metastatic cascade offers exciting new therapeutic opportunities. Glycan-based targeting strategies are currently being tested in clinical trials and are a rich and untapped frontier for development. As we learn more about cancer glycobiology, new targets will continue to emerge for drug design. One key change in tumour glycosylation is the upregulation of cancer-associated sialylated glycans. Abnormal sialylation is integral to tumour growth, metastasis and immune evasion; therefore, targeting sialic acid moieties in cancer could be of high therapeutic value. Here, we summarise the changes to sialic acid biology in cancer and discuss recent advances and technologies bringing sialic-acid targeting treatments to the forefront of cancer therapeutics.

scholarly journals FUT8 Alpha-(1,6)-Fucosyltransferase in Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 455
Author(s):  
Kayla Bastian ◽  
Emma Scott ◽  
David J. Elliott ◽  
Jennifer Munkley
Keyword(s):  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Antibody Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity ◽  
Α3β1 Integrin ◽  
Universal Feature ◽  
Core Fucosylation

Aberrant glycosylation is a universal feature of cancer cells that can impact all steps in tumour progression from malignant transformation to metastasis and immune evasion. One key change in tumour glycosylation is altered core fucosylation. Core fucosylation is driven by fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8), which catalyses the addition of α1,6-fucose to the innermost GlcNAc residue of N-glycans. FUT8 is frequently upregulated in cancer, and plays a critical role in immune evasion, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and the regulation of TGF-β, EGF, α3β1 integrin and E-Cadherin. Here, we summarise the role of FUT8 in various cancers (including lung, liver, colorectal, ovarian, prostate, breast, melanoma, thyroid, and pancreatic), discuss the potential mechanisms involved, and outline opportunities to exploit FUT8 as a critical factor in cancer therapeutics in the future.

Ethanolic Extract of Algerian Propolis and Galangin Decreased Murine Melanoma Tumor Progression in Mice

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1172-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamia Benguedouar ◽  
Mesbah Lahouel ◽  
Sophie C. Gangloff ◽  
Anne Durlach ◽  
Florent Grange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
Complementary Therapy ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Therapeutic Treatment ◽  
Melanoma Tumor ◽  
Ki 67

Melanoma is the more dangerous skin cancer, and metastatic melanoma still carries poor prognosis. Despite recent therapeutic advances, prolonged survival remains rare and research is still required. Propolis extracts from many countries have attracted a great deal of attention for their biological properties. We here investigated the ability of an ethanolic extract of Algerian propolis (EEP) to control melanoma tumour growth when given to mice bearing B16F1melanoma tumour either as preventive or as therapeutic treatment. EEP given after tumour occurrence increased mice survival (+30%) and reduced tumour growth (-75%). This was associated with a decrease of the Mitotic Index (-75%) and of Ki-67 (-50%) expression. When given either before or both before and after tumour occurrence, EEP reduced tumour growth but without prolonging mice life. Isolation of B16F1 melanoma cells from resected tumour showed that preventive and curative EEP treatments reduced invasiveness by 55% and 40% respectively compared to control. Galangin, one of the most abundant flavonoids in propolis, significantly reduced the number of melanoma cells in vitro and induced autophagy/apoptosis dose dependently. In conclusion, we showed that EEP reduced melanoma tumour progression/dissemination and could extend mice lifespan when used as therapeutic treatment. Then, EEP may help patients with melanoma when used as a complementary therapy to classical treatment for which autophagy is not contraindicated.

scholarly journals Leveraging epigenetics to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Licht ◽  
Richard L. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Antigen Presentation ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Chromatin Accessibility ◽  
Epigenetic Modifications ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanisms

Abstract Background Epigenetic mechanisms regulate chromatin accessibility patterns that govern interaction of transcription machinery with genes and their cis-regulatory elements. Mutations that affect epigenetic mechanisms are common in cancer. Because epigenetic modifications are reversible many anticancer strategies targeting these mechanisms are currently under development and in clinical trials. Main body Here we review evidence suggesting that epigenetic therapeutics can deactivate immunosuppressive gene expression or reprogram tumor cells to activate antigen presentation mechanisms. In addition, the dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms commonly observed in cancer may alter the immunogenicity of tumor cells and effectiveness of immunotherapies. Conclusions Therapeutics targeting epigenetic mechanisms may be helpful to counter immune evasion and improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies.

scholarly journals ROS and TGFβ: from pancreatic tumour growth to metastasis

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hui Chang ◽  
Siim Pauklin
Keyword(s):  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Tumour Development ◽  
Pancreatic Tumour ◽  
Tgfβ Signalling

AbstractTransforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signalling pathway switches between anti-tumorigenic function at early stages of cancer formation and pro-tumorigenic effects at later stages promoting cancer metastasis. A similar contrasting role has been uncovered for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pancreatic tumorigenesis. Down-regulation of ROS favours premalignant tumour development, while increasing ROS level in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) enhances metastasis. Given the functional resemblance, we propose that ROS-mediated processes converge with the spatial and temporal activation of TGFβ signalling and thereby differentially impact early tumour growth versus metastatic dissemination. TGFβ signalling and ROS could extensively orchestrate cellular processes and this concerted function can be utilized by cancer cells to facilitate their malignancy. In this article, we revisit the interplay of canonical and non-canonical TGFβ signalling with ROS throughout pancreatic tumorigenesis and metastasis. We also discuss recent insight that helps to understand their conflicting effects on different stages of tumour development. These considerations open new strategies in cancer therapeutics.

Distinct roles for PARP-1 and PARP-2 in c-Myc-driven B-cell lymphoma in mice

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A Galindo-Campos ◽  
Nura Lutfi ◽  
Sarah Bonnin ◽  
Carlos Martínez ◽  
Talia Velasco-Hernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphomas ◽  
Parp 1

Dysregulation of the c-Myc oncogene occurs in a wide variety of haematologic malignancies and its overexpression has been linked with aggressive tumour progression. Here, we show that Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 and PARP-2 exert opposing influences on progression of c-Myc-driven B-cell lymphomas. PARP-1 and PARP-2 catalyse the synthesis and transfer of ADP-ribose units onto amino acid residues of acceptor proteins in response to DNA-strand breaks, playing a central role in the response to DNA damage. Accordingly, PARP inhibitors have emerged as promising new cancer therapeutics. However, the inhibitors currently available for clinical use are not able to discriminate between individual PARP proteins. We found that genetic deletion of PARP-2 prevents c-Myc-driven B-cell lymphomas, while PARP-1-deficiency accelerates lymphomagenesis in the Em-Myc mouse model of aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Loss of PARP-2 aggravates replication stress in pre-leukemic Em-Myc B cells resulting in accumulation of DNA damage and concomitant cell death that restricts the c-Myc-driven expansion of B cells, thereby providing protection against B-cell lymphoma. In contrast, PARP-1-deficiency induces a proinflammatory response, and an increase in regulatory T cells likely contributing to immune escape of B-cell lymphomas, resulting in an acceleration of lymphomagenesis. These findings pinpoint specific functions for PARP-1 and PARP-2 in c-Myc-driven lymphomagenesis with antagonistic consequences that may help inform the design of new PARP-centred therapeutic strategies with selective PARP-2 inhibition potentially representing a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of c-Myc-driven tumours.

Assessment of a tumour growth model for virtual clinical trials of breast cancer screening

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Tomic ◽  
Anna Bejnö ◽  
Gustav O. Hellgren ◽  
Kristin Johnson ◽  
Daniel Förnvik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Breast Cancer Screening ◽  
Growth Model ◽  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Tumour Growth Model

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Organ-Specific Metastases in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Barbolina
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Ovarian Carcinoma ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma ◽  
Gynecologic Malignancy ◽  
Peritoneal Adhesion ◽  
Metastatic Cascade ◽  
Predominant Type ◽  
Organ Specific

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is the most predominant type of ovarian carcinoma, the deadliest gynecologic malignancy. It is typically diagnosed late when the cancer has already metastasized. Transcoelomic metastasis is the most predominant mechanism of dissemination from epithelial ovarian carcinoma, although both hematogenously and lymphogenously spread metastases also occur. In this review, we describe molecular mechanisms known to regulate organ-specific metastasis from epithelial ovarian carcinoma. We begin by discussing the sites colonized by metastatic ovarian carcinoma and rank them in the order of prevalence. Next, we review the mechanisms regulating the transcoelomic metastasis. Within this chapter, we specifically focus on the mechanisms that were demonstrated to regulate peritoneal adhesion—one of the first steps in the transcoelomic metastatic cascade. Furthermore, we describe mechanisms of the transcoelomic metastasis known to regulate colonization of specific sites within the peritoneal cavity, including the omentum. Mechanisms underlying hematogenous and lymphogenous metastatic spread are less comprehensively studied in ovarian cancer, and we summarize mechanisms that were identified to date. Lastly, we discuss the outcomes of the clinical trials that attempted to target some of the mechanisms described in this review.

scholarly journals Crosstalk between cancer cells and blood endothelial and lymphatic endothelial cells in tumour and organ microenvironment

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esak Lee ◽  
Niranjan B. Pandey ◽  
Aleksander S. Popel
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Lymphatic Vessels ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Malignant Cell ◽  
Lymphatic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Tumour Blood

Tumour and organ microenvironments are crucial for cancer progression and metastasis. Crosstalk between multiple non-malignant cell types in the microenvironments and cancer cells promotes tumour growth and metastasis. Blood and lymphatic endothelial cells (BEC and LEC) are two of the components in the microenvironments. Tumour blood vessels (BV), comprising BEC, serve as conduits for blood supply into the tumour, and are important for tumour growth as well as haematogenous tumour dissemination. Lymphatic vessels (LV), comprising LEC, which are relatively leaky compared with BV, are essential for lymphogenous tumour dissemination. In addition to describing the conventional roles of the BV and LV, we also discuss newly emerging roles of these endothelial cells: their crosstalk with cancer cells via molecules secreted by the BEC and LEC (also called angiocrine and lymphangiocrine factors). This review suggests that BEC and LEC in various microenvironments can be orchestrators of tumour progression and proposes new mechanism-based strategies to discover new therapies to supplement conventional anti-angiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenic therapies.

scholarly journals Cytokine Patterns in Brain Tumour Progression

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Albulescu ◽  
Elena Codrici ◽  
Ionela Daniela Popescu ◽  
Simona Mihai ◽  
Laura Georgiana Necula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Angiogenic Factors ◽  
System Response ◽  
Gm Csf ◽  
Immune System Response

Inflammation represents the immune system response to external or internal aggressors such as injury or infection in certain tissues. The body’s response to cancer has many parallels with inflammation and repair; the inflammatory cells and cytokines present in tumours are more likely to contribute to tumour growth, progression, and immunosuppression, rather than in building an effective antitumour defence. Using new proteomic technology, we have investigated serum profile of pro- (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, GM-CSF, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), along with angiogenic factors (VEGF, bFGF) in order to assess tumoural aggressiveness. Our results indicate significant dysregulation in serum levels of cytokines and angiogenic factors, with over threefold upregulation of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 and up to twofold upregulation of VEGF, FGF-2, IL-8, IL-2, and GM-CSF. These molecules are involved in tumour progression and aggressiveness, and are also involved in a generation of disease associated pain.

scholarly journals Aminopeptidase N/CD13 as a potential therapeutic target in malignant pleural mesothelioma

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 1701610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiko Otsuki ◽  
Taku Nakashima ◽  
Hironobu Hamada ◽  
Yusuke Takayama ◽  
Shin Akita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Tumour Growth ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Molecular Target ◽  
Aminopeptidase N ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Tumour Angiogenesis ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Target

Angiogenesis is a crucial factor in the progression of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and antiangiogenic strategies might be effective against MPM. Aminopeptidase N (APN)/CD13 promotes tumour angiogenesis and is associated with poor prognosis; however, its clinical significance in MPM remains unclear.In 37 consecutive patients with surgically resected MPM, we evaluated the association between immunohistochemical APN/CD13 expression in resected tumours and survival. Additionally, the antitumour and antiangiogenic effects of MT95-4, a fully humanised anti-APN/CD13 monoclonal antibody, were evaluated in mice orthotopically implanted with EHMES-10 (abundantly expressing APN/CD13) and MSTO-211H (scarcely expressing APN/CD13) MPM cells.High tumour APN/CD13 expression was associated with poor prognosis in MPM patients (p=0.04), and MT95-4 treatment reduced tumour growth and angiogenesis in mice harbouring EHMES-10 but not MSTO-211H cells. Furthermore, in mice harbouring EHMES-10 cells, MT95-4 combined with cisplatin more effectively suppressed tumour progression than cisplatin alone.Taken together, these results suggest that APN/CD13 is implicated in the aggressiveness of MPM. Here, MT95-4 treatment reduced tumour progression likely by inhibiting angiogenesis, suggesting APN/CD13 as a potential molecular target for MPM treatment. Additionally, combination treatment with MT95-4 and cisplatin could represent a promising approach to treating MPM exhibiting high APN/CD13 expression.

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