Prostate stem cells and cancer

Properties shared by neoplastic and stem cells indicate a possibility that somatic stem cells or transit-amplifying cells that have reacquired stem cell properties, particularly the ability for self-renewal, represent favorable targets for malignant transformation. In this review we discuss significance of the stem cell model for understanding prostate cancer pathogenesis and describe relevant studies in animals. It is proposed that dissemination of rare cancer stem cells may lead to metastatic disease and that resistance of such cells to multiple drugs and androgen ablation make them responsible for failure of current treatments. Thus further understanding of the cancer stem cell biology is needed for development of efficient rationally designed therapy permitting better targeting and better treatment outcomes for patients with prostate neoplasms.     

Navigating cancer network attractors for tumor-specific therapy

Cells employ highly dynamic signaling networks to drive biological decision processes. Perturbations to these signaling networks may attract cells to new malignant signaling and phenotypic states, termed cancer network attractors, that result in cancer development. As different cancer cells reach these malignant states by accumulating different molecular alterations, uncovering these mechanisms represents a grand challenge in cancer biology. Addressing this challenge will require new systems-based strategies that capture the intrinsic properties of cancer signaling networks and provide deeper understanding of the processes by which genetic lesions perturb these networks and lead to disease phenotypes. Network biology will help circumvent fundamental obstacles in cancer treatment, such as drug resistance and metastasis, empowering personalized and tumor-specific cancer therapies.     

Mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to kinase‐targeted therapies

Cancer drugs that target pivotal signaling molecules required for malignant cell survival and growth have demonstrated striking antitumor activities in appropriately selected patient populations. Unfortunately, however, therapeutic responses are often of limited duration, typically 6–12 months, because of emergence of drug‐resistant subclones of tumor cells. In this review, we highlight several of the mechanisms of emergent resistance to several kinase‐targeted small molecule therapies used in melanoma, non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors as illustrative examples. We discuss the implications of these findings for the development of new treatment strategies to delay or prevent the onset of drug resistance.     

HSP90 as a platform for the assembly of more effective cancer chemotherapy

Since initial discovery of the first HSP90 inhibitor over a decade and a half ago, tremendous progress has been made in developing potent and selective compounds with which to target this chaperone in the treatment of cancers. These compounds have been invaluable in dissecting how HSP90 supports the dramatic alterations in cellular physiology that constitute the malignant phenotype and give rise to the clinical manifestations of diverse cancers. Unfortunately, single agent activity for HSP90 inhibitors has been disappointingly modest against recurrent, refractory cancers in most of the clinical trials that have been reported to date. This problem could be due to pharmacological limitations of the first-generation inhibitors that have been most extensively studied. But we suggest it may well be intrinsic to the target itself. This review will focus on how the utilization of HSP90 by cancer cells might be targeted to enhance the activity of other anticancer drugs while at the same time limiting the ability of advanced cancers to adapt and evolve drug resistance; the net result being more durable disease control. A better understanding of these fundamental issues will surely make the ongoing clinical development of HSP90 inhibitors as anticancer drugs less empiric, more efficient and hopefully more successful. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90).     

Dose-Dependent Mutation Rates Determine Optimum Erlotinib Dosing Strategies for EGFR Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Background

The advent of targeted therapy for cancer treatment has brought about a paradigm shift in the clinical management of human malignancies. Agents such as erlotinib used for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer or imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia, for instance, lead to rapid tumor responses. Unfortunately, however, resistance often emerges and renders these agents ineffective after a variable amount of time. The FDA-approved dosing schedules for these drugs were not designed to optimally prevent the emergence of resistance. To this end, we have previously utilized evolutionary mathematical modeling of treatment responses to elucidate the dosing schedules best able to prevent or delay the onset of resistance. Here we expand on our approaches by taking into account dose-dependent mutation rates at which resistant cells emerge. The relationship between the serum drug concentration and the rate at which resistance mutations arise can lead to non-intuitive results about the best dose administration strategies to prevent or delay the emergence of resistance.

Methods

We used mathematical modeling, available clinical trial data, and different considerations of the relationship between mutation rate and drug concentration to predict the effectiveness of different dosing strategies.

Results

We designed several distinct measures to interrogate the effects of different treatment dosing strategies and found that a low-dose continuous strategy coupled with high-dose pulses leads to the maximal delay until clinically observable resistance. Furthermore, the response to treatment is robust against different assumptions of the mutation rate as a function of drug concentration.

Conclusions

For new and existing targeted drugs, our methodology can be employed to compare the effectiveness of different dose administration schedules and investigate the influence of changing mutation rates on outcomes.     

Optimal control of treatment in a mathematical model of chronic myelogenous leukemia

We consider a mathematical model of drug therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia for an individual patient over a fixed time horizon. The disease dynamics are given by a system of ordinary differential equations that describe the interaction between naive T cells, effector T cells and leukemic cancer cells in a hypothetical patient. We introduce two drug therapies into this model, one a targeted therapy, and the other a broad cytotoxic therapy. Our goal is to find treatment regimens that minimize the cancer cell count and the deleterious effects of the drugs for a given patient. We examine the control setting analytically, and include numerical solutions to illustrate the optimal regimens under various assumptions.     

Cellular models for multiple drug resistance in cancer

Conclusion Considerable progress has been made toward understanding some of the molecular mechanisms underlying MDR in cancer cells in vitro, and sensitive techniques such as immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR indicate that these mechanisms may also play a role in resistance in human cancers. It does seem, however, that there are many different patterns and mechanisms of MDR, not all of which are currently well understood. Identification of chemicals which, at non-toxic doses, circumvent MDR, and of new drugs to which MDR cells are not cross resistant, remains a priority in this area of research. Also, it is important to remember that, although inherent resistance at the molecular level is possibly the most serious barrier to successful chemotherapy, other issues including tumor cell kinetics, drug metabolism, drug penetration within the tumor, and side effects on normal tissues are also critical factors in determining how an individual may respond to chemotherapy.     

MicroRNAs in cancer drug resistance: Basic evidence and clinical applications

Development of drug resistance has considerably limited the efficacy of cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the innate or the acquired resistance to these therapies is critical to improve drug efficiency and clinical outcomes. Several studies have implicated microRNAs (miRNA) in this process. MiRNAs repress gene expression by specific binding to complementary sequences in the 3' region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), followed by target mRNA degradation or blocked translation. By targeting molecules specific to a particular pathway within tumor cells, the new generation of cancer treatment strategies has shown significant advantages over conventional chemotherapy. However, the long-term efficacy of targeted therapies often remains poor, because tumor cells develop resistance to such therapeutics. Targeted therapies often involve monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as those blocking the ErB/HER tyrosine kinases, epidermal growth factor receptor (cetuximab) and HER2 (trastuzumab), and those inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling (e.g., bevacizumab). Even though these are among the most used agents in tumor medicine, clinical response to these drugs is reduced due to the emergence of drug resistance as a result of toxic effects in the tumor microenvironment. Research on different types of human cancers has revealed that aberrant expression of miRNAs promotes resistance to the aforementioned drugs. In this study, we review the mechanisms of tumor cell resistance to mAb therapies and the role of miRNAs therein. Emerging treatment strategies combine therapies using innovative miRNA mimics or antagonizers with conventional approaches to maximize outcomes of patients with cancer.     

曲美替尼与GSK2126458联合用药逆转结直肠癌SW480细胞的耐药

近年来, 肿瘤靶向药物因其特异性强与对正常细胞损伤小等特点,已成为癌症治疗的热点药物。但由肿瘤异质性导致的靶向药物的耐受现象,成为癌症治疗需要解决的难题之一。为解决单一药物的耐受现象,可以通过药物组合来达到理想的治疗效果。本课题以结直肠癌为研究对象,评估8种结直肠癌细胞对30种靶向药物的敏感性,并筛选可逆转耐药的药物组合,探究药物组合的作用。通过MTT实验测定细胞存活率,计算IC50值进行敏感性分析,敏感标准为IC50值≤100 nmol/L。对敏感的单药进行组合筛选,选取细胞存活率最小的组合。采用流式细胞术和Western印迹检测联合用药对细胞凋亡及MAPK、PI3K通路相关蛋白质表达水平的影响。MTT结果显示,结直肠癌SW480细胞耐受30种肿瘤靶向药物,经联合用药筛选,SW480细胞对曲美替尼与GSK2126458组合最为敏感,与对照组和单药组相比,该组合可使SW480细胞凋亡明显增加。免疫印迹结果显示,ERK、Akt和mTOR磷酸化水平降低,Cleaved PARP表达增加。上述结果表明,8种结直肠癌细胞存在不同程度耐受靶向抑制剂的现象,曲美替尼与GSK2126458联合应用可逆转结直肠癌SW480细胞的耐药现象。     

Resistance to targeted cancer drugs through hepatocyte growth factor signaling

Cancer therapeutics that target a signaling pathway to which the cancer cells are addicted can deliver dramatic initial responses, but resistance is nearly always inevitable. A variety of mechanisms that cancer cells employ to escape from targeted cancer drugs have been described. We review here the role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and its receptor MET in drug resistance. We present data demonstrating that HGF can confer resistance to a number of kinase inhibitors in a variety of cancer cell lines and discuss our results in relation to the findings of others. Together, these data point at a major role for HGF/MET signaling in resistance to a variety of targeted cancer drugs.     

曲美替尼与GSK2126458联合用药逆转结直肠癌SW480细胞的耐药

近年来, 肿瘤靶向药物因其特异性强与对正常细胞损伤小等特点,已成为癌症治疗的热点药物。但由肿瘤异质性导致的靶向药物的耐受现象,成为癌症治疗需要解决的难题之一。为解决单一药物的耐受现象,可以通过药物组合来达到理想的治疗效果。本课题以结直肠癌为研究对象,评估8种结直肠癌细胞对30种靶向药物的敏感性,并筛选可逆转耐药的药物组合,探究药物组合的作用。通过MTT实验测定细胞存活率,计算IC50值进行敏感性分析,敏感标准为IC50值≤100 nmol/L。对敏感的单药进行组合筛选,选取细胞存活率最小的组合。采用流式细胞术和Western印迹检测联合用药对细胞凋亡及MAPK、PI3K通路相关蛋白质表达水平的影响。MTT结果显示,结直肠癌SW480细胞耐受30种肿瘤靶向药物,经联合用药筛选,SW480细胞对曲美替尼与GSK2126458组合最为敏感,与对照组和单药组相比,该组合可使SW480细胞凋亡明显增加。免疫印迹结果显示,ERK、Akt和mTOR磷酸化水平降低,Cleaved PARP表达增加。上述结果表明,8种结直肠癌细胞存在不同程度耐受靶向抑制剂的现象,曲美替尼与GSK2126458联合应用可逆转结直肠癌SW480细胞的耐药现象。     

Oncologist’s/haematologist’s view on the roles of pathologists for molecular targeted cancer therapy

In the past two decades there has been a tremendous increase in the understanding of the molecular basis of human malignancies. In a variety of neoplasms, specific molecular markers became part of disease classifications and are now routinely used to define specific entities. Molecular analyses discriminate prognostic groups, guide differential treatment strategies and identify targets for molecular defined cancer therapy. A battery of new drugs has been developed to specifically inhibit oncogenic pathways. For an increasing number of solid and haematological malignancies, the availability of molecular targeted drugs has fundamentally changed treatment algorithms. However, the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic impact of selected molecular markers is still limited in many cases. After all, the success of a molecular targeted therapy is clearly determined by the significance of the targeted structure for the biology of cancer and the ability of the malignant cell to evade specific inhibition.     

分子靶向治疗在前列腺癌中的研究进展

前列腺癌是目前在全球男性中第二位最常见的肿瘤,其在恶性肿瘤死亡率中排名第六位[1]。在发病率方面,我国虽然不及西方国家,但是随着生活水平和诊疗技术的提高,也表现出了逐渐上升的态势。靶向治疗是以肿瘤细胞的特有位点作为治疗靶点,在纠正病变、稳定细胞、发挥更强的抗肿瘤活性的同时,能够对正常细胞减少毒副作用[2]。由于我们对于肿瘤发生发展的分子途径认知的逐渐提高,以及更好的利用这些途径作为有效的药物作用靶点,我们已经看到了越来越多的分子靶向药物的开发和生产随之增加。本文着重探讨了分子靶向药物对肿瘤的治疗起作用的不同的靶向机制,以及它们的研究现状及临床应用。     

MicroRNA let-7b targets important cell cycle molecules in malignant melanoma cells and interferes with anchorage-independent growth

A microRNA expression screen was performed analyzing 157 different microRNAs in laser-microdissected tissues from benign melanocytic nevi (n = 10) and primary malignant melanomas (n = 10), using quantitative real-time PCR. Differential expression was found for 72 microRNAs. Members of the let-7 family of microRNAs were significantly downregulated in primary melanomas as compared with benign nevi, suggestive for a possible role of these molecules as tumor suppressors in malignant melanoma. Interestingly, similar findings had been described for lung and colon cancer. Overexpression of let-7b in melanoma cells in vitro downregulated the expression of cyclins D1, D3, and A, and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 4, all of which had been described to play a role in melanoma development. The effect of let-7b on protein expression was due to targeting of 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of individual mRNAs, as exemplified by reporter gene analyses for cyclin D1. In line with its downmodulating effects on cell cycle regulators, let-7b inhibited cell cycle progression and anchorage-independent growth of melanoma cells. Taken together, these findings not only point to new regulatory mechanisms of early melanoma development, but also may open avenues for future targeted therapies of this tumor.     

3D printing to construct in vitro multicellular models of melanoma

Currently, there is a lack of suitable models for in-vitro studies of malignant melanoma and traditional single cell culture models no longer reproduce tumor structure and physiological complexity well. The tumor microenvironment is closely related to carcinogenesis and it is particularly important to understand how tumor cells interact and communicate with surrounding nonmalignant cells. Three-dimensional (3D) in vitro multicellular culture models can better simulate the tumor microenvironment due to their excellent physicochemical properties. In this study, 3D composite hydrogel scaffolds were prepared from gelatin methacrylate and polyethylene glycol diacrylate hydrogels by 3D printing and light curing techniques, and 3D multicellular in vitro tumor culture models were established by inoculating human melanoma cells (A375) and human fibroblasts cells on them. The cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug resistance of the 3D multicellular in vitro model was evaluated. Compared with the single-cell model, the cells in the multicellular model had higher proliferation activity and migration ability, and were easy to form dense structures. Several tumor cell markers, such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), MMP-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor, were highly expressed in the multicellular culture model, which were more favorable for tumor development. In addition, higher cell survival rate was observed after exposure to luteolin. The anticancer drug resistance result of the malignant melanoma cells in the 3D bioprinted construct demonstrated physiological properties, suggesting the promising potential of current 3D printed tumor model in the development of personalized therapy, especially for discovery of more conducive targeted drugs.     

甲胎蛋白携带药物靶向治疗肿瘤

甲胎蛋白(alpha fetoprotein,AFP)是一种在胎儿发育时期高表达的蛋白质,它又是一种穿梭蛋白质,能够将营养物质输送给胚胎细胞.相似的是,在肝癌等恶性肿瘤发展时期,肿瘤细胞也高表达AFP及其受体,它们通过AFP受体摄取AFP及其运载的物质.因此,可以将AFP与抗癌药物结合,选择性攻击肿瘤细胞.AFP与药物...     

Non-inherited antibiotic resistance

In addition to their impressive, well-publicized and well-researched propensity to evolve and acquire genetically determined mechanisms for resistance to antibiotics, bacteria that are inherently susceptible to these drugs can also be phenotypically refractory to their action. This phenomenon of 'non-inherited resistance' to antibiotics has been known since the beginning of the antibiotic era but, relative to inherited resistance, it has been given little attention. Here, we review the in vitro and in vivo evidence for the different forms of non-inherited resistance and the mechanisms responsible. With the aid of a simple mathematical model and computer simulations, we show how non-inherited resistance could extend the duration of antibiotic treatment, cause treatment failure and promote the generation and ascent of inherited resistance in treated patients.     

Curcumin: A naturally occurring autophagy modulator

Autophagy is a self-degradative process that plays a pivotal role in several medical conditions associated with infection, cancer, neurodegeneration, aging, and metabolic disorders. Its interplay with cancer development and treatment resistance is complicated and paramount for drug design since an autophagic response can lead to tumor suppression by enhancing cellular integrity and tumorigenesis by improving tumor cell survival. In addition, autophagy denotes the cellular ability of adapting to stress though it may end up in apoptosis activation when cells are exposed to a very powerful stress. Induction of autophagy is a therapeutic option in cancer and many anticancer drugs have been developed to this aim. Curcumin as a hydrophobic polyphenol compound extracted from the known spice turmeric has different pharmacological effects in both in vitro and in vivo models. Many reports exist reporting that curcumin is capable of triggering autophagy in several cancer cells. In this review, we will focus on how curcumin can target autophagy in different cellular settings that may extend our understanding of new pharmacological agents to overcome relevant diseases.