| 1. |
- Arbiser, Jack L., et al.
(författare)
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Functional tyrosine kinase inhibitor profiling : a generally applicable method points to a novel role of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta in tuberous sclerosis
- 2002
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Ingår i: American Journal of Pathology. - 0002-9440 .- 1525-2191. ; 161:3, s. 781-786
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tumors often exhibit activation of specific tyrosine kinases, which may allow targeting of therapy through inhibition of tyrosine kinase signaling. This strategy has been used successfully in the development of STI571 (gleevec), an inhibitor of bcr-abl tyrosine kinase that has been used successfully in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia. STI571 also shows activity against c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRbeta) tyrosine kinase signaling, thus potentially expanding the number of tumors that may respond to it. We describe a simple and rapid method to assess functional activity of tyrosine kinase signaling that is broadly applicable to tumor types. As proof of principle, we have applied it to cells that serve as models of the autosomal-dominant tumor syndrome tuberous sclerosis (TS). We found that TS model cells derived from tuberin heterozygous mice and from a human renal angiomyolipoma are highly sensitive to PDGFR antagonists and that these cells express PDGFRbeta. Given that PDGFRbeta signaling is inhibited by STI571, we found that SV7tert human angiomyolipoma cells are sensitive to STI571. Thus, we describe a novel but simple method of determining the functional tyrosine kinase profile of a neoplastic cell and our results suggest that STI571 might be useful in the treatment of neoplasms commonly seen in patients with TS.
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| 2. |
- Block, Keith I., et al.
(författare)
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Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment
- 2015
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Ingår i: Seminars in Cancer Biology. - : Academic Press. - 1044-579X .- 1096-3650. ; 35, s. S276-S304
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notable successes in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targeted therapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a few disease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistant immortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are not reliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, an international task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broadspectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspects of relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a wide range of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For these targets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which were phytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed for known effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment Potential contrary or procarcinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixed evidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of the relationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. This novel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types of cancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for future research is offered. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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| 3. |
- Cao, Yihai, et al.
(författare)
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Forty-Year Journey of Angiogenesis Translational Research
- 2011
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Ingår i: Science Translational Medicine. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science. - 1946-6234 .- 1946-6242. ; 3:114
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Forty years ago, Judah Folkman predicted that tumor growth is dependent on angiogenesis and that inhibiting this process might be a new strategy for cancer therapy. This hypothesis formed the foundation of a new field of research that represents an excellent example of how a groundbreaking scientific discovery can be translated to yield benefits for patients. Today, antiangiogenic drugs are used to treat human cancers and retinal vascular diseases. Here, we guide readers through 40 years of angiogenesis research and discuss challenges of antiangiogenic therapy.
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| 4. |
- Cao, Ziquan, 1982-
(författare)
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VEGF-mediated vascular functions in health and disease
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Angiogenesis is essential for physiological processes including embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and reproduction. Under various pathological conditions the same angiogenic process contribute to the onset, development, and progression of many human diseases including cancer, diabetic complications, ocular disease, chronic inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key angiogenic factor for physiological and pathological angiogenesis. In addition to its strong angiogenic activity, VEGF also potently induces vascular permeability, often causing tissue edema in various pathological tissues. VEGF transduces its vascular signal through two tyrosine kinase receptors-VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, the latter being a functional receptor that mediates both angiogenic and vascular permeability effects. To study physiological and pathological functions of VEGF, we developed novel zebrafish disease models that permit us to study hypoxia-induced retinopathy and cancer metastasis processes. We have also administered anti-VEGF and anti-VEGFR specific antibodies to healthy mice to study the homeostatic role of VEGF in the maintenance of vascular integrity and its functions in various tissues and organs.Finally, using a zebrafish model, we evaluated if VEGF expression is regulated by circadian clock genes. In paper I, we developed protocols that create hypoxia-induced retinopathy in adult zebrafish. Adult fli1:EGFP zebrafish were placed in hypoxic water for 3-10 days with retinal neovascularization being analyzed using confocal microscopy. This model provides a unique opportunity to kinetically study the development of retinopathy in adult animals using non-invasive protocols and to assess the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered anti-angiogenic drugs. In paper II, we developed a zebrafish metastasis model to dissect the complex events of hypoxia-induced tumor cell invasion and metastasis in association with angiogenesis at the single-cell level. In this model, fluorescent DiI-labeled human or mouse tumor cells were implanted into the perivitelline cavity of 48-hour-old zebrafish embryos, which were subsequently placed in hypoxic water for 3 days. Tumor cell invasion, metastasis and pathological angiogenesis were analyzed using fluorescent microscopy in the living fish. The average experimental time for this model is 7 days. Our protocol offers an opportunity to study molecular mechanisms of hypoxia-induced cancer metastasis. In paper III, we show that systemic delivery of an anti-VEGF or an anti-VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-2 neutralizing antibody cause global vascular regression in mice. Among all examined tissues, the vasculature in endocrine glands, intestinal villi, and the uterus are most affected in response to VEGF or VEGFR-2 blockades. Pro-longed anti-VEGF treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the circulating levels of the predominant thyroid hormone, free thyroxine, but not the minimal isoform of triiodothyronine, suggesting that chronic anti-VEGF treatment impairs thyroid function. These findings provide structural and functional bases of anti-VEGF-specific druginduced side effects in relation to vascular changes in healthy tissues. In paper IV, we show that disruption of the circadian clock by constant exposure to light coupled with genetic manipulation of key genes in the zebrafish led to impaired developmental angiogenesis. A bmal1-specific morpholino inhibited developmental angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos without causing obvious nonvascular phenotypes. Conversely, a period2 morpholino accelerated angiogenic vessel growth, suggesting that Bmal1 and Period2 display opposing angiogenic effects. These results offer mechanistic insights into the role of the circadian clock in regulation of developmental angiogenesis, and our findings may be reasonably extended to other types of physiological or pathological angiogenesis. Overall, the results in this thesis provide further insight to angiogenic mechanistic properties in tissues and suggest possible novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of various angiogenesis-dependent diseases.
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| 5. |
- Funa, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Shb gene knockdown increases the susceptibility of SVR endothelial tumor cells to apoptotic stimuli in vitro and in vivo
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Investigative Dermatology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-202X .- 1523-1747. ; 128:3, s. 710-716
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Shb adapter protein is an Src homology 2-domain containing signaling intermediate operating downstream of several tyrosine kinase receptors, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. Shb is multifunctional and apoptosis is one response that Shb regulates. Inhibition of angiogenesis can be used in cancer therapy, and one way to achieve this is by inducing endothelial cell apoptosis. The angiosarcoma cell line SVR is of endothelial origin and can be used as a tool for studying in vivo inhibition of angiogenesis, and we thus employed an Shb-knockdown strategy using an inducible lentiviral system to reduce Shb levels in SVR cells and to study their responses. Shb knockdown increases the susceptibility of SVR cells to the apoptotic agents, cisplatin and staurosporine. Simultaneously, Shb knockdown causes reduced focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation, monitored as phosphorylation of the regulatory residues tyrosines 576/577. No detectable effects on Akt or extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity were noted. The altered FAK activity coincided with an elongated cell phenotype that was particularly noticeable in the presence of staurosporine. In order to relate the effects of Shb knockdown to in vivo tumorigenicity, cells were exposed to the angiogenesis inhibitor honokiol, and again the cells with reduced Shb content exhibited increased apoptosis. Tumor growth in vivo was strongly reduced in the Shb-knockdown cells upon honokiol treatment. It is concluded that Shb regulates apoptosis and cell shape in tumor endothelial cells via FAK, and that Shb is a potential target for inhibition of angiogenesis.
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| 6. |
- Reis, Katarina, et al.
(författare)
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Inhibitors of cytoskeletal dynamics in malignant mesothelioma.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 11:50, s. 4637-4647
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Malignant mesotheliomas (MMs) are highly aggressive mesenchymal tumors that originate from mesothelial cells lining serosal cavities; i.e., the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium. Classically, there is a well-established link between asbestos exposure, oxidative stress, release of reactive oxygen species, and chronic inflammatory mediators that leads to progression of MMs. MMs have an intermediate phenotype, with co-expression of mesenchymal and epithelial markers and dysregulated communication between the mesothelium and the microenvironment. We have previously shown that the organization and function of key cytoskeletal components can distinguish highly invasive cell lines from those more indolent. Here, we used these tools to study three different types of small-molecule inhibitors, where their common feature is their influence on production of reactive oxygen species. One of these, imipramine blue, was particularly effective in counteracting some key malignant properties of highly invasive MM cells. This opens a new possibility for targeted inhibition of MMs based on well-established molecular mechanisms.
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| 7. |
- Rennel, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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Regulation of endothelial cell differentiation and transformation by H-Ras
- 2003
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Ingår i: Experimental Cell Research. - 0014-4827 .- 1090-2422. ; 291:1, s. 189-200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Angiogenesis is regulated by growth factors which activate tyrosine kinase receptors leading to the activation of a number of intracellular signaling pathways. The specific function of H-Ras during FGF-2 stimulated endothelial cell differentiation, defined as invasive growth and formation of branching networks in fibrin gels, was investigated by using conditionally immortalized endothelial cell lines induced to express H-Ras mutants. Expression of inhibitory N17Ras did not impair differentiation in response to FGF-2 and TNF-alpha. The farnesyltransferase inhibitor FTI-277 inhibited farnesylation of Ras but did not inhibit differentiation of human microvascular endothelial cells or mouse brain endothelial cells. In contrast, activated V12Ras inhibited endothelial cell differentiation and cells displayed a transformed phenotype with an increased rate of proliferation and loss of contact inhibited growth. Furthermore, V12Ras expressing endothelial cells grew as solid tumors when injected subcutaneously into mice. Our data suggest that, in endothelial cells, H-Ras activity is not required for differentiation. However, this activity must be tightly regulated as aberrant activity can disturb the ability of endothelial cells to undergo differentiation.
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