| 1. |
- Almstedt, Elin, 1988-, et al.
(författare)
-
Integrative discovery of treatments for high-risk neuroblastoma
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723 .- 2041-1723. ; 11:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite advances in the molecular exploration of paediatric cancers, approximately 50% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma lack effective treatment. To identify therapeutic options for this group of high-risk patients, we combine predictive data mining with experimental evaluation in patient-derived xenograft cells. Our proposed algorithm, TargetTranslator, integrates data from tumour biobanks, pharmacological databases, and cellular networks to predict how targeted interventions affect mRNA signatures associated with high patient risk or disease processes. We find more than 80 targets to be associated with neuroblastoma risk and differentiation signatures. Selected targets are evaluated in cell lines derived from high-risk patients to demonstrate reversal of risk signatures and malignant phenotypes. Using neuroblastoma xenograft models, we establish CNR2 and MAPK8 as promising candidates for the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma. We expect that our method, available as a public tool (targettranslator.org), will enhance and expedite the discovery of risk-associated targets for paediatric and adult cancers.
|
|
| 2. |
- Doroszko, Milena, et al.
(författare)
-
GnRH antagonist treatment of malignant adrenocortical tumors
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Endocrine-Related Cancer. - : BIOSCIENTIFICA LTD. - 1351-0088 .- 1479-6821. ; 26:1, s. 103-117
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aberrantly expressed G protein-coupled receptors in tumors are considered as potential therapeutic targets. We analyzed the expressions of receptors of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GNRHR), luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LHCGR) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHR) in human adrenocortical carcinomas and assessed their response to GnRH antagonist therapy. We further studied the effects of the GnRH antagonist cetrorelix acetate (CTX) on cultured adrenocortical tumor (ACT) cells (mouse C alpha 1 and Y-1, and human H295R), and in vivo in transgenic mice (SV40 T-antigen expression under inhibin a promoter) bearing Lhcgr and Gnrhr in ACT. Both models were treated with control (CT), CTX, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or CTX+hCG, and their growth and transcriptional changes were analyzed. In situ hybridization and qPCR analysis of human adrenocortical carcinomas (n = 11-13) showed expression of GNRHR in 54/73%, LHCGR in 77/100% and FSHR in 0%, respectively. CTX treatment in vitro decreased cell viability and proliferation, and increased caspase 3/7 activity in all treated cells. In vivo, CTX and CTX+hCG (but not hCG alone) decreased ACT weights and serum LH and progesterone concentrations. CTX treatment downregulated the tumor markers Lhcgr and Gata4. Upregulated genes included Grb10, Rerg, Nfatc and Gnas, all recently found to be abundantly expressed in healthy adrenal vs ACT. Our data suggest that CTX treatment may improve the therapy of human adrenocortical carcinomas by direct action on GNRHR-positive cancer cells inducing apoptosis and/or reducing gonadotropin release, directing tumor cells towards a healthy adrenal gene expression profile.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Johansson, Patrik, et al.
(författare)
-
A Patient-Derived Cell Atlas Informs Precision Targeting of Glioblastoma
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Cell Reports. - : Elsevier BV. - 2211-1247. ; 32:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumor with few therapeutic options. The disease presents with a complex spectrum of genomic aberrations, but the pharmacological consequences of these aberrations are partly unknown. Here, we report an integrated pharmacogenomic analysis of 100 patient-derived GBM cell cultures from the human glioma cell culture (HGCC) cohort. Exploring 1,544 drugs, we find that GBM has two main pharmacological subgroups, marked by differential response to proteasome inhibitors and mutually exclusive aberrations in TP53 and CDKN2A/B. We confirm this trend in cell and in xenotransplantation models, and identify both Bcl-2 family inhibitors and p53 activators as potentiators of proteasome inhibitors in GBM cells, We can further predict the responses of individual cell cultures to several existing drug classes, presenting opportunities for drug repurposing and design of stratified trials. Our functionally profiled biobank provides a valuable resource for the discovery of new treatments for GBM.
|
|
| 5. |
- Kerzeli, Iliana Kyriaki, et al.
(författare)
-
Single-cell RNAseq and longitudinal proteomic analysis of a novel semi-spontaneous urothelial cancer model reveals tumor cell heterogeneity and pretumoral urine protein alterations
- 2021
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 16:7
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bladder cancer, one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, remains hard to classify due to a staggering molecular complexity. Despite a plethora of diagnostic tools and therapies, it is hard to outline the key steps leading up to the transition from high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) to muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Carcinogen-induced murine models can recapitulate urothelial carcinogenesis and natural anti-tumor immunity. Herein, we have developed and profiled a novel model of progressive NMIBC based on 10 weeks of OH-BBN exposure in hepatocyte growth factor/cyclin dependent kinase 4 (R24C) (Hgf-Cdk4(R24C)) mice. The profiling of the model was performed by histology grading, single cell transcriptomic and proteomic analysis, while the derivation of a tumorigenic cell line was validated and used to assess in vivo anti-tumor effects in response to immunotherapy. Established NMIBC was present in females at 10 weeks post OH-BBN exposure while neoplasia was not as advanced in male mice, however all mice progressed to MIBC. Single cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed an intratumoral heterogeneity also described in the human disease trajectory. Moreover, although immune activation biomarkers were elevated in urine during carcinogen exposure, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD1) monotherapy did not prevent tumor progression. Furthermore, anti-PD1 immunotherapy did not control the growth of subcutaneous tumors formed by the newly derived urothelial cancer cell line. However, treatment with CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) significantly decreased tumor volume, but only in females. In conclusion, the molecular map of this novel preclinical model of bladder cancer provides an opportunity to further investigate pharmacological therapies ahead with regards to both targeted drugs and immunotherapies to improve the strategies of how we should tackle the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment in urothelial bladder cancer to improve responses rates in the clinic.
|
|
| 6. |
- Kerzeli, Iliana Kyriaki, et al.
(författare)
-
The immunological landscape in bladder cancer: a single cell RNA seq analysis of tumor bearing mouse bladders with a focus on sex differences
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In urothelial bladder cancer differences in clinical outcomes and responses to immunotherapy associate with tumor stage and sex. However, the tumor microenvironment landscape in urothelial cancer and its contexture in different stages and sexes is not fully deciphered. We utilized an autochthonous urothelial cancer model sampled at the non-muscle and muscle invasive stage from both sexes. Single cell RNA sequencing was applied to analyze intercellular interactions and sex differences in the two stages with focus on immune cell subsets. We discerned the Cd6-Alcam interaction to occur between lymphoid, tumor and myeloid cells and that female tumor bearing bladders were enriched in cells of lymphoid lineage compared to males, although male lymphoid cells were metabolically more active. Furthermore, we identified two subsets of Macrophages, Ccl8+ and Spp1+ that were characteristic for NMIBC and MIBC respectively, however both were found to be more active in immune cell recruitment, activation and cytokine signaling in females than males. Analysis of intercellular interactions of immune cells subsets revealed the role of Lyc6c2+ and Ace+ Monocytes as antigen presenting cells equipped with co-stimulatory receptors, and the Anxa1-Fpr2 immune suppressive axis to be active among tumor cells and subsets of granulocytes, macrophages and monocytes. Collectively our results demonstrate the complexity and sex specific differences of the tumor microenvironment in urothelial cancer using a clinically relevant murine model of progressive disease, and distinguish the Cd6-Alcam and Anxa1-Fpr2 interaction pathways of lymphoid, myeloid and tumor cells as potential targets of immune modulation for cancer therapy.
|
|
| 7. |
- Krona, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
GLIOBLASTOMA GROWTH IS SHAPED BY INVASION ROUTE-SPECIFIC FUNCTIONAL SIGNATURES
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Neuro-Oncology. - 1522-8517. ; 25:Supplement: 5, MODL-16
-
Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- One of the defining features of glioblastomas (GBMs) is the capacity for invasive growth along multiple anatomical pathways in the brain. GBM is well-studied on a genetic and molecular level, but clinically relevant and experimentally tractable models of invasive growth are largely lacking. Here, we report an integrated study of patient-matched information, genomic- and molecular profiles with growth in mouse brains to expose treatments and biomarkers associated with glioblastoma invasion and recurrence. In total, 64 patient-derived cell lines (PDCLs) were injected into the striatum of n ≥ 4 mice each. The 45 tumor-forming PDCLs were each scored for 10 distinct growth characteristics (n = 182 mice). The repertoire of phenotypes was highly divergent, and our material included clear cases of perivascular route invasion, white matter route invasion, perineuronal satellitosis, and gliosarcoma. We explored if cellular pathways, monitored by RNA-sequencing, could account for these differences. GSEA highlighted a positive enrichment for highly proliferative proneural tumors characterized by Notch activation, neuronal signaling, and epigenetic gene regulatory programs in the tumor-initiating lines. Transcriptional signatures were also strongly predictive of route-specific invasion. Diffuse invasion was predominantly seen in classical-subtype PDCLs with astrocytic or outer radial glia-like signatures. Proneural PDCLs, in turn, grew as solid tumors with an invasive peripheral region around vasculature, and mesenchymal tumors were more demarcated. To explore the therapeutic implications of our findings, we used our data-driven method (TargetTranslator, Nat Comm 2020) to predict the drug vulnerabilities of different types of invasive glioblastoma. Defined GBM tumors with perivascular invasion are characterized by increased IGFR1, MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and JAK2 signaling. Diffusively growing GBM tumors, on the other hand, depend more on Wnt/β-catenin signaling, neuronal signaling, and active inflammatory response. Using a sphere invasion assay, we confirm that targeting both PI3K- and Wnt signaling selectively reduces glioblastoma invasion, highlighting their therapeutic potential.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
- Larsson, Ida, et al.
(författare)
-
Modeling glioblastoma heterogeneity as a dynamic network of cell states
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Molecular Systems Biology. - : EMBO. - 1744-4292. ; 17:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tumor cell heterogeneity is a crucial characteristic of malignant brain tumors and underpins phenomena such as therapy resistance and tumor recurrence. Advances in single-cell analysis have enabled the delineation of distinct cellular states of brain tumor cells, but the time-dependent changes in such states remain poorly understood. Here, we construct quantitative models of the time-dependent transcriptional variation of patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) cells. We build the models by sampling and profiling barcoded GBM cells and their progeny over the course of 3 weeks and by fitting a mathematical model to estimate changes in GBM cell states and their growth rates. Our model suggests a hierarchical yet plastic organization of GBM, where the rates and patterns of cell state switching are partly patient-specific. Therapeutic interventions produce complex dynamic effects, including inhibition of specific states and altered differentiation. Our method provides a general strategy to uncover time-dependent changes in cancer cells and offers a way to evaluate and predict how therapy affects cell state composition.
|
|
| 11. |
- Merisaari, Joni, et al.
(författare)
-
Monotherapy efficacy of blood-brain barrier permeable small molecule reactivators of protein phosphatase 2A in glioblastoma
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Brain Communications. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2632-1297. ; 2:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastoma is a fatal disease in which most targeted therapies have clinically failed. However, pharmacological reactivation of tumour suppressors has not been thoroughly studied as yet as a glioblastoma therapeutic strategy. Tumour suppressor protein phosphatase 2A is inhibited by non-genetic mechanisms in glioblastoma, and thus, it would be potentially amendable for therapeutic reactivation. Here, we demonstrate that small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A, NZ-8-061 and DBK-1154, effectively cross the in vitro model of blood-brain barrier, and in vivo partition to mouse brain tissue after oral dosing. In vitro, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A exhibit robust cell-killing activity against five established glioblastoma cell lines, and nine patient-derived primary glioma cell lines. Collectively, these cell lines have heterogeneous genetic background, kinase inhibitor resistance profile and stemness properties; and they represent different clinical glioblastoma subtypes. Moreover, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A were found to be superior to a range of kinase inhibitors in their capacity to kill patient-derived primary glioma cells. Oral dosing of either of the small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A significantly reduced growth of infiltrative intracranial glioblastoma tumours. DBK-1154, with both higher degree of brain/blood distribution, and more potent in vitro activity against all tested glioblastoma cell lines, also significantly increased survival of mice bearing orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts. In summary, this report presents a proof-of-principle data for blood-brain barrier-permeable tumour suppressor reactivation therapy for glioblastoma cells of heterogenous molecular background. These results also provide the first indications that protein phosphatase 2A reactivation might be able to challenge the current paradigm in glioblastoma therapies which has been strongly focused on targeting specific genetically altered cancer drivers with highly specific inhibitors. Based on demonstrated role for protein phosphatase 2A inhibition in glioblastoma cell drug resistance, small molecule activators of protein phosphatase 2A may prove to be beneficial in future glioblastoma combination therapies.
|
|
| 12. |
- Niemelä, E., et al.
(författare)
-
Nanoparticles carrying fingolimod and methotrexate enables targeted induction of apoptosis and immobilization of invasive thyroid cancer
- 2020
-
Ingår i: European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics. - : ELSEVIER. - 0939-6411 .- 1873-3441. ; 148, s. 1-9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Metastatic tumors are the main cause of cancer-related death, as the invading cancer cells disrupt normal functions of distant organs and are nearly impossible to eradicate by traditional cancer therapeutics. This is of special concern when the cancer has created multiple metastases and extensive surgery would be too dangerous to execute. Therefore, combination chemotherapy is often the selected treatment form. However, drug cocktails often have severe adverse effects on healthy cells, whereby the development of targeted drug delivery could minimize side-effects of drugs and increase the efficacy of the combination therapy. In this study, we utilized the folate antagonist methotrexate (MTX) as targeting ligand conjugated onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for selective eradication of folate receptor-expressing invasive thyroid cancer cells. The MSNs was subsequently loaded with the drug fingolimod (FTY720), which has previously been shown to efficiently inhibit proliferation and invasion of aggressive thyroid cancer cells. To assess the efficiency of our carrier system, comprehensive in vitro methods were employed; including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, viability assays, invasion assay, and label-free imaging techniques. The in vitro results show that MTX-conjugated and FTY720-loaded MSNs potently attenuated both the proliferation and invasion of the cancerous thyroid cells while keeping the off-target effects in normal thyroid cells reasonably low. For a more physiologically relevant in vivo approach we utilized the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, showing decreased invasive behavior of the thyroid derived xenografts and an increased necrotic phenotype compared to tumors that received the free drug cocktail. Thus, the developed multidrug-loaded MSNs effectively induced apoptosis and immobilization of invasive thyroid cancer cells, and could potentially be used as a carrier system for targeted drug delivery for the treatment of diverse forms of aggressive cancers that expresses folate receptors.
|
|
| 13. |
- Patyra, K., et al.
(författare)
-
Congenital Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Alters Adrenal Gene Expression, Development, and Function
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Thyroid. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1050-7256 .- 1557-9077. ; 32:4, s. 459-471
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The human adrenal cortex undergoes several rapid remodeling steps during its lifetime. In rodents, similar remodeling occurs postnatally in the "X-zone" layer through unknown mechanisms. Furthermore, little is known regarding the impact of thyroid hormone (TH) on adrenal glands in humans.Methods: To investigate the impact of TH on adrenal pathophysiology, we created two genetic murine models mimicking human nonautoimmune hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Moreover, we analyzed serum thyrotropin (TSH) and steroid hormone concentrations in patients diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism and premature adrenarche (PA).Results: We found that TH receptor beta-mediated hypertrophy of the X-zone significantly elevated the adrenal weights of hyperthyroid women. In the hypothyroid model, the X-zone was poorly developed in both sexes. Moreover, large reciprocal changes in the expression levels of genes that regulate adrenal cortical function were observed with both models. Unexpectedly, up- and downregulation of several genes involved in catecholamine synthesis were detected in the adrenal glands of the hypothyroid and hyperthyroid models, respectively. Furthermore, TSH and adrenal steroid concentrations correlated positively in pediatric patients with congenital hypothyroidism and PA.Conclusions: Our results revealed that congenital hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism functionally affect adrenal gland development and related steroidogenic activity, as well as the adrenal medulla.
|
|
| 14. |
- Veikkolainen, Ville, et al.
(författare)
-
Erbb4 regulates the oocyte microenvironment during folliculogenesis.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Human molecular genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1460-2083 .- 0964-6906. ; 29:17, s. 2813-2830
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders leading to infertility in women affecting reproductive, endocrine and metabolic systems. Recent genomewide association studies on PCOS cohorts revealed a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ERBB4 receptor tyrosine kinase 4 gene, but its role in ovary development or during folliculogenesis remains poorly understood. Since no genetic animal models mimicking all PCOS reproductive features are available, we conditionally deleted Erbb4 in murine granulosa cells (GCs) under the control of Amh promoter. While we have demonstrated that Erbb4 deletion displayed aberrant ovarian function by affecting the reproductive function (asynchronous oestrous cycle leading to few ovulations and subfertility) and metabolic function (obesity), their ovaries also present severe structural and functional abnormalities (impaired oocyte development). Hormone analysis revealed an up-regulation of serum luteinizing hormone, hyperandrogenism, increased production of ovarian and circulating anti-Müllerian hormone. Our data implicate that Erbb4 deletion in GCs leads to defective intercellular junctions between the GCs and oocytes, causing changes in the expression of genes regulating the local microenvironment of the follicles. In vitro culture assays reducing the level of Erbb4 via shRNAs confirm that Erbb4 is essential for regulating Amh level. In conclusion, our results indicate a functional role for Erbb4 in the ovary, especially during folliculogenesis and its reduced expression plays an important role in reproductive pathophysiology, such as PCOS development.
|
|
