Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Luciana Kovacs, Ryan A. Davis, Tanushree Ganguly, Roger Chammas, Julie L. Sutcliffe
Summary: This study investigated a peptide (CTHRSSVVC) for tumor targeting efficiency, which was previously reported to bind atherosclerotic lesions. The peptide showed specific accumulation in 4T1 tumors in BALB/c mice with a high tumor-to-normal tissue ratio. Further studies are needed to identify the target of this peptide for potential tumor imaging applications.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Bellei, Silvia Caputo, Emilia Migliano, Gianluca Lopez, Valeria Marcaccini, Carlo Cota, Mauro Picardo
Summary: The study showed that the molecule Onco-P20, a combination of paclitaxel and hyaluronic acid, targets cells expressing high levels of CD44 and induces apoptotic cell death in sensitive carcinoma cells while causing growth arrest and gene expression changes in less sensitive fibroblasts. Onco-P20-treated fibroblasts exhibited reduced growth factor production, downmodulation of the Wnt signaling pathway, and acquired a pro-inflammatory profile, leading to reduced proliferation rate of carcinoma cells in their presence. Fibroblasts from skin cancer lesions also displayed anti-neoplastic activity under Onco-P20 treatment, suggesting it as a potential alternative therapy for NMSC.
Review
Oncology
Yang Wu, Chun Zhang, Kuirong Jiang, Jens Werner, Alexandr V. Bazhin, Jan G. D'Haese
Summary: PDAC progression is influenced by PSCs, which through interactions with PCCs and other stroma cells, establish a tumor microenvironment that promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Targeting stroma has emerged as a promising strategy for PDAC therapy, with several novel strategies proposed to intervene in this complex crosstalk.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kendelle J. Murphy, Daniel A. Reed, Claire Vennin, James R. W. Conway, Max Nobis, Julia X. Yin, Cecilia R. Chambers, Brooke A. Pereira, Victoria Lee, Elysse C. Filipe, Michael Trpceski, Shona Ritchie, Morghan C. Lucas, Sean C. Warren, Joanna N. Skhinas, Astrid Magenau, Xanthe L. Metcalf, Janett Stoehr, Gretel Major, Ashleigh Parkin, Romain Bidanel, Ruth J. Lyons, Anaiis Zaratzian, Michael Tayao, Andrew Da Silva, Lea Abdulkhalek, Anthony J. Gill, Amber L. Johns, Andrew Biankin, Jaswinder Samra, Sean M. Grimmond, Angela Chou, Jacky G. Goetz, Michael S. Samuel, J. Guy Lyons, Andrew Burgess, C. Elizabeth Caldon, Lisa G. Horvath, Roger J. Daly, Nikolaj Gadegaard, Yingxiao Wang, Owen J. Sansom, Jennifer P. Morton, Thomas R. Cox, Marina Pajic, David Herrmann, Paul Timpson
Summary: In this study, transient manipulation of focal adhesion kinase in PDAC was visualized using intravital fluorescence imaging, with real-time quantification of cell cycle reporter to improve chemotherapy response. Analysis of different matrices and environmental cues helped to reduce PDAC metastasis.
Review
Oncology
Silvia Baldari, Francesca Di Modugno, Paola Nistico, Gabriele Toietta
Summary: The tumor microenvironment consists of cellular and extracellular matrix components that support and shape solid tumor growth. Collagen, as a key mechanical component of the tumor microenvironment, plays a critical role in cancer progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response. Targeting dysregulated non-cancer cell stromal components can enhance the efficacy of current anticancer therapies.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Md Nazim Uddin, Xiaosheng Wang
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the functional landscape of stroma-associated lncRNAs in various cancers, highlighting their crucial roles in regulating the tumor microenvironment and impacting cancer development and therapy. Dysregulation of stroma-associated lncRNAs significantly contributes to cancer initiation, progression, angiogenesis, immune evasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, suggesting their potential as valuable targets for cancer therapy.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maosen Xu, Tao Zhang, Ruolan Xia, Yuquan Wei, Xiawei Wei
Summary: Tumors are composed of cancer cells and the surrounding stromal components, and there are important interactions between the stromal components and tumor cells. Significant progress has been made in the study of tumor stroma, and clinical trials targeting the tumor stroma are ongoing. This review summarizes the latest research on the interaction between stromal components and tumor cells, and proposes potential novel approaches for tumor-stroma-based therapeutic targeting.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mubin Tarannum, Juan L. Vivero-Escoto
Summary: This article focuses on the pathological hallmarks of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and the impact of nanotechnology in finding solutions for its treatment. It discusses the use of nanoparticle-based systems for delivering chemotherapeutic agents, overcoming chemoresistance, targeting molecular heterogeneity, improving immunotherapy, and remodeling the tumor microenvironment. A special section is dedicated to the design of non-traditional nanoparticle modalities that may hold promise for improving the dismal prognosis of PDAC.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Bryce Ordway, Michal Tomaszewski, Samantha Byrne, Dominique Abrahams, Pawel Swietach, Robert J. Gillies, Mehdi Damaghi
Summary: Utilizing selective biological forces to manipulate intracellular and extracellular pH levels can control tumor progression and guide it towards a less invasive trajectory. This approach can lead to the inhibition of aggressive cancer cell populations in favor of slower growth and less damage to patients, ultimately controlling cancer in cases where a cure is not an option.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jiaxuan Xia, Shuya Zhang, Ru Zhang, Anni Wang, Ying Zhu, Meichen Dong, Shaojie Ma, Chao Hong, Shengyao Liu, Dan Wang, Jianxin Wang
Summary: The use of Rg3 liposomes loaded with docetaxel (DTX) has shown improved chemotherapy effects on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) compared to conventional cholesterol liposomes. Rg3-Lp/DTX exhibited enhanced penetration at the tumor site and reversed the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), reducing the stroma barrier. Therefore, Rg3-Lp/DTX shows promising therapeutic efficacy and a simple preparation process for TNBC treatment.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kendelle J. Murphy, Jessie Zhu, Michael Trpceski, Brooke A. Pereira, Paul Timpson, David Herrmann
Summary: The dense desmoplastic and fibrotic stroma in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) plays a role in disease progression and treatment response. Reciprocal interactions between the tumor and stroma through integrin-mediated signaling, particularly Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), are important in regulating stromal remodeling and tissue stiffness. Targeting the PDAC stroma, including transient stromal manipulation via short-term FAK inhibition, may enhance the vulnerability of PDAC cells to chemotherapy. This article highlights the significance of treatment timing and suggests further exploration of anti-fibrotic therapies for PDAC and other fibrotic diseases.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yan Liu, Xiaodi Wu, Feifan Chen, Hao Li, Tao Wang, Ningning Liu, Kang Sun, Guangdong Zhou, Ke Tao
Summary: In this study, we found that nanoparticle-based photodynamic therapy disrupted the tumor-stroma crosstalk in pancreatic tumor models, leading to persistent inhibition of extracellular matrix secretion and enhanced therapeutic effect. By down-regulating TGF beta signaling pathways, this therapy decreased drug resistance, proliferation, and migration of cancer cells. Furthermore, it inactivated pancreatic stellate cells and hindered ECM secretion. The disruption of tumor-stroma crosstalk also improved tumor penetration in stroma-rich pancreatic tumor models, enhancing subsequent therapy outcomes.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Vijaya Sarangthem, Aena Yi, Yunjae Kim, Alnawaz Rehemtulla, Byung-Heon Lee, Young Hyun Jeon, Thoudam Debraj Singh, Rang-Woon Park
Summary: The study demonstrated that AP1-ELP-KLAK effectively induced cellular apoptosis in glioblastoma cells with high expression of IL-4R. Real-time monitoring of therapeutic effect using BLI technology showed that AP1-ELP-KLAK reduced tumor growth and induced cellular apoptosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Taija Korpela, Ari Ristimaki, Marianne Udd, Tiina Vuorela, Harri Mustonen, Caj Haglund, Leena Kylanpaa, Hanna Seppanen
Summary: This study investigated the potential role of histological chronic pancreatitis findings and chronic inflammation in surgical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) specimens on disease-specific survival (DSS). The results suggest that more severe fibrosis, acinar atrophy, and chronic inflammation in the pancreatic stroma were associated with worse DSS outcomes for PDAC patients.
Article
Oncology
Varintra E. Lander, Jad I. Belle, Natalie L. Kingston, John M. Herndon, Graham D. Hogg, Xiuting Liu, Liang- Kang, Brett L. Knolhoff, Savannah J. Bogner, John M. Baer, Chong Zuo, Nicholas C. Borcherding, Daniel P. Lander, Cedric Mpoy, Jalen Scott, Michael Zahner, Buck E. Rogers, Julie K. Schwarz, Hyun Kim, David G. DeNardo
Summary: The effects of radiotherapy on tumor immunity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are not well understood. In this study, FAK inhibition was found to prime tumor immunity and unlock responsiveness to checkpoint immunotherapy in combination with radiotherapy.