Spontaneous xenogeneic GvHD in Wilms'tumor Patient-Derived xenograft models and potential solutions

Severely immunocompromised NOD.Cg-PrkdcIl2rg(NOG)mice are among the ideal animal recipients for generation of human cancer models.Transplantation of human solid tumors having abundant tumor-i nfiltrating lymphocytes(TILs)can induce xenogeneic graft-versus-host disease(xGvHD)following engraftment and expansion of the TILs inside the animal body.Wilms’tumor(WT)has not been recognized as a lymphocyte-predominant tumor.However,3 consecutive generations of NOG mice bearing WT patient-derived xenografts(PDX)xenotransplanted from a single donor showed different degrees of inflammatory symptoms after transplantation before any therapeutic intervention.In the initial generation,dermatitis,auto-amputation of digits,weight loss,lymphadenopathy,hepatitis,and interstitial pneumonitis were observed.Despite antibiotic treatment,no response was noticed,and thus the animals were prematurely euthanized(day 47 posttransplantation).Laboratory and histopathologic evaluations revealed lymphoid infiltrates positively immunostained with anti-human CD3 and CD8 antibodies in the xenografts and primary tumor,whereas no microbial infection or lymphoproliferative disorder was found.Mice of the next generation that lived longer(91 days)developed sclerotic skin changes and more severe pneumonitis.Cutaneous symptoms were milder in the last generation.The xenografts of the last 2 generations also contained TILs,and lacked lymphoproliferative transformation.The systemic immunoinflammatory syndrome in the absence of microbial infection and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder was suggestive of xGvHD.While there are few reports of xGvHD in severely immunodeficient mice xenotransplanted from lymphodominant tumor xenografts,this report for the first time documented serial xGvHD in consecutive passages of WT PDX-bearing models and discussed potential solutions to prevent such an undesired complication.

Establishment of various biliary tract carcinoma cell lines and xenograft models for appropriate preclinical studies

We recently reported several driver genes of biliary tract carcinoma(BTC) that are known to play important roles in oncogenesis and disease progression. Although the need for developing novel therapeutic strategies is increasing, there are very few BTC cell lines and xenograft models currently available for conducting preclinical studies. Using a total of 88 surgical BTC specimens and 536 immunodeficient mice, 28 xenograft models and 13 new BTC cell lines, including subtypes, were established. Some of our cell lines were found to be resistant to gemcitabine, which is currently the first choice of treatment, thereby allowing highly practical preclinical studies to be conducted. Using the aforementioned cell lines and xenograft models and a clinical pathological database of patients undergoing BTC resection, we can establish a preclinical study system and appropriate parameters for drug efficacy studies to explore new biomarkers for practical applications in the future studies.

Advances in prostate cancer research models:From transgenic mice to tumor xenografting models

The identification of the origin and molecular characteristics of prostate cancer(PCa)has crucial implications for personalized treatment.The development of effective treatments for PCa has been limited;however,the recent establishment of several transgenicmouse lines and/or xenografting models is better reflecting the disease in vivo.With appropriate models,valuable tools for elucidating the functions of specific genes have gone deep into prostate development and carcinogenesis.In the present review,we summarize a number of important PCa research models established in our laboratories(PSA-Cre-ERT2/PTEN transgenic mouse models,AP-OX model,tissue recombination-xenografting models and PDX models),which represent advances of translational models from transgenic mouse lines to human tumor xenografting.Better understanding of the developments of these models will offer new insights into tumor progression and may help explain the functional significance of genetic variations in PCa.Additionally,this understanding could lead to new modes for curing PCa based on their particular biological phenotypes.

SPA: A Quantitation Strategy for MS Data in Patient-derived Xenograft Models

With the development of mass spectrometry(MS)-based proteomics technologies,patient-derived xenograft(PDX),which is generated from the primary tumor of a patient,is widely used for the proteome-wide analysis of cancer mechanism and biomarker identification of a drug.However,the proteomics data interpretation is still challenging due to complex data deconvolution from the PDX sample that is a cross-species mixture of human cancerous tissues and immunodeficient mouse tissues.In this study,by using the lab-assembled mixture of human and mouse cells with different mixing ratios as a benchmark,we developed and evaluated a new method,SPA(shared peptide allocation),for protein quantitation by considering the unique and shared peptides of both species.The results showed that SPA could provide more convenient and accurate protein quantitation in human–mouse mixed samples.Further validation on a pair of gastric PDX samples(one bearing FGFR2 amplification while the other one not)showed that our new method not only significantly improved the overall protein identification,but also detected the differential phosphorylation of FGFR2 and its downstream mediators(such as RAS and ERK)exclusively.The tool pdx SPA is freely available at https://github.com/LiLab-Proteomics/pdx SPA.

Patient-derived xenograft model in colorectal cancer basic and translational research

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most popular malignancies globally,with 930000 deaths in 2020.The evaluation of CRC-related pathogenesis and the discovery of po-tential therapeutic targets will be meaningful and helpful for improving CRC treat-ment.With huge efforts made in past decades,the systematic treatment regimens have been applied to improve the prognosis of CRC patients.However,the sensitivity of CRC to chemotherapy and targeted therapy is different from person to person,which is an important cause of treatment failure.The emergence of patient-derived xenograft(PDX)models shows great potential to alleviate the straits.PDX models possess similar genetic and pathological characteristics as the features of primary tu-mors.Moreover,PDX has the ability to mimic the tumor microenvironment of the original tumor.Thus,the PDX model is an important tool to screen precise drugs for individualized treatment,seek predictive biomarkers for prognosis supervision,and evaluate the unknown mechanism in basic research.This paper reviews the recent advances in constructed methods and applications of the CRC PDX model,aiming to provide new knowledge for CRC basic research and therapeutics.

Berberine retarded the growth of gastric cancer xenograft tumors by targeting hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is the third deadliest cancer in the world and ranks second in incidence and mortality of cancers in China.Despite advances in prevention,diagnosis,and therapy,the absolute number of cases is increasing every year due to aging and the growth of high-risk populations,and gastric cancer is still a leading cause of cancer-related death.Gastric cancer is a consequence of the complex interaction of microbial agents,with environmental and host factors,resulting in the dysregulation of multiple oncogenic and tumor-suppressing signaling pathways.Global efforts have been made to investigate in detail the genomic and epigenomic heterogeneity of this disease,resulting in the identification of new specific and sensitive predictive and prognostic biomarkers.Trastuzumab,a monoclonal antibody against the HER2 receptor,is approved in the first-line treatment of patients with HER2+tumors,which accounts for 13%-23%of the gastric cancer population.Ramucirumab,a monoclonal antibody against VEGFR2,is currently recommended in patients progressing after first-line treatment.Several clinical trials have also tested novel agents for advanced gastric cancer but mostly with dis-appointing results,such as anti-EGFR and anti-MET monoclonal antibodies.Therefore,it is still of great significance to screen specific molecular targets for gastric cancer and drugs directed against the molecular targets.AIM To investigate the effect and mechanism of berberine against tumor growth in gastric cancer xenograft models and to explore the role of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α(HNF4α)-WNT5a/β-catenin pathways played in the antitumor effects of berberine.METHODS MGC803 and SGC7901 subcutaneous xenograft models were established.The control group was intragastrically administrated with normal saline,and the berberine group was administrated intragastrically with 100 mg/kg/d berberine.The body weight of nude mice during the experiment was measured to assess whether berberine has any adverse reaction.The volume of subcutaneous tumors during this experiment was recorded to evaluate the inhibitory effect of berberine on the growth of MGC803 and SGC7901 subcutaneous transplantation tumors.Polymerase chain reaction assays were conducted to evaluate the alteration of transcriptional expression of HNF4α,WNT5a andβ-catenin in tumor tissues and liver tissues from the MGC803 and SGC7901 xenograft models.Western blotting and IHC were performed to assess the protein expression of HNF4α,WNT5a andβ-catenin in tumor tissues and liver tissues from the MGC803 and SGC7901 xenograft models.RESULTS In the both MGC803 and SGC7901 xenograft tumor models,berberine significantly reduced tumor volume and weight and thus retarded the growth rate of tumors.In the SGC7901 and MGC803 subcutaneously transplanted tumor models,berberine down-regulated the expression of HNF4α,WNT5a andβ-catenin in tumor tissues from both transcription and protein levels.Besides,berberine also suppressed the protein expression of HNF4α,WNT5a andβ-catenin in liver tissues.CONCLUSION Berberine retarded the growth of MGC803 and SGC7901 xenograft model tumors,and the mechanism behind these anti-growth effects might be the downregulation of the expression of HNF4α-WNT5a/β-catenin signaling pathways both in tumor tissues and liver tissues of the xenograft models.

A nanocomposite competent to overcome cascade drug resistance in ovarian cancer via mitochondria dysfunction and NO gas synergistic therapy

Ovarian cancer(OC)is one of the most common and recurring malignancies in gynecology.Patients with relapsed OC always develop"cascade drug resistance"(CDR)under repeated chemotherapy,leading to subsequent failure of chemotherapy.To overcome this challenge,amphiphiles(P1)carrying a nitric oxide(NO)donor(Isosorbide 5-mononitrate,ISMN)and high-density disulfide are synthesized for encapsulatingmitochondria-targeted tetravalent platinum prodrug(TPt)to construct a nanocomposite(INP@TPt).Mechanism studies indicated that INP@TPt significantly inhibited drug-resistant cells by increasing cellular uptake and mitochondrial accumulation of platinum,depleting glutathione,and preventing apoptosis escape through generating highly toxic peroxynitrite anion(ONOO−).To better replicate the microenvironmental and histological characteristics of the drug resistant primary tumor,an OC patient-derived tumor xenograft(PDXOC)model in BALB/c nude mice was established.INP@TPt showed the best therapeutic effects in the PDXOC model.The corresponding tumor tissues contained high ONOO−levels,which were attributed to the simultaneous release of O_(2)^(·−)and NO in tumor tissues.Taken together,INP@TPtbased systematic strategy showed considerable potential and satisfactory biocompatibility in overcoming platinum CDR,providing practical applications for ovarian therapy.

Effects of endostatin on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors and neovascularization in colonic carcinoma implanted in nude mice

AIM:To investigate the antiangiogenic effects of endostatin on colonic carcinoma cell line implanted in nude mice and its mechanism. METHODS:Nude mice underwent subcutaneous injection with LS-174t colonic carcinoma cell line to generate carcinoma and were randomly separated into two groups.Mice received injection of vehicle or endostatin every day for two weeks. After the tumor was harvested,the tumor volumes were determined,and the expressions of CD34,VEGF and FIk-1 were examined by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS:Tumor volume was significantly inhibited in the endostatin group(84.17%)and tumor weight was significantly inhibited in the endostatin group(0.197±0.049) compared to the control group(1.198±0.105)(F=22.56, P=0.001),microvessel density(MVD)was significantly decreased in the treated group(31.857±3.515)compared to the control group(100.143±4.290)(F=151.62,P<0.001). Furthermore,the expression of FIk-1 was significantly inhibited in the treated group(34.29%) ompared to the control group(8.57%)(X^2=13.745,P=0.001).However no significant decrease was observed in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)between these two groups(X^2=0.119,P=0.730). CONCLUSION:Endostatin can inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis by blocking Vegf/FIk-1 pathway.This experiment provides the theory basis for developing a new anti-carcinoma drug through studying the properties of anti-angiogenesis inhibitors.

Silencing of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 expression by RNA interference suppresses growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma in tumor-bearing nude mice

AIM： To explore the effect of silencing of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） expression by RNA interference （RNAi） on growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） in tumorbearing nude mice in vivo.METHODS： To construct the recombinant plasmid of pSilencer 3.0-H1-STAT3-siRNA-GFP （pSHI-siRNA- STAT3） and establish the tumor-bearing nude mouse model of the HCC cell line SMMC7721, we used intratumoral injection together with electroblotting to transfect the recombinant plasmid pSHI-siRNA- STAT3 into the transplanted tumor. The weight of the nude mice and tumor volumes were recorded. STAT3 gene transcription was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT- PCR）. Level of protein expression and location of STAT3 were determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. STAT3-related genes such as survivin, c-myc, VEGF, p53 and caspase3 mRNA and protein expression were detected in tumor tissues at the same time. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） assay was used to detect apoptosis of tumor cells.RESULTS： The weight of the treated nude mice increased, and the tumor volume decreased markedly compared with those of the mock-treated and negative control groups （P 〈 0.01）. The results of RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that mRNA and protein levels of STAT3 declined markedly in the treated group. The change in STAT3-related gene expression in tumor tissues at the mRNA and protein level also varied, the expression of survivin, VEGF and c-myc were obviously reduced, and expression of p53 and caspase3 increased （P 〈 0.01）. Most of the tumor tissue ceils in the treated group developed apoptosis that was detected by TUNEL assay.CONCLUSION： Silencing of STAT3 expression by RNAi significantly inhibits expression of STAT3 mRNA and protein, and suppresses growth of human HCC in tumor-bearing nude mice. The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of survivin, VEGF and c-myc and up-regulation of p53 and caspase3 expression. Accordingly, the STAT3 gene may act as an important and effective target in gene therapy of HCC.

Anti-tumor activity of erlotinib in the BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell line

AIM：To investigate the effect and mechanism of action of erlotinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor （TKI）, in the human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 both in vitro and in vivo.METHODS： In vitro, human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3 was exposed to varying concentrations of ertotinib, and its effects on proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and the expression of proand antiapoptotic factors such as bcl-2, bcl-xl, bax and bak, and the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor （VEGF） were measured with 3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay, flow cytometric analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay （TUNEL）, and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Potential effect of erlotinib on angiogenesis was examined by tube formation assay. Tumor growth suppression was observed in xenografted nude mice with pancreatic cancer in vivo. Immunohistochemical （IHC） staining for EGFR and factor VII-related antigen was undertaken to detect the microvessel density and VEGF expression in tumor tissue in xenograft nude mice.RESULTS： Erlotinib, as a single agent, repressed BxPC-3 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, triggered G1 arrest and induced cell apoptosis, and suppressed capillary formation of endothelium in vitro. Expressions of VEGF were significantly down-regulated at a high concentration of 200 μmol/L, however, the expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-xl were decreased at 50 μmol/L. In vivo, Erlotinib-treated mice demonstrated a reduced tumor volume, weight and microvessel density as compared to the control. IHC staining showed decreased expression of EGFR and RT-PCR had lower VEGF expression in treated mice.CONCLUSION： The in vitro and in vivo findings provide evidence that BxPC-3 cells are inhibited with erlotinib treatment. Inhibition of EGFR may be a promising adjuvant chemotherapy strategy in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Auphen and dibutyryl cAMP suppress growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating expression of aquaporins 3 and 9 in vivo

AIM: To investigate whether the regulation of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and AQP9 induced by Auphen and dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) inhibits hepatic tumorigenesis.METHODS: Expression of AQP3 and AQP9 was detected by Western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and RT-PCR in HCC samples and paired non-cancerous liver tissue samples from 30 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. A xenograft tumor model was used in vivo. Nine nude mice were divided into control, Auphen-treated, and dbcAMP-treated groups (n = 3 for each group). AQP3 and AQP9 protein expression after induction of xenograft tumors was detected by IHC and mRNA by RT-PCR analysis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay and histological evaluation were used to detect apoptosis of tumor cells, and the concentration of serum &#x003b1;-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured using RT-PCR and an ELISA kit.RESULTS: The volumes and weights of tumors decreased significantly in the Auphen- and dbcAMP-treated mice compared with the control mice (P &#x0003c; 0.01). The levels of AQP3 were significantly lower in the Auphen treatment group, and levels of AQP9 were significantly higher in thedbcAMP treatment mice than in the control mice (P &#x0003c; 0.01). The reduction of AQP3 by Auphen and increase of AQP9 by dbcAMP in nude mice suppressed tumor growth of HCC, which resulted in reduced AFP levels in serum and tissues, and apoptosis of tumor cells in the Auphen- and dbcAMP-treated mice, when compared with control mice (P &#x0003c; 0.01). Compared with para-carcinoma tissues, AQP3 expression increased in tumor tissues whereas the expression of AQP9 decreased. By correlating clinicopathological and expression levels, we demonstrated that the expression of AQP3 and AQP9 was correlated with clinical progression of HCC and disease outcomes.CONCLUSION: AQP3 increases in HCC while AQP9 decreases. Regulation of AQP3 and AQP9 expression by Auphen and dbcAMP inhibits the development and growth of HCC.

Application and Progress of Cultured Models of Gallbladder Carcinoma

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a malignant tumor of the bil-iary system that is aggressive, difficult to detect early, and has a low surgical resection rate and poor prognosis. Ap-propriate in vitro growth models are expected to focus on the study of the biological behavior and assess treatment effects. Nonetheless, cancer initiation, progression, and in-vasion include spatiotemporal changes and changes in the cell microenvironment intracellular communication, and in-tracellular molecules, making the development of in vitro growth models very challenging. Recent advances in bioma-terial methods and tissue engineering, particularly advances in bioprinting procedures, have paved the way for advances in the creative phase of in vitro cancer research. To date, an increasing number of cultured models of gallbladder disease have emerged, such as two-dimensional (2D) GBC growth cell cultures, three-dimensional (3D) GBC growth cell cul-tures, xenograft models, and 3D bioprinting methods. These models can serve as stronger platforms, focusing on tumor growth initiation, the association with the microenvironment, angiogenesis, motility, aggression, and infiltration. Bioprint-ed growth models can also be used for high-throughput drug screening and validation, as well as translational opportuni-ties for individual cancer therapy. This study focused on the exploration, progress, and significance of the development of GBC cultural models. We present our views on the short-comings of existing models, investigate new innovations, and plan future improvements and application possibilities for cancer models.

Establishment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma mouse models for cetuximab resistance and sensitivity

Aim:Acquired resistance to the targeted agent cetuximab poses a significant challenge in finding effective anti-cancer treatments for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).To accurately study novel combination treatments,suitable preclinical mouse models for cetuximab resistance are key yet currently limited.This study aimed to optimize an acquired cetuximab-resistant mouse model,with preservation of the innate immunity,ensuring intact antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity(ADCC)functionality.Methods:Cetuximab-sensitive and acquired-resistant HNSCC cell lines,generated in vitro,were subcutaneously engrafted in Rag2 knock-out(KO),BALB/c Nude and CB17 Scid mice with/without Matrigel or Geltrex.Once tumor growth was established,mice were intraperitoneally injected twice a week with cetuximab for a maximum of 3 weeks.In addition,immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the tumor and its microenvironment.Results:Despite several adjustments in cell number,cell lines and the addition of Matrigel,Rag2 KO and BALB/C Nude mice proved to be unsuitable for xenografting our HNSCC cell lines.Durable tumor growth of resistant SC263-R cells could be induced in CB17 Scid mice.However,these cells had lost their resistance phenotype in vivo.Immunohistochemistry revealed a high infiltration of macrophages in cetuximab-treated SC263-R tumors.FaDu-S and FaDu-R cells successfully engrafted into CB17 Scid mice and maintained their sensitivity/resistance to cetuximab.Conclusion:We have established in vivo HNSCC mouse models with intact ADCC functionality for cetuximab resistance and sensitivity using the FaDu-R and FaDu-S cell lines,respectively.These models serve as valuable tools for investigating cetuximab resistance mechanisms and exploring novel drug combination strategies.

Patient-derived xenograft platform of OSCC： a renewable human bio-bank for preclinical cancer research and a new co-clinical model for treatment optimization

Advances in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics have begun to reveal the complex genetic landscape in human cancer genomes, including oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC）. Sophisticated preclinical models that fully represent intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity are required to understand the molecular diversity of cancer and achieve the goal of personalized therapies. Patient-derived xenograft （PDX） models generated from human tumor samples that can retain the histological and genetic features of their donor tumors have been shown to be the preferred preclinical tool in translational cancer research compared with other conventional preclinical models. Specifically, genetically well-defined PDX models can be applied to accelerate targeted antitumor drug development and biomarker discovery. Recently, we have successfully established and characterized an OSCC PDX panel as part of our tumor bio-bank for translational cancer research. In this paper, we discuss the establishment, characterization, and preclinical applications of the PDX models. In particular, we focus on the classification and applications of the PDX models based on validated annotations, including clinicopathological features, genomic profiles, and pharmacological testing information. We also explore the translational value of this well-annotated PDX panel in the development of co-clinical trials for patient stratification and treatment optimization in the near future. Although various limitations still exist, this preclinical approach should be further tested and improved.

Rescue of p53 functions by in vitro-transcribed mRNA impedes the growth of high-grade serous ovarian cancer

Background:The cellular tumor protein p53(TP53)is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in human cancers.Among various cancer types,the very aggressive high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma(HGSOC)exhibits the high-est prevalence of TP53 mutations,present in>96%of cases.Despite intensive efforts to reactivate p53,no clinical drug has been approved to rescue p53 func-tion.In this study,our primary objective was to administer in vitro-transcribed(IVT)wild-type(WT)p53-mRNA to HGSOC cell lines,primary cells,and ortho-topic mouse models,with the aim of exploring its impact on inhibiting tumor growth and dissemination,both in vitro and in vivo.Methods:To restore the activity of p53,WT p53 was exogenously expressed in HGSOC cell lines using a mammalian vector system.Moreover,IVT WT p53 mRNA was delivered into different HGSOC model systems(primary cells and patient-derived organoids)using liposomes and studied for proliferation,cell cycle progression,apoptosis,colony formation,and chromosomal instabil-ity.Transcriptomic alterations induced by p53 mRNA were analyzed using RNA sequencing in OVCAR-8 and primary HGSOC cells,followed by ingenuity path-way analysis.In vivo effects on tumor growth and metastasis were studied using orthotopic xenografts and metastatic intraperitoneal mouse models.Results:Reactivation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene was explored in differ-ent HGSOC model systems using newly designed IVT mRNA-based methods.The introduction of WT p53 mRNA triggered dose-dependent apoptosis,cell cycle arrest,and potent long-lasting inhibition of HGSOC cell proliferation.Transcriptome analysis of OVCAR-8 cells upon mRNA-based p53 reactivation revealed significant alterations in gene expression related to p53 signaling,such as apoptosis,cell cycle regulation,and DNA damage.Restoring p53 function concurrently reduces chromosomal instability within the HGSOC cells,under-scoring its crucial contribution in safeguarding genomic integrity by moderating the baseline occurrence of double-strand breaks arising from replication stress.Furthermore,in various mouse models,treatment with p53 mRNA reduced tumor growth and inhibited tumor cell dissemination in the peritoneal cavity in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusions:The IVT mRNA-based reactivation of p53 holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for HGSOC,providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying p53 function and its relevance in ovarian cancer treatment.

STI571 combined with vincristine greatly suppressed the tumor formation of multidrug-resistant K562 cells in a human-nude mice xenograft model

Background The development of the targeted signal transduction inhibitor STI571 has prompted us to treat chronic myeloid leukemia in different ways. Since STI571 may reverse multidrug-resistance of K562/MDR cells in vitro, we studied the effect of STI571 on multidrug-resistant K562 cells in vivo. Methods Multidrug-resistant human leukemia cell line K562-n/VCR expresses both bcr/abl fusion gene and multi-drug resistance （mdrl） gene. It is a vincristine resistant cell line subcloned from the vincristine （VCR） sensitive cell line K562-n induced by vincristine in vitro. K562-n and K562-n/VCR cells were inoculated subcutaneously into both sides of nude mice breast （5×10^6 cells/each） to establish a human leukemia xenograft model. The incidence and volume of tumor were observed. In the tumor-bearing nude mice, anti-tumor drugs vincristine, daunorubicin （DNR）, STI571, and STI571 plus VCR for the treatment of mdrl and bcr/abl double positive leukemia were studied respectively. Results The tumor incidence was 100% in the nude mice inoculated with either K562-n or K562-n/VCR. The transcription of the mdrl gene and expression of P-gp were negative in K562-n cells but positive in K562-n/VCR cells. The intracellular accumulation of DNR in K562-n cells was higher than that in K562-n/VCR cells （P〈0.05） The tumor incidence of K562-n/VCR cells in nude mice was much higher than that of K562-n cells in chemotherapy groups, and the mean volume of the tumors was also larger （P〈0.05）. STI571 combined with VCR significantly suppressed the proliferation of K562-n/VCR cells. Conclusions The MDR characteristics of K562-n/VCR in vivo were the same as in vitro. STI571 had a significant tumor-suppressing effect on VCR-sensitive leukemia ceils and a moderate effect on MDR leukemia cells. VCR combined with STI571 had an excellent tumor-suppressing effect on both K562-n/VCR and K562-n in the human-nude mice xenograft model.

Novel dual inhibitor for targeting PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases inhibits colorectal cancer growth in vitro and patient-derived xenografts in vivo

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. The pro-viral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus 1(PIM1) is a proto-oncogene and belongs to the serine/threonine kinase family, which are involved in cell proliferation, migration,and apoptosis. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1) is a tyrosine kinase that has been implicated in cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. Small molecule HCI-48 is a derivative of chalcone, a class of compounds known to possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. However,the underlying mechanism of chalcones against colorectal cancer remains unclear. This study reports that HCI-48 mainly targets PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases, thereby eliciting antitumor effects on colorectal cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. HCI-48 inhibited the activity of both PIM1 and FGFR1 kinases in an ATPdependent manner, as revealed by computational docking models. Cell-based assays showed that HCI-48inhibited cell proliferation in CRC cells(HCT-15, DLD1, HCT-116 and SW620), and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase through modulation of cyclin A2. HCI-48 also induced cellular apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in the expression of apoptosis biomarkers such as cleaved PARP, cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 7. Moreover, HCI-48 attenuated the activation of downstream components of the PIM1 and FGFR1 signaling pathways. Using patient-derived xenograft(PDX) murine tumor models,we found that treatment with HCI-48 diminished the PDX tumor growth of implanted CRC tissue expressing high protein levels of PIM1 and FGFR1. This study suggests that the inhibitory effect of HCI-48 on colorectal tumor growth is mainly mediated through the dual-targeting of PIM1 and FGFR1kinases. This work provides a theoretical basis for the future application of HCI-48 in the treatment of clinical CRC.

Interference RNA induction and drug target validation

The ability to knockdown the expression of an endogenous gene by RNAi has emerged as a powerful strategy for the rapid identification of specific gene functions. Vector-based constitutive expression of shRNA can result in stable and efficient knockdown of target genes. However, constitutive expression of shRNA imposes major limitations when analyzing the fimction of genes whose expression is vital for the survival of an organism. Inducible RNAi systems can circumvent this limitation by enabling the inhibition of expression of an essential gene only when the inducing agent is present, and the level of knockdown of the essential gene can be controlled and adjusted by the concentration of inducing agent. In this review, we briefly summarize the recent development of various inducible RNAi systems and their potential applications in drug target validation.

Study on the hepatocellular carcinoma model with metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common causes of cancerrelated death around the world due to advanced clinical stage at diagnosis,high incidence of recurrence and metastasis after surgical treatment.It is in urgent need to create appropriate animal models to explore the mechanism,patterns,risk factors,and therapeutic strategies of HCC metastasis and recurrence.However,most of the established models lack the phenotype of invasion and metastasis in patient,or have unstable phenotype.To establish HCC models with stable metastasis phenotype requires profound understanding in cancer metastasis biology and scientific methodology.Over the past 3 decades,HCC models with stable metastasis have been extensively studied.This paper reviewed the history and development of HCC animal models and cell models,focusing on the screening and maintaining of metastatic potential and phenotype.In-depth studies using these models vastly promote the understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms and development of therapeutic strategies on HCC metastasis.

Radiosensitization of human pancreatic cancer by piperlongumine analogues

Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat advanced pancreatic cancers and can improve survival by2 months in combination with gemcitabine.However,prognosis and survival improvement remain unsatisfactory,and effective therapies are urgently needed.Piperlongumine has been demonstrated to have therapeutic potentials against various cancers.In this study,we synthesized a series of piperlongumine derivatives and provided evidence that piperlongumine derivatives could be used as effective radiosensitizers in pancreatic cancer.Two compounds enhanced the radiosensitivity of Panc-1 and SW1990 cells.In a pancreatic bi-flank xenograft tumor model,they significantly inhibited tumor growth.Piperlongumine derivatives could induce reactive oxygen species(ROS)expression and regulate the Keapl-Nrf2 protective pathway with enhancement of radiation-induced DNA damage,G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest,and apoptosis.Collectively,our data offer a proof of concept for the use of piperlongumine derivatives as a novel class of radiosensitizers for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.