Dataset Information

Disulfiram and copper combination therapy targets NPL4, cancer stem cells and extends survival in a medulloblastoma model

ABSTRACT:

Background

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common brain malignancy in children, and is still responsible for significant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of Disulfiram (DSF), an FDA-approved inhibitor of Aldehyde-Dehydrogenase (ALDH), and Copper (Cu++) in human SSH-driven and Group 3 MB. The molecular mechanisms, effect on cancer-stem-cells (CSC) and DNA damage were investigated in xenograft models.

Methods

The cytotoxic and anti-CSC effects of DSF/Cu++ were evaluated with clonogenic assays, flow-cytometry, immunofluorescence, western-blotting. ONS76, UW228 (SHH-driven with Tp53m), D425med, D283 and D341 (Group 3) cell-lines were used. In vivo survival and nuclear protein localization protein-4 (NPL4), Ki67, Cleaved-Caspase-3, GFAP and NeuN expression were assessed in two Group 3 MB xenografts with immunohistochemistry and western-blotting.

Results

Significant in vitro cytotoxicity was demonstrated at nanomolar concentrations. DSF/Cu++ induced cell-death through NPL4 accumulation in cell-nucleus and buildup of poly-ubiquitylated proteins. Flow-cytometry demonstrated a significant decrease in ALDH+, Nestin+ and CD133+ following treatment, anti-CSC effect was confirmed in vitro and in vivo. DSF/Cu++ prolonged survival, and increased nuclear NPL4 expression in vivo.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that this combination may serve as a novel treatment, as monotherapy or in combination with existing therapies, for aggressive subtypes of pediatric MB.

SUBMITTER: Serra R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8565761 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Copper (Cu) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by acting as a co-factor that regulates the activity of many enzymes and structural proteins in cancer cells. Therefore, Cu-based complexes have been investigated as novel anticancer metallodrugs and are considered as a complementary strategy for currently used platinum agents with undesirable general toxicity. Due to the high failure rate and increased cost of new drugs, there is a global drive towards the repositioning of known drugs for cancer treatment in recent years. Disulfiram (DSF) is a first-line antialcoholism drug used in clinics for more than 65 yr. In combination with Cu, it has shown great potential as an anticancer drug by targeting a wide range of cancers. The reaction between DSF and Cu ions forms a copper diethyldithiocarbamate complex (Cu(DDC)2 also known as CuET) which is the active, potent anticancer ingredient through inhibition of NF-κB and ubiquitin-proteasome system as well as alteration of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, DSF/Cu inhibits several molecular targets related to drug resistance, stemness, angiogenesis and metastasis and is thus considered as a novel strategy for overcoming tumour recurrence and relapse in patients. Despite its excellent anticancer efficacy, DSF has proven unsuccessful in several cancer clinical trials. This is likely due to the poor stability, rapid metabolism and/or short plasma half-life of the currently used oral version of DSF and the inability to form Cu(DDC)2 at relevant concentrations in tumour tissues. Here, we summarize the scientific rationale, molecular targets, and mechanisms of action of DSF/Cu in cancer cells and the outcomes of oral DSF ± Cu in cancer clinical trials. We will focus on the novel insights on harnessing the immune system and hypoxic microenvironment using DSF/Cu complex and discuss the emerging delivery strategies that can overcome the shortcomings of DSF-based anticancer therapies and provide opportunities for translation of DSF/Cu or its Cu(DDC)2 complex into cancer therapeutics.

Project description:Abstract BACKGROUND: Prognosis of patients with recurrent medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is dismal despite intensive therapy including high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue. We report on 28 patients with recurrent medulloblastoma and ATRT treated with an alternative approach to conventional chemotherapy that targets neovascularisation by interfering with tumor angiogenesis at various levels. Patients and METHODS: From 11/2006 to 06/2016, 28 patients were diagnosed with recurrent embryonal tumors, 20 with a recurrent medulloblastoma (13 first, 7 multiple recurrences) and eight with recurrent ATRT (5 first, 3 multiple), three had germ line mutations. Treatment consisted of an antiangiogenic multidrug-regime including IV bevacizumab, oral thalidomide, celecoxib, fenofibrate, and etoposide alternating with cyclophosphamide, and augmented with intraventricular therapy (etoposide and liposomal cytarabine). Median age at start of antiangiogenic therapy was 10 (1–24) years for medulloblastoma and 1.5 (1–13) years for ATRT. Results: As of 11/2016, 12/20 patients with medulloblastoma are alive at a median of 25 (12–97) months after their last recurrence. 8/12 surviving patients are currently in CR for 97, 94, 93, 29, 27, 23, 19 and 18 months, five off therapy for 79, 62, 60, 22 and 18 months, three are in PR 23, 12 and 2 months after their last recurrence and one patient has stable disease 12 months after her last recurrence. 5-year-OS is 57.6?±?13.2%. One patient died of an accident in CR 23 months after initiation of antiangiogenic therapy and one patient with a very good PR died of a septicemia seven months after his last recurrence. Two patients had prior been treated with the same antiangiogenic approach and had recurred 67 and 40 months after their last recurrence while off therapy for 36 and 21 months and both patients are in remission again, one off therapy for 18 months. 3/8 patients with ATRT are alive. Follow-up since last recurrence is 72, 27 and 24 months and all patients are off therapy for 52, 14 and 13 months. One patient died of another cause without evidence of tumor at autopsy 54 months after recurrence and while off therapy for 46 months. One surviving patient with a germ line mutation and a fourth recurrence was prior treated with the same approach albeit without intrathecal therapy. He recurred 78 months after his last recurrence while off therapy for 36 months. He is again in CR and off therapy for 13 months. Therapy is primarily outpatient, was generally well tolerated, and toxicities were manageable. CONCLUSION: The proposed antiangiogenic regimen is currently being evaluated for medulloblastomas in an international phase II protocol (MEMMAT; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01356290). The same approach seems to be also efficacious in recurrent ATRTs and warrants further evaluation.

Project description:Abstract BACKGROUND Prognosis of patients with recurrent medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is dismal despite intensive therapy including high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue. An evolving alternative approach to conventional chemotherapy is to target neovascularisation by interfering with tumor angiogenesis at various levels. We report on 32 patients with recurrent medulloblastoma and ATRT treated with an antiangiogenic combination therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS From 11/2006 to 02/2018, 32 patients were diagnosed with recurrent embryonal tumors, 20 with a recurrent medulloblastoma (14 first, 6 multiple recurrences) and 12 with recurrent ATRT (6 first, 6 multiple), three had germ line mutations. Treatment consisted of an antiangiogenic multidrug-regime including IV bevacizumab, oral thalidomide, celecoxib, fenofibrate, and etoposide alternating with cyclophosphamide, and augmented with intraventricular therapy (etoposide and aqueous or liposomal cytarabine). Median age at start of antiangiogenic therapy was 10 (1–24) years for medulloblastoma and 3 (1–12) years for ATRT. RESULTS As of 05/2018, 10/20 patients with medulloblastoma are alive, eight in CR, six off therapy for 96, 79, 77, 34, 12, and 4 months. 5-year-OS is 54.5 ± 11.2% and 5-year-EFS is 25.0 ± 9.7%. One patient died of an accident in CR 23 months after initiation of antiangiogenic therapy. 6/12 patients with ATRT are alive and in CR for 123, 90, 45, 9, 6 and 3 months after start of antiangiogenic therapy, the first three off therapy. OS for the whole cohort was 47.7 ± 16.6% at 3 years and 31.8 ± 17.1% at 5-years with a median OS of 22.8 months (KI 0.0–66.8). Therapy was generally well tolerated and toxicities were manageable. CONCLUSION The proposed antiangiogenic regimen is currently being evaluated for medulloblastomas in an international phase II protocol (MEMMAT; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01356290). The same approach seems to be also efficacious in recurrent ATRTs and warrants further evaluation.