Mechanism of enhancing chemotherapy efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with paricalcitol and hydroxychloroquine
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ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a minimal (<15%) five-year existence, in part due to resistance to chemoradiotherapy. Previous research reveals the impact of paricalcitol (P) and hydroxychloroquine (H) on altering the lysosomal fusion, decreasing stromal burden, and triggering PDAC to chemotherapies. This investigation aims to elucidate the molecular properties of the H and P combination and its potential in sensitizing PDAC to gemcitabine (G). PH potentiates the effects of G in in vitro, orthotopic mouse models, and a patient-derived xenograft model of PDAC. Proteomic and single-cell RNAseq analyses reveal that GPH treatment upregulates autophagy and ER stress-related transcripts. GPH treatment decreases the number of Ki67, FAP, and alpha-SMA-expressing fibroblasts with a decrease in autophagy-related transcripts. The GPH treatment increases M1 polarization, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cells and reduces the CD4+ and CD8+ Tregs. These effects of GPH were confirmed in paired biopsies obtained from patients treated in a clinical trial (NCT04524702).
Project description:Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an autophagy inhibitor that has been used for the treatment of many diseases, such as malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, cancer, and so on. Despite the therapeutic advances in these diseases, the underlying mechanisms have not been well determined and hinder the rational use of this drug in the future. Here, we explored the possible mechanisms and identified the potential binding targets of HCQ by performing quantitative proteomics and thermal proteome profiling on MIA PaCa-2 cells. This study revealed that HCQ may exert its functions by targeting or regulating the expression of some autophagy-related proteins, such as galectin-8 (LGALS8), mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8), Ribosyldihydronicotinamide dehydrogenase (NQO2), Transport protein Sec23A (SEC23A), and so on. Furthermore, HCQ may prevent the progression of pancreatic cancer by regulating the expression of Nesprin-2 (SYNE2), Protein-S-isoprenylcysteine O-methyltransferase (ICMT) and Cotranscriptional regulator FAM172A (FAM172A). Therefore, these findings not only identify potential binding targets for HCQ but also revealed the non-canonical mechanisms of HCQ that may contribute to pancreatic cancer treatment.
Project description:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. In a previous publication, our group defined some of the mechanisms that vitamin D analogue paricalcitol (P) and hydroxychloroquine (H) potentiated the effects of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in PDAC. Based on this, we hypothesized that the mechanisms of potentiation of 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy by PH may include different pathways than what was seen with gemcitabine-based therapy. Using MIA PaCa-2, HPAC and KPC cell lines, the combination of PH significantly increased the cell death, apoptosis, and S-phase cell cycle arrest. In vivo, the combination therapy inhibited PDAC growth and altered the immune landscape by activating T and NK cells. Proteomic analysis revealed that, significant reduction in ECM proteins, specifically integrin beta-4 (ITGB4) which was also seen with gemcitabine. Furthermore, genetic knockdown of ITGB4 suggested that the ECM inhibiti
Project description:We demonstrate that hydroxychloroquine inhibits trained immunity at the functional and epigenetic level and is accompanied by reduced expression of interferon-stimulated genes. Trained immunity comprises a functional adaptation induced by epigenetic reprogramming which facilitates the anti-viral innate immune response.
Project description:Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas and the primary cause of mortality in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). These malignancies develop within pre-existing benign lesions called plexiform neurofibromas (PNs). PNs are solely driven by biallelic NF1 loss eliciting RAS pathway activation and respond favorably to MEK inhibitor therapy. MPNSTs harbor additional mutations and respond poorly to MEK inhibition. Our analysis of genetically engineered and orthotopic patient-derived xenograft MPNST tumor models indicates that MEK inhibition has poor anti-tumor efficacy. By contrast, upstream inhibition of RAS through the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 reduced downstream signaling and suppressed NF1 MPNST growth, although resistance eventually emerged. To investigate possible mechanisms of acquired resistance, kinomic analyses of resistant tumors was performed, and data analysis identified enrichment of activated autophagy pathway protein kinases. Combining SHP2 inhibition with hydroxychloroquine resulted in durable responses in NF1 MPNSTs in both genetic and orthotopic xenograft mouse models. Our studies could be rapidly translated into a clinical trial to evaluate SHP2 inhibition in conjunction with hydroxychloroquine as a novel treatment approach for NF1 MPNSTs.
Project description:To determine whether suppression of IGF-1 signaling in was synergistic with inhibition of autophagy in PDAC, and to identify transcriptional response illicited mice were injeced with KPC MT4 cells s.c. and treated with vector BMS754807 or hydroxychloroquine alone or incombination. RNA was isolated from median tumors from each group and transcriptomics conducted
Project description:This is a Phase II, open label, single-arm trial study of adding hydroxychloroquine to encorafenib and cetuximab in patients with metastatic BRAF V600E colon cancer with progression on at least 1 prior line of therapy. We hypothesize that autophagy is a major mechanism of resistance to BRAF inhibition in stage IV BRAF V600E colorectal cancer, and that the addition of hydroxychloroquine to standard encorafenib and cetuximab therapy will help overcome this resistance.
Project description:Purpose: To investigate the inhibition of inflammatoty cytokines of Hydroxychloroquine to phagocytic THP-1 cells. Methods: we established a cell model of hemophagocytosis by simulating THP-1 cells with CpG-c for 24h in vitro to produce macrophages, and then coculture the cells with human RBCs. RNA sequencing analysis of THP-1 cells were performed to find Gene changed with CpG-c stimulation and Hydroxychloroquine intervention. Results:CpG-c sitimulation significantly altered gene expression of THP-1 cells. Cytokine genes were upregulated, especially a significant increase in IL-6 level from scratch. HCQ significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines and decreased IL-6 gene level to baseline. Conclusions:Hydroxychloroquine can inhibite cytokine genes, especially IL-6 Gene level of THP-1 cells caused by CpG-c sitimulation.